Night O headtorches

[SeanC]

The Night O season is here soon (first Kent Night Cup is at Trosley on Thursday 19th October - is that the first this autumn?).

Headtorch recommendations anyone? I see Silva are doing a 10,000 lumen headtorch for a lot of money. I've noticed even more powerful headtorches are on Amazon for fairly small money. Anyone tried these? Would these be safe and suitable for orienteering? Where is the best place to go for a 'normal' eg 1000-2000 lumen headtorch that is reliable/safe and isn't into the hundreds of pounds? (Brightbikelights are still around, any alternatives or something new and reasonably priced from Mila/Silva/Pletzl etc designed for orienteers).

[tomgood]

This was my midlife crisis headtorch

https://luciferlights.net/en/led-headlamps

[MrD]

The Night O season is here soon (first Kent Night Cup is at Trosley on Thursday 19th October - is that the first this autumn?).

Headtorch recommendations anyone? I see Silva are doing a 10,000 lumen headtorch for a lot of money. I've noticed even more powerful headtorches are on Amazon for fairly small money. Anyone tried these? Would these be safe and suitable for orienteering? Where is the best place to go for a 'normal' eg 1000-2000 lumen headtorch that is reliable/safe and isn't into the hundreds of pounds? (Brightbikelights are still around, any alternatives or something new and reasonably priced from Mila/Silva/Pletzl etc designed for orienteers).

The site you mention are expensive, other items can be purchased elsewhere with similar output (Amazon/eBay etc). The problem will be duration of the batteries, when compared against your event; some would argue that a larger mAh is best. Most of mine in the past have lasted for up to 3 hrs at full setting, then the following year they don't perform as well (following Feb-Nov in the cupboard), with the battery pack replaced soon after.

You can use the Karrimor audio belt to hold battery packs, remove the internal pocket and poke the battery connector through the headphone socket. Ideally, a flat battery pack is needed over something square and bulky, poking you in the back.

Night events always request you have a spare torch, i use that for "get me back" mode, rather than progressing into the course. Often i can be found charging and then performance timing the discharge ahead of the night season..

[HarryO]

I found this video guide excellent - and used it to select my xmas pressie for 2022: https://www.wildgingerrunning.co.uk/202 ... oomi-life/

[Excelman]

I got this, there's a discount code on the BOF website too. I am more than happy with it, and it is good value for under £100. When I go for night runs with my (non orienteering) club, this torch is massively brighter than anyone elses haha.

https://brightbikelights.com/product/fe ... enteering/

[miklcct]

Victoper Head Torch Rechargeable... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C8NCW8N1? ... b_ap_share

£21.99 25000 lumens

[roadrunner]

I'm curious about how much one can believe the adverts - for example, the Bright Bike Lights one claims 1500 lumen while the Amazon one claims 25000 lumen. According to https://www.dial.de/en-GB/projects/effi ... -white-led, you might get something like 150 lumen per watt of battery power, which means the Bright Bike Lights one would take 10W from the battery and the Amazon one 166W. The former is totally consistent with what they claim for battery life, but the latter definitely isn't! It doesn't mean they aren't both good bright torches, of course.

[King Penguin]

Would an Amazon mis-type explain it ? Should 25000 lumens perhaps be 2500 ?

[roadrunner]

Would an Amazon mis-type explain it ? Should 25000 lumens perhaps be 2500 ?

Unlikely as the number appears in lots of places including on images.

[Big Jon]

Can Amazon details be trusted?

[Snail]

Is it because the 25000 lumen one has 11 LEDs, and the other only one? I'll leave a scientist to comment on whether multiple LEDs can simultaneously produce 2000+ lumens each of output from a single battery.

[roadrunner]

Is it because the 25000 lumen one has 11 LEDs, and the other only one? I'll leave a scientist to comment on whether multiple LEDs can simultaneously produce 2000+ lumens each of output from a single battery.

In principle they could, but not for very long

[SIman]

A year after the first post on this thread, can anyone recommend the *best head torch for orienteering this winter.
*best = balance of build quality, brightness, beam pattern, useable time, weight, comfort, etc, etc - oh, and cost.
Are there any recent reviews I have missed.
Tia
Robin

[rf_fozzy]

A year after the first post on this thread, can anyone recommend the *best head torch for orienteering this winter.
*best = balance of build quality, brightness, beam pattern, useable time, weight, comfort, etc, etc - oh, and cost.
Are there any recent reviews I have missed.
Tia
Robin

This is impossible to answer without knowing more details.

Generally if you want the "best" and brightest, then you will also be looking at the most expensive - one of top of the range Lumonite, Mila, Silva or Hope ones perhaps.

If you have a budget, then you're looking at compromises in at least several of your categories.

In the end it comes down to how much spare £££ you have!

[SeanC]

With under a month to go before this year's Kent Night Cup starts, it would be handy to know the latest 'best buys'.

For a more specific question, please could we have any information on the best headtorches for night orienteering and where to buy at these price points:

Under £50.
Under £100.
Under £200.
Price no object (maybe under £1000).

Thursday 10th Oct, Trosley Country Park for those in the South East (this is a 'Prologue' warm up event... to test out your new night gear).