As per the title, I’m looking to get a new torch for when we go away. At the moment I have a little 3LED Petzl tikka tha a mate lent me, and although it’s ok, it doesn’t have much penetration (ooo-err) compared to the halogen lumicycles I use for night riding. Have I been spoiled or is there something with reasonable power for reasonable cost? I’m not looking to use it for riding, just knocking about the site when camping, but I’d like to be able to see…

oh, and I’m talkng budget here – £10, £20 kind of thing, rather than £150 for an exposure joystick! Nice as it may be, I don’t have thay kind of money 🙁

Alpkit gamma

You don’t need “penetration” for camping. The little Petzl Zipkas are great and have a red LED mode for map-reading and stuff at night (the red doesn’t destroy your night vision).

We’ll be caravanning, not camping, the headlight will be for going to the water taps and suchlike: but in any case I have ordered the alpkit gamma and it’s been dispatched already, apparently!

Was wondering why the “red” modes, that makes sense

+1 for Alpkit Gamma, great piece of kit

The Hope One headtorch is very powerful and has excellent penetration.
Use one for running over Cannock Chase at night and am very happy with it. Beam is definitely a spot as opposed to a flood.

Red mode can also be useful when eating at night when there are lots of insects about, reduces them flying into your face

The gamma is good but this is better (and cheaper) I have both

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.203-7543.aspx

Why is better:
o Smaller
o Brighter
o Lighter
o No battery pack on the back so more comfy for lying down reading
o Only got 3 modes On / Red reading LED / Off

+1 Alpkit Gamma

I use mine for running off road, camping, fixing cars, bikes etc… very very useful! Really well made & solid on your head.

I camp exclusively using Alpkit. on the head is a Gamma and around the camp/tent is a Bulb2.

I bought one of these and its class, bought for night trail running

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5W-CREE-LED-300Lm-Flashlight-Head-HeadLight-M5-Headlamp-/310298510601?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Camping_LightsLanternsTorches&hash=item483f3b8509

you need 18650’s though and a charger.

Alpkit Gamma + 4

The only choice really, if you want quality at a stupid low price.

I have one of these and can really recommend it:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fenix-HP10-Cree-Q5-Headlight-Headlamp-Flashlight-New-/310224512000?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Camping_LightsLanternsTorches&hash=item483ad26400

If you want to spend less then Alpkit is a no brainer.

Alpkit gamma for very good at the cheap price. Super bright for camping and night walking/climbing and I use it ziptied to my crash helmet on my bike, I got one of these http://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/led_torches/fenix-hp10-headlamp.html

another alpkit gamma satisfied owner here J.

Gamma here for £12.50 you cant go wrong

Decathlon habve a good range:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/hiking-head-lamp-7918060/

I bought a Decathlon Quechua one for a friend who travelled to Africa. She said it lasted the whole time she was there (several months) with one set of batteries. Was only about £12 or something too.

Another vote for Alpkit gamma and the Bulb is good too, but i do have a Petzl Tikka XP which is very good. more money though.

Arrived today. Fab service. Cracking piece of kit. FAR brighter than the TIkka Plus

I wasn’t online, but Alpkit Gamma, they’ve just upgraded the LED as well, apparently, so it’s now slightly brighter.

A vote for the gamma here as well.
Apparently the red light is for map reading at night whilst maintaining ‘night vision’. Green is for the same reason but you can also see contours.

thanks, was wondering what the green was for 🙂