Coast HL4 Dual Head Torch Review

The HL4 from Coast is an etremely good value for money headlight. It only costs £23. For this price you get a lot of features, which should be found only in higher priced lights. This torch combines brightness, long battery life, and low cost all in one light.

The head torch has two modes: the standard 5 white LED's, or a 1 red LED mode. These two modes are independantly controlled from two different switches, which makes choosing the desired mode a lot easier. The red LED becomes useful when you need only a low amount of light and you want to preserve your nightvision. The light is powered off of 3xAAA batteries, which are easily found all over the world. For its price, the light gives out an astonishing 144 lumens, which distrubeutes evenly over a large area. The light reaches out to 57m, and the batteries last for 6 hours and 15 minutes. The light is also impact resistant to 1 meter, and water resistant, so it can be used in any weather. The light also features a hinged beam adjustment which makes it easy to position the beam where you want it. Including batteries, the light ways 125g/4.4oz. The straps are adjustable so its very easy to match the light to your head size.

Overall, this is an amazing light and I still can't belive its price. If your after a cheap head torch, that is capable of lighting up your whole garden, this is the light for you. I can promise you, that you won't be dissapointed. You can buy it from Amazon at coast hl4

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Olight M22 Warrior Flashlight Review

Olight M22 Warrior Review

This new flashlight from Olight features the newer LED the XM-L2. When it was first released, a lot of people had different reactions towards its looks. Some liked it, and some hated it. Personally, it looks like a standard 18650 thrower, and it looks similar to the nearest competitors.

It arrived in a lovely package, that included the M22, a diffuser, a holster, a CR123 magazine, a good quality lanyard, and a small package that includes 3 O-rings and a spare glow in the dark tail switch. The M22 gives out 950 lumens on high which has a beam range of 305m. It comfortably lights stuff up to about 200-250m, but I can see trees (just about) that are 300m away.



In hand, the M22 feels extremely well built, and the knurling on the body ain't too aggressive. The words on the body are well machined on with no slight mistakes. The head features a lot of cooling fins that help to lower the chance of overheating. The bezel is well made, and has the words "Hot Surface" and "Cree XM-L2" laser etched to each side.



One thing that might put some people off from buying this flashlight is that it can't tail stand. It also features a tactical ring, that allows users to hold the flashlight with the cigar hold. This ring is removable but it will reveal an O-ring. It also has a pocket clip. The design of the clip helps to hold the tactical ring in place. The metal contact in the tailcap maintains contact because it has a spring beneath the gold contact. The rear threads are well lubed and look of extremely high quality. Inside the battery tube, there's a shiny sticker that shows the user which way the battery goes in.
The head doesn't have anodised threads because the UI requires the head to be loosened and tightened. There is also a spring gold contact near the head, so the battery will not rattle about, and it should always maintain contact.

The reflector is smooth and deep, which gives a throwy beam, which also lights up a good area. The walls of the flashlight are quite thick, and should be capable of a good beating. The bezel is easily removed which reveals a glass lens with a red O-ring.
The included diffuser fits on snuggly to the head, and works flawlessly. The diffuser also has a loop that can be mounted to the lanyard.
The holster is probably one of the best ones I've seen. It's made of a high quality material, so it keeps it's shape. On each side, there's a loop to hold spare 18650 batteries. The loops hold the batteries in place really well. There is a hole at the bottom of the holster so the flashlight can be used when its packed away. The holster can be mounted to a belt or a carabiner. I hope that other brands will soon follow the design of this Olight holster.
The user interface is very simple on the M22. You loosen the head and then tighten it to move from one mode to another. Low-Medium-High. There is also a hidden Strobe mode. To access the strobe, you'll have to press the switch momentary 3 times. Personally the strobe flashes at a good rate to temporarily blind someone. It ain't too fast, like some of the other flashlight I've used. When the flashlight gets quite hot on high, it will move down to a lower mode, to protect the LED.

If you're looking for a powerful tactical flashlight, the M22 might be the flashlight for you. It rivals other flashlights that cost quite a bit more.

 

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Led Lenser F1 Flashlight Review

Led Lenser Flashlight Review

Thank you Led Lenser for sending out a F1 flashlight to review. The flashlight arrived well packaged in a lovely gift box.

The box included the F1, a Duracell battery, a pocket clip, a spare bezel, a wrist lanyard, a cleaning kit, and some documents. Inside the lid of the box, there are some details about the F1. It shows all the specifications, including saying it has 400 lumens, 100m beam range, and waterproof to 2.5m. The build quality is excellent with every piece joining each other with no problem. The Cree LED sits perfectly centered, and gives out a perfect beam of light. The hotspot is very bright, and can comfortably reach passed 80m. Built to the tailcap is a hexagon shape that stops the flashligh from rolling off of flat surfaces. This works very good, while still making the flashlight lovely to look at. The steel bezel at the front is interchangeable with the tactical bezel which is included in the box. The tactical bezel is capable of breaking glass in emergencies. Also near the head are some grooves that help with lowering the chance of  overheating (the flashlight does get hot when used for long periods on high).

The included pocket clip can be mounted at the rear or the front, with 360 degrees of possible places to be mounted. There is a notch in the tailcap that holds the lanyard in place. The flashlight can talstand, butit's a little harder when the lanyard is mounted. One thing that sets this flashlight apart from other Led Lensers is that the beam is not focusable. This is not a problem, because the lens creates of very tight hotspot, while still glowing up a good area. The flashlight only measures 88 x 27.5mm, and it gives out 400 lumens. Its powered off of one CR123 battery, and can lastt up to 2 hours. The F1 includes SLT (Smart Light Technology), so the flashlight has 3 modes: High, Low, and Strobe. It gives out 400 lumens on high, and the low gives out 60 lumens. If you shine the strobe into someones eyes, you'll most probably temporarily blind them (This is why it's a tactical flashlight).

If you're looking for a very high powered tactical flashlight that fits in your pockets, this is the flashlight for you. The only downside I could find is that the batteries don't last last very long, and that the flashlight doen't allow rechargeable CR123's. Overall, this flashlight is very good value for money.

More information on the F1 can be found at http://www.ledco.co.uk/content/productView.aspx?prodId=92

You can buy the F1 from Amazon at http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?t=trissrevi-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00A39OVF8&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr

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Leatherman Rebar Multitool Review

Leatherman Rebar Review



First of all, thank you to Leatherman for sending me this product to review.

The product arrived packed in a clam shell. Included in the package were the tool itself, a leather sheath and a manual/product catalog. After opening the clam shell, the first thing I realised was the difference in size and weight compared to the Super Tool 300. The Rebar has basically the same tools as the Super Tool 300, but packed in a smaller body.

Measurements





When closed the Rebar measures 10.16cm in length, weighs in at 189.94g, and has a blade length of 7.36cm.

Tools





The most obvious tool on the Rebar is the pliers which has a set of removable 154cm hard/standard wire cutters. These are attached to the plier head by small torx screws. These wire cutters can cut through a bike spoke, but i doubt it for anything much larger in diameter. The tip on the plier head is pefectly crafted and the two ends meet together perfectly. Because the needlenose pliers are so point, the pliers can be used in small spaces, while you can also use them to grab stuff about half inch in diameter. For me, the pliers on the Rebar are the perfect size, and they are very strong. There is no sign of weakness when you put pressure on them.

There is also a wide rangle of screwdrivers on the Rebar. It has one phillips head, and 2 flat head screwdrivers. The larger flast head measures 7mm in diameter and the smaller one 3mm. I find these two sizes to be the most popular in day to day life. The design of the phillips head means it can be used with larger and smaller screws.

The next tool I'm going to talk about is the awl. Many people love to have an awl on they're tools because it's so versatile. The main use of an awl is probably using it as a leather punch. It also has a needle eye near the tip, and the machined edge is at an angle so it can also be used as a scraper.

By now, people consider a saw as a standart tool on a multi tool. The saw on the Rebar has a functional length of 56mm. Its been desied, so the saw is thickest where the teeth are, so it decreases the chance of the saw getting stuck.. The teeth are crafted to the highest standard, and they're all pefectly shaped.

For years, Leatherman files have been much better than those of other brands. The file on the Rebar has a different design on both sides of the blade. On one side the file is designed for wood, and the other side is a diamond file designed for harder materials. At the bottom edge there is also file which can be used as a hacksaw on small tasks.

The can/bottle opener on the Rebar opens cans with ease an it can also open a variey of bottles. At the base of the can opener on the Rebar, there is a V-shaped notch which is designed as a wire stripper.

The most hidden tool on the Rebar is the wire crimpers. These are located inbetween the handles, opposite to the pliers.

There are two knife blades on the Rebar which measure 7.36cm in length. These blades are made out of 420HC steel. 420HC steel is easy to sharp, and it retains a good edge. There is one plain blade, and one sheepsfoot serrated blade. These two blades are easy to access because there is a cut out in the REbar's body. The serated blade is designed to cut through rope, and open packages, while the plain blade is designed to everyday tasks (such as opening letters).

The last tool on the Rebar is the lanyard, which is not exactly a tool but more of an accessory. Some people like lanyards, and some people don't like them. Personally I'm not fussed with lanyard, but the lanyard on the Rebar seems to be of a good size to hold a variety of rope sizes.

There is also another accessory on the rebar which you may not have seen. This is the ruler. It's been machined into the body and can measure up to 20cm. The lock on the Rebar is a very simple one, but it does its job very effectively. It's a rocker-type kind of lock.

The Body/Accessories

At the two joints between the body and the pliers, the body has benn narrowed down so its more comfortable to hold when open. Another way that Leatherman have made the Rebar more comfortable to hold is by turning the edge of the body inwards, so it doesn't cut into your hands when applying pressure.

The leather sheath which came include in the package is held together by 4 rivets. It's very well made but I have one quite major criticism about it. The snap buttons that open/close the sheath are quite stiff and hard to open. Over time, I hope that the snap buttons will eventually become smoother because this is quite a big problem at the moment.

Conclusion

Personally I think that the Rebar from Leatherman is a great value for money tool, which is perfectly crafted with no flaws in the steel work. At the beginning the joints were quite stiff, but after opening and closing the tool for a few minutes, it works perfectly. I think that you can't go wrong with buying the Rebar, especially with it's low price point, for the amount of tools you're having.

You can buy the Rebar from amazon at http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?t=trissrevi-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=B007ERHK3M&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr

Fenix LD22 S2 Review

Fenix LD22 S2 Review



The LD22 is the newer version of the extreamly popular LD20. The new LD22 S2 is the same as the original LD22, but features a Cree XP-G S2 LED.

Its powered by 2 AA batteries (I prefer Eneloops). One of the main differences between this flashlight and the LD20 is that the LD22 S2 features a switch near the head to change modes. It also features an intelligent memory function that remembers the last mode used.

On maximum brightness it gives out 200 OTF lumens with a runtime of 2h 26m. It also has a high mode which gives out 95 OTF lumens, with a runtime of 6h. Then comes the medium brightness mode which gives out 46 OTF lumens with a runtime of 15h. The lowest mode is 3 OTF lumens withn an increadible runtime of 110h. Personally, I can see that these figures are quite realistic to the actual brightness the flashlight gives out. It also features a 200 lumen strobe, and a SOS. It has a digitally regulated output so it maintains a constant brightness.

Its body is made out of finely crafted Type-III Hard Anodized Aluminium, with an anti-abrasive finish. It has a toughened ultra-clear glass lens with an anti-reflective coating. The body clip (included) can be mounted in two ways - in the front (pointing backwards), and at the rear (pointing forwards). It has an anti-roll, slip-resistant body.



Specifications

Length - 156mm

Diameter - 21.5mm

Weight - 60g (excluding batteries and body clip)

Conclusion

I think that the LD22 S2 from Fenix is possibly the best 2xAA flashlight on the market today. It is very well designed/built, and gives out a blindning amount of light. For the price i think that this flashlight is extremely good value for money.

Where to Buy?

http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/fenix/fenix-ld22.html

4Sevens Preon 2 Flashlight Review

4Sevens Preon 2 Review



4Sevens flashlights are one of the best flashlight brands on the planet. They have a range of flashlights from small penlights (like the Preon 2) to flashlights that require they're own holsters.

As stated above the 4Sevens Preon 2 is a penlight. These lights are designed like pens - a thin body that's quite long. The Preon 2 gets it's power off of 2xAAA batteries. The Preon 2 is the first flashlight to run on a Cree XP-G LED that runs on 2xAAA batteries (Sanyo Eneloops are the best).

It delivers a magnificently bright 160 lumens on max setting, with a runtime of 0.8 hours. It also gives out 22 lumens on medium with a runtime of 6 hours, and 23 hours on the lowest setting which gives out 2.2 lumens. It also features a strobe, SOS, Beacon(Hi), and Beacon (Lo).

Measurements

Length: 5.05 inches

Diameter: 0.55 inches

Weight: 0.8 ounces.

The body is made out of Hard-anodized aluminum that comes in 2 colours:- Black and Blue. There is also a Titanium model available. The flashlight os waterproof to IPX-8 standards (2m).

Conclusion

This torch was designed to rival the Streamlight Stylus Pro which was the king of all penlights before this stepped on the block. Although this flashlight does cost a bit more (about £40), it is worth the extra money.

Where to Buy?

4Sevens Preon 2 Gen 2 - 20% more lumens, but same runtime.  http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/4sevens/preon-2.html

Sanyo Eneloops = http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sanyo-Eneloop-AAA-Pack-Batteries/dp/B000IDWDKO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361294091&sr=8-1

Fenix E05 R2 Flashlight Review

Fenix E05 R2 Flashlight Review

Fenix is most probably the best value for money flashlight brand around. They offer a wide range of flashlights from small keychain flashlights, to blindning searchlights.

The E05 R2 is a keychain flashlight that outshines the 2AA Mini-Maglite by far. It's 64.5mm in length and 14.4mm in diameter. It's a single-mode flashlight that gives out 27 lumens. This is a high amount of light for a flashlight of this size. When running on 27 lumens it runs for 2 hours and 50 minutes from a single AAA battery. This flashlight is digitally regulated so it maintains a constant brightness for most of its runtime. The flashlight gives out a nearly perfect beam, with nearly no artifacts. It gives out a decent spill for its size, and it can light up stuff at around 30m comfortably.The Cree XP-E LED in the E05 gives out a very neutral coloured beam.



The torch operates On/Off by turning the head. It is a smooth turn and easy to make one-handed. It has a lanyard hole at the rear and it can easily tailstand to serve as a candle. This flashlight is available in 3 colours:- black, blue, and purple. This flashlight can easily handle the knocks of every-day life, with its aluminium body. Its also water resistant.



Personally I think that the E05 R2 Flashlight is possibly one of the best AAA flashlights to have on your keychain. Surely it isn't as bright as the lithium CR123 torches, but they're in a different class. I can't think of anything negative to say about this flashlight.

You can buy it from Amazon at http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?t=trissrevi-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=B004D2A02O&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr

Joby Gorillapod SLR Review

Joby Gorillapod SLR Review



When I saw the Joby Gorillapod after becoming a keen photographer, I thought that i had to have one. I also liked the fact that its so compact and can be used nearly everywhere, the total opposite of a classic tripod. The original Gorillapod stated that it was capable of holding my superzoom compact Nikon S9100, but the tripod mount on the camera was at the edge so i guessed it would probably topple over. When i saw that there was a Gorillapod for bigger Cameras, the Gorillapod SLR, i suddenly had a quick look online and bought one. I knew the increased size and weight load could easily handle the weight of my S9100.

The Gorillapod SLR states that it can hold a camera weighing up to 1.75 pounds. If this Gorillapod is too small for your camera, there is also the Gorillapod SLR Zoom which can handle a weight of up to 6.6 pounds.

Design and Features



All of the Gorillapod line-up are basically the same just the whole design gets enlarged a bit each time. The Gorillapod SLR has the same features as its younger brother, the Original Gorillapod, just everything's increased in size. With the legs straightened and folded together the Gorillapod SLR measures a height of just under 10 inches. This is very compact and it can easily fit into a camera bag. It is not only very compact, it's also very lightweight weighing in at only 5.8 ounces.

The Gorillapod is basically made up of 9 ball and socket joints on each leg, and a further 2 ball and socket joints near the head. This means the legs can be bent into a variety of different shapes and can hold a camera in basically anywhere. The tips of the legs are mostly covered in rubber, so you can get grip on a variety of surfaces. All of the ball and socket joints have a line of rubber to grip whatever they're holding onto.

At the tripod head there is a removable attachment that gets screwed onto the tripod mount of the camera. Because its so small you can leave this attachment always onto your camera. When you need to use the tripod you can just clip it in, set the legs up, and snap away. When this attachment is mounted on the tripod its locked int o place, until you press a button and remove it. For extra protection there is a rotating lock which can prevent the button from moving.

Performance



At the moment, the Gorillapod SLR works perfectly at what its designed to do. The legs have a high range of movement so you'll always end up with a steady position. It can also easily hold the weight of my camera (7.5oz).

I can only think of one downside, and i will only find out about it in the future. This downside is that,the legs will end up getting weaker over time and will not be able to hold a camera steady.

Conclusion

This is possibly the best value for money tripod around. It gives you a wide reange of versatility, while keeping the price at a minimum. I will only find out if the downside is true or not in the future, so I can't be certain for now. I suggest that all you camera lovers out there, that you go out and buy one of the gorillapod's that suit your needs.

Leatherman Skeletool Review

Leatherman Skeletool Review: by Tristan Jones

The Leatherman Skeletool is classed as a pocket-size multi-tool on the Leatherman website (www.leatherman.com). As with all of the products from Leatherman, the Skeletool's build quality is second to none. All the moving parts move smoothly and the body is finely crafted. The body is made out of stainless steel.



Specifications

Length: 4in/10cmClosed                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Weight: 5oz/142g

Tools (as stated on Leatherman's website)

Needlenose pliers                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Regular pliers                                                                                                                            Wire cutters                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Hard-wire cutters                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    420HC Combo Knife                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Carabiner/Bottle opener                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Large Bit Driver

Pliers



The Main tool on the Skeletool is the pliers. The rest of the Multi-tool is built around the pliers. The tool opens up with the familiar butterfly-opening style which reveals the pliers. The tool locks into place with a very satisfying click. Because of the way the Skeletool was designed there is only one possible way to hold the tool when open. The pliers on the Skeletool are very similar to the pliers on the Juice line of multi-tools from Leatherman. The pliers are blunt-nosed, and have a set of wire cutters at the bottom. There is also a set of hard wire cutters below the standard ones. I find these pliers very strong and reliable.

Blade



The blade is 2.6in/6.60cm long and is made out of 420HC steel. 420HC steel is easy to sharpen and retains a good edge. The Skeletool CX (Skeletool's big brother has a 154CM blade which is harder and preferred by many. I personally prefer 420HC because it's softer and easier to sharpen and holds a decent edge. The blade has a thumb cut out, which means the blade can be deployed one-handed. I personally find the size of the cut out, and its placement perfect for one hand opening. When the blade is open it locks securely into place with the liner lock. I find this kind of lock easy to function, and it does a good job of keeping the blade locked. There are also little cut-outs in the blade which helps to keep the weight down to a minimum. I think that the shape of the blade is really good. When the blade is open, there is a notch in the frame for the index finger to sit in. I find this position a very comfortable way of holding the tool with the blade deployed.

Large Bit Driver/Bits

The bit driver is situated at the end of the right handle (same side as blade), while the spare bit is situated inside the left handle. The driver has a nice locking mechanism to hold the bit in, and its easy to operate. The bit driver is designed to be used with one of the handles opened right out. Personally, I find it very comfortable to use the bit driver in this position. It can also be used with one of the handles opened to a 90 degree angle. This position gives you a lot more leaverage if you need it, but i find this position a little less comfortable and user friendly. The spare bit is held in a notch in the frame of the left handle. It is held in entirely by friction. I find it to be fairly secure but it is possible for the bit to fall out when in vigorous testing. If you want extra bits for the bit driver, Leatherman sell a bit kit for use with any of the large bit drivers. If you want to use hex bits with the Skeletool, you can buy the Leatherman bit extender. A downside of using the bit extender in this tool is the fact it doesn't lock into place.

Carabiner/Bottle Opener

The carabiner can be clipped onto almost anything, from belt loops to D-rings. When using the carabiner on some D-rings i found out that the carabiner is a bit big to be versatile. The carabiner also doubles as a bottle opener. It function very well as a bottle opener, and the only downside i can see with it as a bottle opener is that, when applying pressure to open the bottle the top edge of the blade digs into your hand.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a multi-tool, and you're thinking that you are not going to use half the stuff on the multi-tools like the Leatherman Wave, then the Skeletool is possibly the perfect tool for you. It only has a few tools but these tools are the most important in day to day life. The Skeletool looks fantastic while still having the versatility of other multi-tools with much more tools.                                                                                                                                                        Personally, I rate the Leatherman Skeletool a 9 out of 10. It lost a mark because of the few design flaws (e.g. knife digging into hand while opening bottle, and that the spare bit isn't fully secured into the frame). I am very happy with my purchase of the Skeletool, and i'm sure you'll be too.

You can buy it from Amazon at http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?t=trissrevi-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000XU9NXW&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr