[pct-l] E-Lite - ultralight, but not very bright - why bother?

[Slyatpct at aol.com]

I guess it depends on what you intend on using it for.   How  bright to you 
need it?
 
I've hiked the PCT only using a Photon and found it adequete enough to get  
water, set up camp and read some before bedtime.  The drawback being,  without 
a clip or head strap, it's hand held.  I seldom night hike but did  use the 
new e-lite for several miles recently and it gave off more than enough  light.  
 
 
Sly
 
 
 
In a message dated 1/16/2007 2:32:47 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
bluebrain at bluebrain.ca writes:

http://en.petzl.com/petzl/LampesProduits?Produit=607

It may  weigh in at just an ounce, but I wonder if it's worth the
trade-off?   It puts out much less light than other headlamps, and
particularly once the  battery life decreases, which is rapid since it's
battery life isn't  long.

Max life, 45 hours, max light distance 19 m (for a few minutes  with fresh
batteries)

Maximum 35 h
t0 = 19 m
t30mn = 12 m
t10h = 5 m
t30h = 3 m

Economic 45  h
t0 = 11 m
t30mn = 10 m
t10h = 5 m
t30h = 3

Compare that to other models that weigh between two and three  ounces with
regular batteries and can last up to 150 hours.

Maximum  60 h
t0 = 35 m
t30mn = 30 m
t10h = 20  m
t30h = 7 m

Economic 120 h
t0 = 18 m
t30mn = 17 m
t10h = 15 m
t30h = 13 m

Is saving two  ounces worth a much dimmer light (again, particularly as the
batteries run  down) and as much as 1/3 less battery life?  For most of
it's battery  life the ELITE will only be casting light between 3 and 10
meters  away.

If you really want light, why not go with the photon freedom  micro  light?

http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/Photon_Freedom.html

It  says 10-12 hours here, but I think that's on it's highest setting, and
it  can last up to 100 hours when dimmer.  Can't find any brightness  stats
on it, but I read one review that indicated it was brighter than many  3
light headlamps, and it's about a quarter ounce with the  hat-clip.

Personally, I want to have more than enough light with me  (both in terms
of brightness and battery life) not just barely  enough.