Show us your LED torches / flashlights

[Misterioso]

Is there anyone else amazed by the progress achieved in developing small handheld LED torches? These have come a long way over the past decade or so. The light output generated by the recent generation of LED torches is just spectacular. You can illuminate a whole street at night time or shine a light across the bay with a device that is not larger than your fist. 

 

Here are my two torches. A Fenix PD40 with neutral white LED tint and an output of 1600 Lumens that I bought five years ago and a ThruNite TC20 with cold white LED tint and an output of 3800 Lumens that I bought last week. Both use a single rechargeable 26650 Li-ion battery. Both provide more of a floodlight than a spotlight, which I find more useful in and around the house.

 

Edited May 12, 2020 by DarkTree

[pwstereo]

I've got a Thrunite TN12 that I've had for about five years. It's small and uses one of those 18650 batteries. Amazing light for its size.

[blybo]

I've got plenty of super bright bike lights I use as torches. Best being the old Ay-Up lights with dual beams and interchangeable batteries.

 

Can't remember the brightness but I used to use a set on the handle bars and a set on the helmet for full speed night mountain biking. I real hoot when you are fit enough to do it with almost passing out, and a real adrenaline rush.

 

I don't understand the need to have any more than about 1200 lumens of brightness though, especially if you can adjust the beam. I actually find elcheapo Bunnings headlamps the most useful for my camping and outside cooking needs

 

Have been thinking of getting a bright palm sized torch to keep in my car for all manner of uses like this

https://www.ledtorchshop.com.au/led-lenser-recharge-in-car-torch.html

 

Edited May 12, 2020 by blybo

[betty boop]

we just take the ones on our bikes  

 

 

[Misterioso]

47 minutes ago, blybo said:

I don't understand the need to have any more than about 1200 lumens of brightness though, especially if you can adjust the beam. I actually find elcheapo Bunnings headlamps the most useful for my camping and outside cooking needs

Hmm, no one claims you need more than 1200 Lumens to cook some spaghetti. I can easily think of more demanding requirements.

[Monk]

I may have a few lights... 

 

 

Okay okay, so the Maglite isn't a LED light.  It's just there for nostalgia and sizing.    Not that you can tell the size of anything in that pic anyway.

 

I did think about getting a drop in LED for the Maglite at one stage, but never got around it to.  And not much point now.  Although I did do that with a Mini Maglite along with adding a tail switch for it, which certainly improved that light.  But it does have to be said how tough Maglites are, even if they're not very bright, mine have lasted 20+ years copping a bit of a banging around.

 

I do seem to favour my lithium-ion powered lights more these days though, probably for the wow factor of the lumen output lol.  The BLF Q8 is awesome.  A good balance of usable close up light and a bit of throw because of the output.  Although the throw from the little Lumintop GT Mini is outstanding considering its size.

 

The UI of torches these days is another plus.  Being able to ramp up and down easily, and have instant max light with a double click, or a moonlight from off is just so convenient. 

[Misterioso]

Nice collection! I remember getting my first Maglite at the age of 15. It was so cool at that time.

[GregWormald]

1 hour ago, Monk said:

I may have a few lights... 

 

 

That's about the size of my collection. (Embarrassed )

 

This is my favourite.

Don Mcleish (McGizmo) Haiku--Titanium, two-tone body, figured pocket clip, one CR123A, 3 levels.

 

Edited May 12, 2020 by GregWormald

[Misterioso]

4 minutes ago, GregWormald said:

That's about the size of my collection. (Embarrassed )

 

This is my favourite.

Don Mcleish (McGizmo) Haiku--Titanium, two-tone body, figured pocket clip, one CR123A, 3 levels.

 

Wow, flashlight jewellery. Looks very nice!

[Addicted to music]

@Monk

 

you carry the big one under the drivers seat?  

[cazzesman]

LED Torch light fetishes...........................well I never.    How do I join?          Is there a secret handshake. 

 

Regards Cazzesman

 

 

[Misterioso]

5 minutes ago, cazzesman said:

LED Torch light fetishes...........................well I never.    How do I join?          Is there a secret handshake.

Looking at your signature, I think you are all covered regarding fetishes You don't need another one.

[Guest Peter the Greek]

We've got:

 

 

The Wolf Eyes gear was cutting edge when released....gee, maybe 8-10? years ago. No its starting to age. The headlamps we've had maybe 5 pairs of, only two are still working, over maybe 10 years?

 

The LED Lenser gear is deserving of its reputation. The torch is excellent. The headlight is good, but the ergonomics aren't as good as the Wolfeyes and its not nearly as comfortable. Its also bulky and has lots of plastic. I do prefer it in use as it has a better light, but I can't see it lasting all that long either until something breaks. I do light the USB charging on it. Some of their gear has magnetic USB charging too, which I'll move to at some point.

 

I've a 9-5 job and also run a business from our farm. That means I do a lot of work at night outside. These get FLOGGED.

 

I'm keen to try Olight's range

[bob_m_54]

I've got a few LED Lenser L7s, and a H7 headlight, that are a few years old now, and have been great. But the only problem I've found with the headlight is the elastic strap has lost it's elasticity.

[blybo]

19 hours ago, DarkTree said:

Hmm, no one claims you need more than 1200 Lumens to cook some spaghetti. I can easily think of more demanding requirements.

Search and rescue maybe. Perhaps redundancy lights for boating. IMO hunting should be banned so I can't personally justify that use.

 

I wasn't talking about camping btw, for that 100 would be more than enough. If I can fly @40-50kph down difficult and technical mtb singletrack at night with around 600 lumens it shows how much over kill and annoying to other people many of these modern lights are. A bit like Toorak tractors but each to their own.

 

 

[Kaynin]

I've been using a Nitecore P12GT for about 5 years now.  It's a ripper, blows away most others LED's my work mates use.  Re-chargable through a computer USB is very handy.  1000 lumen is good, but need more light output, so will likely upgrade soon -
 

[surprisetech]

Got one of those little headlamp ones that is kept in the glovebox.  You can take it out of the strap and charge in the car cigarette lighter outlet.

And a nice rugged compact one for around the house & yard, but can't remember the brand.

 

If you've got an old favourite torch with an incandescent lamp, they can be upgraded.

I modernised a Dolphin and another waterproof torch with these:

https://www.dorcy.com.au/product-page/40-lumen-led-replacement-bulb
https://www.dorcy.com.au/product-page/30-lumen-led-replacement-bulb

[manchu]

I bought myself a Thorfire C8S last year and it's a bloody impressive for a $30 torch.        Too bad one of my kids lost it recently.   

 

I've got an Ledlenser kicking around which  was great when I got it ~8+yrs ago , but seems a bit anemic next to the C8S.       

 

 

23 hours ago, blybo said:

I don't understand the need to have any more than about 1200 lumens of brightness though

 

Me too.    That Thorfire I mentioned above is a 'measly' 900lm. but  I can't imagine needing more,   except for in a flashlight pissing contest.    

[cazzesman]

Lumens equals over compensation Freud might say 

 

Regards Cazzesman

[blybo]

1 hour ago, cazzesman said:

Lumens equals over compensation Freud might say 

 

Regards Cazzesman

of course, not all lumens are created equal

 

I remember when I first got my Ay-Up cycling lights probably 12 years ago, friends with less budget would buy Fenix torches and McGiver them to their handlebars. They supposedly had much much more lumens than my Ay-Ups, but at the time Ay-Ups were about the best cycling lights you could get and cost close to $400.

 

Current Ay-Up light sets are pushing out 700 lumens AND cheaper. I'm sure my first set was around 300 lumen and the first bike lights I actually felt safe to use in pitch darkness at any speed.

Edited May 13, 2020 by blybo

[bob_m_54]

6 hours ago, blybo said:

Search and rescue maybe. Perhaps redundancy lights for boating. IMO hunting should be banned so I can't personally justify that use.

 

I wasn't talking about camping btw, for that 100 would be more than enough. If I can fly @40-50kph down difficult and technical mtb singletrack at night with around 600 lumens it shows how much over kill and annoying to other people many of these modern lights are. A bit like Toorak tractors but each to their own.

 

 

What about fishing, which is even more barbaric when you think about it. I love my Led Lenser headlamp for fishing though..... We used to use hand held driving spot lights for hunting.

[Monk]

13 hours ago, Addicted to music said:

@Monk

 

you carry the big one under the drivers seat?  

 

I'd have to buy some D cells for it to be useful for that...  

 

8 hours ago, blybo said:

Search and rescue maybe. Perhaps redundancy lights for boating. IMO hunting should be banned so I can't personally justify that use.

 

I wasn't talking about camping btw, for that 100 would be more than enough. If I can fly @40-50kph down difficult and technical mtb singletrack at night with around 600 lumens it shows how much over kill and annoying to other people many of these modern lights are. A bit like Toorak tractors but each to their own.

 

 

 

Pretty sure you could apply what you just said to at least half the audio systems on this forum.  No one needs any of that equipment and it's just annoying to other people. 

 

Sure, I don't need the 5000 odd lumens out of the SP36 or Q8 99% of the time, but it's nice to have that 1% of the time I might.  Although the two smallest lights I have are the ones that get carried around the most as I have one on my keyring. 

 

AAA battery for scale.

 

[blybo]

11 hours ago, Monk said:

Pretty sure you could apply what you just said to at least half the audio systems on this forum.  No one needs any of that equipment and it's just annoying to other people. 

Jealousy perhaps, but my system never annoys anyone else.

 

I've also always been very conscious to use my cycling lights pointed down so they don't blind other road users.

[blybo]

14 hours ago, bob_m_54 said:

What about fishing, which is even more barbaric when you think about it. I love my Led Lenser headlamp for fishing though..... We used to use hand held driving spot lights for hunting.

I don't fish either. Used to in my teens but not for nearly 30 years. May teach my kids though, but not for sport, only for own needs.

[Mrkropotkin]

Well I have a few lights. 
Here are the Convoys only.  You can order these lights and choose from many different lenses, emitters short tubes or long tubes to fit battery sizes and types of switches.  And you can get parts to swap or replace. And they come apart. Every part generally can be changed.