Advice on Torches?

[Captain Deco]

I am in need of a decent torch but am a bit clueless as to what one to get get as there seem to be so many out there. My budget isn't huge, and I want the biggest bang for the buck if you know what I mean.......

As I am not in any way a technical diver (just a novice me!!), I am not really after a mammoth beast of a thing with umbilicals etc, but a tried and tested medium sized torch that will make darker things visibly brighter.

if you have the time, I would appreciate advice on products and ideas about the sort of ching I am going to have to lay out.

thank you one and all!!

[Dr Stevil]

BEaver do a handheld one for £199, got "Best Buy" in a recent review in Dive

[JAG]

Kent Diving do the UKD4R for £79.00. I use this at the moment and it's bright enough for me. Mind you I dive with two guys that use the equivalent of a 10" Aldis Lamp so I follow them! The anology of a rabbit caught in the headlights applies!
http://www.kentdiving.co.uk/prod.asp?partno=D4R

HTH,

Ian

[Juz]

Best value torch on the market currently - in my opinion - is the Light cannon.

HID, brighter than my Custom Diver HID for about £150.

Juz

[Finless]

I've got a UKD8 - it is a big lump but tough as anything. Twin bulbs so inbuilt backup - although I'm still using the originals. Years of abuse doing wrecks. Very bright.

It is one of my dive purchases that I have no plans on upgrading.

[Dave Crampton]

Ditto for the UKD8R. Its a fab torch and has lasted somedivers in my club for the last ten years.


Dave C

Personally got a Greenforce Tristar (three LED Umbilical) torch. Bright enough when its dark (no HID though) and lasts 40 hours per charge.

[Garf]

I've got a UKD4, the rechargeable version, which you can have with battery and charger for £50 and Post/Packing, as I really have no need of it (I'm one of the guys exnavyboy is on about with the aldis lamp )

Pm me if you want it.

[Mark Chase]

If you can afford it go for the 10W HID umbilical from Halcyon. We haggled at the London show and got it cheep but they retail at £340.00 Stunning performance with batteries that cost £28.00 instead of the £170 NIMH batteries for my CD torch.

ATB

Mark Chase

[Angus]

I agree with Mark but at the moment go for the fixed head version if you wanna avoid expensive bulb replacement.

Buy the Halcyon and it will deal with your wishes for quite a while,

ATB

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Angus

I agree with Mark but at the moment go for the fixed head version if you wanna avoid expensive bulb replacement.
Buy the Halcyon and it will deal with your wishes for quite a while

Humm... I have one and I'm unconvinced.
We know the expensive snag with the focusable 10W
is it just that we don't know know the snags with the others yet?

No I'm not pleased with mine. Two dives and I'm on the second bulb (80 quid) and supplying me the wrong parts to mend it meant I spent another 80 quid in excess baggage taking it to Finland and back where I couldn't use it.

nigelH