Alot has changed in the world since the last Car Mechanics head torch group test in the January 2013 issue. Sure, there are still thousands of products to choose from and yep there is an Atlantic ocean’s worth of rubbish out there. More than ever, in fact.
However, two things have advanced. Firstly, you won’t be surprised to learn that prices have risen sharply. Secondly, the extra cost has – mostly – gone handin-hand with improvements in quality. We take a humble head torch for granted, there’s no doubt. An almost essential item in a home mechanic’s armoury. As James Stanbur y suggested in the original test in early 2013, there is still some resistance to them in the trade as garages have always traditionally used inspection lamps or as they are known in some parts of the countr y ‘lead lights’. That’s ‘lead’ as in dog rather than a heavy metal, by the way.
Some professional mechanics will never look at a head torch but there’s no doubt that they make a lot more sense than those old ones with what amounted to a light bulb in a cage type thing that often gave you grade three skin burns as they were so hot. Also, if you dropped them, they would momentarily glow brighter before a tell-tale ‘phut’ as they expired a few moments later.
The mile of cable was also a serious hazard, too. Trip over in a garage workshop and all sorts of horrible repercussions could result.
The price points here range from just £5 to £75 and if all you need is a basic head torch that you will use occasionally then the cheap one will serve you well enough. The more you
