Simple Torch recommendation

Evening all,

‘Tis the time of year when my kids are walking home from school in the dark. And where we are, there aren’t always pavements or street lights.

Having been sucked in to the EDC thread, I’ve stopped short of buying an epic military grade searchlight that can light a fire at 1000yds.

So what simple torch for a bag/coat pocket that will survive being dropped/abused, decent battery life as it won’t be charged often but won’t break the bank (so I don’t cry when it gets lost…)

Surely there’s a modern version of the minimaglite from the 90s, but with LED lighting so you can actually see?

Thanks

I’ve been using a Wuben C3 for this type of stuff. About £30 from Amazon, comes with a decent 18650 battery and a usb type c cable so you can charge the torch with the battery in it. Plenty bright enough and because I’ve had the lanyard cinched around my wrist I haven’t even dropped it, yet. So I couldn’t say how durable it is after a fall.

Surely there’s a modern version of the minimaglite from the 90s, but with LED lighting so you can actually see?

The closest I’ve found to that is an LED Maglite…
https://www.torchdirect.co.uk/maglite-led-torches.html
Not an endorsement of that company, they just came up first on google

Fenix torches are good.

https://www.fenixtorch.co.uk/Shop/Fenix-Torches/E-Series.html

Nitecore Tip SE.
Bought one on recommendation from another thread.

Hi, we have had Anker torches for a while and have found them solid and reliable with super rechargeable battery power.

Not got one but the Alpkit option looks decent.

Fluxon

Nitecore Tip SE.
Bought one on recommendation from another thread.

Might have been me! I’ll recommend it again, it’s a great little light, easy to hang on a lanyard for the kids to hang round their necks. Easy to charge, it’s got a USB-C port hidden behind the pocket clip. Easy access to turbo mode, quite bright enough for most purposes. Mine is always carried on a lanyard along with a couple of pens at work, and on whichever bunch of keys I’m carrying. I’m getting another one soon, so I’ll always have a set of keys with a light on, that I can charge with a powerpack or from the car USB – so much easier than having to take the battery out to charge it.

I have an Olight S15R baton which is pretty great and is to all intents and purposes an LED mag lite. Not overly cheap though, I’m sure I paid £30 years ago but it’s £55 now.

https://www.flashaholics.co.uk/products/olight-s15r-baton-rechargeable.html

Thanks for the input so far.

I did find the LED maglite when I was about to post, but some online reviews don’t seem that favourable… also seems the flood to spot design doesn’t suit an LED emitter as much.

I’ve looked at Olight but can’t spend £50+ on something that may be lost (or ‘borrowed’) within a week.

Will look at the Fenix, Anker and Nitecore. Might be disingenuous but I feel the alpkit might just be a generic copy and isn’t that much of a bargain if so (even with alpkit support)

I’m happy with a Thrunite H01 but for a Maglite replacment I’d want something with beam-focusing.

Have a look at Anker? I can vouch for their customer service and their power banks 100%. They seem to have a useful range of small torches with decent reviews, about half the price of similar ‘big brand’ offerings.

I got that Nitecore one a few weeks back after reading the other thread. Great for evening dog walk and tiny yet very bright, will likely get another soon for the rest of family when taking mutt out.

If its for the kids – Simple Petzl tikka.

Probably the best/price range/brightness MAGLITE ML300L 2D
About 60 quid, 520lm
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203603756076?hash=item2f67bac42c:g:20AAAOSwFKlhPzu7

For yourself with money to burn and bragging rights –
Maglite ML150LRX Rechargeable LED
High: 1082 lumens; 3 hours, 15 minutes run-time
Low: 138 lumens; 18 hours run-time
Eco: 25 lumens; 79 hours run-time

Over 3h at 1000lm is pretty spectacular.
https://www.torchdirect.co.uk/maglite-led-torches/maglite-ml150lrx-rechargeable-led-torch.html