Illuminating

[Kanewpadle]

Speaking of flashlights and gun lights.

Just how many lumens do you prefer? What brand?

I understand that it depends on the intended use of the light. But I believe that for certain use, too many lumens is a thing.

I’m slowly switching to Olight. Made in China? Yes. But very well made just the same and reasonably priced when compared to more well known brands. And in my opinion, perform equally as well if not better.

The company is very innovative. They think about practicality as well.

I currently have several Olights products. Two gun lights. Several flashlights from 50 lumens to 4600 lumens. No need to stock up on batteries either. All are rechargeable and the charge lasts a long time.

The light on my Glock is a 1500 lumen flood. Almost too bright indoors. The light on my shotgun is a 500 lumen narrow focused spot light which is perfect.

For carry I use an Arkfeld. Weird name I know. It’s rectangular so it doesn’t take up much room in the pocket. Only 1000 lumens. Also has a green laser that I don’t use.

 

[sophie]

The company is very innovative. They think about practicality as well.

I currently have several Olights products.

For carry I use an Arkfeld. Weird name I know. It’s rectangular so it doesn’t take up much room in the pocket. Only 1000 lumens. Also has a green laser that I don’t use.

I have several Olight flashlights, mostly the smaller battery versions.
I have been using Streamlight for years, battery and rechargeable, and Streamlight for a couple of my pistols. I believe the 2 lights on my guns are about 600 to 750 lumens. Don’t remember for sure.

Speaking of the Olight Arkfeld that you have, how do you like it? I’ve been considering the Arkfeld myself and a couple of the other Olight products. They do have some innovative lights.

 

[tlawler]

I have Surefire’s and Streamlight’s, one Insite Technologies weapon light and recently bought my first Olight, a Perun 2 headlamp. I’m impressed with the quality and battery life. I didn’t know about the Arkfeld, but now I want one! Thanks guys…you are truly enablers

I think 1000 lumens in an edc light is the upper limit and maybe no more than 1500 in a weapon mounted light. You want to identify/temporarily blind an assailant, not blind yourself if you’re near reflective surfaces.

 

[Fishinfool]

I too have become an Olight fan. Very innovative designs and features, and I love their magnetic charging system. I have a couple Baton series that are excellent small rechargeables, a Warrior, and a Marauder Mini, as well as a couple rechargeable key chain flashlights that were free gifts for joining their mailing list.

My gun lights are older Streamlights, I think under 200 lumens. They work fine for handgun range type SD use. My brightest is I believe 500 lumens, but it's reflector design allows it to work on a rifle out to about 200 yards when coyote hunting.

Speaking of lumens - I think many flashlights have gotten to the point of diminishing returns. Big numbers do not guarantee a better light. I think a lot has to do with the design and engineering of the lens / reflector.

My Marauder Mini is 7000 lumens. Not super high compared to some, but the quality of the beam, and distance is amazing. I have used flashlights with higher lumen numbers that don't perform nearly as well. Just this evening a buddy and I were out coyote hunting with night vision. When we wrapped it up, I fired up my mini - on flood setting, it lit that field up like it was daylight - Just crazy!

Larry

 

[GnarlsR2]

I’ve been a gadgeteer all my life.

I’ve looked at many videos and read many posts on “illumination”. I understand there’s pros and cons.

I love flashlights and have at least 20 all around the house.

My favorite is: https://a.co/d/7eLO0Ul

I usually buy a 20 pack and give them away to my range buddies and family members.

I carry one in my pocket nearly 7/24.

For my SD firearms I have not been able to convince myself that I need one on my gun. Since 1977 all my firearms have been purchased for one application only – defense.

I am always considering less weight, comfort, and concealability for my EDC or CC.

Our buddy Botkin has SureFire EDC2 handheld flashlight for a jaw-dropping $280!

My most favorite handgun is my Kel-Tec P17 and always goes to the range with my other 3 or 4 portable hole-punchers.. With a Sticky and Gmconn Green Laser it only cost $245.

What am I missing?

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

On my 870 I have a 20ish year-old Sure Fire that use two CR123 batteries and is about 1000 Lumens. The actual Sure Fire CR 123 batteries are less expensive and last longer than the Energizer or knockoffs.

Ivan

 

[Baxter6551]

^^ Speaking of batteries. I too have quite a few Olights and two of their combination light laser weapons lights - the Baldr Pro - one red and one green. They will not accept the CR123 batteries that are not their brand. Just a slight difference in length - enough so that the battery door will not stay latched with other brands. Who knew. Would have been a deal breaker before purchase if I did know that.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I have several Olight flashlights, mostly the smaller battery versions.
I have been using Streamlight for years, battery and rechargeable, and Streamlight for a couple of my pistols. I believe the 2 lights on my guns are about 600 to 750 lumens. Don’t remember for sure.

Speaking of the Olight Arkfeld that you have, how do you like it? I’ve been considering the Arkfeld myself and a couple of the other Olight products. They do have some innovative lights.

I ve carried it for a few months now both at work and out and about. Love it.

When I pocket carry I put two speed strips in my offhand pocket as well as the Arkfeld. Plenty of room.

I also like the rotating switch. There’s no chance the light with turn on by itself.

Will probably buy another.

 

[tlawler]

I have Surefire’s and Streamlight’s, one Insite Technologies weapon light and recently bought my first Olight, a Perun 2 headlamp. I’m impressed with the quality and battery life. I didn’t know about the Arkfeld, but now I want one! Thanks guys…you are truly enablers

I think 1000 lumens in an edc light is the upper limit and maybe no more than 1500 in a weapon mounted light. You want to identify/temporarily blind an assailant, not blind yourself if you’re near reflective surfaces.

I ordered an Arkfeld pro the night we were discussing them. I’ve had it for the better part of a week now and feel confident enough to review it.

I ordered the natural light model, not the cool white model. It isn’t as bright as the cool white, but I already have several lights that scorch your retinas. The natural light rendering of colors is very noticeable when compared to another light with a comparable brightness.

I really like the form factor of it. Most lights have a round cross section and are hard to carry. I find this light slips right into a spot clipped to your pocket and just feels so natural to carry.

The laser is the middle position on the light selector switch, and my only criticism of the way the light is set up. I wish the white light was the middle position, because I keep the switch in that position and I have to consciously remember to move it to the white light position when I pull it out of my pocket to use it.

The laser is green, and freaking bright! In bright daylight I can easily point out components to equipment I am working on to people who inquire. I’ve used it to point out stars to people at night. I always make sure no planes are visible, but I’m not sure of the law on that, so I’ve not done it often.

The white light has five brightness levels from moonlight to turbo. The moonlight is nice for darkened rooms and the turbo is plenty bright and hardly any less bright that my Olight perun 2, which is the cool white version.

I haven’t used the UV light for anything other than seeing what glows around the house, but it seems bright enough for whatever purposes UV lights are utilized.

This is a great light. Once you figure out the controls, they become intuitive and are easy to use. I am definitely going to carry this light. Many of my previous EDC lights were really on again off again carry, and so many times I’ve reached for my light and it’s still on my nightstand or work bench.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Just so you know, i unknowingly put mine in the washer.

It’s fine. Clean. But fine.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I am a traditionalists.

 

[Doug M.]

We have mostly Surefire lights 10 or so other than the ones on long guns.. Most of them are 2 cell, 500 lumen, but after training with Pat Rogers, the long guns get 1000 lights generally. The shotgun has a 2 stage topping out at 600 lumens. The handhelds get used for all purposes; I carry on all the time and they also get used for walking dogs. The dog have safety blinkers and my wife found a head mounted light she likes.

I have never mounted a light on a pistol as I have not had the chance to train accordingly and I m not in LE any more, so I am not often out at at night. My fanny pack/dog walking gun is a 296, which is not set up at all for a light.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

No less than 400 lu on any light.

 

[chief38]

I am in the stone age when it comes to lights! LOL!!

I still have six 3 D cell Maglites and about 7 or 8 AA and single AAA around the house that I converted to LED's about a year ago as a suggestion from some here on this Forum - what a difference the LED's have made. I also bought a case of 24 waterproof flashlights about 50 years ago that are marked US Navy. They were brand new / old stock and sold as surplus. They were vey reasonably priced, come with spare bulbs, excellent quality, will never break and I still have at least a half dozen still in the original boxes. When ever there is a blackout or power failure or someone can't find a flashlight to store in their glove compartment and someone asks me if I have an extra flashlight I give them one and let them keep it. Not high tech but it gets the job done.

I only have one rechargeable miniature LED flashlight that was a gift a few years back. It is similar to the Olight but the brand escapes me and I am not going to look right this minute as it is 3:30 am and don't want to wake up the Mrs. I charge it a few times a year and it is very powerful yet very small. It has many different settings and 8 power levels. It also sends SOS, is a strobe and has other signals. It also sports a pocket clip and I do carry it from time to time. No "gun lights" for me. I keep flashlights separate from my guns.

 

[Narragansett]

I am in the stone age when it comes to lights! LOL!!

I still have six 3 D cell Maglites and about 7 or 8 AA and single AAA around the house that I converted to LED's about a year ago as a suggestion from some here on this Forum - what a difference the LED's have made. I also bought a case of 24 waterproof flashlights about 50 years ago that are marked US Navy. They were brand new / old stock and sold as surplus. They were vey reasonably priced, come with spare bulbs, excellent quality, will never break and I still have at least a half dozen still in the original boxes. When ever there is a blackout or power failure or someone can't find a flashlight to store in their glove compartment and someone asks me if I have an extra flashlight I give them one and let them keep it. Not high tech but it gets the job done.

I only have one rechargeable miniature LED flashlight that was a gift a few years back. It is similar to the Olight but the brand escapes me and I am not going to look right this minute as it is 3:30 am and don't want to wake up the Mrs. I charge it a few times a year and it is very powerful yet very small. It has many different settings and 8 power levels. It also sends SOS, is a strobe and has other signals. It also sports a pocket clip and I do carry it from time to time. No "gun lights" for me. I keep flashlights separate from my guns.

I still use a 4 D cell Kel-Lite, pre Mag-Lite.

 

[zeke]

Always carry one of those smaller, newer and brighter lights. If memory serves, it has max over 800 lumens with multiple steps of bright. However it isn't tactical, and none of my firearms have lights. It's very handy to light up small things to see them better, waking dog early in morn or searching shelves for something as i age out.

edited for= it's a Fenix PD36R V2.0 1700 with 1700 lumens