Flashlight recommendation for visually impaired person

[alambrechts]

Hi,

(Apologies if I am the umpteenth newbie with the same sort of question. Feel free to flame me if I am, however links to relevant threads while flaming me would be appreciated)

I am looking for a torch that will help me find my way home from work at night, and thought that I found the perfect torch in the LL P7. Since then I have been thoroughly confused by the wealth of information in the forum, and now appeal for some help.

My situation

• I am partially sighted/visually impaired (Retinitis Pigmentosa) which pretty much means severe nightblindness.
• I have about a 30 minute walk home from work through 2 unlit fields.
• During the dark winter months, my wife usually picks me up in the car (I am not allowed to drive anymore) but since the arrival of our baby 11 weeks ago, I really dont want her to go through the hassle of bundling the little guy into the car, to come pick me up.
• So, I reckon that with a good torch I can do the whole walking home in the dark thing.

My requirements

1. Good quality torch with nice strong beam so I can see by it. (Think approx 10x to 20x more powerful than you would need for walking and you will get the idea)
2. Variable light intensities. Dont want to blind oncoming walkers or cyclists so dimming would be nice.
3. Good wide beam to light the path that I am walking on. A hot spot is not a requirement really since I wont be using it as a spotlight. Wide even beam is better than hotspot with some spill. (Is that even the right terminology?)
4. AA or AAA batteries would be nice. (easier to get hold of here in Europe)
5. Recharging capability would be nice so I can just plug it in every night I come home.

Finally, I have noticed several die-hard product supporters on the forum. While product loyalty is a good thing, please do not confuse me any more than I already am by suggesting a torch if you love it to bits, but it doesnt actually fit my requirements.

Many thanks in advance for your suggestions.

A

 

[PhotonBoy]

There are two basic types of light sources for flashlights: incandescent bulbs and LEDs.

I know nothing about your condition, but which type of lighting do you prefer? Standard light bulbs or fluorescent lights? That would help you focus your search.

 

[jabe1]

I think the CPF community could assist you better with more info.
If you could take the time to fill out the recommendation checklist, that would help.

My first instinct is to point you toward a P60 host with a multi-mode drop-in, probably a Cree XP-G (look at Nailbender's sales thread in the marketplace), with Lithium rechargeables.

 

[CarpentryHero]

The Fenix TK45 comes to mind with the info given, easy to use, multiple modes and 760 lumens. Very floody, runs on a bunch of AA's.
I'm guessing that since I can navigate of 45 lumens. 400 or more will be lots. 500 lumens is a car headlight type strength.
Maglite with a Fusion36 would be your most affordable option. 2 or 3 D cell maglite and $26usd for the dropin. Long runtime, and there are adapters to run 6 AA in place of 2D cells. Only drawback is it's a singlemode but if you point it straight down, you can navigate without blinding others.

 

[CarpentryHero]

Nailbender dropins are great, and Solarforce L2P or L2M are affordable hosts.
Keep a look out in the CPF marketplace, there are some flashaholics not to far from you. They might have some good insight. I'm in Canada and I bought from YKB from the UK and even with shipping it was a good deal.

 

[CarpentryHero]

I use a Fusion36 (can be found on eBay) in a 2D maglite. It's overkill for me but it's a great floodlight and I don't shine it at peoples faces.

It wouldn't hurt to become a member of CPF market place incase what you buy isn't what you need and you can't afford to keep both. Keep the packaging and resell it.
Sst-50, sst-90, MC-E and P7 are emitters that would work well for you. Look at runtimes and the ui (user interface) to see what's preferred

 

[B0wz3r]

I teach vision science, cognition, perception, and physiological psychology in the California state university system, and am familiar with your condition.

I would recommend a light with a good hotspot but a strong spill will also be very helpful for you. A pure flood light will have problems giving you much range of vision, simply because of the physics of it. Ideally, a narrow beam pure flood would probably be best but no such light exists that I'm aware of.

My first recommendation is a Zebralight SC60. It has a good hotspot with a smooth transition to the spill area which will give you more usable area at the center of your vision. It is also very powerful so it will gve you decent range simply via sheer horsepower. It's very compact and uses rechargeable batteries that will give you a long run time at even the maximum output level. Disadvantagesare that it's a bit more expensive, and would require you invest in lithium ion batteries for it and learn how to properly charge and maintain them. Zebralight also makes a smaller AA powered version (the SC51) that avoids these problems but isn't quite as bright. They also make a headlamp version, the H51.

After that I would recommend a Quark AA^2. Also very bright, and a good value for the money, with a nice broad hotspot. Comparable in price to the zebralight and can also use simple nickel-metal hydride rechargeables.

Also, for your use, rechargeables are the best way to go in the long run.

Hope this helps, and welcome to CPF! We're here to help!

Edit: the Fenix TK40 or TK45 would also be good choices. It depends on your budget. They are approx. $150 for the light, and then you would still need to buy a charger and batteries. Let us know what your budget is and that will help with giving you recommendations.

 

[waddup]

congrats on the new arrival


there is only a couple of big power lights that run on typical AA cells.

fenix tk40 and fenix tk45 are the top guns in that department.

multimode, very bright AA cells.

get one and some quality rechargeable AA cells (eneloops) and a good charger and thats as good as its going to get.

 

[CarpentryHero]

ITP Has a 6 AA flashlight, Plenty bright.

Pelican 8060 LED is only 185 lumens otf, its a thrower, that has reasonable spill.

Solarforce with a Masterpeace pro head. Mc-e,
sst-50 or P7 with three modes should work.
500ish lumens

Another question is cool white, neutral or Warm.
In the custom and modified buy, sell or trade. Nailbenders thread has alot of beamshots on the first page

 

[Shikar]

TK45. Its very powerful, flood, uses 8 AA's (you can use the rechargeable kinds), importantly it has 2 separate buttons to operate that can easily be learnt to operate the light.

Regards

 

[nick-nack]

Would you prefer a head torch or a hand held light?
I'm not very aware of the needs of your condition - but a head torch would be easier to use for long periods as you don't need to constantly have your hand up. But if you require a light that you can point around you then a hand held light might be the ticket.

 

[tandem]

+1 on whatever AA based light suggestions seem best fitted to you. Why AA? Why specifically NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) rechargeable cells?

1. You'll be using the light frequently which speaks to needing rechargeable cells for either economy or ecology or both.
   
2. Congrats on the new child! You and your wife have enough to worry about right now, so you need an easy to maintain power solution that is intrinsically safe to use. Particularly as kids start to move about the house, their insatiable appetite for exploration will almost certainly bring them to your flashlight(s) one day. Best it be safe in their hands.
   
3. NiMH cells are intrinsically safe to use and are safe to recharge with only common sense safety precautions. An easy to recommend brand is Sanyo Eneloop which are also available labelled as Duracell "Pre-Charged" with a white top and are nicknamed Duraloop here. NiMH cells are consumer items, available at most grocery stores and retail consumer electronics shops.
   
4. Lithium ion rechargeable cells are not intrinsically safe, but can be used safely. That's an important distinction. They are not consumer items and are therefore not available at most grocery stores and retail consumer electronics shops. This is for a reason -- their safe care and handling requires knowledge. This knowledge can be acquired here at CPF in abundance, but your kid(s) may take a while before they can acquire it for themselves. Locking up your li-ion light might be a solution you can accept.

I think both cell technologies have their place. My default approach to recommending either or is:

a) Li-ion gets the nod if the prospective use demands it and AA / AAA NiMH based power is not practical. Your case: No check.

b) NiMH gets the nod if the intended use can easily be managed by lights which can be bought at a walk in retail or from well known makers via the internet. Your case: Check.

c) Default to safety (NiMH) gets the nod where young children are involved, unless there is no other way to meet the need. Your case: Check

Beyond that simple filter, there are other factors that might sway one in either direction. A family with a number of AA or AAA powered devices (radios, remote controls, clocks, whatever) is a good candidate for AA based flashlights and good quality rechargeable cells.

On the other hand if a technology savvy individual expresses a keen desire to play/use/investigate the state of the art in output and knows all the risks and how to mitigate them, then sure, then by all means embrace li-ion cells and explore.

Personally I just don't feel comfortable making a li-ion powered light my default recommendation for a couple with a new family. You've got lots of other things to worrying about instead of wondering if you are treating your li-ion cells properly.

Assuming that "car headlight" style output or something approaching that is sufficient for your walking needs, it does seem that your requirements can be met with AA powered lights which have been suggested above by makers including Fenix, iTP, Sunwayman and others. They seem to have the output and runtime you would need.

If you aren't completely sure what level of output you require, perhaps a nearby dealer of LED lights may be able to arrange a loaner or a test for you outside in conditions similar to what you will experience. Or maybe there is a flashaholic living near you that can lend some help.

One technical comment: be sure to choose a light that won't be destroyed if you (or your young child one day) accidentally put the cells in the wrong direction. Lights that offer reverse polarity protection are what you are looking for. This is a pretty common feature in most integrated lights but don't take it for granted.

If you do go the AA NiMH route, get good rechargeable cells such as the Sanyo Eneloop. Excellent performance. Intrinsically safe. And not that expensive at all.

 

[DuncanHynes]

For what it's worth you may benefit from getting a warmer tint light rather than just all out brightness...if you're going through a field a warmer or neutral LED will give better definition so you could see things like holes in the ground or rocks that may look like dark spots otherwise if you get my meaning. I use cooler white LED tints and could imagine a condition like yours might find a typical LED hard on the eyes. Warmer tints won't be knock out bright but also a LDF (Light Diffuser Film) or beamshaper tip would take a hot spot and smooth it out into a broad area so you could see say, 75' out just as well as your two feet without moving the light all about back and forth up and down. A SureFire headlamp called the 'Saint' comes to mind as well although it's not a warm tint, you could be hands free and it runs on 2 AA's or 1,2, or 3 123Lithium cells. It is rated at 100 lumens which some could argue might be equal to 200 of a Fenix type brand and just has a simple rotating knob to adjust beam, nothing difficult to master and runs 1.5 hours on just AA's if I remember correctly.
Good Luck!

 

[KevinL]

I've helped someone who is vision impaired as well and they have mentioned that significantly more light than a normal person might need, is helpful to them.

Another recommendation for the Fenix TK40 - it's one heck of a light cannon It has adjustable output and runs on 8AA.

If you are worried about others who may be sharing the field with you, you can always point the light downwards towards your feet as they approach, or momentarily shield it with your hand.

You may also find that the lights are extremely useful to you in other aspects of every day life - and you might want something more pocketable than the TK40, though with a bit less output. You can try the LD10 (1AA) or LD20 (2AA) in future as well.

 

[miyagi]

Although I don't have any answer at the moment (due to lack of experience with LED lights), I am amazed with all of you providing valuable information. This is a great forum to learn and mingle with the experienced. Thank you for your input. Learning a lot by the way. lovecpf

 

[Satanta]

I know it's an old thread but I am curious if the OP still comes here and what they decided on and what they have done since.

Same issues as the OP but different cause. The TK-45 is on my list along with a ET P20A2.

 

[Philip2]

Weblink:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...p-suggestions-for-the-blind-visually-impaired