Head Torch Recommendations

14 watchers

Maclennane Nov 2018 2:26pm, 28 Nov 2018 20,329 posts	0 Maclennane Had a Petzl, hated it, it cast a weird shadow all round the edge of the lens which made me feel I was running in Eric Morecomb glasses
StuH Nov 2018 4:32pm, 28 Nov 2018 2,732 posts	0 StuH Presumably you put the cap on backwards Sam? Otherwise the peak would stop the light hitting the floor.
Sam Jelfs Nov 2018 4:35pm, 28 Nov 2018 107 posts	0 Sam Jelfs Stu - No, I wear normal way around. I find that the peak casts a bit of a shadow, but only covering the couple of foot directly in front of me when I am looking straight forward. I'll try and take some pictures next time I head out... Never found it an issue yet.
larkim Nov 2018 5:00pm, 28 Nov 2018 6,105 posts	0 larkim I don't like them too bright as then I find the contrast between the shadow and the light to be too dramatic. The key is the beam width / distribution which you don't want to be too narrow (IMHO). I got a Silva one a few years ago from Decathlon which was on the cheap as it was damaged packaging, I find the battery pack at the back balances out the light at the front. The quality of the strap makes it better than the cheap petzl ones for me, no slippage or bouncing around.
Fizz :-) Nov 2018 7:16pm, 28 Nov 2018 2,951 posts	0 Fizz :-) I find headtorches make me feel a bit “travel sick” when I wear them - are chest torches better in that respect?
StuH Nov 2018 7:34pm, 28 Nov 2018 2,733 posts	0 StuH I found the beam from a chest torch bounced all over the place, but that's probably my poor running form. Difficult to change the direction too.
Heinzster Oct 2020 10:52pm, 6 Oct 2020 1,625 posts	0 Heinzster I like my kalenji chest light from decathlon, but find some light leaking up from it to be distracting. A bit of insulating tape works wonders though
Cheekys Dad Oct 2020 11:28am, 10 Oct 2020 318 posts	0 Cheekys Dad I've never tried a chest light & not sure I'd fancy it. We are very rural with narrow lanes and zero streetlights so I really need light to go where I look. I am on my second alpkit and love it. Nice & bright, comfy and has red light on back of head.
swittle Nov 2020 4:55pm, 7 Nov 2020 69,570 posts	0 swittle Some advice, please. Can I use a 3-pin mains plug with a USB socket, [supplied with a digital camera} to charge a 'Decathlon' head torch?
UltraDunc Mar 2023 9:17pm, 30 Mar 2023 16,488 posts	0 UltraDunc A disturbance outside in a field where nobody should be in the dark ( fenced school) led me to search out a head torch to scare them off with. However, it was flat obviously because I’ve not used it since lockdown. It has a heavy battery pack and is 12,000 lumens ! I have a couple of cheap head torches that I use frequently with only 2000 lumens and around 8 hours on a full charge ( I’ve tested them) After 6 hours they can get a bit uncomfortable but at the price from Amazon ( £14) are great value. The beam has a central spot with a wider illumination making it far easier to avoid tripping on obstacles. What I can’t work out is why the leading manufacturers ( petzl etc) are so pricey and have a lot lower lumens ?