The Expedition Journals

In the build-up to running the Challenge The Wight night time marathon, I went in search of the best head torch for night running. With great past experiences of the Ledlenser range, the Ledlenser NEO10NR Headtorch rose to the top of the selection list. This is my review. The NEO10R is the range topping model in Ledlenser's NEO series; with a focusable beam providing an output of up to 600 lumens; a minimum run time of 10 hours, and a maximum burn time of 120 hours. The head torch is a two-part design with a separate battery pack that sits at the rear of the head. The straps then run around the head; to provide a balanced and secure design for running and hiking. The unit is also IPX4 waterproof, so it is resistant to significant splashing and downpours. The highlight of the NEO10R headtorch is the focusable beam, which allows you to refine the breadth and reach distance of the unit's output. On a close-quarters wide angle beam the beam distance is only 20 metres on lo...

" I have never run more than 23 kilometres before… " is my response, when stood in the fading light at The Needles a fellow 'Challenge the Wight' participant asks if I can " run like you bike ". On hearing my reply, he looks at me with a slight wince " Ah, right… well. Good luck."… As the sunset casts an orange haze on the English Channel, and a warm westerly wind blows in over the cliffs of Alum Bay, I slightly nervously await the start of my first marathon… off-road, through the fast approaching darkness. 21:00 — The gun sounds, and amidst a cheer of support from friends and family, we are off. Up the lane to the coastguard cottages and the old rocket launch site; from where we will then turn eastwards, and traverse the downlands backbone of the Isle of Wight all the way to the finish at Culver Down — 26 miles (42 km) and 2900 feet (890 m) of climbing. This could be a long night. Up over Tennyson Down; down to Freshwater Bay; then up agai...

For camping adventures and kayaking expeditions, the Ledlenser ML6 Rechargeable LED Lantern is an invaluable asset; providing an adaptable and powerful light source that is perfect for illuminating your surroundings in the campsite or on the water. The ML6 lantern replaces the CalorGas laterns that were so popular in camping adventures of the past. With eight lighting functions, including a red reading light, it is a versatile way to light up the night. It also has the advantage it can be used as a power bank for recharging other electronics in camp. The lantern can be hung by the rubberised hook, stood on the rubber base, or fixed to a metal surface using the integrated magnets. Once firmly in place, the unit provides anything from 20 lumens to 750 lumens on the range of functions; which include Blink, Boost, Low Power, High Power, Pulse, S.O.S, Strobe and Dimmable light outputs. The LED lantern is water resistant, so it will deal with downpours and wave splashes if you are us...