Household torches

[whenfires]

I'm looking for recommendations for a couple of household torches. I have a number small cree 'personal' torches in bags, cars, drawers etc but what do you all use for more substantial uses around the home and garden?

I've been a bit wary of the cheap 'million candle power' rechargable varieties as we bought a couple of different ones for work and when the time came to need them, they didn't work!

[Deeps]

How much power are you looking for ? I've found the larger cree's (using the 18650 battery) more than adequate for pretty much everything. Are you looking for something a bit 'weightier' ?

[kernewek]

I've got a Maglite. Nice and weighty... useful if you ran into a burglar and needed to defend yourself.

[sniper 55]

I think it's going to depend on what you want it for, of it just pottering around the house when the lights go out or finding something behind the fridge, pretty much anything will do, although for the lights out I'd use a torch that has a flood setting (or stands on it's tail) something to light up a room.
If it's got a self defence aspect then as suggested the maglite is a pretty solid heafty bit of kit.

I'm slightly confused by the million candlepower bit, does iy need to be used for searching too? I have a cree skyray king (see link) it's the same model with 7 leds but it's from a different source on ebay, the thing is mental with light output, made my car mainbeams look dim, I'm getting about an hour and a half off the batteries on full, and thats all the light I'll ever need outdoors.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKYRAY-King-S ... Jwh86KGJ3g

I notice they now do one with 10 leds..... Blimey you'll get a tan off that...

[whenfires]

It's mainly for power-out situations so something that can be either stood on its side/end to light an area room would be an advantage. Also, I have quite a long garden so I was thinking of something powerful enough to give a wide, strong beam (that Cree Skyray King might do the trick for that requirement).

I wasn't thinking of any self-defence angle from it but you both have a point about the maglites. Are they still good bits of kit as I haven't used one in years and had assumed they had been superseded by newer tech?

The 'million candle power' was the advertising gimmick they used to use for the powerful torches we bought a while ago for work so not really a required feature

[kernewek]

Talking about candles, don't forget to have a box of those as well.

[Mortblanc]

If it is for short term emergency use about any good torch will do for lighting the way or finding lost articles/people in the dark.

In a long term situation, such as living off grid or longer emergencies, the requirements change somewhat.

In a long term situation the ultra bright super torch will be traded for a low draw LED or florescent system that lasts longer while providing adequate light for normal activities.

I have a two tube florescent system that operates for 100+hours on 4 D-cell batteries and provides enough light for reading. I have an LED lantern that provides enough light to prevent falling over the furniture and its 4 D-cells last for a month. On high setting the same lantern provides reading/cooking/craft-working level light. Both were obtained form out local Walmart chain, which has a section for portable lighting. I have been using them both for more than 15 years and have forgotten their cost, but it was not much I can guarantee.

[kernewek]

I wasn't thinking of any self-defence angle from it but you both have a point about the maglites. Are they still good bits of kit as I haven't used one in years and had assumed they had been superseded by newer tech?

I've had mine for yonks and no problems at all. Can't think of a torch I'd rather have in my hand if I was in a sticky situation.

[Toddie]

What is the exact make of the big maglites?

All i'm finding is mini. And the larger ones look REALLY slender.

I've got this image of a torch the width of a pint glass in my head, but then again i've only ever used the mini versions.

[Bad Wombat]

How about one of these. I have one for use around the house. It takes 3 D cells, is pretty damn bright, and has a nice weighty feel to it!