In reply to alexwolf47:
> I recently bought a BD Spot, after using a Petzl Tikka for a long time. Haven't really had the chance to test it properly yet but it is really well made and seems very bright in comparison to the Tikka I have.
I really advise against a BD spot, mostly because it is over-designed and under thought-out.
The tap technology never works, either with or without gloves, while starting at maximum brightness is not clever at all. It has far too many modes to be useful, especially when it is too easy to get stuck in one of the obscure ones and find that it is very hard to get out of - the transition mechanisms and the ways you are supposed to switch each mode on or off are absurd, you have no chance of remembering them when you need to. Also, you never have a realistic chance of setting the brightness level at what you want. If you try to adjust the brightness while moving, you have a very good chance of casting yourself into total darkness.
The worst problem however is that the on/off switch is FAR to sensitive, so the chance of it coming on when you don't want it is huge, so that it will come on in your sack and drain itself so it does not work when you need it. Yes, I know about the 6 second lock to prevent it going on inadvertently, but that is a retrofit to deal with a problem that no-one else has. The 6 second press also relies on you remembering to do it each time, every time or you find yourself back in the original pickle. Other manufacturers make much more chunky switches that need to really be turned on or off and don't do it themselves. The latest Petzls I recall need a 2 second press to come on, so are protected against going on in your sack of their own accord.
BD (who used to make good robust, reliable head torches), have forgotten the basic KISS rule - a head torch must above all work, and work reliably, every time you need it. If it can be pretty bright, excellent, but working first time, every time, is the key. Red light so you don't dazzle everyone else who is trying to sleep in a hut is useful but most of the other modes are just useless - complications for the sake of complications. Also getting to the batteries without a Swiss army knife is nigh on impossible, previous torches it was straightforward.
Over-fussy, over-fragile, too many "features" for its own good.
Post edited at 14:26