Walking the dog

[ikendu]

I take daily walks out in the country with my dog...no leash. Once Fall hits, I need lights. I've worked out a scheme that uses 3 lights:

1. Dog marker

I use an old, yellow color Infinity. It casts a nice pool of yellow light on the ground hanging from the dog's collar. That way I can see where the dog is as she ranges off to the sides, up ahead or behind as she investigates some smell or whatever. I was using an LED Club, red color light but I got tired of replacing the lithium coin cell. Now I can run the light on a NiMH or much longer lasting lithium AA.

2. Walking light/marker light so cars can see me

I usually don't need much light to walk by for myself. It is a paved street with almost no traffic that I know every foot of quite well. I use a blue/green Infinity on a neck cord to light up the surface at my feet and shine a marker light down my chest so cars can see me as I walk along. Some times instead of the Infinity, I've just used a 3-LED light like a PT Attitude or Dorcy 3-LED 1 AA carried in the hand. Like I say, I really don't need a lot of light for the walk and I like preserving my night vision.

3. Spot lighter for "items of interest"

Some times the dog won't respond to calls or I can see that her light has stopped a distance away. I need a light along to "spot light" the dog so I can see her and what is going on...or to spot light other noises around. For this duty, I've been carrying the UK 4AA AS2 incandescent (2W lamp). I haven't found a more compact light that will run on plain AAs that throws such a long, tight beam for spot lighting. UK now makes a 4W lamp ($8) just for use with NiMHs. I'll likely upgrade to that. The light is never on for long and many days it never is on at all; just when needed.

This is the light I would like to replace with a powerful LED spot lighting unit. Although, so far, I've not seen one that uses plain AAs and is compact like the UK 4AA.

Any suggestions?

 

[John N]

I'm trying to tie the dog walking threads together. Here are all the dog walking threads I know of:

Summary of Dog Walking Threads on the CPF Wiki

[Keywords: dog, doggie, doggy, blinker, reflective, night, walking, safety]

 

[flashlight]

[ QUOTE ]
John N said:

You might check out the dog walking threads.

-john

[/ QUOTE ]

Looks like you've become the Official Dog-Lights Threads Keeper. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[AuroraLite]

I guess John has it covered pretty well already in the 'dog thread'. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Just in add in my quick two cents:
For 1+2, I am a big fan for the Nite Ize Maker:

which it could be attached to clothing/bags/childern/puppy pretty easily.

Another one cool 'gadget' is the Glotoob:

but the upkeep could be a little higher since the battery doesn't last that long in the toob as the battery in the marker.

For 3, to stick with AAs, I would suggest Gerber LX 3.0 which is really a well built light with some really white and decently bright/tight beam.

 

[kitelights]

It sounds like you're walking in an area that is dark and has very little traffic which means non attentive drivers because they don't expect anything out of the ordinary. I would suggest much more visible options, such as a reflective vest or a 2" fast blinking red bike light for both you and the dog.

For the AA light, there are several options, but the least expensive is the new Costco 2AA Luxeon. It's a little bit bigger and heavier than a Mag, but the larger head and optics means an impressively throwing light for its size and price. One of the threads mentions changing the optic to a reflector with good results, but I haven't tried it.

It's an incredible bargain right out of the package. 90-100 runtime and more than twice as bright as the SL Lux Jr.

 

[tygger]

I'll have to agree with the glow-toob suggestion for a dog marker light. Actually the Glow-toob FX with the strobe flash is a great light for a dog. On the strobe function it lasts forever and the green one gets lots of attention. I use one when i go night hiking for my husky/retriever mix who loves to wander off. Just a suggestion, i also use an alaskan bear bell attached to his collar so i can hear where he is day or night if he gets into the bushes chasing rabbits or foxes or whatever. hope that helps.

 

[TORCH_BOY]

I have two small to medium dogs, Glowing things set them off
I have to carry a flashlight.

 

[TORCH_BOY]

When I walk my two dogs in the evening, I carry a 2 D cell EL
Blaster 1-R, I like it as its brightness is just right for
the job and it is sturdy and if my dogs wonder from me the beam from the Blaster will easily find them ,as my dogs don't like glowing things hanging from their collars

 

[pedalinbob]

"This is the light I would like to replace with a powerful LED spot lighting "

i have BB400's and a madmax lite.

with a fraen LP, they pump out some pretty high lux.
though not super tight, it is a kind of "cone" of light.
my lux readings jump more than 50% when changing from NX05 to fraen.

some of the reflectors are quite respectable as well.

you could use a BB500 (or 650 or whatever) with a fraen or reflector in a minimag. should be rechargeable friendly!

maybe you could also check quickbeam's site to compare the throw of the UK4AA to one of the other lights listed.

good luck!

Bob

 

[John N]

[ QUOTE ]
tygger said:
I'll have to agree with the glow-toob suggestion for a dog marker light. Actually the Glow-toob FX with the strobe flash is a great light for a dog. On the strobe function it lasts forever and the green one gets lots of attention. I use one when i go night hiking for my husky/retriever mix who loves to wander off.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've been wondering about this. Can you think of any way to describe how bright and noticable it is?

Thanks,

-john


BTW, I noticed a Glo-Toob thread in the gear section.

 

[Stanley]

Dansdata's site seems to have a fair comparison of the Glo-toob with a Krill stick... hope it gives you some sort of idea?

 

[Emanuel]

We just used this version of Glo-Toob for a Police K9 unit, with a simple collar adaptor. In flash mode it lasts more than 200 hours http://lumilex.led-supply.com/prod8.html

 

[DaveYoungman]

*BUMP*

Thanks to JohnN and his dog light links I figure I'll might as well show ya'll the best.

I just shipped a whack of my collars to L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. for their Special K9 (man-tracking) Team so the LE guys have finally realized that I'm NOT trying to get their dogs killed.

Here's the URL / links

http://www.auroralites.com

http://www.auroralites.com/users/users.html (partial list of clients)

http://www.auroralites.com/pictures_of_collars_and_vests.asp (Pics)

http://www.auroralites.com/satisfied.asp (Testimonials)

 

[Esthan]

Glo Toob FX and Reflective Collar solution for Dogs that tend
to dissapear during long walks in the dark outdoors. :]

 

[PhantomPhoton]

IRRC Glo Toob is updating their product for use with a 123 battery instead of that nasty little 12V that it uses now. Has anyone else heard this? If so it makes replacing the battery a lot easier IMO if you're going to use the glo toob every day.

 

[John N]

There is a thread with discussion of the new 123a Glo-Toob, but there has been no update lately.

-john

 

[skunksoup]

https://www.emergencyoptions.com/default.aspx I found this website and they have really good prices for Glotoobs.

 

[Campdavid]

For Glo-Toobs go to www.Lighthound.com

They have the FX in a nice set up with the clicky button and soft rubber attachment that speads the fight out even more. It's called the "Auto Pack" for $21.99 and the service/shipping times are outstanding. I have a bunch of them...good stuff!

 

[Sharpdogs]

Another Glo-toob fan, or you try a one of the Photon keychain lights. You can use something like this for quick attachement and detachement https://edcdepot.com/merchantmanager/product_info.php?cPath=9&products_id=109

Esthan:

That's a beautiful dog!

 

[TORCH_BOY]

Have you tried the M@GLed 3AA