Daily Flashlight Carry - What you got?

Fenix PD 25. And I use it daily. The older I get, the harder it is to see in dimly lit spaces.
Oh, and I did buy another Streamlight. Larger one I keep in the truck. Even though I have had switch problems with every Streamlight I have ever had.
This one is good....so far.:D
 
Surefire E2L with KX2A 45 lumen head.
I have ones that are much brighter, but the 45 lumen head is great for my work.
 
I have had two Maglites (4 D cells) for years. I keep one in my house, and one in my car. They served me well at crime scenes at night.
 
I've have been pleased with my two Surefire Executive Carry incandescent lights that I've had for years, but I recently purchased a couple of Fenix 1000 lumen lights that are just as tough, a whole lot brighter, less costly, and run longer on a set of batteries.
 
I wonder what it is that many of us find so attractive, so appealing, about flashlights that we keep on buying them when we already have more than we need?

They just have that nifty factor that is hard to resist....

(Like Muss and Rusty, the only one that I normally have with me is my phone, and that's normally all I use on the rare occasion I need one, but that doesn't keep me from continuing to buy them...)
 
ContinentalOp said:
Now y'all have me thinking about getting a high output light to keep in the car, something with a long throw. *sigh*
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Dude, get yourself one that doesn't require any batteries, the ones that charge on USB ports, which are in every coffee shop and car door, are bright as looking up at noon on the Equator, and everyone sells them. One cool feature some of mine have is a strobe, which will save your life if some ne'er do well wants that KitKat bar in your nightstand at 4:23 AM. And many have a super-adjustable beam, length & width, and bright as heck. And, for no additional charge, a magnet so you don't have some oddball flashing the light everywhere you don't need it!
 
Onomea said:
I wonder what it is that many of us find so attractive, so appealing, about flashlights that we keep on buying them when we already have more than we need?

They just have that nifty factor that is hard to resist....

(Like Muss and Rusty, the only one that I normally have with me is my phone, and that's normally all I use on the rare occasion I need one, but that doesn't keep me from continuing to buy them...)
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What's the saying? "One is none, a dozen is one"...? ;)

For me, I like having an independent light source. If necessary, I can use the light while talking on my phone. I can grab my light from my pocket and turn it on much quicker than pulling out my phone, unlocking it, and turning its light on. Plus I can turn a flashlight off and on quickly and easily if needed. I also don't have to worry about using up my phone's battery for the light when it may be only way to call for help in an emergency.

In a self defense situation, my flashlight is going to be brighter and more focused than my phone's light for disorienting an attacker. Plus, my flashlight makes for a better improvised impact tool than my phone. Not to mention that trying to use my phone as an impact tool could damage it, which would disable my ability to call 911.

I typically carry two flashlights. My keychain light is day-to-day, normal use. My larger, brighter one is used when I either need a brighter light source, if I need a less-lethal self defense tool in hand, or need to use it in conjunction with my gun to ID a threat.

So, to me, there are some very good practical reasons to have a separate flashlight from one's phone, particularly if someone is concerned with personal security. With lights getting smaller, brighter, and more efficient, excuses for not carrying one get weaker.

And one reason I have many lights is in large part due to advancing technology. When I did security work in the 90s I often carried a 5 D-cell Maglite. Then I went to the Surefire 6R, which I converted to 6P, as it was brighter in a smaller package. Then lights started getting thinner, smaller, and brighter, so I would try lights to take advantage of the new tech. My Nitecore MT1A is nearly half the size of my 6P, but 3x as bright. Not to mention it's always nice to have back-ups or lights for different roles. For example, my 6P is just too bulky to carry as an EDC light, but with a Malkoff warm-light flood lamp at 200 lumens, it makes for a good nightstand light.

Of course, the cool new toy factor figures in, as well. I'm certainly not immune to that. ;)
 
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When I can remember to carry it, I use a Streamlight Protac 2AA 88033. 250 lumens, utterly reliable and easy to hold. (Some of those smaller lights are, frankly, tough to hang onto in the field when conditions are wet, dark, using gloves, etc.) Amazon sells them for about $35.

Its chief positive feature for me is the use of AA batteries instead of some weird size, expensive, proprietary battery that can't be found at every CVS and 7-Eleven store in the land. AA alkaline batteries are ubiquitous and a fresh set can be had practically anywhere. There are few things more irritating than a good light with dead batteries.

protac-2aa-blk.jpg
 
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Onomea said:
I wonder what it is that many of us find so attractive, so appealing, about flashlights that we keep on buying them when we already have more than we need?
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The same rhetorical question can be asked regarding guns...

Like the owl said in the old blow pop commercials; the world may never know.
 
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The Surefire Stilleto. At this time, I can ask for nothing better.

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk
 
ordnanceguy said:
When I can remember to carry it, I use a Streamlight Protac 2AA 88033. 250 lumens, utterly reliable and easy to hold. (Some of those smaller lights are, frankly, tough to hang onto in the field when conditions are wet, dark, using gloves, etc.) Amazon sells them for about $35.

Its chief positive feature for me is the use of AA batteries instead of some weird size, expensive, proprietary battery that can't be found at every CVS and 7-Eleven store in the land. AA alkaline batteries are ubiquitous and a fresh set can be had practically anywhere. There are few things more irritating than a good light with dead batteries.

protac-2aa-blk.jpg
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Mine only has about 40% of the black left and the clip is long gone but it rides on my belt in a nylon holster. If I have my pants on I have it with me.
 
I hate carrying stuff. My iPhone works as a flashlight, calculator, watch, compass, Batman decoder ring, depository of most of mankind's accumulated knowledge, and once in a while a phone.

I don't carry a pocket knife either, and I've never missed having one.

I do have a tire thumper flashlight in my rig along with some other gear.
 
billwill said:
Fenix PD36R, 1600 lumens max, great light and when I need to see way out...it will light you up.
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I've standardized on Fenix lights, too, although I also have a small Streamlight that uses one CR123.

My go-to light is a Fenix UC40 UE (now discont. but similar to a PD35 I think). It's about 1" dia. x 5". Puts out about 950L at the top setting and is USB rechargeable. And it has a wicked strobe.

But when I have to see WAAAY out there, I have a Fenix TK75, with a max. output of 5100 lumens :eek: It's USB rechargeable, although you have to remove the battery pack to plug it in.

Fenix-TK75-2018-Flashlight.jpg


The strobe on this can wake up ET at home :D

@GaryHK, that llittle Nitecore EC11 looks like a winner. Fenix has a similar one, the E18R rechargeable. I've been tempted to get one because.... welll... "just because". The fact is, flashlights can be addictive!
 
Onomea said:
Heresy! Whatta ya do when you want to split a sammich with your wife and you forget to order it that way? Tear the thing apart with your bare hands?!

Fie!
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Interesting example, LOL.
 
EDC Flashlights

I am a flashlight collector. I have more than a dozen quality lights. I keep them handy in case of a power failure. I have one in each of my vehicles too. I can recomment just about any Streamlight that is small enough to fit your needs. If you are going to frequently use it then get a rechargable one and if its for ocasional use get a replacable battery one. One of my favorite lights is the new Streamlight 2020. Its rechargable, made out of metal and has 3 differend on modes. Too large for an EDC light.
 
95% of the time it is a Fenix PD35 Tactical edition in the front left pocket the other 5% it is a Fenix PD25, I Had a Nitecore pen light i think it was the mt06 but as much as i wanted to like it there were serious issues with the switch failing. No problems with the Fenix lights other than i just keep using the cr123 batteries (primarily streamlight or surefire brands) since i don't want yet another item to need recharging. I do have a rail mount for the Fenix Pd35 so i am planning on buying a new one and placing the old one on my Ar15.
 
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