Ever since last September when I did the Welsh 3000s with my mate Kev and we found ourselves on the Pyg Track at 3am with almost no light thanks to bad planning with batteries I've been extra conscious about how important it is to have a decent head torch (or two).
I use a Petzl Tikka Plus. I bought it years ago and I think it was about £30. When it's got some decent batteries in it (Duracell, rather than some crappy ones from the Pound Shop or something) it lasts aaaaages. I'm pretty sure I didn't have to change the batteries for about two years and I used it a moderate amount in that time.
I also have a brandless torch which is super bright (it's the thing that I refer to as the Mega Light in some of my videos). It's quite big, the battery is pretty heavy (and is carried separately) but boy is it bright. Not only is it just fun to have something that bright but it's also very useful for finding paths in the distance. A normal head torch is designed to light up the ground in front of you but you really need something bigger as well to use for short amounts of time when trying to spot things further in the distance. I got that off eBay from somewhere. Can't remember. Probably China though.
What do you use and is it any good?
I'm hoping to upgrade my head torch sometime and I want to know what the best brightness/battery life/cost ratio there is out there.
By the way, I recommend that you always carry at least two fully charged lights with you if there's any chance you could end up being out after nightfall. And a spare set of batteries too. You can't be too careful with light. being able to see is the sort of thing you take for granted 99% of the time and then absolutely shit yourself when you realise can't any more.
I use a Petzl Tikka Plus. I bought it years ago and I think it was about £30. When it's got some decent batteries in it (Duracell, rather than some crappy ones from the Pound Shop or something) it lasts aaaaages. I'm pretty sure I didn't have to change the batteries for about two years and I used it a moderate amount in that time.
I also have a brandless torch which is super bright (it's the thing that I refer to as the Mega Light in some of my videos). It's quite big, the battery is pretty heavy (and is carried separately) but boy is it bright. Not only is it just fun to have something that bright but it's also very useful for finding paths in the distance. A normal head torch is designed to light up the ground in front of you but you really need something bigger as well to use for short amounts of time when trying to spot things further in the distance. I got that off eBay from somewhere. Can't remember. Probably China though.
What do you use and is it any good?
I'm hoping to upgrade my head torch sometime and I want to know what the best brightness/battery life/cost ratio there is out there.
By the way, I recommend that you always carry at least two fully charged lights with you if there's any chance you could end up being out after nightfall. And a spare set of batteries too. You can't be too careful with light. being able to see is the sort of thing you take for granted 99% of the time and then absolutely shit yourself when you realise can't any more.
As you're probably aware, I also have the same Petzl headtorch. I've only ever needed it for the walks I've been on, but your mega light really did help bail us out on the Welsh 3000's!
Personally, I'm content with what I've got because I only tend to stick to the main routes and walk with others when going through the night. Also, as I live a long way from the mountains, I plan my trips around good weather windows - so I haven't got that to contend with as much either.
If going for the 'next level' of night walking, I'd strongly consider getting the sort of torch you had - they're all over amazon - for example this one below. Just gotta make the most of checking reviews before you buy.
www.amazon.co.uk/Ver... ...head+torch
Personally, I'm content with what I've got because I only tend to stick to the main routes and walk with others when going through the night. Also, as I live a long way from the mountains, I plan my trips around good weather windows - so I haven't got that to contend with as much either.
If going for the 'next level' of night walking, I'd strongly consider getting the sort of torch you had - they're all over amazon - for example this one below. Just gotta make the most of checking reviews before you buy.
www.amazon.co.uk/Ver... ...head+torch
Oh wow, head torch prices have come waaay down since I bought mine. The one you linked is £16 and can focus a beam over 300m! That's impressive.
My mega light was very useful for us on Snowdon for sure, but it definitely needs modifying somehow to attach to my backpack's strap or something. Keeping it in my pocket and having to get it out all the time was time consuming and is certainly putting wear and tear on the wire connections. Other than that though it did a grand job (expect when it ran out of power on the Pyg Track).
My mega light was very useful for us on Snowdon for sure, but it definitely needs modifying somehow to attach to my backpack's strap or something. Keeping it in my pocket and having to get it out all the time was time consuming and is certainly putting wear and tear on the wire connections. Other than that though it did a grand job (expect when it ran out of power on the Pyg Track).
One of the top reviews on amazon recommends putting a big old blob of glue where the wire enters the battery, to stop it from coming out - apparently its not fixed very well and a lot of stress could lead to the wire breaking off from its solder and sliding out of the battery unit.
Ive got one of these neo led light really bright and has a red back light for when night hikes with a bro.only cost me 20 quid. Wont let me add a pic cos i screenshot it on my phone
