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What LED Torch/Flashlight is best

Posted: 16 Apr 2018 13:18
by Chris Skinner
Hi Guys
Was recently looking for a new and powerful flashlight and realized its a mine field out there with all sorts of ways that the performance is specified.
Ive also seen some examples that friends have shown to me that cost a great deal but seem to be a dismal failure in my view.
I would hate to spend a lot of money and then end up disappointed with the outcome.

So, I thought I would put the question out there to see what others on the Forum may advise on their experiences and maybe make some recommendations - it should be an interesting discussion.

Re: What LED Torch/Flashlight is best

Posted: 16 Apr 2018 13:49
by georgeb
Afternoon Chris

What do you want to do with it or what are your requirements - a long distance beam or a wide angle beam?

If wide angle - look at "LED Flashlight - 8500 Lumen, 7x CREE XM-L T6 LEDs, Aluminum Alloy Body, 5 Light Modes" - I have bought from Chinavasion and this is a serious wide beam light and not too expensive to bring in - you will just have to buy batteries locally.

Re: What LED Torch/Flashlight is best

Posted: 16 Apr 2018 14:47
by Rhett
Hi Chris

What I have learnt over the years is "DON'T GO CHEAP!".

I have a drawer full of old flashlights and headlamps, all bust or useless.

The two that I use now:

Headlamp from Extreme Lighting, (older rechargeable model which isn't on there anymore)
https://www.extremelights.co.za/collections/headlamps
It is waterproof (IP68 rating) and the battery lasts forever. Metal housing is durable. 3 brightness settings, good for anything from braai's to cave exploring. Outperformed an equivalently priced Petzl by miles when I got it. A little heavy but I got used to it quickly, new gen models should be lighter and more efficient.

Hand-help torch:
LEDlenser P7.2
https://www.ledlenserusa.com/t7-2-349.html#start=17
Well built and good guarantee. My first one had a battery leak and they replaced the whole torch with a new one as the batteries were spec'd. It has a good beam adjustment and comes with lanyard and a well made belt case.

Both of these have lasted me years now, they get wet, dirty, knocked around and they are still 100%.

Re: What LED Torch/Flashlight is best

Posted: 16 Apr 2018 20:57
by graham1
I still use the ‘old school’ maglite with the LED bulb. I love the thing.
Sure there’s many many torches out there that are way brighter than it these days, but I still prefer it, nice and heavy and rugged, it’s just never going to break.

Re: What LED Torch/Flashlight is best

Posted: 16 Apr 2018 22:24
by Chris Skinner
Thanks for the inputs and advice guys.
George, the one you propose looks like a good candidate too.
Graham, I also have the Maglite conversion - its really a go-to flashlight. Was looking something a bit stronger but the advertising and price ranges just don't make sense to me, unless theres something I just don't understand here - eg some 9000 lumen torches from around R50 right up to R5000...very confusing.
Does anyone know how to compare apples with apples with this stuff?

Re: What LED Torch/Flashlight is best

Posted: 17 Apr 2018 07:21
by Wilkie
Hi guys .. Afri farm supplies is closing down end of this month and are selling flash lites at really low prices and not to mention shoes and clothing...... :clap: :clap:

Re: What LED Torch/Flashlight is best

Posted: 17 Apr 2018 09:35
by Stefan
Have a look at the Nitecore torches as well. I have a small one (MT21A) that has lasted more than 5 years (and still going strong).

As far as comparing apples with grapefruit... :pray: :doh:

Re: What LED Torch/Flashlight is best

Posted: 17 Apr 2018 13:07
by offroadbiker
Wilkie wrote: 17 Apr 2018 07:21 Hi guys .. Afri farm supplies is closing down end of this month and are selling flash lites at really low prices and not to mention shoes and clothing...... :clap: :clap:
All of them??

Re: What LED Torch/Flashlight is best

Posted: 17 Apr 2018 14:29
by biggles
Recently did a review of flashlights that I have bought for work (Open pit gold mine). They are used by shift workers samplers and truck spotters. So in the thick of things and get heavy use. We have bought many makes and models through the years. I want to buy another set due to being forced by a bean counter to buy cheap Zarteks (goedkoop is duurkoop).

In 2015 when I bought the first lights I got LEDLensers H7s. They fill the requirements as: Rechargeable but able to use standard batteries in an emergency. 200Lumens and 12 hour life. The red light at the back is an added safety bonus. I did a survey and some of the ones I bought in 2015 are still operational. That is nothing short of amazing, I asked what had happened to the ones that were broken and was shown how the charging plug was the weak point. Bought a second lot of H7.2s now.

Petzel none left.
Zartek lasted a few months.
Duracell none left and below spec. They were not popular at all.
LEDlensers rule:)

I have my work issued headlamp has given many years of service on the mine. It is permanently on my hardhat so gets a fair amount of abuse.
I have one for camping and teh vehicle. One bitch here is that it turns on when in a bag. So teh switch is too sensitive. I have on numerous occassions found it on when opening a bag. I keep handful of AA batteries as back up.

Re: What LED Torch/Flashlight is best

Posted: 17 Apr 2018 15:08
by SCUBA Patrol
biggles wrote: 17 Apr 2018 14:29 Recently did a review of flashlights that I have bought for work (Open pit gold mine). They are used by shift workers samplers and truck spotters. So in the thick of things and get heavy use. We have bought many makes and models through the years. I want to buy another set due to being forced by a bean counter to buy cheap Zarteks (goedkoop is duurkoop).

In 2015 when I bought the first lights I got LEDLensers H7s. They fill the requirements as: Rechargeable but able to use standard batteries in an emergency. 200Lumens and 12 hour life. The red light at the back is an added safety bonus. I did a survey and some of the ones I bought in 2015 are still operational. That is nothing short of amazing, I asked what had happened to the ones that were broken and was shown how the charging plug was the weak point. Bought a second lot of H7.2s now.

Petzel none left.
Zartek lasted a few months.
Duracell none left and below spec. They were not popular at all.
LEDlensers rule:)

I have my work issued headlamp has given many years of service on the mine. It is permanently on my hardhat so gets a fair amount of abuse.
I have one for camping and teh vehicle. One bitch here is that it turns on when in a bag. So teh switch is too sensitive. I have on numerous occassions found it on when opening a bag. I keep handful of AA batteries as back up.
Thanks for this hands-on review and feedback Steve!!!! :cheers: LEDlenser it would be for me then :thumbup: ! (Need to replace a stolen MAGlight :thumbdown: :minigun: )