Flashlight people: Need to equip the gf for a trip through a lava tube

[Viper GTS]

The g/f decided she's going climbing through a lava tube this weekend with some friends. They tell her she needs 3 sources of light. It's been a while since I've shopped for decent flashlights so I'm a little out of the loop.

I see that Surefire has a G2 LED (80 lumens for 11 hours from two CR123) that would be a good start. It's expensive ($65 + a holster) but should make a great car light for her after this weekend. The catch of course is whether I can find it locally today.

She also wants some form of headlamp for hands free use. I see crappy ones made by companies like Brinkmann. This one isn't likely to be used much after the weekend so I don't see any reason to spend a lot here but I'd like to avoid the total crap. Update: Picked up a Princeton Tech Aurora on my lunch break, so I have one of three now.

For a third I was thinking maybe a Dorcy 3D LED, I gave away the one I had so it would be nice to have one. It is a little on the large side so perhaps that's not the best idea.

Any suggestions for stuff that I am likely to find locally? I have the usual pacific northwest stores available to me: (GI) Joes, Fred Meyer, Target, and the Surefire website lists a few dealers within 20 miles.

I know there are a few light freaks here, speak up!

Viper GTS

 

[adairusmc]

The best headlamp that I have used is one made by Gerber. The thing is plenty bright, and it lasts a while too.

The G2 is a good choice, but i personally would go with the standard bulbs vs the LED, you can get them cheaper if you are on a budget. You don't necessarily need a holster either, the G2 nitrolon is small enough to fit in a pocket.

 

[mugs]

How long do these light sources have to last, and do you have any CR123s that she can use if they die?

The Brinkman Maxfire LX is almost an exact replica of the Surefire G2. It's incandescent though, and I imagine it has similar battery life to the Surefire G2 incandescent (2 hours). They sell it at Target. It takes 2 CR123s.

They sell Princeton Tec headlamps at Sports Authority, but they're pretty pricey.

The River Rock brand of lights they sell at Target are inexpensive and recommended on CPF.

Edit:
Maxfire LX got a good review:
http://www.flashlightreviews.c...rinkmann_maxfirelx.htm

It's $17 at Target. Main difference between it and the G2 is the Maxfire has a clicky tailcap (which I prefer, but flashlight snobs turn their nose up at because they can fail)

 

[TheKub]

My GF and I did a short hike down one on the Big Island. We had a 3 Dcell Maglite and some $3 Walmart flashlight.

We didnt go too far as it had been very rainy thus very wet and slippery.

Go down till its dark then kill the lights... Spooky as F*@K!

 

[tw1164]

lol, when I read the topic I thought it was "fleshlight people: Need equivalent to gf for trip..."

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Is this the lava tube near Mt. St. Helens? Ape Cave?

Two friends and I went there with a couple cheap flashlights & an electric lantern. Sucked, but it was enough light to see without stumbling. I found that wide beamed light was far more useful than a powerful spotlight.

It was an absolute blast there. Oh, and bring coats. It's cold down there.

 

[archiloco]

target carries the inova brand, and they make some killer LCD Flashlights, might find them there today

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: adairusmc

The G2 is a good choice, but i personally would go with the standard bulbs vs the LED, you can get them cheaper if you are on a budget. You don't necessarily need a holster either, the G2 nitrolon is small enough to fit in a pocket.

I'm not really on a budget, and I already have a regular G2 + the HO lamp. The runtime on the LED version is 4x as long at higher output levels (80 lumens vs 65). 80 lumens for 12 hours vs 65 lumens for ~3 hours. Granted I don't know what the final output is on the LED, but the runtime is great.

mugs I don't know how long a trip through this tube takes, but it's the longest in the US (Ape Cave, nearly 13,000 feet according to Google). I'm guessing a few hours at least, so a regular G2 would require at least one battery change.

Viper GTS

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: archiloco
target carries the inova brand, and they make some killer LCD Flashlights, might find them there today

LCD, eh?

I like my Inova X5... it's not nearly as bright as some of my incandescent lights, but it has long battery life and it provides enough light to be useful.

My X1 is a worthless piece of junk. Actually it's a very solidly constructed worthless flashlight, so to call it junk wouldn't really be accurate. It's a spotlight, but not a very powerful one. If you hold it far enough away to make the beam wide enough to see anything larger than a loaf of bread, it's no longer bright enough to be useful. I understand they have improved them since I bought mine though.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
Is this the lava tube near Mt. St. Helens? Ape Cave?

Two friends and I went there with a couple cheap flashlights & an electric lantern. Sucked, but it was enough light to see without stumbling. I found that wide beamed light was far more useful than a powerful spotlight.

It was an absolute blast there. Oh, and bring coats. It's cold down there.

Yup, that's the one. I'm not actually going, but I figure the more light you have available the better the experience. Should be able to see more, see better, and have the darkness be even more overwhelming when you shut the lights off.

Viper GTS

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
I'm not really on a budget, and I already have a regular G2 + the HO lamp. The runtime on the LED version is 4x as long at higher output levels (80 lumens vs 65). 80 lumens for 12 hours vs 65 lumens for ~3 hours. Granted I don't know what the final output is on the LED, but the runtime is great.

Man, you're killing me! I want one now.

 

[KB]

I have caved with this Princeton tec headlamp and liked it http://www.karstsports.com/printecaurle.html

If this lava tube gets small at any point be sure she has a helmet:
I have this one and like it: http://www.karstsports.com/bldihadohe.html
You could even use a skater helmet.

 

[MisterJackson]

Lava tubes eh? Never heard of them (not too many of those in the dirty south) Sounds interesting.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
Is this the lava tube near Mt. St. Helens? Ape Cave?

Two friends and I went there with a couple cheap flashlights & an electric lantern. Sucked, but it was enough light to see without stumbling. I found that wide beamed light was far more useful than a powerful spotlight.

It was an absolute blast there. Oh, and bring coats. It's cold down there.

Yup, that's the one. I'm not actually going, but I figure the more light you have available the better the experience. Should be able to see more, see better, and have the darkness be even more overwhelming when you shut the lights off.

Viper GTS

Excellent. I think we were in there for a good 2 - 3 hours. CrackRabbit might have a better idea of how long it took. And don't forget the camera. We took some excellent shots while we were there.

Originally posted by: KB
I have caved with this Princeton tec headlamp and liked it http://www.karstsports.com/printecaurle.html

If this lava tube gets small at any point be sure she has a helmet:
I have this one and like it: http://www.karstsports.com/bldihadohe.html
You could even use a skater helmet.

It doesn't get small enough to worry about helmets, and it's pretty easy walking for the majority of it. That is if you take the easy route. You can go the other way, and it is for experienced climbers and the like.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: KB
I have caved with this Princeton tec headlamp and liked it http://www.karstsports.com/printecaurle.html

If this lava tube gets small at any point be sure she has a helmet:
I have this one and like it: http://www.karstsports.com/bldihadohe.html
You could even use a skater helmet.

That looks like a great headlamp option, I'll try to find that locally. I forgot I also have an REI like 3 blocks from my apartment, I would imagine they carry a variety of headlamps.

Viper GTS

 

[SilthDraeth]

Down at Wal-mart they have what looks like a decent Rayovac LED Headlamp, runs on a single AA, as opposed to using AAAs. I like Mag-lites, and have always found them to be very dependable, as well as being able to turn them into a Candle. 80 lumens for 11 hours sounds decent.

 

[Bryophyte]

Try REI over in Tanasbourne. I bought Petzl Myo XP there (think it runs about 80 bucks). I LOVE this headlamp and use it daily. Even with that amount of use, I've changed the batteries (3 AAs) about three or four times in the last 12 months, so it basically costs nothing to run. They have a lot of headlamps there, many less expensive ones than the one I bought.

 

[SilthDraeth]

I just found this also 150 lumens 3C 100hr runtime flahlight

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: SilthDraeth
I just found this also 150 lumens 3C 100hr runtime flahlight

That has definite potential - smaller and brighter than the Dorcy 3D.

Viper GTS

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
Is this the lava tube near Mt. St. Helens? Ape Cave?

Two friends and I went there with a couple cheap flashlights & an electric lantern. Sucked, but it was enough light to see without stumbling. I found that wide beamed light was far more useful than a powerful spotlight.

It was an absolute blast there. Oh, and bring coats. It's cold down there.

Yup, that's the one. I'm not actually going, but I figure the more light you have available the better the experience. Should be able to see more, see better, and have the darkness be even more overwhelming when you shut the lights off.

Viper GTS

Excellent. I think we were in there for a good 2 - 3 hours. CrackRabbit might have a better idea of how long it took. And don't forget the camera. We took some excellent shots while we were there.

Originally posted by: KB
I have caved with this Princeton tec headlamp and liked it http://www.karstsports.com/printecaurle.html

If this lava tube gets small at any point be sure she has a helmet:
I have this one and like it: http://www.karstsports.com/bldihadohe.html
You could even use a skater helmet.

It doesn't get small enough to worry about helmets, and it's pretty easy walking for the majority of it. That is if you take the easy route. You can go the other way, and it is for experienced climbers and the like.

I would say about two hours. It is about a half mile from the lower entrance to where you would need to crawl to go any farther.
And if you GF isn't against it I would suggest a coleman white fuel or propane lantern in addition to a headlight or flash light.
A guy passed us with a propane one that lit up the cave quite well.

 

[imported_Imp]

Get a _____ Aurora. It's got great reviews on flashlight websites (yes, they exist), and I have one. Brought it to a camp last year, use it regularly and it's still running off the same 3 AAA batteries pretty brightly. Goes for around $50 in Canada.