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Old 02-01-17 | 09:57 AM
  #9  
Tourist in MSN
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Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Madison, WI

Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.

I considered the Revolt, but I could not find out if the charging circuit is a smart charger or dumb charger. A smart charger senses the battery charge and shuts off the charging circuit when the batteries are full. A dumb charger just keeps charging and charging, but theoretically at a slow enough rate that the batteries should not be damaged. I am a bit picky with my charging, I want to use only smart chargers. Some of the reviews I saw on the internet suggested the charging circuit was not very good, so I decided against it. That said, don't rely on my comments, research it yourself if you are interested as maybe they have improved it since I did my research.

I bought the Black Diamond Storm a few years ago, this is my third or fourth LED headlamp. It uses four, not three AAA cells. Since most AAA chargers work best with two instead of one battery, I wanted an even number of AAA batteries. I carry a charger for AA and AAA batteries since I use AA batteries in my GPS and my bike taillights use AAA. Battery life in the Storm could be better, but I like it. I think mine is several years old now, has 100 lumens but newer ones are rated higher. The various lighting circuits in it are very complicated to use with one button (red, white wide beam, white narrow beam, flashing, dimable beams, a lock circuit) so I have to re-read the instructions before each trip so I remember how to use it.

I picked up a headlamp on a free shelf at a campground on my last tour. I of course had to put a new battery in it, but it works great. Two beams, narrow and wide. It takes one AA cell, not AAA. Tiny and light weight. Since I carry several spare AA batteries, this is great. Brand is Kalahari. I have never seen this brand sold in USA, so I suspect a European left it on the free shelf.

Of the Storm or the Kalahari, I am undecided which to bring on my next trip, but since I leave in less than 24 hours I better decide fast.

I have had lots of incandescent headlamps going back to the Wonder light with C cell adapter, those of you that are as old as I am might remember those. I think my Wonder is still in a box in storage somewhere. Compared to those older lights I used to use, any of the modern LED lights are outstanding.
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