Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Headlamp

dar

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Wow, I can't wait until the final production versions of this headlamp go on sale!

http://www.stenlight.com

This baby has two 3W LEDs, fully regulated, one with a 15 degree throw for spotting, one with a fresnel lens for flood light. Uses custom rechargable Lithion Ion battery pack for light weight and great life, 5 hours on high, 20 hours on mid. Lamp is machined aluminum, completely water sealed...in fact, the switch is magnetic so no moving parts have to penetrate it.

Someone brought a pre-production unit to our local grotto meeting this week; we turned out all the lights and it lit an entire banquet room up. In fact, it's so bright, you'll need to be extra careful not to blind your fellow cavers with it. Looks like they're probably going to go on sale for around $310 with one battery and a charger...sign me up!

Edited: fixed URL, Firefox must be smarter than other browsers
 

John N

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Re: Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Head

Try www.stenlight.com, not stenlight.com.

The light looks very sturdy, but the hinge sure doesn't...

-john
 

RobWV

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This looks like a great light for caving. Any idea when they will be available? I need to start saving my money.
 

PeLu

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It was said to be in available in September, but no official statement AFAIK.
[ QUOTE ]
you'll need to be extra careful not to blind your fellow cavers with it

[/ QUOTE ]
That is easy with many lamps .-)

It should put out enough light for most caving purposes, still much less than a carbide lamp, anyway.

It cames close to the perfect lamp, the only feature I miss is that the two LEDs could be switched indepent. But this one would cause the price to raise too high.

We will also see if the magnetic switch does not influence the compass too much.

I like the Melzer Radon which is similar (but has just one LED) in practical life.
 

dar

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Re: Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Head

[ QUOTE ]
We will also see if the magnetic switch does not influence the compass too much.


[/ QUOTE ]

I've talked to several people who have been testing the pre-production lights this year, all have been project cavers. Several I know personally have been surveying Hell Hole here in WV, and all have said that this light is the best they've ever used (yes, even carbide fans).

I agree that the hinge looks like a weak point from the photo, and I admit that I was too awestruck when I had the light in my hands to pay much attention to the hinge.
 

cue003

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Re: Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Head

Am I missing something here. Is there a headband for this "headlight" or is it only to be attached to helmets etc?

Thanks

Curtis
 

dar

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Re: Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Head

[ QUOTE ]
cue003 said:
Am I missing something here. Is there a headband for this "headlight" or is it only to be attached to helmets etc?


[/ QUOTE ]

It uses a standard blade mount.
 

Justintoxicated

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Re: Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Head

SOudns nice but way too Overpriced. 2 Lux III's are only $20 or less and te optics are onyl maybe $5.

So basicaly the rest of the money goes for the body and battery and circuit which are not worth it IMO. They could have at least used reflectors instead of carclo optics.
 

jtice

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Re: Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Head

Hi dar, welcome to the forums !
hmmmmm, David? that you? This is Trotto. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Thanks for posting about this,
I have been keeping in touch with the creator of this light, and it sounds very nice.

The switch uses a Hall effect design guys,
so that should be great for water resistance.

I beleave there will be a bike attachment also,
but it should be pretty versitile as far as what you can attach it to.

Justin,
I have spoke to him about reflectors,
I THINK that 17mm IMS ones will work in these,
might require a slight spacer, but should work.
I think he went against reflectors due to optics allowing differnt beam patterns.

~John
 

jtice

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Re: Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Head

oh BTW,

DAMN, they broght one to the last meeting. arg
I was out on my camping/caving trip then,
so I missed out /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Think theres any chance they will be bringing one by again?
 

Justintoxicated

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Re: Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Head

sup Jtice, I been away fromt eh forums for too long, nothing new ehre though I'm still bitching about prices lol. Switch does sound like a good design.
 

jtice

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Re: Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Head

yea, you have been away too long,
havnt even popped into chat to see me tisk tisk. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

heh, im a price bitcher too, dont worry /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I was hoping to see the price alittle lower also, but there was alot involved in this light.
and I think its very strong.
 

RobF

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Re: Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Head

I was wondering if a model could be seen anywhere. They're listing IMO (inner mountain outfitters) as a distributor but nothings yet listed on IMO's website. The stenlight contact listed is a non-functioning email address - at least it just bounces back to me.

I certainly like the small battery and after reading everything they've got on the site it seems to be a pretty decent machine. As far as i can tell it's in the upper end of caving lights and seems to be on a par with the HDS actionlight 3.

Anyone have any info on the stenlight's release date?
RF
 

jtice

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Re: Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Head

Rob,

Yes, IMO will be selling the lights, I think in about 2 to 3 weeks from now.

Ill check into the email, and see if theres another that you can contact them with,

I have one sorta on preorder. and will be doing a full review on it.
As far as I can tell, its a step above the HDS headlamp, and ALOT smaller.

~John
 

jtice

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Re: Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Head

oh BTW, Rob,

they are bases in VA /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
you should just find out if you can swing by to look at them. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 

jtice

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Re: Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Head

PM Sent Rob /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 

PeLu

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Re: Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Head

[ QUOTE ]
Justintoxicated said:
SOudns nice but way too Overpriced.

[/ QUOTE ]

Depends on what you use it for. I'm willing to pay for relyability and actually do not care about if the light costs $100 or $400 if I can expect 5 years of service from it.

What I would like is that the two LEDs could be switched independently. So using a flood and a more spottish one, you could change the illuminated area.
The lower light modes should be flood and vice versa.

Most of the time I prefer a pure flood light, but people's tastes are different.

The developer told me that this would almost double the electronics (of course) and drive the price out of many people's reach. Understandable.
Maybe there is sometimes a premium version....
 

jtice

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Re: Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Head

I also would have liked the option to have just one led on at a time.
But this would have added alot to the light, as far as the circuit, and would need a second switch.
The switch is just a crude metal tab, that you rotate, which is exactly what it should be for a caving light.
Sometimes you have gloves on, add some mud to that, and its hard to manages littel buttons and switches.

I think that the Stenlight comes with two 20 degree optics in it,
I will probably have one flood and one spot in it.
Should make a nice bit of light.

Anyone know a good sorce for all the diff optics?
Didnt they have some that were really floody?
 

cy

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Re: Cavers - The StenLight, Ultimate 2x3W LED Head

after reading the spec's, wondered why they chose to hook luxeons in series instead of parallel?

redundancy is good.. if one fails, other would keep on trucking.
 
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