Suprabeam V3 Air Rechargeable Head Torch Reviews

5 Rating 1 Reviews

There are hundreds of head torches on the market and we wanted to choose one that would meet the demands of trail running, which in turn would mean it would make an excellent head torch for other outdoor activities and pretty much anything else! We chose Suprabeam because:They make exceptionally high quality lights, used mostly by professional organisations. The focus is on achieving supreme quality and superb lighting performance for the entire duration of the products battery and life spanThey are one of the only companies to publish 'light curves' showing their goal of consistent light output rather than headline power and duration figuresThey offer a 5 year guarantee as standardWe chose the V3 Air Rechargeable because:The High Strength Aluminium is sturdy and acts as a large heat-sink to ensure the LED is properly cooledThe Li-Po battery provides the continuos power required for consistent light output. You don't get this from non-rechargeable batteries. Also, Li-Po can be recharged from a partial charge without damaging itIt is light weightThe hyperfocus is easy to use and ideal for the constant adjustment required over different terrain, enabling easy adjustment between a wide and narrow beamThe head is also easy to tilt for close-up vs distance visionThe switch is a metal button placed underneath the head, allowing you to step through the light modes easily, even with gloves on. The different light functions are controlled by ILC = Intelligent Light Control. This allows easy switching between modes.Battery reserve: when the battery reaches the last 10% of its total capacity, its integrated Battery Reserve feature automatically fades the light down to approximately 10-15% of the headlamps maximum lumens output.The headband is split for comfort, and silicone stripes ensure it doesn't slip. Fits to 50-70 centimetres. MPN V3 Air RView All Run Accessories[specs]. Beautifully Engineered Aluminium Torch, Backed By A 5 Year Guarantee. A Smooth Sliding Focus, A Solid Metal Switch, Highly Efficient Optics. Weighs Just 148 Grams. 360 Lumens Output For 1:45hr Through To 8 Lumens For 100hr And Everything In Between. Micro Controller Control For Optimum Lighting Intensity And Battery Life. USB Charging. Adjustable Hyperfocus Beam With A Range Up To 210m. Li-Ion Polymer Battery. IPX4 Weather Rated

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“I usedthe Suprabeam during the Arc 100 in Cornwall –one of the toughest races out there in terms of overnight conditions. The headtorch itself weighs very little – a big advantage for a race where you’re wearing it all night. I’ve had experiences before of headtorches being so uncomfortable on my temples that I rip them off at the first hint of sunrise. The Suprabeam certainly avoids that, I think because of the added support strap that goes under the base of the skull. This can take a bit of adjusting to get right, so I would advise spending some time fitting it before a long run, and giving it a few test runs before a race to make sure it’s not slipping about. The biggest advantage of this headtorch, for me, was how bright the beam is. Anyone who has run a race like the Arc will be familiar with how a good headtorch is the key to avoiding injuries on tough terrain and in unpleasant weather. The angle-range of the beam is also generous and easy to alter, so if you need to go from looking at what’s in front of your feet to up ahead, this is a quick adjustment. The size of the beam of light can be adjusted by using the hyperfocus – a really simple feature that I found so useful I wonder how I managed without it until now – when you’re running on tricky terrain and need to see the ground in front of you with high clarity then you can cast a narrow, high-intensity light. Then when you need to assess your surroundings – look for a race marking or check for livestock in a field – you can widen the beam and it allows you to see everything around you. On the highest lumen this basically turns the torch into a floodlight – incredibly useful if you’re lost! Holding down the on/off button switches the light up in brightness over four settings – a simple feature that came in handy for technical sections. I used the lowest setting for road sections as this was still pretty bright and totally adequate for visibility on easy footing, and this makes the battery last much longer. It can be tempting to keep it on the high setting as a comfort when running alone in the dark, but don’t be tempted to do this as it runs the battery down! If you’re running on the road then one battery can get you through the night, but if you’re relying on some of the high-intensity beams then you’ll need your back-up battery. If you run into a checkpoint and want to avoid blinding people, you can rotate the angle of the light down to the floor. Alternatively, if you switch it off completely, it will “remember” the brightness level you had it on before you switched it off, so you won’t leave the checkpoint faffing with light levels. Overall the Suprabeam is a great bit of kit and would be my first choice for night races in the future. The only advice I would give is to take the time fitting it properly and to not overuse the higher light intensity settings, and carry your spare battery!”

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Posted 5 years ago

Thank you for taking the time to write such a comprehensive review, we think it is an ideal head torch for trail running so it's great to hear to you found it worked well for you on the Arc100! Best regards Robin

Posted 5 years ago