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Holmes Linn shaft: Shaft top
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Ring Cyba-lite Hand Torch (based on a 3w Luxeon LED)
Available from many outdoor stores and online retailers price approx £25-£40
Handheld torches are popular kit for cavers and explorers as a back-up for use in large areas or as an emergency light should their main headlamp fail. Ring produce (amongst other things) a good range of torches based on 1w, 3w and 5w Luxeon LEDs. Up for review here is their 3w model.
The Build
This torch is constructed out of aircraft-grade aluminium and the machining is of superb quality. It is finished in a gloss black coating and feels like it would withstand a phenomenal amount of beating, in fact mine already has. It is completely waterproof and I've tested it as so. The weak point seems to be the front lens which is a good quality clear plastic, but unfortunately it scratches rather easily. Unscrew the end to drop in three 'C' cells which powers the device (not included).
The
Electronics
The light emitter in this Cyba-lite is a forward-shining 3 watt Luxeon Star, manufactured by Lumileds. This in turn is mounted on a large heat-sink to prevent the Luxeon from burning itself out (which it would do very quickly without it).
The LED is driven by a regulator circuit which keeps the light shining at maximum output even as the batteries slowly wear down. This is in contrast to non-regulated torches that gradually get dimmer and dimmer as time goes by - and regulated torches are greatly the preference. This also means that it should be able to run at full brightness off rechargeable batteries (which are only 1.2v per cell rather than 1.5v) though I've only used mine with Alkaline batteries so far.
There is a CPU which provides three different brightness levels (low, medium, high), and the button on the top of the torch cycles through these states and also 'OFF'. The CPU does not reduce the light output by lowering the power to the Luxeon, instead it turns it on and off very quickly to simulate a weaker light. This has an interesting effect that if you're walking down a tunnel solely to the light output of this torch, everything will seem to shimmer! On full-power, this does not happen as the Luxeon remains on constantly.
The
Light Output
The 3w Luxeon LED is a powerful beast and on full power it will destroy three Duracells in as many hours. The output is a glorious even white light, and Ring's in-built reflector compliments it perfectly to focus it into a reasonably narrow, penetrating beam. For those used to LED lighting systems providing a weak localised glow, this product will come as a surprise as it couldn't be more different.
It packs sufficient punch underground to light up far walls about 200 feet away, with a medium-sized spot. It's very nice used in conjunction with a normal, weaker headlamp, taken out when entering a larger area that deserves a proper look around.
The
Case
Ring supply this torch complete with a tough fabric case (As you can see from the picture, mine's taken a bit of a beating from about six months mine exploration). Inside the fabric is a rigid plastic tube, which means the torch drops in and comes out very easily even if it's rammed in a bag tightly packed with other gear. A flap over the top is locked down with a metal push-pop.
On the rear of the case is a tough belt loop (not pictured) which is sewn at the top end and fastened at the bottom with two push-pops. This means you can attach it to or remove it from your belt without needing to remove your belt from your waist. It clips nicely onto a standard battery belt, or a normal harness. In practice I'd rather it was sewn both ends, as in use I've managed to knock it off several times whilst squeezing or stretching for a hand-hold.
An Extra Use - For Photography
In addition to being a great torch to keep at your side, the even white light makes for a simple substitute for an electronic flash when taking long-exposure photographs. The narrow beam shines down tunnels very effectively, and if you carefully unscrew the reflector the bare Luxeon will provide an extremely even, wide-angle light source perfect for close-ups. Of course it's not as good as proper electronic flashes and for large areas it's not much cop, but for the smaller mines/caves where you've trying to reduce kit - it's a serious alternative. Here are some photos taken using this torch (and only this torch!):
These three shots (from Minera mine, near Wrexham) were taken on a digital camera, set to ISO100, F4, and about 20 seconds exposure or thereabouts. Being long-exposure, the camera was of course mounted on a tripod. For all three shots I removed the reflector from the Cyba-lite to get a wide, even beam, but for the third shot (with the caver down the tunnel) I quickly put the reflector back on for the last 5 seconds or so to give a stronger burst of light into the distance. I deliberately kept the torch reasonably still, about two feet away from the camera. This has provided some shadows which helps to define depth. You can of course use traditional halogen torches for light-paining but they are nowhere near as good.
Conclusion
The 3w version of the Ring Cyba-lite is a cracking torch to have on your side. If you keep reasonably fresh batteries in it, it'll provide a long enough light to get out of a cave/mine on low power so it is good for emergencies. The bright white light crosses vast distances with ease and helps you to appreciate your surroundings in large areas. You could drop it down a 100ft shaft (not that I condone such trials) and I'm sure it would still be fine. It's use in photography will be of more interest to some than others, but if you like taking pictures whilst travelling light you'll find it a great twin-use bit of kit.