Catacombs exploration

Which 2 lights (can be 1 headlamp and 1 handheld} would you bring if you were to explore the catacombs in Paris? They say, if your lights die, you die. If you are not familiar with the catacombs, here a video

It’s just for fun, guys. I am not going there.

Cavers always take a main headlamp and a spare/backup headlamp, plus whatever. That is, don’t go with just one headlamp. My own use of headlamps is mostly close-up so I don’t know what hardcore users would pick. HDS was highly regarded ages ago, then switched to handheld lights, but for the past several years has supposedly had a new headlamp under development. One thing for sure, I would not decide this based on features or lumens, but rather, on how well the light is built to survive being hit with a hammer and things like that. BLF lights are too often the other way around.

Scurion is your best companion for any underground experience but it is not cheap

“Two is one, one is none.” I wouldn’t limit myself to just 2, especially if as you say the stakes are so high.

A bunch of years ago, I tagged along to go with someone to The Tunnels, which was essentially an out of the way way abandoned but rather “unique” mine. You can be fine for a while, but when walking (slowly) what seems to be an endlessly long featureless underground corridor, you’ll suddenly get a panic attack and feel the walls closing in on you. Like everyone does, including some spelunkers who laffed it off beforehand.

If you ever went out in total darkness to, say, an old airfield, again wide open and otherwise featureless, and even flicking on the highbeams lights up almost NOTHING, you’ll know what I mean.

I only had my Magbulb-converted Taskforce light for close-in snooping, and a 3D (or maybe 2D, forgot) Mag on tightest focus. And assloads of spare cells (a change of cells for the Mag, and an extra 8pak of AAs for the Taskforce). And even then I felt nekkid.

Oddly, the Mag was exceptional for shining down the loooooooooong corridor, as it didn’t waste much light lighting up the immediate area in front of you.

The Taskforce was surprisingly good (for back then) as an all-around light, despite being quite anæmic.

Today? At least a headlamp like a D25, plus a huge powerbank in case any light needed charging. Definitely an Überthrower, like maybe a UC20, to see down long corridors. Definitely a 21700 light like the TS21. Both of those are new additions, and I’m really digging ’em for that they are.

Definitely my MH20 as an all-arounder, that’s also able to be recharged. Worst case, I could use that or the D25 to recharge other 18650s.

All this would be in a backpack, along with things like “energy bars”, and even a few bottles of water, and other Just In Case stuff.

No doubt I’d find room for a WK30 for both red and UV. Fluorescent dye and an applicator (eg, squirt bottle) can surreptitiously mark where you’ve been and lights up like fire from UV. Plus a coupla smaller UV lights (eg, AAA), also Just In Case.

Probably best to ask a real cataphile. There are plenty on social media.

Ditto.

If my life were at stake i would invest in several name brand flashlights with extra charged cells.

I normally have about 4 lights with me when I’m down in abandoned mines. I have them mainly for different types of photos, not really for backup purposes but because I have so many I am backed up. If I was only exploring then I would have specific backup lights. Instead of carrying only spare batteries I would carry each spare battery in it’s own light. Those catacombs do not appear to have large chambers to light up so I’d be content with classic Convoy C8 for the hand and a somewhat floodier headlamp (I have my own build).

And a solar panel! Oh wait… :person_facepalming: :smiley:

A flashaholic dream place to play with their lights. Minus the potential of dying.

Zoomy lights seem to be a good fit for tight tunnels like this.

If it’s like caving, take 3 rugged headlamps and no hand helds.

While I could be flippant and ridiculous and state, “Imalent R90TS and Imalent DX80” I’ll be serious here (in a fun thread of course :person_with_crown: )
Of all the LED flashlights I have used over the course of my life, the only one that never failed (including the tailcap getting stuck to the point you can’t twist it open - SL PROTAC® EMS Aaargh!) ; bright enough ; good runtime ; consistent brightness; takes conventional AA alkaline or Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries; etc.
Streamlight’s 4AA PROPOLYMER® LUX is the choice if I were to actually go into the Catacombs right now.
To put how good and useful the Streamlight’s 4AA Propolymer Luxeon flashlight is into context: I started with using the vintage Surefires. The E2D defender, E2O Outdoorsman, G2Z combatlight, A2 Aviator and so on. I would reach the bottom of a dark, scary, twisty, wooded night hike trail, and I would turn around and hike back the same way.
One day, when the aforementioned SL 4AA Propolymer Luxeon came out, it intrigued me with its 100 Lumens (I believe it was less, like 60 or 80 when it first came out) with 4 hours consistent brightness, not dropping below 80% and on 4 AA batteries. I bought it and hiked the same trail.
It was consistently brighter than any of my Surefires! To my surprise, I spotted an opening that took the trail upwards like a “V” from the previous path!
The 4AA Propolymer Luxeon allowed me to find an otherwise hidden continuation of the long, twisty, mountainous trail.
I have no doubt this is the flashlight I want as the baseline for my lighting when I go into the Paris Catacombs. After 15 years since its first release, it is still the perfect life preserving torch!

Make sure you bring two phones in case one can’t get reception. :smiling_imp:

Never been to the catacombs but whenever I’m exploring underground somewhere I’m technically not supposed to be then I always bring at least 3 or 4 lights. If I went to the catacombs then I’d probably bring 5 or 6.

Ones I’d pick from my current collection:

  • Zebralight H53 - AA headlamp
  • Armytek Elf C2 - 18650 headlamp with USB charging
  • Emisar D4V2 - 18650 hotrod, with moonlight, beacon, etc
  • Manker MC13 - 18650 hotrod
  • Imalent R60C - my brightest soda can flashlight
  • Lumintop Thor II - 18650 LEP, just in case

Other stuff I’d bring:

  • XTAR PB2S so any 18650 or 21700 could charge any other one (using the Elf and R60C)
  • Water, food, first aid, compass, map, rope, an experienced guide

I kind of don’t get this, the catacombs aren’t remote and unexplored caves, they’re basically a tourist attraction now. They have daily visit schedules, stopped temporarily for Covid but now going again, as long as you wear a mask. If you get in trouble, your cell phone might even work.

So: headlamp, backup headlamp, D4v2 in my pocket because why not, and a Photon Freedom on a neck lanyard under my shirt just in case. Plus my phone has a built-in light. Seems like enough.

Until the Lizard People come to get you…

i guess i would just throw in some sofirns convoy and lumintop in a backpack i guess… u need have spares doing that stuff in case u run out of power lol… what a nightmare :s

If the Lizard people really want you they come for you even when you are above ground level.

There are the ossuaries Catacombes, with signage and I assume lighting for the most part. And there are the rest of the underground quarries, usually also referred as Catacombes, where you’re on your own and you need to be equipped like for any caving expedition. The ossuaries only account 0.5% of the caves according to Wikipedia.

Of the ones I currently own? I’d probably do this

Primary Headlamp: Armytek Wizard Pro
Backup Headlamp: Sporttac PH10LC2, or possibly Thrunite TH20 if weight/space factors. I’d rather have redundant batteries, though.
Primary Handheld: Tough one. To be honest I’d probably use my Zebralight sc63w but I might grab the Seraph-6 with Malkoff M361-N219W.
Backup handheld: Couple here for sure. I’d have my EDC Thrunite Ti3/219b on my keys and probably 1-2x Sofirn C01/C01S. Maybe I’d double up and bring both the ZL and the Malkoff discussed above.

SHTF: Well, might be good to bring some chem sticks, too. Don’t want to die down there because China decided to hit Europe with an HAEMP strike. :smiley:

Edit: Now that I think about it, might be good to have one dedicated thrower. Any flood is going to wash out on the walls and make it hard to spot down a tunnel…

Yes realistically a good headlamp is a critical illumination tool for spelunking. I went on a one hour quick night hike yesterday, carrying my new Imalent R90TS. It was all I could do because the local authorities lock up the steel gate and start towing cars at 9:00 PM. The Imalent R90TS is surprisingly well-designed with regards to User Interface, mode spacing, size and weight. It was pleasant to carry in spite of its 8 X 21700 battery pack.

I suppose based upon this, I would use a long-running headlamp with two spare headlamps securely fastened to my body. For experimental purposes, as a flashlight enthusiast, I would bring along my current Imalent R90TS; for curiosity sake.