Not seen this discussed recently and with LED technology advancing quickly and new manufacturers appearing all the time I'd like recommendations on what's out there.

For years I have used a PETZL DUO with CustomDUO simple chip. But it feels lacking in bigger mines and it does eat batteries. I've just noticed CustomDUO are now doing a new module, the v42, claiming 620lumens, has anyone tried?

Cheers, Dan

Not seen this discussed recently and with LED technology advancing quickly and new manufacturers appearing all the time I'd like recommendations on what's out there.

For years I have used a PETZL DUO with CustomDUO simple chip. But it feels lacking in bigger mines and it does eat batteries. I've just noticed CustomDUO are now doing a new module, the v42, claiming 620lumens, has anyone tried?

Cheers, Dan

I messed about with every type of lamp you can think of over the years including all the Oldhams and a CustomDUO with all the upgrades; both of which I do still use sometimes for novelty value. My current lamp is a Roy Fellows Workstar which has been very good but now discontinued. Its still going but the reflector is tarnished and the battery packs are tired. I'll probably attempt a refurb on it and keep it as a very hand backup lamp.
If I could start all over again I would have just bought a Scurion and hoped it would be the only lamp I would ever need.

I have decided to bite the bullet and buy one this year ready to get out UG again whenever lockdown allows.

Probably this one:

https://starlessriver.com/shop/scurion-speleo-700-with-2-cell-battery/ 

with a spare battery.

And when they give up then I will too :lol:

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Hi
Having started with the traditional bicycle lamp and candles, I then upgraded to Carbide.
I thought I had seen the light when Oldhams became more easily available, but was eventually seduced by 2nd hand Nife cells, reliable but heavy on maintenance.
Light weight Petzl headsets became the thing to have, unimpressed.
After a spell with homemade lamps I moved on to Speleotechnics, a well made lamp designed by a caver for cavers, having gone through various iterations they finally became unavailable when Speleotechnics closed.
I now use a Scurion and am very impressed with it.

I'm still using my old Chinese miners lamp. I'd prefer something similar but made in the UK. It's good for hillwalking at night as well, with it's good throw, and the batteries have never ran out on me.

I started with very cheap Chinese headlamps around £20 moved up to a armtech v3 wizard pro way to complicated, jumped to a thurnite th30 great torch it never let me down but in slate mines was not good enough , then I bought my scorpion x12 of Roy amazing torch perfect all round for anything !

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I'm a skinflint and not in the rarified heights of exploration so a custom duo simple (V2!) with an additional small "Chinese bicycle lamp" does me fine. Don't like the battery box though, just maybe I'll convert it to Li Ion but I like the idea of carrying several spares and being able to change

If I wanted bigger and badder and even more baderrer, personally I'd consider the 250lm for 16 hours you could get with Dragon EX (http://www.ledcaplamps.com/dragon_EX.htm) .

I'm sure Roy must be lurking on this thread but too modest to wade in? Come on Roy, set the record straight!

(Edit, corrected 12hr@250lm to 16hr@250lm.
Edit2 if wondering, my AV shows the Chinese bicycle lamp, but Duo removed and lent to other person who showed up lampless! Chinese lamp has a Petzl core that costs 6x more than the lamp, mastic'd inside it and runs 12-14hrs with wildly dispersed feet-to ceiling light, which I like in addition to relatively more focussed beam of duo)

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I forgot to attach a link but here it is .

http://www.ledcaplamps.com/scorpion_X12.htm 

I have to say for my back up torch I have owned this nearly 3 years now it has been beat to peace’s done sump dives and it still lives on I have to give it the odd tap now days but for its price I don’t think anyone could fault it

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Headlamp-Headlight-Rechargeable-Waterproof-Headlamps/dp/B071HW5XQH/ref=asc_df_B071HW5XQH/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309799275746&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14362798466456242412&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9050374&hvtargid=pla-389289189524&psc=1 

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Had no Internet for days bar a short time on Saturday night, hence my absence.

Firstly, the 'competition'.
The Scurion compares very badly against John Biffords Rude Nora. The Nora is slightly less money than the Scurion basic and nearly as powerful as the Scurion dive. The Scurion basic is waterproof to 20 metres or thereabouts, but the battery case is not! A chap in Gwent Caving Club bought one and trashed his battery first time out in Swildons.
Not good enough!

Also, the Scurions top output rating is combined beam and flood. The Nora does over 1K on beams only. Its a far better lamp full stop.

Fellows lamps
I do after warranty repairs and refurbs for a basic £10 service charge plus return postage. Obviously more work costs more but a lot of "repairs" are daft 5 minute jobs. I accumulate a lot of SH parts and can keep the price down using them.

AS far as the new lamps go, its all there on the website.

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"The Competition"

Here is the link to Johns website:
https://littlemonkeycaving.co.uk/ 

No disrespect to Scurion, but its an overpriced and outdated lamp compared to what John Bifford offers. Also not as good as the hype would suggest.

I don't have to advertise my lamps as everyone who has bought one does this for me.
;D

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Apart from my video lights where you have to spend the money to get decent footage all our lights are as cheap as chips and dont give any problems at all. Our back ups both above and below the water are mini Q40 which are technically a dive light but been around for years and can be used above the water .

However if I was to buy something a bit more elaborate for my above water helmet it would be one from Roy as when I have seen them in action I have been more than impressed .

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These trendy fashionable modern lights are all very well but don't write off traditional technology, easy replacement of parts and visible indication of remaining operating time :thumbup:

🔗83175[linkphoto]83175[/linkphoto][/link]

just sprayed a mouthful of Speckled Hen all over the screen

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

MARK

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just sprayed a mouthful of Speckled Hen all over the screen

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

MARK

Be prepared to spray more beer....


I seem to recall that he called it the "Bukkake Lamp" at the time....due to the mess it made.... :lol:

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just sprayed a mouthful of Speckled Hen all over the screen

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

MARK

Be prepared to spray more beer....


I seem to recall that he called it the "Bukkake Lamp" at the time....due to the mess it made.... :lol:

My helmets never been the same since.....

just sprayed a mouthful of Speckled Hen all over the screen

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

MARK

Be prepared to spray more beer....


I seem to recall that he called it the "Bukkake Lamp" at the time....due to the mess it made.... :lol:

Being an innocent young lad I Googled "Bukkake"; I really, really wish I hadn't.

Fenix HP65R is my go to light these days. Light, powerful, robust, low cost, great range of lumens, good light spread options, battery indicator. And at circa £70 it’s a winner.

https://gb.lightmalls.com/fenix-hm65r-1400-lumen-dual-beam-usb-rechargeable-headlamp-with-spotlight-and-floodlight?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkNiq-Yap7gIV2cPVCh3VtQHAEAQYAyABEgKgLPD_BwE 

Very funny!

Fenix HP65R is my go to light these days. Light, powerful, robust, low cost, great range of lumens, good light spread options, battery indicator. And at circa £70 it’s a winner.

https://gb.lightmalls.com/fenix-hm65r-1400-lumen-dual-beam-usb-rechargeable-headlamp-with-spotlight-and-floodlight?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkNiq-Yap7gIV2cPVCh3VtQHAEAQYAyABEgKgLPD_BwE 

I bought one of these from Starless River at the 2019 NAMHO, I would agree it's a fantastic lamp for the money :thumbup:

Go for a Biff light, mate, anything that will keep him (and Roy) going has got to be better than the scurion and the rest.

I have nothing but praise for both Biff and Roy, they have been generous with their time, expertise and make jolly decent products each.

I had the opportunity to pop round and see Biff many times when living at the other end of Cheddar! Roy be thankful I'm not local to you.

Its like all these things - shop local and put money into real people's pockets rather than the coffers of the multi corporations.

(sez the man with 3 bifflights - 2 omnirats in duo's and a bodgey pitlamp conversion. (Vanoord: my original fenix P3D is still running strong too!!!))

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