Advice on first main torch

[tom1987]

Hi guys im looking for some advice on buying my first main torch, I have tried a few different people's at my club and have not found one that I like yet. Assuming that money is not an issue what would you go for? I don't want to spend major money just to have something that is shiney! I'm looking for a torch with good performance at a resonable price but I understand that I may need to pay for good performance, It will be mostly used for british wreck diving down to about 40m range and the occasional night dive. I look forward to your responses.

[big_si]

I guess a big part of the answer would depend on your budget. How much are you looking to spend? Could spend over a £1000 on a torch...

I would predict that many of the suggestions will involve HID and a large number of them will be Salvo recommendations

I've got a Greenforce and am happy with it's enormous brightness too.

[SML]

A Green Force HID

[weazelz]

Originally Posted by big_si

I would predict that many of the suggestions will involve HID and a large number of them will be Salvo recommendations

damn, I'm so predicatable

[tom1987]

I don't really mind spending money to get good performance but would probably say about 300 would be the absolute maximum I would spend. I would expect to get a good torch for that amount or am I just dreaming? If I could spend less and still get a good torch then that would be great! , Tom

[Rob Dobson]

Originally Posted by tom1987

I don't really mind spending money to get good performance but would probably say about 300 would be the absolute maximum I would spend. I would expect to get a good torch for that amount or am I just dreaming? If I could spend less and still get a good torch then that would be great! , Tom

£300 is not a good amount to spend on a torch IMO, it's a kind of no man's land when it comes to decent umbilical lights.

You can spend much less for something that will do for now and when you lose it, break it, out grow it and sell it then you're not that bothered.

You can spend most of it on a couple of decent backup lights which you can use as temporary primary lights and then you have decent backups for the future.

Or go with the Darkbuster lantern (21W HiD) which Woz was selling for a while but I can't see it on his website anymore. I'm not a fan of lanterns but this was a good one.

Or you can buy the mutts nuts and go with a Salvo HiD but abandon all hope of sticking to your £300 budget. Triple it in fact.

There are more accessible lights (modular) which allow you to buy a battery, buy different heads and then upgrade the battery and so on. This system reminds me of Triggers brush ("I've had this same brush 15 years, it's had a dozen new heads and 7 handles..."). And I've yet to see one in the water that was worth owning.

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by Rob Dobson

£300 is not a good amount to spend on a torch IMO, it's a kind of no man's land when it comes to decent umbilical lights.

For only a little more you can get a new Halcyon 10w which I would think would fit the bill for the diving he mentioned, or he could buy mine for about £230

[Twinsetmad]

Give Rob at Lumb Bros a ring... I'm sure he'll be able to help. He posts on this forum . I would look at the Greenforce F11 battery with a budget head....and then upgrade when you have a bit more to spend...

[Bottle Maker]

I have not seen one in the flesh but I have heard good reports about the JMD unbilical light, this is with in you budget however depending on the type of diving you are doing the burn time may not be long enough. I have used quite a few latern type torches and couple of unbilical lights at the moment I do not have a main torch but after suffering torch envy I have decided to bite the bullet and blow a small fortune on a 21watt Salvo. There is little point in spending £100+ for a days hard boat diving then not being able to see.
Graham.

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by tom1987

Hi guys im looking for some advice on buying my first main torch, I have tried a few different people's at my club and have not found one that I like yet. Assuming that money is not an issue what would you go for? I don't want to spend major money just to have something that is shiney! I'm looking for a torch with good performance at a resonable price but I understand that I may need to pay for good performance, It will be mostly used for british wreck diving down to about 40m range and the occasional night dive. I look forward to your responses.

Get a second hand torch

Loads about and you can grab a bargin.

Look at this:

Umbilical lamp

An epic torch for £200


Get the best torch you can aford, it makes the dive.

Personal Favorites:

Salvo 21W, Epic torch expensive new but worth it. Connections need looking after bulbs and replacement batteries expensive but its epic.

Halcyon 10W lead acid. Fantastic and cheapish. Batteries for £12, bulbs for £60 only down side is recharge time

Solus 500 Fantastic and good value. Not a light saber but mega torch with unbreakable LED head that works as well as a low power HID

Solus 1250, Epic torch with the unbreakable LED head and a compact battery pac. Again not the light saber of the 21W salvo but what you lose in signaling power you gain in ruggedness.

ATB

Mark