Submited By: Shawn B. on 06/13/2011
My original backup light was a Gulftex Photon Torpedo LED. It was actually my favorite non-canister light for years. Most of my buddies use a Rat, Scout, or Oxycheq. I used to really like those lights! But that all changed recently...
About 4 months ago I acquired one of these UTD 3w LED backups and since it required changes to my harness for securing the light and its unconvential form factor, I used it mostly for lighting up trails on nightly walks or runs with my wife or for impromptu spotlight startles of wayward racoons in my yard or to disturb misfit teens making out in their car in front of my house. I couldn't quite bring myself to actually use it in the water.
Just two days before writing this my dive buddy forget his can light so I loaned him my Torpedo (the Torpedo LED light, that is), and my other dive buddy had an Oxycheq Raider. So I used the 3w LED to match their light intensity... and for testing it's capabilities. I also brought with me my 16w Hollis LED just in-case I wanted to fallback on it.
All I can say is the UTD 3w LED was bad F#@#$ng arse. It was like a white laser pointer. Sheer saber power! A dream come true! PERFECTION! Perfectly focused, great intensity; not too scattered, wide, or too much like the other backup lights; the beam?... nice and tight, just the way I like 'em.
Compared against the beam of my 16w LED, the 3w LED held its own, the intensity compared well up to about 10-12 ft, after which it lost its "punch' (given 15-20 ft. green water viz). I'm not saying it was better, or a suitable replacement, I'm just saying it kicked F#@#%$ng arse. I was surprised this little thing had so much drooling power considering it is powered by 3 AAA batteries. I ran the light for about 60 minutes and experienced no noticable loss of envy from my buddies. Little backups aren't supposed to have such reactions. I can't remember the last time a backup light excited me so much... that's because no other one has!
It completely drowned out the Photon Torpedo LED and held well against, but out performed the Oxycheq.
As of that day, two 3w LED's will by my in-water backups and I'll be getting rid of the Torpedo.
Get it and try it for yourself. For most recreational divers this would be a perfect primary. For people who dive with Canister lights as a primary, this would be a perfect backup. For cavers and wreckers, this would be the perfect two backups.
I started out not expecting so much, but ended up wondering why I waited so long to get it, use it, and rate it. So run, don't walk, run to get one of these things!
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