africanexperience
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2011
- Messages
- 60
Hi guys, I need your expert advice!
Over the last few years I have bought several LED lights to use in the wilds of africa where I live - middle of a national park with lot's of dangerous game where a good flashlight is literally a life saver.
So far I have owned:
- Jetbeam (Jet 1 Pro): returned to vendor after purchase as it wouldn't run properly. Replacement has worked okay for almost one year.
- Zebra Light Head torch (AA): Recently started failing... sometimes failing to switch on.
- Maglight (Magcharger with LED conversion): switch rubber failed, LED unit contacts broke, Glass shattered twice
- Maglight XL100: has performed flawlessly.
To be honest I am tired of reliability issues. The XL100 is my wifes and works well but I just know that with my use it will also take a beating and likely fail. The old magcharger gave a good few years service and I could generally always count on it.
The zebralight I loved, but if it sometimes fails I may as well throw it away in my environment. The Jetbeam (at least the replacement one) has worked well, but after experiences with the first one and the zebra there is always a nagging doubt in my mind... When I walk around here in the dark my flashlight is all that stands between being safe or walking into a Lion! So it follows that I want a light that can be really relied on.
Going on leave soon and will be buying something for everyday use. I need advice on what light you guys would consider. Most important being reliability, next important is run time, next is AA or AAA powered. So far I am leaning towards SF Outdoorsman AA but the price is difficult to accept, but for me it is probably worth it. Kind of scared off these Chinese LED torches now!
Looking forward to some views guys, thanks!
Over the last few years I have bought several LED lights to use in the wilds of africa where I live - middle of a national park with lot's of dangerous game where a good flashlight is literally a life saver.
So far I have owned:
- Jetbeam (Jet 1 Pro): returned to vendor after purchase as it wouldn't run properly. Replacement has worked okay for almost one year.
- Zebra Light Head torch (AA): Recently started failing... sometimes failing to switch on.
- Maglight (Magcharger with LED conversion): switch rubber failed, LED unit contacts broke, Glass shattered twice
- Maglight XL100: has performed flawlessly.
To be honest I am tired of reliability issues. The XL100 is my wifes and works well but I just know that with my use it will also take a beating and likely fail. The old magcharger gave a good few years service and I could generally always count on it.
The zebralight I loved, but if it sometimes fails I may as well throw it away in my environment. The Jetbeam (at least the replacement one) has worked well, but after experiences with the first one and the zebra there is always a nagging doubt in my mind... When I walk around here in the dark my flashlight is all that stands between being safe or walking into a Lion! So it follows that I want a light that can be really relied on.
Going on leave soon and will be buying something for everyday use. I need advice on what light you guys would consider. Most important being reliability, next important is run time, next is AA or AAA powered. So far I am leaning towards SF Outdoorsman AA but the price is difficult to accept, but for me it is probably worth it. Kind of scared off these Chinese LED torches now!
Looking forward to some views guys, thanks!