Leaving the Country need help with choosing a good dependable light.

[chrisbfu]

I'm leaving for europe in two weeks. I wanted some ideas on a light that would be good for carrying. Someone I know, was telling me that having a light that uses CR123A batteries is not good idea. He told me they coast a pretty penny, and are hard to find. Anyways, I was just wanting input on something that would be a good choice for european travel. thanks for all the help.

 

[flatline]

2 weeks?

It's not like Europe is some 3rd world country without power or running water.

Just bring your favorite light and a spare cell. If you're really concerned that you'll need to purchase cells while you're there, just make sure your chosen flashlight (flashlights?) uses either AA or AAA cells.

Now, if you're trying to use this as an excuse to get another light, the please disregard this post.

Edit: I think I misread your post. I thought you were only going to be in Europe for 2 weeks, not that you were leaving in 2 weeks. Sorry. If you're going to be in Europe for a long time, just bring a charger and whatever rechargeable cells you normally use.

--flatline

 

[anotherocduser]

check 4sevens.com they have good and powerful (extremely dependable) flashlights that use regular AA batteries and put out 200+ lumens
this is a winner http://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=297_429&products_id=2687
Cheers

 

[glockboy]

Quark 2AA.
Zebralight SC51.

 

[chrisbfu]

thanks for the input, yeah i'm going to be there for a month backpacking and visiting family. I'm new to this, so i'm really enjoying looking at all the lights. thanks for the help!

 

[mat_the_cat]

It's not like Europe is some 3rd world country without power or running water.

:hahaha::hahaha:

Yeah, some places even have TV and the internet!

Depending on how long you'll be backpacking you'll either want to take plenty of rechargables or buy primary cells as you go along. If you bring a charger then you'll need the appropriate adaptor for when you visit friends.

Most importantly, have fun!

 

[dosei-45]

If you're going to be backpacking, definitely go with a Zebralight H51F or H51Fw.


If you're not backpacking, then a Zebralight SC51F or SC51Fw


If you like doing things like reading in bed with a flashlight, then get the H51F or H51Fw (whether you're backpacking or not). The Zebralight "headlamps" are also very usable as a handheld flashlight. They even come with pocket clips for when you are using it as a flashlight instead of a headlamp. VERY nice lights with an absolutely brilliant UI.

 

[mbw_151]

Take a look at all your battery powered gear. If there are battery powered items like a GPS or UV water purifier then get an a headlamp and hand held light that use the same type of cells. Life is easier if everything uses the same cell type. I put fresh cells in all my AA gear and took 4 spares and didn't use all the spares in a month of camping/backpacking last summer. Usage depends on where you stay; in a tent, in huts or hostels. We stayed up way into the night in a couple of huts carrying on with newly met friends. I strongly recommend a headlamp and a handheld. Make sure that both have at least one modest output around 10 lumens and are efficient at that output. If it is really dark, you'll use this output level a lot.

 

[Harry999]

It will definitely be easier and cheaper to use AA and AAA lights in the UK and Europe. If you are tied to CR123 lights perhaps it would be an idea to arrange to ship some CR123 cells to a family member you are visiting. An alternative is to order CR123s locally (there is a thread somewhere about where people order in the UK and Europe but if you need specifics of my preferred sources please PM me).

The best option I think would be rechargeable eneloops. The charger and 6 eneloop batteries are not that heavy and you could always have a 4 pack of Energizer Primary Lithium AAs as a backup. I second the advice above to get a headlamp and a handheld. The Zebralights tend to be my preferred option for a head lamp. In handheld 2AA lights my option would be a Surefire EL2AA or a Thrunite Neutron 2AA.

Also consider a small single AA or AAA backup. My recommendation is the 4Sevens Preon Revo or ITP A3 Eos in AAA and the Gerber Recon in AA. The Gerber has four filters built in so you can get red, blue and green light for various roles. The green is useful for map reading.

Have a good trip!

Regards

Harry

 

[tx101]

You should be able to find CR123 cells in the UK, try camera stores or larger supermarkets
but you will be paying at least double the cost.

 

[BIGLOU]

I recommed the Jetbeam RRT-0 with an AA extender. I just gave one to a friend of mine who embarked in a Central American journey. I can run on a AA, Eneloops, CR123 and RCR123 batteries. I just told my friend be careful of the military or police down there who might like it and take it away.

 

[Monocrom]

Since you're new here, it would help if you mentioned what sort of price range you had in mind.

I'd say that three lights would be a good minimum.

Keychain light, main light, and a back-up for your main light.

Here are a few good choices. I'll stick with AA or AAA lights for now. Keychain: Fenix E01, iTP A3 EOS, Fenix E05. All are single AAA lights. The E01 puts out a very small amount of light, and the beam profile is less than ideal. But the runtime is excellent, and the light is very tough and reliable. The E05 is shorter, but puts out quite a bit more light compared to the E01. The A3 is the current AAA king of keychain lights. Does a variety of things well. Only slight downside is that it's not as tough compared to the E01. With the A3, you get three output levels. High mode is very impressive for such a short light. Price is very good as well, considering that its output can function as a full-sized flashlight if needed.

For a main light, there are a variety of good 2AA choices. There's the Mini-M@glite LED model, Fenix E21, Fenix LD20, 4Sevens Quark 2AA model.

For a back-up light, a single AA model would be a good choice. There's the Fenix LD10, 4Sevens Quark AA model, and the Energizer AA model. (The last one is particularly good if you're on a tight budget. Easily found at Target, the tailcap switch on the Energizer is rather soft. But that's the biggest disadvantage. Output won't be as bright as the two other lights, but the price is very low with better than decent quality.)

Hope this helped.

 

[LEDninja]

If you're going to be in Europe for a long time, just bring a charger and whatever rechargeable cells you normally use.
--flatline

Careful here. Not all chargers are dual voltage. Especially AA/AAA types.

 

[Erzengel]

What are Your plans for Europe? How long will Your trip be, do You plan longer stays in the same hotel or do You stay for only one night in each city? Do You sleep at friends homes, in a hotel room or in a hostel with many beds in the same room?

 

[JacobJones]

I'd use a fenix LD20 and carry some energizer lithium AA's for it. If your backpacking maybe you won't always have the chance to stop for a while and charge your batteries, plus you won't have to fork out for a new charger that will work in europe, and you won't have to carry heavy NiMH's around with a charger wasting space in your pack

 

[angelofwar]

Why does no one recommend the E2L-AA??? It's my most dependable AA light by far...and very useful, especially with an F04. I guess it CPF habit to recommend lights that you have seen or owned, but, honestly, the E2L-AA will survive alot more than a handful of the lights mentioned here...and it runs nicely on Eneloops, Alkalines, and Lithium AA's.

Just my $.02

 

[Haesslich]

Why does no one recommend the E2L-AA??? It's my most dependable AA light by far...and very useful, especially with an F04. I guess it CPF habit to recommend lights that you have seen or owned, but, honestly, the E2L-AA will survive alot more than a handful of the lights mentioned here...and it runs nicely on Eneloops, Alkalines, and Lithium AA's.

Just my $.02

Probably because the $180 list price might be out of his budget. That, and unless he's going caving for weeks at a time in some Third World country, probably doesn't NEED a Surefire. It might be nice to have, but unless he plans on mounting it on a rifle while backpacking or dropping it off tall cliffs, is possibly overkill. Especially as he could get four lights (or three and a full set of Eneloops for each) at that price - Quarks or Fenix.

Two is one, and one is none, even if its a Surefire.

 

[Harry999]

Why does no one recommend the E2L-AA??? It's my most dependable AA light by far...and very useful, especially with an F04. I guess it CPF habit to recommend lights that you have seen or owned, but, honestly, the E2L-AA will survive alot more than a handful of the lights mentioned here...and it runs nicely on Eneloops, Alkalines, and Lithium AA's.

Just my $.02

I did at Post 9! 🙂 It probably is too expensive for the original poster but you are right it is a torch I trust. With an FO4 it has a beam pattern very similar to my Thrunite Neutrons - hence why I like it and that 3L setting will run for about 60hours plus. Actually that reminds me I need to do a runtime test!

 

[Monocrom]

Why does no one recommend the E2L-AA??? It's my most dependable AA light by far...and very useful, especially with an F04. I guess it CPF habit to recommend lights that you have seen or owned, but, honestly, the E2L-AA will survive alot more than a handful of the lights mentioned here...and it runs nicely on Eneloops, Alkalines, and Lithium AA's.

Just my $.02

Normally I would recommend a SureFire due to their quality, reliability, and durability. But all of mine except one run off of CR123 cells. The exception being the 9AN rechargeable. I don't feel very comfortable recommending a model I have zero personal experience with. If you've got an E2L-AA and it has performed wonderfully, that's excellent. 🙂

 

[chrisbfu]

my friend and I are taking a train trip through western europe and stopping at a few major cites. we are planning on doing the hostel and camping thing. I am thinking of getting a couple lights and do have some money to spend, about 200. thanks for your input.