two of my lads are off to do their DoE Bronze this summer - ive ordered little petzl head torches for actual usefulness but teenage boys are gonna teenage boy right - so whats the go-to needlessly powerful cheap (probably 18650 based??) torch of choice these days?
Old exposure joysticks/ diablo?
Mid summer is the perfect time to buy them on eBay without to much competitive bidding
good call - they're still a bit spendy from what I can see on eBay at the moment
My go-to these days is Olight. Good products, reasonably priced and there's almost always some freebie or offer to be had. I have several of their little keyring torches, they chuck out a surprising amount of light and they cost me postage.
+1 for Olight, I have a few of differing sizes/uses
A scout leader writes... for the love of god, please don't buy them a super bright one.
Teenage kids (especially boys) + super powerful headtorch = massive PITA.
They just shine it in the leaders' eyes cos they forget they're wearing it, or in each others eyes (who leads to arguments), or get massively distracted by a "who's got the brightest torch" competition that they don't listen to it concentrate on what they're supposed to be doing.
They just need something bright enough to find stuff in their bag and bang a tent peg in, so not very bright at all.
Wuben c3 is a nice torch for around £20 when on offer. Usb c rechargeable and 18650 battery.
A scout leader writes... for the love of god, please don't buy them a super bright one.
Teenage kids (especially boys) + super powerful headtorch = massive PITA.
They just shine it in the leaders' eyes cos they forget they're wearing it, or in each others eyes (who leads to arguments), or get massively distracted by a "who's got the brightest torch" competition that they don't listen to it concentrate on what they're supposed to be doing.
They just need something bright enough to find stuff in their bag and bang a tent peg in, so not very bright at all.
I'd second this, they'll just get confiscated.
Bring back the EveReady rubber torch. 
something like this?
https://sportandleisure.com/products/knog-pwr-seeker-flashlight-450-lumens
OR... closer to the Everready rubber job
Can’t argue with either OLight or Wuben, the Wuben X4 is a versatile little light, with a flood and main light, and a moonlight option, along with a strip of LED’s along one side that can be adjusted in brightness, and colour. There’s a handlebar mount available to use it as a bike light as well.
There’s also the X1 Pro, but that maxes out at 12,300 lumens, so best not go there… 😳😎
No prizes for guessing which is the x4, and which the X1 Pro… 🤣
Really happy with the three Olight torches I've bought.
You're talking about teenage boys here, right?so not very bright at all.
I've got mostly Asaklitt (which i think might not be available in the UK) and LedLenser torches. Basic ones for in the car and a big one next to the back door.
As a Scout leader and father of two DoE kids, they won't need anything more than the head torch.
Bright torches are an unnecessary PITA.
Bronze is one night away, and in the summer it will probably be light when they arrive at the camp anyway. Bright torches will either not be used, or be met with "switch that bloody torch off!".
I would have recommended a Petzl Tactikka but they don't make them anymore.
Think I still have mine in a box somewhere. great to mitigate against the lamentin of instructors, get them to pop the red filter on, saves everyone's nightvison.
Shame. Off to have a nostalgic rummage in my old kit box now.
I had a tikka for years and it was a great torch - not too bright. But more than enough. Usbc chargeable liion torches are incredible now - convenient and massively long life. But they all compete on lumens and are stupidly bright in default settings that run the battery down quickly.
I’ve got a nitecore nu25 of some sort now and its brilliant but would be better if it was lower lumen!
I just bought one of these to Velcro to the tailgate of our caddy. As a new customer I could buy the black one for 27 delivered with a free 10 letting torch thrown in (10% new customer discount, special new customer price and gift. No idea why postage was free)
https://uk.olight.com/store/oclip-pro-clip-light-with-floodlight-spotlight-red-light
For cheaper with decent power and runtime look at the Boruit V3. Costs about £15 and is USB C rechargable.
