What torch is best?

[paddyc23]

hi all, im looking at buying a torch asap but im confussed with what would be best for what im doing with it, ill mostly be using it for looking in holes, caves, rocks, fish hideouts, it wont be on constant, just now and again, im looking for something which is bright enough to look in dingy water but not to bright which is going to increase the price, can anyone recommend wat the best, watt would be, LED, and lumens would be best for me

 

[Mr. X]

I'd suggest going with a recognised brand (e.g. UK, Pelican) and/or at least a dive torch. I've tried a couple of cheap "waterproof" LED torches recently and both leaked just being carried below the surface as they hung on my float (they were salvageable for above surface use, after flushing though).

 

[paddyc23]

Do you mean uk as in underwater kinetics Mr X, ive seen alot of good reviews on the SL6 model, not a bad price too, wats your own opion on this model of torch

 

[Mr. X]

Yes, UK = USA made Underwater Kinetics. I have two UK mini Q10s, which I fit to my mask strap. They are simple and robust - qualities I value. Mine have Xenon bulbs but LEDs are the way to go now - more robust & much more energy efficient, better light spectrum for water too. The Q10 can be quite useful but is not powerful enough to be your main torch. I think Old Man Dave might use one of the bigger hand-held UK torches.

I also have an Omer Moonlight & used to have an Omer Moonlight Elite, again with Xenon or similar bulbs. I prefer the balance of the cheaper regular one - the other was very front heavy but was of better quality materials & had clever electronics to produce more light for the given battery-bulb combination; but again LED would be the way to go now. I rarely use my torches though.

Lubricate the O-ring seals (e.g. with glycerine or silicone) before use to avoid leaks .

 

[cmburch]

I have UK lights. I have had them flood due to operator error and they have replaced them under warrantee. The SL6 6C is somewhat too big for me, but my wife likes it. I recently upgraded all of mine to eLed's. I use a 4AA eLed strapped to my pneumatic. I use Eveready rechargeable batteries. It is great for looking into holes and under ledges because I just stick my gun in the hole. I retired my Xe SL4 4C light and 4D pistol grip light for the 4C eLed pistol grip.

Lights > Dive Lights

 

[willloomy]

i have two small 4 AA UK lights a D8 and the sl 4 i love all of them i normally zip tie the small ones to my mask while i dive and carry either the d8 or th SL4

 

[Trelawney]

The only one you will need. Princeton Tec Shockwave LED

Princeton Tec from Simply Scuba UK

Brilliant, robust torch. 3X3watt LEDs, 400 lumens and a 12hr+ burn time. And you get a lifetime guarantee. I use one for night diving and I think Old Man Dave does too.

Chris

 

[Magpie]

Be careful if buying the Shockwave LED. They have only recently released the 400 lumen model, the one in the link is the previous 170 lumen light. If you search around you'll find the 400 easily enough.

I'm sure I saw somewhere you can buy the 400 lumen head to upgrade your 170 unit if needed.

 

[strangelove]

One advantage of the pricetontech flash lights in US they have life time warranty, I have replace several of mine for free, no questions asked.

 

[Trelawney]

Be careful if buying the Shockwave LED. They have only recently released the 400 lumen model, the one in the link is the previous 170 lumen light. If you search around you'll find the 400 easily enough.

I'm sure I saw somewhere you can buy the 400 lumen head to upgrade your 170 unit if needed.

Ooops, my mistake. As Magpie said, make sure it is the 400. Amazing torch for the money.

 

[Old Man Dave]

I do own and use the PT Shockwave LED and may have influenced others in buying same but I was interested in the new 400 version. 170 lumens is good but 400 lumens must be amazing. Posted a thread about it here http://forums.deeperblue.com/spearo-board/83732-new-uprated-pt-shockwave-torch.html . If anyone has the new version or finds out how and how much an upgrade costs I'd like to know. One for the birthday/Christmas list me thinks.

Dave.

 

[Magpie]

Of course there is always something like this:

DealExtreme: $95.00 Diving Cree MC-E (K-WC) 3-Mode 640-Lumen LED Flashlight Kit (2*18650/4*CR123A/4*16340)

You'd need to get some 18650 batteries and a charger, can be had from the same site, and I'm the power would no doubt be slightly exagerated, they all are, and I'm not sure of the runtime, and the build quality may not be top notch due to where it comes from, but for that little it may be worth a punt.