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Light: what's the best torch out there?


meles meles

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We're wondering what is the most useful torch might be, measured by the following criteria:

 

1. Brightness - say lighting up an object 100m away in a dark field / wood

2. Low weight

3. Robustness

4. Eats readily available batteries

5. Reasonable cost

 

We're thinking the baseline might be a LED torch outputting 200 lumens, powered by AA batteries and with an aluminium housing and costing around £30. Does such a thing exist ?

 

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Easy a T20 is a great start point , then move up through the range ..

 

Small, lightweight, adjustable beam, 25mm body ( so, fits mounts ) runs on the 18650 battery, 3 mode, so will adjust brightness.

And should cost less than £ 20 delivered to your door

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For your use i would probably go with someting like a nightcore mt2a, cracking bit of kit at not daft money, i personally am a fan of surefire torches however they are expensive and usually run on cr123 batteries which are not as widely available, what is your use for the torch is it something to carry rond with you on a daily basis or to keep in a shooting bag ??

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I would look at a 1 or 2 aa powered nightcore, klarus, fenix or similar light, with a minimum of 3 settings, it keeps the weight and cost down however still impressive performance and run time.

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Led lenser p14 and p7. Run of aaa batteries for ever, adjustable focus and two power settings. Makes one wonder why one hadn't got one sooner ;)

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If you can extend your acceptable parameters to an 18650 battery, I can wholeheartedly recommend this:

 

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/MAXTOCH-Sniper-M24-Dedomed-U3-LED-1250lm-AR-Lens-Copper-LED-Base-Long-Shooting-Distance-Hunt/32598726695.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.1.sPxWxI&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_7,searchweb201602_4_10036_10035_301_10034_507_10032_10020_10001_10002_10017_10010_10005_10006_10011_10003_10021_10004_10022_10009_401_10008_10018_10019,searchweb201603_9&btsid=955ef368-3438-4ac6-b2f0-4a74649af97c

 

These were developed in a co-operation between some pro pest guys here in NZ and a Chinese manufacturer. What they have come up with is amazing and had killed demand for both Lightforce spotlights and LED Lenser torches. They have more light output than a 170 Lightforce and will run over an hour at full power on the two 18650s. My 170 is now redundant.

 

For what the OP wants, their low power setting would be quite adequate I'd expect.

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http://www.myfenix.co.uk/fenix-tk41c

 

This looks an interesting light, I've not handled it though - a bit out of the price range described..... Uses AA's, good throw along with red and blue LEDs.

 

I have half a dozen (at least) Fenix lights and head torches and they've all been put though their paces in use with Mountain Rescue - excellent build quality and performance, highly recommended.

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Really , you don't need to go that into this, or spend a fortune..

 

18650 batteries will be the perfect power cell

 

And as for a torch , look at the T20, T50, T67

 

They are all more than you need...

 

I use the T20 IR, with NV out to 200m, and roughly the same with a red pill for lamping

 

The T50 will push further, as will the T67.. At 250 m +

 

You get a 3 mode, ( low, med & high ) with slight pressure on the on / off.. And a zoom focus head .

 

Most of the shooters I know have ditched all there lamping gear in favor of these little torches.

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If you can extend your acceptable parameters to an 18650 battery, I can wholeheartedly recommend this:

 

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/MAXTOCH-Sniper-M24-Dedomed-U3-LED-1250lm-AR-Lens-Copper-LED-Base-Long-Shooting-Distance-Hunt/32598726695.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.1.sPxWxI&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_7,searchweb201602_4_10036_10035_301_10034_507_10032_10020_10001_10002_10017_10010_10005_10006_10011_10003_10021_10004_10022_10009_401_10008_10018_10019,searchweb201603_9&btsid=955ef368-3438-4ac6-b2f0-4a74649af97c

 

These were developed in a co-operation between some pro pest guys here in NZ and a Chinese manufacturer. What they have come up with is amazing and had killed demand for both Lightforce spotlights and LED Lenser torches. They have more light output than a 170 Lightforce and will run over an hour at full power on the two 18650s. My 170 is now redundant.

 

For what the OP wants, their low power setting would be quite adequate I'd expect.

I can certainly vouch for this - absolutely amazing torch. I bought one on the strength of the recommendation from Chris and have been very pleased with it. It is really like having your own personal pocket searchlight. In fact for walking the dog I have to use it on its lowest setting or I become dazzled by the reflected glare from the ground. The service from Maxtoch has also been top notch.

 

I also have a Fenix TK22 (grey) with a single 18650 cell and this is also very good for general purpose use. I have to say that the fit and finish is rather better than the Maxtoch, but it doesn't have anything like the M24's amazing throw.

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Yes... We use them for that as well...

They come in :

Green

Red

White

Infer red

 

Always carry a red or green in the pocket for general use & walking the dog !

 

It's only a suggestion, but don't write them off cos there cheap, shooters have used them for a number of years to great effect , cos there small, lightweight , cheap & throw light like you would not believe.

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We finally made our mind up and ordered a Coastal Polysteel P600.

 

for a review of them.

 

The determining factors for us were the ability to feed it on AAA batteries rather than anything more exotic combined with a good spread of output powers. We'll let you know if it lives up to expectations in due course.

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As a postscript, for those wanting the MAX in a handheld torch, here's last night's posting by the main local developer guy:

 

"Ok we tested new lightweight 2X specs including final mode output ratios yesterday, and this light is an absolute ripper. Tests with Panasonic 3400s

To give you an idea, the latest dedomed M24 from aliexpress produces about 220k lux on high. This new 2X however produces about 260k on its medium mode - the mode you'll use mostly for hunting, and it has a runtime of over 100 minutes at this 260k, with max range of 1000 meters. In high mode it jumps up to 350k lux/1200 meters - this is a mode you would use occasionally for long distance spotting, but if used continuously it will still give 75 minutes runtime. Lo mode set at 40k - ideal for possums.

So even its medium mode has alot more grunt than the latest M24 in high. Gadget and mudz happy boys and we've told them to fire ahead. wink.gifwink.gif

When you pop the board and led from this new 2X into your present M24 you get the hotrod M24 Sako has. This also is an amazing light. Its high mode is 290-300k now, its medium is 220k/105 mins runtime - same as present M24's high, and its low is about 40k. Awesome wee light.

Maxtochs have been the best hunter lights in the world for purpose/price etc, and they are just stepping up to a new level..."

 

-----

 

The 2X prototype they were beta testing is a (very slightly) larger brother to the M24 but not by much. 350K lux (actual, not claimed) is a stonking amount. Deer would stand out like dog's kahoonas at 500yds

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Well I'm sure that it's not the best torch out there but I really want a Fenix LD11 for my Every Day Carry (EDC). It's small, compact, very bright and uses AA Batteries. (I like to try and run everything off AA and AAA batteries for interchangeability should SHTF).

 

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/fenix_ld10.htm

 

Edited to add: Fits into a picatinny rail clamp for use on the end of a rifle too.

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Well oomans, our Coastal P600 has arrived so we thought we'd do a tiny ikkle reviewette of it for you.

 

We ordered it from Folkestone Fixings' ebay shop. It cost us £ 26.25 including post and packing, and delivery took just one day. It came affixed to a plastic encapsulated card, wrapped in bubblewrap and then sealed in a tough plastic envelope, all more than adequate for the job. No problems with the service and delivery at all. It came with 4 Duracell AA batteries.

 

The torch is a chunky piece of kit, a little bigger than we expected.

 

The 4 AA batteries fit inside a plastic carrier, which then slides into the stainless steel tube that comprises the body of the torch. This tube is encapsulated in a tough polymer coating with plenty of grip. The end cap is sealed with an O ring and doesn't look as though it will give any problems. It's definitely waterproof at the moment. The on / off switch is on the end cap. Pressing this once switches the torch on at its brightest mode, twice drops the power down a level and thrice generate just a dull glow. This does of course mitigate against using the switch to signal in Morse as each flash would be of different intensity. There is no strobe function. The integral lanyard mounting point stops the torch rolling too far, and the torch can also be stood vertically on its base.

 

The bright end is well protected and castellated. Twisting the end allows a change from a concentrated spot of light to an even flood, this being brought about by a tough, possibly polycarbonate, lens recessed deep within the castellated housing. It works well and smoothly. We don't envisage any problems there.

 

In terms of brilliance, it's currently hard to judge: we've only used it indoors and it doesn't go dark outside for some while yet. When it does, we'll update you.$_57.JPG

 

UPDATE.

 

It's dark outside now, oomans. Except where we shone the torch: there, it's BRIGHT !

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What's all that about?

 

"United Kingdom [uK]. The dialect of the Black Country area. Word: Ooman. Translation: woman. Meaning: woman. back to Black Country. "

 

I thought we were by and large male.

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