Head torch recommendation?

[Skylark]

My good old faithful head torch is showing signs of age (strap elastic)) so probably time to consider a replacement.

There seems a bewildering choice available, most of which have features for which I have no interest. I don’t want to press a button half a dozen times to select the intensity and number of LEDs illuminated, nor do I need a flashing light, my disco days are long since past ?

I’m looking for any recommendations for a simple, basic head lamp with selectable red or white light (only!).

I’d prefer battery rather than rechargeable as that would be another unwelcome complexity for something that gets used relatively infrequently.

Many thanks in advance.?

 

[Rappey]

Im not sure you will find white, red and no other functions. I have a led lenser (they make some of the best torches available) with a focusable beam. When you finally find the red function it stays there, turn it off and it comes back on using your last setting so thats something.
A usb port for a rechargable one surely would be better as an on board usb charger is very common place nowadays?
Or buy a handfull of the cheapest headtorches you can find.
I do agree cycling through the functions is annoying. My main torch has around 7 different functions, then just to complicate it even further they are also programmable so it only does two things , or 3 and then beam intensity etc...

 

[Goldie]

High white, low white, high red and low red - Mountain Warehouse own brand and was (I think) about £5.99. Not waterproof though.

 

[Refueler]

I have a couple ... bought cheap in local supermarket .....

One has a lens that pulls in / out to narrow / widen the beam depending how close / detailed you are looking at ... with also a choice of high / low beam ...... 4xAAA with LED's ..... Excellent and cost about 5 euros
Second is same but with fixed lens .... again about 5 euros.

I used to pay good money for so called quality item .... but in reality ? No better.

You ca of course buy haedstraps on their own ... I have a bag of 10 I bought of eBay .... I fit micro vidcams to and various .. so if your headlamp is still good but just needs a new strap ?

Example :

Elastic Headband Helmet Strap Mount Head Strap For Bike light Headlamp Band JL | eBay

 

[stu9000]

I have bought many of these for camping and sailing.
Not waterproof but do have the red non flash option.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B076JB6WC9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Works well and I don't cry if I lose it, drop it or get anti fouling paint on it.

I'd be interested in recommendations for a quality equivalent if it didn't do the silly four options. I just need non flash white and non flash red.

 

[Goldie]

[QUOTE I'd be interested in recommendations for a quality equivalent if it didn't do the silly four options. I just need non flash white and non flash red. [/QUOTE]

The RAW Pro by Exposure Lights is fantastic. Expensive yes, but if you’re an RYA member there are good discounts to be had - see Member Benefits page.

 

[Laysula]

Just buy some new elastic.

 

[Refueler]

Just buy some new elastic.

Post #4 ... has link for new headband

 

[Bergamot]

Energizer do a three LED head torch with a slide switch on top Red - Off - White and a tilt only. I have had one for years: simple but effective. Have a look at Energizer Universal LED Headlamp Camping Torch Hiking Fishing Light 7638900242294 | eBay

 

[Skylark]

[QUOTE I'd be interested in recommendations for a quality equivalent if it didn't do the silly four options. I just need non flash white and non flash red.

The RAW Pro by Exposure Lights is fantastic. Expensive yes, but if you’re an RYA member there are good discounts to be had - see Member Benefits page.
[/QUOTE]

The benefits page doesn't give a lot of info, instead it tells me to register with Ocean Safety RYA Instructor Store. Seems a bit of a faff. A Google search shows that it has a List Price of £125 and has a single click operation to get different power settings and different colours. There's nothing more frustrating than someone on a boat at night scrolling through switches to find a simple red light, normally night-blinding the rest of us in the process. Unnecessarily complicated for my simple mind. but thanks for the post

 

[Skylark]

Thanks, Steve and Refueler for the suggestion and especially the link to buying a replacement elastic. Currently in pole position.

 

[Skylark]

Energizer do a three LED head torch with a slide switch on top Red - Off - White and a tilt only. I have had one for years: simple but effective. Have a look at Energizer Universal LED Headlamp Camping Torch Hiking Fishing Light 7638900242294 | eBay

That looks good, thanks. Good to know that Energiser make torches for dinosaur technophobes.

 

[Bergamot]

That looks good, thanks. Good to know that Energiser make torches for dinosaur technophobes.

On taking another look at this it may only be white, so too simple - sorry!

 

[Bergamot]

On taking another look at this it may only be white, so too simple - sorry!

Oh yes it is - It does have red so fits the bill. Sorry for my confusion.

 

[stu9000]

There's nothing more frustrating than someone on a boat at night scrolling through switches to find a simple red light, normally night-blinding the rest of us

Completely agree but £125 for a headtorch is a bit rich for me. If there are any manufacturers reading this I would pay £40ish for a direct red button.

 

[Skylark]

Oh yes it is - It does have red so fits the bill. Sorry for my confusion.

According to the spec, it's looking good so thanks for the post. In addition to my confession of being a dinosaur, I also from the "trust no one, check everything" school. I've sent a message to the ebay vendor. They replied almost immediately by saying "we've never been asked that before so we'll check and get back to you". Helpful seller.

 

[seumask]

I've had this one from decathlon for 4 months , used extensively outside, under car, walking and around the boat and its great, nice wide beam with plenty of light. Red and 3 white levels, USB charged and waterproof as far as I can tell. At £20 by far the best value one I've had for many years.

HEADLAMPS HIKING/TREK - Head Torch Trek 500 USB

 

[Roberto]

I have two Petzl lamps, the type with no textile elastic bands but a tiny (1mm) rope and the spring coil plastic element. At first I was not convinced but the unit without straps is very compact, can be put in pockets, etc.
Three possible lights: strong fixed white, weak fixed white, fixed red; the on off switch has a memory with the last setting, the settings are swapped by keeping the button pressed for say two seconds.

They are more than 8y old models and I do not remember their names not could I find them in the catalogue, Petzl make a huge number of different varieties I am sure they have something similar. Not cheap, by memory 30-40euro.

 

[Goldie]

The benefits page doesn't give a lot of info, instead it tells me to register with Ocean Safety RYA Instructor Store. Seems a bit of a faff. A Google search shows that it has a List Price of £125 and has a single click operation to get different power settings and different colours. There's nothing more frustrating than someone on a boat at night scrolling through switches to find a simple red light, normally night-blinding the rest of us in the process. Unnecessarily complicated for my simple mind. but thanks for the post
[/QUOTE]

Discounts can be up to 40% depending on category of membership and the reason I particularly like this light is that you can start it on ‘low red’ thus avoiding the very issue that you describe.

 

[duncan99210]

The best solution I’ve seen recently is this one of eBay Military Army 4 LED Head Torch Red Filter Headlight Lamp Lens Torch + Batteries | eBay. It’s a basic head torch which uses white LEDs but has a sliding filter which slips into position to produce the red light. Does away with multiple button presses and you’ll only ever get red light if you keep the filter up. No idea of quality or waterproof but it’s not expensive.
Alternatively there’s the military type right angle torch that you can hook onto your lifejacket fitted with a red filter like this one Olive TL-142 Field Torch - US Army Small Green Right-Angle LED Flashlight Filter | eBay.