Head Torch
Your headtorch is your essential light for seeing underground and has a huge impact on your caving experience. Generally, the brighter and better your light, the more you will see and the more enjoyable your time will be.
What to look for
You can spend as little or as much as you want on a light, but the best advice is to get a modern caving light. You want something that is robust, waterproof, and "bang-proof" as it will take a lot of abuse.
Avoid hiking headtorches like the Petzl Tikka which run on AAA batteries.
A good starter series of lights would be the Petzl Pixa 2 or 3, which can often be picked up second-hand.
It's best to avoid very old lights, such as old lead-acid "Oldham" lamps, and generally any light made before 2010 is probably not worth using.
If you can, buying a new Fenix headtorch is highly recommended. They offer a great balance between robustness and price, bringing top-tier performance to a mid-range price point. They also have an excellent warranty and after-sales support.
A model like the Fenix HM70R or HM65R is a brilliant choice - they're USB rechargeable, runs on standard replaceable batteries, are very bright, and have a long battery life.
What to get first
Wellies.
A helmet to put it on.
Buying Guide
- Price (New): ££
- Price (Used): ££
- Buy online? Yes, this is fine, and if you know what you want - for good quality lights, it's often cheapest to buy online.
Buying Second Hand
It is safe to buy second-hand, but often not worth the money/options tradeoff. Lighting technology has improved so much that almost any light made before 2010 isn't worth having.
If you can afford to buy new, it's usually a better deal as you get a better product.
If you can find something brilliant and modern, second hand for cheap - go for it!
Where you can buy it
Most caving shops will sell suitable headtorches.