Application: Gerber Recon L.E.D. Light

Hello all!  Though I've been back in town for over a
week and a half, I've finally gotten caught up and
back to writing applications!

So, please accept my...

Application to test the Gerber Recon L.E.D. Light
September 16, 2005

Please accept my application to test the Gerber Recon
L.E.D. light.  I have read the current Survival Guide
(v. 1202), including Chapter 5 and I agree to abide by
the conditions and requirements set forth.  I have
also read and understand the new policy regarding the
4 month testing timeframe.  My tester agreement is
confirmed to be on file.

------------------------
Biographical Information
------------------------
Name: Mark Wood
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Height: 5? 11? (1.8 m)
Weight: 240 lb (109 kg)
Email Address: woodmark0 at yahoo dot com
Location: Chenango County, New York U.S.A.

----------------------
Backpacking Background
----------------------
I grew up camping with my parents and had taken a few
short backpacking trips, as well as a couple of 10-day
trips before I got married.  While my wife and I have
enjoyed car camping and day hiking for close to 5
years, I was again bit by the backpacking bug this
last year.  Taking my wife on a trip to the Catskills
and a week-long hike on the AT in Shenandoah National
Park, we have both decided to make backpacking a
permanent part of our lives.  We have also taken
numerous weekend trips and day hikes near our home. 
As my experience grows, I have become more aware of my
gear choices.  My current goal is to lower my pack
weight without sacrificing comfort.
 
------------
Hiking Style
------------
One of my main goals while backpacking is to see
terrain ?off the beaten path?.  I enjoy the peace of
nature and prefer to find secluded hikes when at all
possible.  Due to these desires, I often choose to the
harder, less traveled trails.  While I may not cover a
lot ground (usually 5 - 10 mi / 8 - 16 km per day),
the experiences, views, and the solitude found in
nature are the things which make trips rewarding to
me.

----------------------
Motivation for Testing
----------------------
At current, I?m using a Surefire E2o Outdoorsman light
for all my backpacking duties.  While this light is
great for long distance visibility and emergency
situations, it really is HUGE overkill for camp chores
(It?s brighter than a 4D Cell MAG Light).

I?ve looked at many options for small, durable, LED
lights.  I?ve been withholding purchasing one as I
really wasn?t sure how easy they would be to use. 
With some, you actually have to hold the button on
with your finger and I just had images of myself
trying to do some camp chore which required two hands
whilst biting the light.  ?Man chokes on light while
filtering water? is not the headline I want! 
Furthermore, I really would like a light which can be
used ?hands-free? without the aid of duct tape.
Thinking the only recourse was a LED headlamp, I
decided to hold off for a while with my purchase and
continue to blind myself and anyone else within 100
yards with my Surefire.

However, the Gerber Recon may be just the ticket! 
While I?m sure headlamps would work well for the
situations I?ve mentioned, I really am interested in
the ability to switch colors.  When I used to work in
high-school theater as the stage manager, we used both
red and blue lights for backstage use in order to
preserve our night vision.  They worked great and I?ve
often thought colored lights were less frightening to
animals.  I really feel that this Recon light with
D.I.A.L. Technology may revolutionize my lighting
experience!
 
------------------------------------
Locations and Conditions for Testing
------------------------------------
I try to get out in nature at least twice a month
either car camping or backpacking. Most of the trips
involve two nights of camping. The Gerber Recon will
come with me on all such trips.  I?ll use it for all
camp type chores where the Surefire is too bright
(pretty much everything).  Most of these trips are
shorter (2 - 3 days) but at two per month, I should
easily have enough nights of use to meet the minimum
testing requirements.

Most of my hiking and backpacking trips center around
the Adirondack and Catskill regions of New York. Due
to the timing of this test, it would not be
unreasonable to expect a wide range of weather
conditions from hot and humid to cold and snowy. Rain
is very common in this region before the cold whether
comes and the snow begins.

Also this fall, it appears that my wife and I may take
my 60+ year old mother on her first ever backpacking
trip (3 days / 2 nights) somewhere in the Northern
part of Lower Michigan.

Furthermore, I will keep the Gerber Recon on my person
during normal life.  I normally carry the Surefire
clipped to my cargo pocket on my right leg, and the
Recon take over for the duration of the test.

-------------------
What will be Tested
-------------------
The Gerber Recon will be evaluated based on the
following criteria:

Ease of Use
-----------
1. How easy is this thing to operate? 
2. Are the instructions included (if any) sufficient
for all aspects of operation including any
maintenance?  
3. Is the clip flexible enough to clip on to a wide
variety of materials while not loosing its memory?  
4. Does it provide sufficient light to accomplish camp
chores while not blinding myself or anyone else?

Battery Issues
--------------
1. How long does the battery last?
2. Is it easy to change the battery?
3. Does the lamp dim slowly or die quickly when the
battery has expired?

Light Quality
-------------
1. Is the white light a pleasant shade of white?
2. Is the light a clean circle or does it dim near the
edges?
3. Are there any artifacts in the beam which are
distracting for everyday use?
4. Does the beam project far enough to be useful for
walking?
5. Do the different colors really work as advertised?
6. Does the blue light really help in identifying
fluids?  I hunt and this could be a real asset when
tracking game.
7. Since the green light is advertised as being used
for reading maps, does it actually work since many
topographical maps use the color green for contour
lines?
8. Does the red light provide enough output for
walking at night without sacrificing my night vision?

-----------------
Review Experience
-----------------
I am still a ?newbie? as I have not completed any test
series.  I believe I can easily handle more tests than
I already have since I currently have plenty of time
test gear and write reports.

Current Applications
--------------------
None

Current Test Series (3):
------------------------
 - EMS Ridgeline Daypack - http://tinyurl.com/8qofy
 Field report due Oct 25

 - Inka Pen - http://tinyurl.com/dhsln
 Field report due Nov 11

 - Spyderco Salt 1 Knife
 Awaiting product arrival


Owner Reviews (3):
------------------
 - Snow Peak Titanium Spork (6/25/05)
http://tinyurl.com/73aog

- Brunton Optimus NOVA Multi-Fuel Stove (6/14/05)
http://tinyurl.com/7m32a  

- Western Mountaineering Caribou MF Down Sleeping Bag
(6/6/05)
http://tinyurl.com/d7c57


Humbly submitted,

Mark Wood



                
__________________________________ 
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 
http://mail.yahoo.com


------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page
http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/60TolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->