Dear Pelican,
I am just forwarding this to you, so you know you have at least one
happy customer out there.
Below is a e-mail I sent that was read by about 200 cave explorers.
Don't read it, just scroll
down to the 6th line from the bottom:
________________________________________________________________________________
Can I do a review of a review ?
Page 25 of the latest NSS News features a 3/4 page article on LED headlamps.
The 1st light describe was reviewed on CaveTex three years ago. I
caved with it
in 3 caves at the Indiana 2007 Convention. It is still one of the
better retail lamps around,
but in my opinion, the main feature is that it is readily available at
Target and can often
be purchased on sale.
The 2nd light described was also mentioned on CaveTex at least a year
ago, if not more.
( He didn't even bother to take it out of the frickin package )
He mentioned that AAA batteries are an "obviously bad idea."
Then he briefly mentioned the Scurion light on display at ICS.
That too was mentioned
on Cavetex years ago ( but not the latest models at ICS )
I will give credit to the author, Mr. Walter Lipton, for taking the
time to write an article
that was overall an interesting read. However, I think he has been
underground in a cave for too long.
( Which may be a good thing. )
However, I would argue that in many Texas caves, such as Airmans, that
AAA batteries
are the preferred batteries. I would also argue that AAA batteries
are going to be more
common in future caving headlamps, at least until a good lithium-ion
model hits the cheap
retail market.
( Disclaimer: My current LED headlamp uses 8 AA batteries, but I
wouldn't take it in Airman's. )
I suspect that headlamps I see in stores in Houston, may not be
readily available in other
parts of the country or at least not as easy to find, or as in-expensive.
In summary,
I would have rather read a review of a light that just hit the market and was
fully tested in various caving conditions, for example:
http://www.pelican.com/lights_detail_specs.php?recordID=2690
or a head-lamp that has been used for years that just
keeps on ticking. Like:
http://www.pelican.com/lights_detail.php?recordID=2680
or my 2nd favorite el-cheapo lite:
http://images1.opticsplanet.com/1020-680-ffffff/opplanet-pelican-headsup-lite-2630-led-flashlight.jpg
( All 3 Pelican products by the way )
My personal opinions on reports for testing these new lights, is that
you got to be willing to drop it on
concrete from 3 feet off the ground and also to submerse it in water
overnight with the light
on with a fresh set of batteries. You have to try to disassemble it
into as many pieces as
possible and put it back together. You got to take it outside at
night or into a cave and examine
the beam pattern comparing it to a light that you like, side by side.
David Locklear
caver in Fort Bend County, Texas
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