LED use in Central American Jungle

A couple of months ago I got some help from you fellahs in picking some LED lights for my son to take with him to Belize. He has been there for a little over a month and uses his lights every night. There is no electricity other than what he's got in his batteries.

He took an Inova X5T (2xCR123 Lithiums), a CMG Infinity Ultra (1xAA)and a Princeton-Tec Aurora headlamp (3xAAA). I sent him with a whole lot of batteries.

I just talked with him on the phone and, amazingly, he hasn't replaced the batteries in any of them yet! He said that, since I mentioned it, the Inova and the CMG I.Ultra were dim enough that he would change the batteries tonight. He said the Aurora was just now to the point where he needed to put it on the highest brightness setting in order to read at night.

Frankly, I was more than a little surprised. But, when I think about it, there is no light other than moon/starlight and whatever kerosene lanterns they have lit. So, a little light goes a long way. Also, in the jungle, one tends to use things up in order to stretch and conserve.

At this rate, he will have enough batteries to do him for a year.

He says he uses all three lights everynight, but that the CMG I.U. is the one that gets the most use. It's his EDC. Since there are no electric lights in his bathroom, he takes the CMG into the shower and hangs it by its lanyard from the shower nozzle. He carries it all the time on its lanyard around his neck. He says he uses it frequently in the rain forest during daylight. It can get dark in there with the multi-canopy.

He hasn't had any problem with the Aurora, I asked him about the switch and he said it works fine. He wears it when they take guests into the caves to see Mayan artifacts and it floods the area much better than the incandescents of the other staff and set on its lowest brightness setting it isn't too bright.

All three lights have been unaffected by rain and humidity. There have been no problems with switches or malfunctions of any kind.

I have since bought several of the ARC 1xAAAs and given them to the extended family and have already mailed one to him.

I had planned to send him one of the two Streamlight Twin-Task 3xC lights that arrived in the mail today. But, I have reconsidered. I think a Surefire Incandescent might be better.

He was offered $75 US for his Inova X5T by a tourist. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Sorry for such a long post, just wanted to let you know how his lights are working for him.

BC

Neat! Very informative post. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the update and it's great the lights worked out so well. Yes, a Surefire A2 sounds like a great addition /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif.

BCO311, that is such a great post. I tend to take my CMG ultra for granted, and use instead, other more powerful lights, with attendant high battery usagage. Your friend is using his Ultra like it should be used. It provides great night light, is small, is easy on batteries, and is a great light for survival, and rugged living conditions. Power to the practical!

Bill

cool!

Cool! That's exciting! Most of us probably wish we had so many opportunities to REALLY use our lights and rely on them. You sent him some good ones.
All he needs now is a laptop, satellite phone and solar panels so he can join us on CPF! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

wow!
thanx for this post!
puts some things into perspective again and makes me re-ecaluate those little 5mm LEDs for what they really are: grewat white long running indestructible *******s!
bernhard

That is a good story. Any more info or experiences would be appreciated. Thanks for sharing...

I sent a few Infinity Ultras with Andy to Iraq. He is with the National Guard here in Iowa and had no idea this would happen but is dealing with it. He is in a construction crew currently building barracks and shower houses near the airport. First he took one and his commander kept borrowing it so we got him a few more. He said they get dropped over and over. Just can't kill them. As a sidenote, he said every time a plane lands there he can hear gunfire being shot at the airplanes from the ground. They are far from done and this is at the airport.

Very VERY cool! I carry an ARC AAA every day in my watch pocket. Also in there is a SAK Classic. Some days I get so sweaty that sweat is all beaded up on the blades of the SAK and on the LED of the ARC. The ARC AAA has NEVER failed in any way.

I would expect no less from the Infinity, and am glad to hear I'm right!

I hear a lot of good things about the X5 too... It's just wrong looking to me. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif

Thanks fellahs for all the good advice and kind remarks.

The 18 year old is having so much fun his 21 year old brother has decided to take a semester sabbatical and will be going down to Belize on August 29th. I'll take a short trip later in the fall.

The older son was here last week and will be back in a week for "staging" before I put him on a plane. He now has an Arc AAA, a CMG Infinity Ultra, an Inova X5T, a P-T Aurora, a Photon Microlight III in Turquoise. Dazzles the heck out of me, especially on that strobe. He checked out the Streamlight Twin-Task 3c LED/Xenon lights I have and absconded with the black one.

I like my silver colored one. The checkering on the black one seems smoother and I like the sharper feel of the silver one better. It has good heft with the three C cells and would scob the knob of someone if I had to whack 'em with it.

For me, the SL TT 3c is a good household flashlight for someone who isn't "into" specialization. I chose the two 3c versions because of the beam shot comparisons I saw at one of the great review sites here. I think one of the Lithium versions would be a good choice for the glovebox of the non-specialist's vehicle. But my oldest said he'd give me a report after he's used it for a month.

The expenses for his trip pretty well knocked out my Surefire fund. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/broke.gif Just as well for now, I can't make up my mind. But, I think that is the hole in their lighting gear down there. I'm considering the A2 and a couple others. Perhaps straight incandescent for the Surefire to give them something that can reach out there.

Every person on staff at Mountain Equestrian Trails in Belize now has atleast a CMG Infi Ultra. They wear them on the lanyards around their necks and walk at night with them turned on. That seems to work fine for most of their walking around and chores since there is no other electric light.

He had to get a "Yellow Jaw" (Fer-de-Lance) out from under one of the guest cabana's porches at night and he wished the P-T Aurora headlamp was brighter. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif They brought in one of their old 6 volt lanterns and he used his Inova X5T in addition to his Aurora. Dragged it out with his homemade, broomhandle snare and it was disposed of. I can't wait for the photos. I hope to have things figured out by then so I can post a photo here.

So, I'm open to any suggestions, you guys never steer me wrong. How about this 4 LED P-T headlamp? Is there a headlamp that has an LED/Incandescent capability with good water resistance that you recommend?

Thanks again,
BC

If I were you I think that my next light down would be a 3xaa with a 1-watt LS, perhaps the one from Wayne at Elektro Lumens or the one from Streamlight .

A streamlight 4AA LED would also be an excellent choice!

or how about a bigger/long lasting Lightwave

Check out this thread. The new Matrix 2 has a 1 watt LS and 3 5 mm LEDs. Might be perfect.

if you're getting a surefire, research the a2 and the e2o outdoorsman with a kl1..

and also, get the kl1 in green..

Well, I put my oldest on the plane to Belize yesterday. I keep coming back to this thread and following the links you guys provided as well as trying to keep up with the posts on CPF every couple of days. I have about 10 lights on my buying list when I recover from financing this trip.

The manager of Mountain Equestrian Trails (son of the owners who are old friends) and his girlfriend came through at the beginning of the week and spent a night. He and my son stayed up half the night planning all sorts of adventures for he and my sons.

He flipped over the SL TT 3C and took my silver one along with my stash of C cells. His girlfriend took my extra Infi Ultra and my Aurora headlamp. What can I say? I'm easy.

They got the generator running and are picking up fast chargers and NiMh AA and AAA cells for the lights and Motorola T-5820 Family Band Radios. But, he said he wouldn't mess with recharging C cells. Both of my sons have plenty of 3volt Lithiums I bought online, the other son says he uses 2 a month in his Inova X5T. His brother will use more in the G2 I imagine.

My oldest son, Derek, took:
Arc AAA
CMG Infinity Ultra
Streamlight Twin Task 3C
Surefire G2 and spare P60 lamp
Princeton-Tec Aurora headlamp
Eveready Folding LED(2) camping lamp (4AAA)
and I picked up a PT Yukon Headlamp the day before he left. I wanted him to have a powerful headlamp with some throw and I happened to see it in a backpacking store. I am looking forward to getting the PT Matrix 2 when it comes out.

Every staff member at MET has an Infinity Ultra and most have a PT Aurora or Petzl Tikka headlamp, now. They swear by them and always carry the Infis and have gone to using the LED Headlamps instead of their old incandescents when they go into caves (frequently). They're thinking of selling Infi Ultras and perhaps LED headlamps in their Gift Shop. It amazes me that so many people travel, even internationally, without a single flashlight. But, to go to the Third World, and the jungle at that, without a single flashlight? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

My sons and the manager will be going on several nighttime hunts in the next two months. Feral cattle are becoming more frequently encountered and the feral bulls are dangerous. There is no season on them and it's considered beneficial to the community to kill them when found. They are sort of the Central American version of Cape Buffalo. They also will hunt the C.A. bush ape delicacy: The Gibnut. It is an odd looking little creature. It's head looks like a giant Chipmunk's with beaver-sized incisors. The body looks like, well, sort of like a Chihuahua on steroids. Long legs and they run real fast. Anyway, they're usually hunted at night, so a headlamp with some throw is necessary.

The little Auroras don't have enough reach, maybe the 1 watt Matrix 2 will. I'm considering sending either another couple of PT Yukons or maybe their Predators, the ones that run on 4AAs. What do you fellahs think?

I have just about emptied out my light locker. I have my Arc AAA, an Infi Ultra, my old 3D Mag, and a SL TT 2L in the glovebox.

I have a silver Pelican M6 2L that is supposed to arrive on Tuesday. I'm going to have to get one of the Elektrolumens 3x1 Watt Luxeon Tri-Stars and, when available, the 3x3watt LS option. Also, I want the SF A2 and I think an SF C3 with some bells and whistles. Lots more....

Whew, and to think, in April I had just the 3D Mag and a Mini. CPF and you fellahs in particular have been terrific help. A very dark place, in a jungle, in the mountains, on a frontier have got excellent personal lights now, that, as they say, "run forever on a AA". I've told them when they get their internet access more reliable to check out this forum to keep up on the latest.

Best regards,

BC