Cavechat.org

What kind of light is this? noticed that everyone in the cheve expedition pictures is wearing one.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/c ... mage3.html

Strangely enough, that is the "Cheve Light." At least that's what I have heard it called. Someone (Nevin?) built a handful of them for the expedition. The report I heard was they worked great. I think it has a 5w LED with a really neat switch. Maybe someone else has more details.

Yeah, I got to be part of that group, even though I didn't go on the expedition. I even volunteered for a couple hours to crimp wires. It was a joint adventure by Bart Hogan, Bill Stone, and Pete Shifflett. I think too many cooks spoiled the pot, though, despite them each being excellent at their individual specialties. That and trying to design and build them in too short a time period.

My light never worked properly. It would mysteriously turn itself on. Weird! I sent it back. Years later, it's never been returned to me.

Yvonne Droms swore by hers and thought *I* was broken and not the light and didn't use it properly (sorry, the light really was broken--no comment on my own abilities). She posted on Cavechat that it was the best light ever. I'm not sure why, but when people were passing a Stenlight, she was involved in that. If her Cheve light was so great I'm not sure why she was interested in the Stenlight. Perhaps she'll post up here and let us know.

When these lights work they are impressive, but you need the D size lithium battery to get them to really perform. You also need to keep them off the max setting to get really long run times from them. But I must say, that on the lowest settings it is brighter most any other light on the market. Mikie has several of these lights that I've worked on over the years, to keep one running. If used right, I've seen him go on 10 plus 8 hour cave trips on one D lithium and still be able to hit the High beam and outshine everyone. They are awesome lights when they work........and built tougher than a stenlight.