brightest flashlight for personal protection

[growr]

We see so many commercials on flashlights that are supposedly used by elite military that I question all of them.............

Which compact handheld switch on the back flashlight would you say is truly the brightest of all? In actual usage, not a commercial.

I have been using a Surefire for quite some time.

Randy

 

[ContinentalOp]

I can't say, but I think the "one-upsmanship" of lumens from compact lights is a little much. Personally, if I'm carrying a light with the possibility of using it for self defense, I like something in the 180-200 lumen range. That gives me a bright light that can disorient someone, but not so bright that I'm going to blind myself with glare/reflections off things like white walls.

Right now, I've been carrying a Nitecore MT1A. It's 180 lumens and powered by a single AA battery. The only downside is that the pocket clip sucks, but I just remove it and carry the light in my pocket. I also have a Nitecore keychain light on my, well, on my keychain, that puts out 55 lumens on high. I think the low is around 5 lumens.

I keep a 4Sevens Quark Tactical 123^2 light in my backpack that can max out at 360 lumens, but I have it set at 160 lumens for the primary setting and I believe around 80 lumens for the secondary setting.

My nightstand light is an updated Surefire 6P that's over 20 years old. I changed the tailcap to a clicky version, installed a Malkoff "warm" LED lamp assembly that puts out 200 lumens in more of a flood pattern (it also does a good job of mimicking the light quality of incandescent bulbs), and the newer head assembly with the hex pattern because I got tired of my original round assembly rolling around. So, basically, the only thing that's still original is the body tube. *shrug*

I also have a Surefire E1B and E2E, both first-generation models, IIRC. They don't get used anymore, but they're around if I need them.

 

[mattallamerican]

I have streamlite strion led three out put levels from 375 down to 65 as well as a strobe feature about 100.00 with the charger

 

[BlackTalonJHP]

Not the most lumens of any flashlight by any means, but there are several 1000 lumen lights that run on one 18650. If you narrow your choices down by battery size and quantity it would help.

 

[Chino74]

I like the old model Surefires...have 2 of them...good enough for me. I am sure one could buy more lumens but the Surefires light it up pretty bright to me.

 

[gonerydin]

I’ve become an Olight fanboy. My favorite pocket flashlight is the S1R Baton II. It has 5 settings, .5, 12, 60, 600 and 1000 lumens. It will 600 and 1000 for only 1.5 minutes then it steps down to 300 for 45 minutes to keep from melting. It has a strobe. IPX8 water resistant. Weighs 1.8 oz. It’s USB rechargeable or will run on CR123. Has side switch and reversible pocket clip. Regular price is $65 but I got mine for $39 on one of the frequent sales that they run. Altogether I have 18 Olights including 4 weapon lights. Yeah, I’m not right. LOL


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Smoke]

I work nights as a security guard in Colorado Springs. I carry Fenix flashlights and I use them every single night.

Most of the time I use my RC05. Its maximum output is 450 lumens and you can also step it down if you need to.

Fenix used to make their lights USB rechargeable but over the last year they've switched to a proprietary magnetic charger so you have to use their charger instead of just any USB cord. The light is probably 5/8 in diameter by 3 and 3/4 inches long. It fits in my pocket just fine. This is the light that I use when I'm just doing my routine checks and it's also the light I stick in my pocket when I'm not at work.

If I actually run into somebody at work I get out my UC 35. It's a thousand lumens maximum output. This one is USB rechargeable and I've had it for almost four years and haven't had to replace the battery yet. The UC35 is approximately 6 inches long and three quarters of an inch in outside diameter. In my opinion it's a little big to stick in your pocket at work I carry it in a flashlight holster on my belt.

One thing I've noticed is that if you shine a thousand lumen light in somebody's eyes it tends to aggravate the hell out of them and unless you're a cop they're liable to become very belligerent. I have never seen anybody not get upset when you do that. So I avoid doing it unless I legitimately believe they're a threat.

 

[JayFramer]

I wouldn’t ever consider using any of the tailcap button lights, just not enough lumens for serious tactical operator operations. Remember, like everyone on the Internet parrots, LUMENS ARE LIFE. You need this flashlight if you’re serious about having a real operator’s flashlight:

Fenix RC40 Rechargeable LED Flashlight - 6000 Lumens - Fenix flashlights

SIX THOUSAND lumens... not ideal, but just enough to operate with. No doubt elite militaries around the globe use this in hotspots they operate in.

 

[Smoke]

We see so many commercials on flashlights that are supposedly used by elite military that I question all of them.............

Which compact handheld switch on the back flashlight would you say is truly the brightest of all? In actual usage, not a commercial.

I have been using a Surefire for quite some time.

Randy

My employer went out and bought Bell & Howell Tac lights for every car that the company owns. I'm pretty sure there's one in the trunk of the car I'm sitting in right now. And if it's the same one they initially gave us it lasted about a week before it died.

 

[Bakebfr480]

I have a Surefire Peacekeeper rechargeable and I use it nightly! The best flashlight I've ever owned.

 

[tnmandpshooter]

Fenix pd35 tac 1,000 lumens

The mode button is actually up at the front. The tail cap switch turns the light on.

It runs on one 18650 rechargeable 3500 mah battery. The battery itself has a charging port and any phone charger micro USB will charge the battery.

My second brightest is an olight s2 baton at 950 lumens.

For every day carry I carry the olight s1 baton which is 500 lumens.

 

[Muss Muggins]

It's hard to beat a Surefire, and I've carried them for years. I gotta say though that those LED flashlights can look like stage lights. Anymore, I just look for size, color, and how the buttons work. At prices these days, I find it hard to go wrong . . .

We see so many commercials on flashlights that are supposedly used by elite military that I question all of them.............

Which compact handheld switch on the back flashlight would you say is truly the brightest of all? In actual usage, not a commercial.

I have been using a Surefire for quite some time.

Randy

 

[billwill]

Fenix has a number of choices depending on the battery size you want to use. Great reliable product at a reasonable price, instead of paying for a name.

Amazing how much a 1000 lumen light will light up the field when you hear a bump in the night.

 

[tnmandpshooter]

Fenix has a number of choices depending on the battery size you want to use. Great reliable product at a reasonable price, instead of paying for a name.

Amazing how much a 1000 lumen light will light up the field when you hear a bump in the night.

Damn right

Sent from my SM-T550 using Tapatalk

 

[mauser9]

Great thread. Amazing the lumens on many of these small lights lately. Flashlights have come a long way snice the ole Mag-light with the nylon holster for the small model. Like that Fenix by the way.

 

[diyj98]

With so many of these lights coming from China, you can often find the same light without the big name rebranding online at a fraction of the price the big names are selling it for. There are some forums out there for flash light nuts with loads of information and comparisons.

 

[gnystrom]

I don't think it is the lumen output as much as the beam. The strobe function is cute but can also blind the user.
My main requirement, I want a light with a useful momentary contact button at the rear and is easy to click to full on using only my thumb without having to manipulate the light.

 

[chief38]

Here is my "tactical" flashlight below - LOL!!

I don't believe in mounting a flashlight onto a self defense firearm because of the reason that I don't want to make myself an obvious target. A gun mounted flashlight is usually right about center mass when the firearm is deployed and so that's probably where someone who wants to harm you will shoot - not for me!

For an EDC flashlight, I've always carried a 2 AA cell Mini Mag-lite. OK - admittedly, not the ultimate in high tech, but they have always served me well. Since I basically use it for illumination of (non shooting) dark places I haven't had the impetus to upgrade.

Maybe if I were in another line of work I'd feel differently, but so far, not.

Some of what these tactical flashlights sell for astounded me!

 

[nachogrande]

DITTO

Here is my "tactical" flashlight below - LOL!!

I don't believe in mounting a flashlight onto a self defense firearm because of the reason that I don't want to make myself an obvious target. A gun mounted flashlight is usually right about center mass when the firearm is deployed and so that's probably where someone who wants to harm you will shoot - not for me!

For an EDC flashlight, I've always carried a 2 AA cell Mini Mag-lite. OK - admittedly, not the ultimate in high tech, but they have always served me well. Since I basically use it for illumination of (non shooting) dark places I haven't had the impetus to upgrade.

Maybe if I were in another line of work I'd feel differently, but so far, not.

Some of what these tactical flashlights sell for astounded me!

Call me old fashioned but illuminate and bash with the left hand & ventilate with the right hand. I don't want to give someone a spot to aim for That is my COM either. More of a Chade (smooth operator) than a serious one. I have seriously thought about a rail mounted light since my P220 does have the rail and all, BUT it kinda reminds me of using your rifle scope instead of a binocular when hunting. TEHO.

 

[tt66]

I have a couple of Streamlight's that I like. One is a handheld and I have another that is a weapon light. You can use 2 CR123 or 1 rechargeable.
Streamlight ProTac HL-X Flashlight LED 2 CR123A Batteries - MPN: 88065

Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X Weapon Light Remote - MPN: 88066