Handheld tactical flashlight

vito

vito

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Right now I just keep a small LED flashlight by the bedroom home defense handgun (4 inch Model 19). Thought I should buy something better and I'm looking for specific recommendations. Hoping not to spend more than about $50.
 
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I have a Streamlight Pro-Tac 2L that I have with me almost all the time, especially at night. It's small enough to carry comfortably, and very bright. It has three output settings, (high, strobe, and low) and can be programmed for three different orders (h/s/l, high only, l/h). In the realm of LED flashlights it was very reasonably priced at around $50, and worth every penny.

As a self-defense/nightstand flashlight, I really like having the strobe feature. Very bright and disorienting. Battery life is pretty good too, though I've purchased rechargables for it which work great.
 
kisportolt said:
I have a Streamlight Pro-Tac 2L that I have with me almost all the time, especially at night. It's small enough to carry comfortably, and very bright. It has three output settings, (high, strobe, and low) and can be programmed for three different orders (h/s/l, high only, l/h). In the realm of LED flashlights it was very reasonably priced at around $50, and worth every penny.

As a self-defense/nightstand flashlight, I really like having the strobe feature. Very bright and disorienting. Battery life is pretty good too, though I've purchased rechargables for it which work great.
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I'm a streamlight fan. I have two 1L lights...one is my wife's that she keeps on her walking belt along with her defense spray. Bought the lights from PSA last year, think they were around $35 or so during a sales event.

I built her a protection kit for a Christmas present. Streamlight, Defense spray gel and a quick on/off belt to keep next to the dog leash so she can put it on quickly when taking out the dog.
 
If you have a costco by you check them out...they have a 3 pack for around 30 bucks that work really great...one for the bed, one for the car and one for whatever else...
 
Good thread. I am addicted to flashlights.

I think I counted I had 14 one time.

Now I'm down to about 6.

Or maybe 7.

In the 1 AAA category, I really like my Lenser P2. I have it around my neck most days for work (I'm in Aerospace).

My EDC is a Surefire G2, halogen, old school.

I still have a few 3D Mags with LED retrofit. Doubles as a mallet lol.
 
sipowicz said:
If you have a costco by you check them out...they have a 3 pack for around 30 bucks that work really great...one for the bed, one for the car and one for whatever else...
Click to expand...


My wife would shoot me if I did that. :D

Oh, I still have my waterproof 8D Cell King Pelican, dual bulb lamp for scuba diving in the closet.

I can go on. :)
 
I like the TerraLUX LightStar300 and it costs well under $50. It uses AA batteries, which I prefer because they are everywhere and cheap. Makes a nice bright beam and has two brightness levels.
 
bedside.jpg

Streamlight.
Other much larger lights are in backup mode.
 
My wife got me a Brinkmann led flashlight, I like it so much I made a leather belt carrier for it. It doesn't have any fancy features, you just push a button on one end and light comes out of the other end.
 
My first rule of flash lights is get something that takes rechargeable batteries.

I carry an 11 dollar 18 lumen Gerber Task Light for my every day needs and a 120 lumen Rocky brand that cost 20 bucks at Sam's for times when I know I'm going to be out after dark.

If I'm working after dark or I hear something go bump in the night at home I grab a Streamlight Stinger that sits on a charger by my bed that I found in a junk pile at work.

I assume its previous owner threw it away when it stopped working and got the city to buy him a new one. I bought a new battery and a new bulb for it and it's worked just fine for 3 years now
 
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Thanks for all the recommendations. I just ordered a Streamlight. Not cheap, but not outrageous at $47.
 
Did you order the Pro-tac 2L? I have one from Amazon for $40 and it's a great light!

My son and I use it to shine deer as we drive down the road. The reflector is just about perfect as it spreads some light very wide, but centers the majority for long distance viewing. How long? 100 yards is easily lit up to identify anything you want.

.
 
good choice! mines been a great light, you won't be disappointed. I used the CR123s that came with the light and then purchased a Tenergy charger with 6 rechargeable batteries for $20. very worth it


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I bought a protac 2L back in December and have carried it everyday since. Best edc light I've ever had. The one they have listed on Amazon is 180 lumens w/2.5hrs of run time, but the one i received said 260 lumens and 3 hours of run time on the package. i guess its a newer model and Amazon hasn't updated the info yet. It far exceeded my expectations for a compact edc light. I also picked up a few streamlight nano's for Christmas gifts,everyone who received one loves it.
 
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