Head Torch for cycling / camping

gcwebbyuk

Am looking for a head torch that I can use when camping, cycling at night or working on the bike in the garage at night.

What can you reccommend?

neil²

I don't know that you would manage all of that in one go, but I have used my Petzl Tikka for all. Great for camping and working in the garage, even unloading the car at night. I have used it on night rides and it is ok to add to the bar mounted floodlights for looking at computer, off to the side etc, but not up to helmet mounted torches. There is no way that you could use it on its own for night riding.

gcwebbyuk

How much did it set you back? the camping and garage bits would be its main uses, just thought being able to use it on bike at night would be a bonus.

littleandy0410

I'd recommend either of these, for sheer compactness (is that a word!?) They are much smaller than the ones with elastic headbands. (small and light, so good as a spare to keep in your camelbak/car glovebox etc.) As the cord retracts, you can also wear around your wrist. Not sure how stable it would be for off road cycling, but would be OK for lgentle riding.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Run/8/Petzl_Zipka_Plus_Head_Torch/5360007829/

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Run/8/Petzl_Zipka_Head_Torch/5360020635/

I've had mine for 3 1/2 years and it's still going strong.

gcwebbyuk

Thanks - they do look pretty cool.

As I have never used one of these before - how bright are they?

Do they have settings to sort of "dim" the light, so if camping and sat out at night chatting, you don't blind the person you are chatting too!

Our Tesco torches that I bought for the bike are retina burners if you look at one!

littleandy0410

They are nowhere near as bright as the tesco 3w cree torches (ace, aren't they!?) but mine is quite old, so not sure if it's just the zipka. Can't remember now.

If I remember correctly, it has 3 different brightness settings, so yeah, you can dim it when required.

I bought mine before going out to the Gulf, for use when servicing aircraft at night. Allowed me to see what I was doing and have my hands free.

Northwind

I have one of the old Tikkas, I use it as a position light on my helmet for road riding. Used to use it in the garage but the strap ended up so manky I refuse to let it touch my head... To be fair it's an old design so probably not as bright as the latest ones, but it makes almost no useful light for cycling, I just set it to flash for a position light.

gcwebbyuk

Excellent - Blacks sell the Petzl ones, and we have £100 worth of Blacks vouchers waiting to be spent (xmas pressies) - so looks like we are heading down there tomorrow.

So is the main difference between Tikka and Zipka - the fact that the Zipka has a different mounting (zipwire type thing)?

littleandy0410

Yeah, I think it's the same unit, just with the different strap.

It's a weight weenie's dream torch really, isn't it!? Cos that elastic is SOOO heavy!

gcwebbyuk

Haha - to be honest, I will probably just use it camping and garage working.

Any ideas the difference between the Tikka and the Tikka Plus?

BorisSpencer

I took a punt on one of these, I carry it as a backup, and lend it to my lad when he wants to join me.

littleandy0410

gcwebbyuk wrote:

Haha - to be honest, I will probably just use it camping and garage working.

Any ideas the difference between the Tikka and the Tikka Plus?

3 LEDs and 4 LEDs I think

gcwebbyuk

Thought it might be that simple - didn't show anything on the Blacks site though.

Will see what they have in stock tomorrow.

Thanks!

supersonic

These 1 watt head LEDs I find to be nigh on useless - 40-50 lumens output.

The one Boris links to looks very good for that money.

scoob113

For a one size fits all option - AYUP's. Get an AYUP set of some sort and order a headband to go with it. This only works if you're spending money on night riding lights anyway of course as the outlay is high or the lights. Once you've got them though - night riding, camping, lighting up the night sky, commuting, it's all there.
http://www.ayuplights.co.uk/content/view/20/93/
The headband they do now to go with the lights is so good that' it's now replacing the old winter climbing backpack light aswell.

BorisSpencer

The reason I posted the one I did is because you can either run it as a 3w spot lamp when riding at night or picking your way around your tent. But you can also run it with the five regular LEDs for inside a tent or working close up in your garage, it's then less bight and more diffused.

Northwind

Yeah, that's a nice feature... My old Energiser one has the same (though much worse, it's old)- a 3 LED tightbeam or a small halogen flood. Seems obvious once you've used it!

Mr Sworld

Go to Alpkit and buy one of these:

http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16345&category_id=25

Best head torch for the price I've seen yet!

RhysD

yeah, i recommend the alpkit too, very bright for the money.

gcwebbyuk

Thanks guys, but I bought two of the Petzl Tikka Plus today from Blacks with the vouchers.

They seem just bright enough for camping and garage work, and may be an extra direction light for the occasional night time riding that I do - I already have two of the Tesco lights mounted to my bars when I do night time riding anyway.