HOG 21W HID vs Hollis 16W LED

[eelnoraa]

I am trying to get my first canister light. I have choices between them for good price. I don't know much about them. I know LED is tougher, require far less maintainance?? (still true?) and the possibility to use it on land. HID generate more light, penetrade further for low viz water.

What I don't know is how much maintance HID actually needs? say how often bulb need to be replaced with normal usesage. How often the light can be turn on and off without damaging the bulb ..... As for LED, I know it is pretty much bullet proof. My only concern is the light output and the kick under water. After all, if it is not effective underwater, it is not a good choice.

BTW, my homd dive site is Monterey, so pretty low viz around the year. And once a year or so, I travel to warm crystal clear water for diving.

Please help!

 

[fisheater]

I've been very happy with my Hollis in Monterey and the North Coast. I like the ability to turn it on and off. I need that feature for ReefCheck surveys.

I've taken it on tropical dives and I like the size and, again the ability to turn it on and off during the dive.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hepcat62]

I know LED is tougher, require far less maintainance?? (still true?) and the possibility to use it on land. HID generate more light, penetrade further for low viz water.

Just FYI, the Hollis 16w is not intended to be used out of water.

I have a Hollis 16w LED, and a Light Monkey 21w HID (the Hollis is now my backup). Since I know you're doing the GUE thing in Monterey, here's some feedback based on that environment.

• The LED light head IS basically bulletproof (though Beto assured me he could break it if I let him borrow it )
• For communication during shallow daytime dives, the HID is definitely your best option right now. The Hollis can be used effectively for signalling on these dives, but only over a significantly shorter distance than the HIDs.
• The Hollis becomes an effective light for communication on heavily overcast days, or dives below ~70-80ft, when the ambient light has dropped sufficiently
• Regardless of ambient light level, the HID absolutely punches through more effectively on low-vis days
• For night diving, the HID is overkill (but so is the Hollis, really). In fact, I prefer the Hollis on night dives.

I should point out that both of these lights are good choices. The HID is more effective/versatile in our local diving, but as you pointed out it does have more long-term maintenance associated with it (in terms of bulbs, etc.). I'm pretty new to HID ownership, so I'll refrain from commenting on just how much that adds up to over time.

If you have any aspirations to move on to Rec3/Tech1 in the future, I would probably recommend the HID as a better choice today.

 

[stargost]

Just FYI, the Hollis 16w is not intended to be used out of water.

I have a Hollis 16w LED, and a Light Monkey 21w HID (the Hollis is now my backup). Since I know you're doing the GUE thing in Monterey, here's some feedback based on that environment.

• The LED light head IS basically bulletproof (though Beto assured me he could break it if I let him borrow it )
• For communication during shallow daytime dives, the HID is definitely your best option right now. The Hollis can be used effectively for signalling on these dives, but only over a significantly shorter distance than the HIDs.
• The Hollis becomes an effective light for communication on heavily overcast days, or dives below ~70-80ft, when the ambient light has dropped sufficiently
• Regardless of ambient light level, the HID absolutely punches through more effectively on low-vis days
• For night diving, the HID is overkill (but so is the Hollis, really). In fact, I prefer the Hollis on night dives.

I should point out that both of these lights are good choices. The HID is more effective/versatile in our local diving, but as you pointed out it does have more long-term maintenance associated with it (in terms of bulbs, etc.). I'm pretty new to HID ownership, so I'll refrain from commenting on just how much that adds up to over time.

If you have any aspirations to move on to Rec3/Tech1 in the future, I would probably recommend the HID as a better choice today.

Same here, I/we have both a 21W HID LM and 16W hollis.
In addition/confirmation to above:
21W is a significantly larger
21W during night nive is indeed too much, or let's say i prefer the 16w led too
I bought the 21w used more than year ago, and it was ... used, but it's still works great. I was paranoid about the bulb at the beginning. Now less careful and still in very good conditions.

The main pb I'd see with the 16w hollis led is that its head is aluminium. You'd need to rince it, then rince rince rince. And even with super extra care. It 'rusts' or the salt water marks it step by step so months after months there are more and more spots where the black paint goes away.

Eventually, both are decent choice

 

[a22shady]

Te HID bulbs are actually pretty good. I know of and heard some these bulbs are going on 6+years and still work perfectly. It seems the main reason most bulbs go is when you abuse them or accidently drop them causing them to break. Other than that the bulbs are very good. Now with the LED's they will take a little more abuse.

 

[eelnoraa]

How about the ability to turn on & off at will. Do you find this aspect of the led useful?

 

[leabre]

I, too, own or have owned a Salvo 21w HID, Hollis 16w LED, Vision 24w LED, and Light Monkey 21w LED. The HID light is fantastic. Simply cannot go wrong with it. It can really make a difference on ultra low-viz dives but it's a larger battery, larger head, and too bright for most fish to be in view on night dives. It is excellent for communication. I have it focused as narrow as possible and never changed it.

The Hollis was meant to be a spare or (loaner) for friends but very quickly become my primary on day and night dives. It's harder to signal with it on days with lots of ambient but I never found that to be a problem. I live in SoCal so the waters can be quite green and limited viz or quite clear and great viz. There is not a single dive where I regretted using the Hollis 16w LED instead of the 21w HID.

I now use a Vision 24w LED and Light Monkey 21w LED. Just two days ago I dived some wrecks at 100' and 80' (20' viz and 3-5' viz) with a buddy who had a Halcyon 21w HID and the Vision out performed it. It still did not have "punch" that HID does but it held its own at the distances where we were concerned with observing and never misunderstood a communication even at the furthest distances of visibility. The Vision lit up the compartment when penetrating better than the HID did (likely due to the focus being slightly greater).

In caves I only used the Vision but buddies switched from the also a Vision, or Light Monkey 21w LED, 10w HID, or 12w LED. With 10w HID or 12w LED was nearly indistinguishable. The 21w LED seemed to overpower the Vision slightly and could be seen further with a narrower beam. There were times of waivering faith that the Vision may not hold against some of the brighter lights (a 21w HID was also used at one point). But it having a wider focus helped to illuminate better so it's a fine light but performs better in the open water, IMO. I wouldn't change it out unless there was a real need in either environment.

As far as ability to turn on or off being useful. Depends on the purpose. I know people that do scientific research or use the lights for video and having the ability to toggle the light seems to be of significance. For me, I just dive. So my light is always one when I'm in the water and I have no need to use them out of the water (which they are not designed for, anyway).

I don't think any diver with a 16w LED or greater teamed with a diver using a 21w HID will be at any significant disadvantage but if there is a perceived one just re-position the weaker lighted diver accordingly.