Flashlight: too many choices

[snowman]

For literally years I've been frustrated with the pathetic performance of the ordinary D-cell flashlights and have wanted to get one of the high-powered, compact ones I've seen in gun magazines, catalogs, etc. The problem has been that I haven't known which one among the bewildering array of choices I should get. I don't understand the difference(s) between a Xenon and a LED, don't know why some run many times longer than others, don't have a clue how many lumens is sufficient -you get the idea.

Well, I've received a gift certificate toward such a purchase from my lovely lady, and its time to take the plunge. I thought I would tell you good folks roughly what I'm after, and let anyone who's willing educate me a bit and make a recommendation. Here are a few preferences/thoughts on the issue:

-This will be a general purpose light.
-I'm a middle-of-the-road guy when it comes to brightness; I don't need to see what's happening on the next block, but I would like to be able to check out the far end of the family room from the entrance to the kitchen(40' or so).
-I'd like something that will run for several hours if possible.
-I don't own a semi-auto; so I'm not looking for one to attach to a pistol.
-I'd like it small enough to clip to my belt or put in a pocket if possible.
-I'd like to keep the expenditure less than a hundred dollars if possible.
-Perhaps the number 1 requirement: durability. I like things that last; I've driven my current vehicle for nearly 15 years and it's given me almost no trouble, and I've worn my spring jacket for over 30 years and it's still presentable. These are my kind of consumer goods.

My experience as a consumer tells me that the most economical, satisfactory purchases are somewhere in the middle between high end and cheap.

I saw paladin85020's review of the "Quark" light recently and was impressed, but feel like I would need to research it a bit further.

What do some others think would fit the bill the best? Thank you for your time.

Andy

 

[m1gunner]

The 3 watt or greater LED lights that take 2 AA batteries seem to be the best all around lights for me. Fenix is the brand I tend to go to.

The Zenon lights can be brighter, but the batteries will be gone before you know it, and most run on the expensive CR123 batteries.

Someone will be along in a minute to give some of the current models available.

 

[sipowicz]

I have been in the same boat as you and even after I decide, I usually want something else...

This link will take you to the LED forum at candlepowerforums and you can search around for Quark, fenix, etc....

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=45

this fenix takes a single AA and had nice features

http://www.fenixlight.com/viewnproduct.asp?id=65

Here is a review on candlpowerforums

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=209470

And there are reviews on youtube so you cans see the throw in motion...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cZpVB870tQ

 

[mlk18]

Having done the T&E on numerous flashlights for the department that employs me, I have some experience in this area. If a manufacturer is going to give me a flashlight then I don't care about the price tag only how it performs. But when I have to buy them on the government's dime (or out of my own pocket) I want power, durability and value. After trying pretty much everything under $100 from Steamlight, Surefire, Pelican and Nova; I ended up with the Streamlight Polytac LED. It is waterproof, produces 130 lumens, is reasonable well built, produces a nice tight beam, has around 3 hours total run time and only cost around $38 each. Oh and it is button activated from the tailcap and clicks on (not just a press for light button). Everything I need and nothing that I don't.

Tactical Hand-Held Series - PolyTac LED | Streamlight

 

[Wayne02]

You are right, there is a dizzying array of options these days, and I also get easily overwhelmed with all of the information.

A couple of additional points in regards to your requirements might help narrow it down a bit.

1) Do you have a preference for the switch style? Rear clicky tailcap (click to turn off/on), or rear twisty tailcap (twist to turn off/on), or push button on the body of the light like the traditional flashlights.

2) Do you have a preference for a battery type? Would you like to stick with easily obtainable off-the-shelf batteries like AA and AAA, or are you willing to look at CR123 batteries (sometimes referred to as 'camera batteries'). The 123 batteries are sometimes harder to find locally and usually more expensive. Typically it is better to order these in bulk online.

3) You mentioned that you would like it small enough to clip to your pocket or carry in your pocket. Is this because you want to use it as an everyday carry light, or just want it small enough to 'put somewhere' on a temporary basis when you go investigate a bump in the night or are using it around the house? I ask because the whole size deal can become a real determining factor when the dust settles. Much like pocket carry of a gun, what is ok for one person is way too large for the next person.

4) Do you have a preference for a multi-level light (low-med-high, or other sequence) or would you prefer a single level light? Single level lights are of course simple and straight forward, however, when you get into multi-level/multi mode lights it brings the whole question of User Interface into consideration. The UI of a multi-level light can range from mostly intuitive to stupidly complex.

Personally, I have kind of come full circle and usually reach for my single level lights these days. I find a number of the multi-level lights have overly complex UI's, and turn what should be a useful tool into a technological masterpiece of frustration.

 

[GatorFarmer]

I'd suggest going to Target and picking a Dorcy or Brinkman LED light that runs on cheap and readily had AAA or AA batteries and is 45 lumens or more. My current one is 85, runs on two AA batteries for five hours or so, and cost me the princely sum of ten dollars. My son uses it to pound on walls and things, and takes it in the tub and it still works.

Otherwise just get a Surefire of your choice and be done with it, though it is probably excessive for your stated needs.

The Rayovac brand lights aren't bad either, but I've had really good luck with Dorcy.

Or get a GI angle head for 7 dollars while you still can to have as a spare. The new contract ones come from Taiwan, so you might want a U.S. made Fulton one while you can get them.

 

[walter o]

flashlight

I just picked up a 2 pack at COSTCO the lights use 3 AAA batteries ,has a low battery indicator . It has 3 settings med , bright & strobe. Switch is in the end & is water resistant&shockproof if dropped from 1 meter .It is a LED Cree unit run time is 4Hr's on med setting All for $19.95 .For the price i could not pass it up.

 

[Crazy K38]

get a 4Sevens Quark aa2 Tactical you won't be disappointed!

 

[K-22]

I just picked up a 2 pack at COSTCO the lights use 3 AAA batteries ,has a low battery indicator . It has 3 settings med , bright & strobe. Switch is in the end & is water resistant&shockproof if dropped from 1 meter .It is a LED Cree unit run time is 4Hr's on med setting All for $19.95 .For the price i could not pass it up.

Those lights were two for $10 in the Costco coupon books here.
The downside is, the low battery indicator will drain the batteries in 8-12 weeks, whether or not, the light is used.
Based on the quality and price of these lights, I can live with that shortcoming.
Best,
Gary

 

[Ron H.]

Sir, given your requirements, I'd suggest a SureFire G2 LED. It runs about $75, give or take. It's a bit over 5 inches long and about 1-1/4 inch in diameter at the bezel. The LED is more rugged than an incandescent bulb and has about three times the runtime. It's not quite as bright as a high-end incandescent, but is still bright enough to show me what's going on at the back fence 100 feet away. The tailcap button switch is dirt-simple to use. It does require 123A batteries, which can be hard to find and/or expensive locally, but you can order them in bulk online pretty cheap.

G2 LED info

123A batteries from SureFire

FWIW, I don't work for SureFire or sell their products. Just a happy customer.

Hope this helps and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[zercool]

I'll agree with Ron H - I keep a G2L on my night stand all the time. It's a little big for carrying in a jeans pocket, but fine in khakis or cargo pants. Lives on my belt in a holster during hunting season.

My daily-carry in jeans is a little Leatherman Serac S2 - now out of production but there are still some out there for reasonable prices.

 

[Munsterf18]

Lessons Learned

I'm no expert on it, and suffer the same on all the research. But here's a couple of lessons I learned.

- Find an AA or 2AA flashlight. CR123's are expensive and you can't pick them up at the local gas station.

- Stick with a good LED, especially for indoors. Forget the Luxeon or Zenon. I dropped my Cabelas 160 lumen once, cost $20 plus shipping for the bulb.

So I narrowed it to a AA Cree LED and went from there. Several good choices, some have been mentioned like the Fenix or Quark.

Good Luck,
Munster

 

[bk43]

Having lived where either tornados or hurricanes are likely all my life, reliability is number one. All we have now are Surefires. I'm sure some of these others mentioned are as good or better when it comes to cost, battery life or lumens but my vote is Surefire for reliability.

If I lived where you do, where the storms are not a big problem, the cheap in me would probably go with a less expensive light.

Bob

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

After a successful foray at the gaming tables, I went to the local police supply emporium (BELSCO in Lafayette) and purchased not one but two streamlights. The little one stays in my suburban pluged in to one of the lighter jacks and the other full size one sits plugged in next to my bed. They cost about $130 each and IMHO are worth every cent. I do not like LED's except for close in work as they just aren't as bright as the Zenons. I also have a slew of the $10 brinkman's around the house but when I need one, they always have dead batteries. For me-plug in is the way to go.

 

[Texas Star]

Inova is about as rugged as SureFire and their recently discontinued XO puts out a 150 foot beam, although I don't know the lumens. The CR 123 batteries are said to last for four hours, I think, but I haven't changed mine in three months, since I bought the light. I try to use short pulses of light when I don't need a sustained beam.

It is definitly quite a bit brighter than my Streamlight Scorpion at 78 lumens.

Some dealers stll have the XO, which I chose over the XO2 because it has twice the battery life and I probably don't need a 250 foot beam. I paid the whopping sum of about $37 at Target. I've seen them for over $50 Online.

The lens is really tough, and the design has been placed in an art museum. It is very sleek and stylish. The bezel is rugged stainless steel.

For reading in camp, I use Princeton Tec's Impact II, a LED model with very long battery life, due to the low-drain LED bulb unit. It uses four AAA batteries. I think I paid about $19.

I also have several other Princeton Tec lights from the little Blast to the Rage to the Tec 40. The main rub with all is that they need two hands to twist the head to operate the lights.

I avoid Mag-Lites. I have several, and all have given trouble. The switches cut out or lose the rubber button, the bulbs break easily, and the lights aren't very bright.

 

[max]

I am into flashlights as bad as I am into guns. I have a large number of lights and would recommend this one for what you describe. The 2 pack was on sale for $19 a couple of weeks ago. They also use AAA batteries.

Sam's Club - Luxeon L.E.D. Flashlight - 2pk

 

[sipowicz]

AA style is a good choice if you don't need super high output...Amazon has the single AA Fenix L10 for 42 bucks shipped...a nice pocket light at a pretty good deal...good reviews also..

Amazon.com: Fenix 6 Level High Performance Cree LED Flashlight, Black, 4-Inch: Sports & Outdoors

 

[Krull]

You may want to try one I just ran into (and bought) at Dunham's,the Pelican 2360 it's a two AA,three watt LED light.
Being a Pelican I trust it's a good light as I've had a few of theirs that were damn good..just no LED that was bright enough until now.

I got it for $35 plus tax.

ETA:

Here,this one.

http://www.pelican.com/lights_detail.php?recordID=2360

 

[Hofstet]

Check out the Browning Black Ice lights. CDNN has them for $29 and change, a real bargain IMO.
I paid over $50 for mine a few years ago when I needed a flashlight while on a hunting trip. It's been a great light. I really like the three levels of illumination settings.

 

[sipowicz]

Since I use mine in restaurants to read the menu, it's important to have a low setting...and more importantly, I want it to be easy to switch from the lowest (or off) to the highest in case I need high in a hurry...