Bushwalk Australia

Well, about 7 months after posting a light to China for a warranty claim, a new light arrived in the post this week.

They didn't have a record of it several months after a posted and I had assumed it was lost in the chinese post (or in the zebralight mailroom).

It is actually slightly more worrying that it did turn up after 7 months than being lost altogether. Where was it all this time? Are their systems that bad or does this sort of thing happen in China regularly?

At least they honoured the warranty I guess, and they are still the best designed light going.

Anyone else have similar experiences with them?

Haven't had any issues myself, though I would be interested to know what your issue was.

Strider wrote:I would be interested to know what your issue was.

Problem was the light output became inconsistent - not turning on or only working to low output (despite being on fresh batteries that worked fine in my other identical light).

I suspect a contact somewhere in the wiring was loose?

Um? Experiencing the same thing but in my case it was due to a Duracell spilling its guts. Tend to think such things are the result of a corroded or dirty contact.

Zebralight as a company has a long record of been very slow to ship with delays of two months not uncommon.

Tend to think more than a few delays are due to the language barrier and cultural issues.

Still they are in the top of the list for a bushwalking headlamp.

Cheers

Hence why I won't ever use an alkaline in expensive gear. All the remotes/torches/electronic equipment in my house has lithium.

The cost benefit of using alkalines is destroyed by their tendency to leak.

Zebralight recommends only Eneloops and Lithiums in their lights. Each light comes with a notice stating this. Apparently alkalines simply can't supply enough current due to having a higher internal resistance.

Ent wrote:Zebralight as a company has a long record of been very slow to ship with delays of two months not uncommon.

Hence why I will now only purchase Australian stock. Torchworld.com.au have been reliable in this regard in the past, though seem to be sold out of all ZL products lately.

Strider wrote:Hence why I will now only purchase Australian stock.

+1, or of someone i trust from the CPF marketplace.

Travis.

Is Zebralight not an US company (Irving, TX)? But not surprised they are manufactured in Southern China.
http://www.zebralight.com/

Yes they are a US company, but purchasing from ie. Australia, you wont have anything to do with anyone in the USA. Any issues re: shipping / warranty goes straight to their people in China.

Travis.

Strider wrote:Zebralight recommends only Eneloops and Lithiums in their lights. Each light comes with a notice stating this. Apparently alkalines simply can't supply enough current due to having a higher internal resistance.

Ent wrote:Zebralight as a company has a long record of been very slow to ship with delays of two months not uncommon.

Hence why I will now only purchase Australian stock. Torchworld.com.au have been reliable in this regard in the past, though seem to be sold out of all ZL products lately.

Yes, yes, yes. I have only used Eneloops in mine. Haven't even tried anything else so have no idea how the alternatives to Eneloops perform.

Also bought mine from Torchworld in fuss free transactions. Still had to wait a while for stocks of one to be replenished before I could purchase it, but nothing like the mystery bag when ordering direct from overseas.

Travis22 wrote:Yes they are a US company, but purchasing from ie. Australia, you wont have anything to do with anyone in the USA. Any issues re: shipping / warranty goes straight to their people in China.

Thanks.

Ent wrote:Um? Experiencing the same thing but in my case it was due to a Duracell spilling its guts. Tend to think such things are the result of a corroded or dirty contact.

I only ever used eneloops with mine as recommended.

I guess it is possible there was a corroded or dirty contact, but everything looked ok. Plus it was only 6mths old with no hard use. I have two purchased at the same time, and the other one is fine.

Anyway, good news is they honoured their warranty. Bad part was terrible communication and the 7 month delay (i nearly bought a replacement in the period).

+1 still can't find a better light for the purpose.

Do you guys prefer the warm or cool tint? I found the warm really nice indoors and around the backyard with lots of lighter surfaces for the light to reflect off. But outdoors the dark ground and foliage just seemed to absorb it.

Doh! Did it again

I like the clear pure white but it can feel very cold in a hut. Much a matter of personal choice but with Spark headlamps less light output from the natural tint LEDs

Yes, it can. But I actually found it difficult to walk with. Switched to the cool white and love it. If I want warm light I'll take a candle

Strider wrote:Do you guys prefer the warm or cool tint? I found the warm really nice indoors and around the backyard with lots of lighter surfaces for the light to reflect off. But outdoors the dark ground and foliage just seemed to absorb it.

I bought the warm Z/L initially after reading all the positive remarks about it, particularly less reflection from fog, rain, falling snow.

I liked it inside and outside with greens and browns (leaves and dirt)

Then bought cool white Z/L. For me the cool white is much better everywhere, even up close and rummaging in my pack or mucking around in a hut or tent.

I ALWAYS carry two lights, so now it is usually the Z/L standard beam and the wider beam, both in cool white.

Different makers have different ideas about what is meant by "cool" "neutral" and "warm". I am only describing my experiences with Z/L. I have a Spark described as "cool white" and it is sort of in between the two tints on my Z/Ls

stry wrote:I ALWAYS carry two lights, so now it is usually the Z/L standard beam and the wider beam, both in cool white.

Which do you prefer of the two? I have the H51F

I have the warm - both lights.

I haven't seen the cool zebralight to compare so don't really know if I am better off one way or the other?

Figured that I wouldn't use the light for actual walking (keep that to daylight) and the light has plenty of lumens either warm or cool so went with the higher (on paper) CRI.

Strider wrote:

stry wrote:I ALWAYS carry two lights, so now it is usually the Z/L standard beam and the wider beam, both in cool white.

Which do you prefer of the two? I have the H51F

The standard H51 suits me fine for walking and is usable for me for most other things. The H51F I much prefer for up close (tent, pack rummaging, cooking)

If I had to choose, I would go for the standard H51, but only because I walk in the dark and sort of off track a fair bit. Otherwise I would go the H51F. As I like to have a backup, I went for one of each.

Ive got an old original generation and warm version of the SC600. The warm is my preferred colour between the two hands down.

However i much prefer the neutral tint on my Malkoff M61's drop in's (M61N, M61NLL and M61NLLLL). I believe he specifies the tint as 4000k on them.

Travis.