Light choice

[meuge]

Hi

I am a newbie to these boards. I've been browsing for a little while, as I was researching what would be the (relatively) affordable, but good LED light for night hiking.

Yes, I know headlamps are good, but a friend of mine gave me a cheap headlamp that does a decent job illuminating the area 6ft in front of me, so while I plan to get a new one, I'll deal with what I got for free.

The specifications I was looking for, were:

1. Midway between spot and flood. I need something with a bit of reach, but that won't feel like looking through a pinhole.
2. Capability to use AA batteries (I have rechargeables, but I like the capability to use cheap and readily available alkalines).
3. Regulated brightness that lasts ~4-6 hours (I can live with 1 change/night), or ~10 hours (to last the whole night).
4. Small enough form factor to fit in the hand (up to 4X AA).
5. Less than ~$75.

So far, the light that seems to fit my specifications the best appears to be the Fenix L2D-CE.

So I pose a question to the far more experienced community here - would that be a good choice, or am I going down the wrong path.

Thanks in advance.

P.S. Currently, the light I am using is a 3X AAA 9x5mm LED Garrity light (direct drive), which actually is surprisingly good (wide flood-like beam that reaches >20ft)... and lasts about 16 hours, during which time it gets about 10X dimmer.

 

[BB]

If you want something more between a spot and a flood--you might want to look at the Fenix textured reflectors... Does not make it a flood but certainly softens the beam a bit.

The "CE's" (at least my P3D-CE), is certainly a surprising spot light. Look around for some beam shots and reviews.

Here is one review comparing various flavors of reflectors and Q2 bin options. Be aware that even a brighter light re-purposed as a flood will look dimmer by eye.

-Bill

Getting a spot and adding a diffuser (either stuck to the lens or a diffuser cap of some sort) is not a bad solution--two lights for the price of a few cents of plastic).

 

[katx]

Hi

I am a newbie to these boards. I've been browsing for a little while, as I was researching what would be the (relatively) affordable, but good LED light for night hiking.

Yes, I know headlamps are good, but a friend of mine gave me a cheap headlamp that does a decent job illuminating the area 6ft in front of me, so while I plan to get a new one, I'll deal with what I got for free.

The specifications I was looking for, were:

1. Midway between spot and flood. I need something with a bit of reach, but that won't feel like looking through a pinhole.
2. Capability to use AA batteries (I have rechargeables, but I like the capability to use cheap and readily available alkalines).
3. Regulated brightness that lasts ~4-6 hours (I can live with 1 change/night), or ~10 hours (to last the whole night).
4. Small enough form factor to fit in the hand (up to 4X AA).
5. Less than ~$75.

So far, the light that seems to fit my specifications the best appears to be the Fenix L2D-CE.

So I pose a question to the far more experienced community here - would that be a good choice, or am I going down the wrong path.

Thanks in advance.

P.S. Currently, the light I am using is a 3X AAA 9x5mm LED Garrity light (direct drive), which actually is surprisingly good (wide flood-like beam that reaches >20ft)... and lasts about 16 hours, during which time it gets about 10X dimmer.

(Just to annoy the Fenix-troopers on this list,) I would go with a Streamlight 4AA Propylene. It is just about a perfect light and you can have two of them for the price one Fenix. You also get twice as much quality.

Well, not "just" to annoy but as an added fringe benefit.

(BTW: I have both lights.)

 

[katx]

If you want something more between a spot and a flood--you might want to look at the Fenix textured reflectors... Does not make it a flood but certainly softens the beam a bit.

The "CE's" (at least my P3D-CE), is certainly a surprising spot light. Look around for some beam shots and reviews.

Here is one review comparing various flavors of reflectors and Q2 bin options. Be aware that even a brighter light re-purposed as a flood will look dimmer by eye.

-Bill

Getting a spot and adding a diffuser (either stuck to the lens or a diffuser cap of some sort) is not a bad solution--two lights for the price of a few cents of plastic).

Bill, I recently got a L2D CEb for father's day. How do I figure out if I have textured reflector or not?

Thanks.

 

[BB]

Check the link to the review I posted... It has pictures of the reflectors (front of various lights)... Really not difficult to tell (one is mirror smooth, the other is pebbly)--is this a real question?...

Also, my favorite light would have been the 1/2 watt UK 4AA eLED (plastic, rugged, pretty water proof, even rated for dangerous environments)---10-12 hours on 4 alkaline batteries. I also have 1 watt the "ZOOM" version--but even though that is two level (1 watt and click down to 1/2 watt--IIRC)--the original eLED had better spill and a smaller head for easier carry/use--too bad the original eLED is still not made (from what I have seen).

And, I am not a "Fenix Trooper"--answered a direct comment about wanting a flood/spot beam from the original "trooper" brought up the Fenix in the first post. Want to give it a "bit of a rest here in this thread"?

-Bill

eLED with a new Cree (and drop the current down for a 20 hour+life)--that would be nice.

 

[Ken 222]

meuge,
Welcome to CPF! I think a LumaPower LM301 and a couple extra 25 cent alkalines and you'd be good to go. There are two reviews on the 303 and 301 open right now. I can't wait to get mine.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=169403


Ken

 

[half-watt]

I've used a Fenix clipped to my ballcap brim/visor for night trekking for some months (a clip can be had by purchasing a $4.95 MiniMagLite Accessory kit which contains one clip that will fit both AA and CR123 Fenix tubes).

Works well hat mounted with the clip, or head mounted with a $4.95 JakStrap (or you could make a band yourself modelled after the JakStrap; my SF U2 is on such a homemade JakStrap, though the U2 is just a tad big & heavy for long term use in that fashion, but that's just my personal preference/tastes).

The L2D-CE is a tad long and is better side-mounted in a JakStrap head band (~$4.95), but can still be used on the brim/visor if you prefer (as long as the visor is long enough).

Of course, if you don't use two trekking poles, you could carry it in your hand. You'll see more shadows than if the light is mounted at or near eye level. Some people prefer to carry a light in their hands and prefer shadows as they say they get a better perception of depth and contour. However, i, personally, find that the shadows tend to obscure objects further downfield.

The P3D-CE is a little shorter than the L2D-CE and should work a little better on the capbrim.

Also, since you said that you could get by with one battery change per night, the L1D-CE will o.p. 40lm for 5h - make that 10h with your one battery change. For me, having age degraded low light vision with no other issues that would degrade low light vision (e.g., smoking, some Rx/meds, poor diet, etc.), other than simple paths and gentle terrain, the 9lm low setting of the L1D-CE/L2D-CE is insufficient, when trekking indistinct trails, to pick out 20'-30' feet in front faded low-contrast blazes on tree trunks and rocks. However, if you're young healthy, don't smoke, have a good diet, and aren't on certain meds, you might be able to trek at night over more aggressive terrain or on indistinct trails.

Since stumbling (not literally, mind you) across Fenix on the WWW, i haven't used true headlamps much anymore. The combination of burn-time, throw, and lightweight [i could carry a bunch of spare batts and have greater burn-time and still be lighter than my favorite PT Apex headlamp] is what swayed me as an ultralight backpacker.

Give it a shot, hope it works out for you.

 

[katx]

Check the link to the review I posted... It has pictures of the reflectors (front of various lights)... Really not difficult to tell (one is mirror smooth, the other is pebbly)--is this a real question?...

Also, my favorite light would have been the 1/2 watt UK 4AA eLED (plastic, rugged, pretty water proof, even rated for dangerous environments)---10-12 hours on 4 alkaline batteries. I also have 1 watt the "ZOOM" version--but even though that is two level (1 watt and click down to 1/2 watt--IIRC)--the original eLED had better spill and a smaller head for easier carry/use--too bad the original eLED is still not made (from what I have seen).

And, I am not a "Fenix Trooper"--answered a direct comment about wanting a flood/spot beam from the original "trooper" brought up the Fenix in the first post. Want to give it a "bit of a rest here in this thread"?

-Bill

eLED with a new Cree (and drop the current down for a 20 hour+life)--that would be nice.

1. Thanks for the answer. It was a real question.

2. I was not referring to you as a Fenix-trooper.

3. I will be having fun while participating, mostly learning, and occasionally giving my honest opinions. I am sorry if you do not approve of that.

 

[22hornet]

Hello,

Just my opinion:
- Inova Bolt 2AA
- Fenix L2P v2
- Fenix L2D ce
- Peak Mediterranean with 2AA tube. (costs more than 75USD)
- Maglite led model minimag 2AA

Plus, I would always take a reliable backup light with me, a good 1AAA would do.

Kind regards,
Joris