Pocket flashlights

[Ivan the Butcher]

On another thread we have been talking about preparing for the worst. And one person brought up flashlights and batteries. For almost 50 years, I've been carrying some form of flashlight everyday. It started at work with the Everyready AA & AAA pen lights. I could hold it in my mouth and use both hands for the job. When the oldest son was a toddler, that light was the most fascinating thing in his world and kept him out of trouble at church and restaurants for many hours!

Then I found that people are the cause of darkness in the world. "Brownie" was a guy about 15 years my elder. If he caught you in a windowless warehouse, hallway, or restroom he would kill the lights! Whatever you were doing, it was suddenly being done in pitch blackness. Personally, I'm not afraid of the dark. But Brownie would stand in the darkness right inside a doorway, and do a "Gotcha" when you least expected it. A Surefire flashlight, shined right in the retinas put an end of that horseplay!

Currently, I carry 24/7 a NEBO single CR123 with 6X zoom. They cost about $15 and the factory battery lasts about 2 years of my standard use. They come with a clip for the bill of a baseball cap. That tastes much better for handsfree use. To get the best price on the best CR123 batteries. I buy 12-packs of Surefire brand batteries. There are many less expensive batteries but none last longer in flashlights. (I never use dimmer setting or strobe lights, I can pull the J-Frame faster than I can fiddle with settings on the flashlight!)

For bigger projects I have a coupe of the Ryobi +ONE 18v lights. When the power is out, shine one on the ceiling and it lights up a whole room!

Are there any good and affordable flashlight recommendations? (of course, there are)

Ivan

 

[billwill]

I'm a Fenix fan. Tough and bright, multiple sizes. Good pricing. Give them a try.

 

[Onomea]

It's amazing how inexpensive well made, compact, and bright flashlights have become. Got a few myself handy, although I don't EDC 'em.

I like this one: OLIGHT I3T EOS 180 Lumens Dual-Output Slim EDC Flashlight for Camping and Hiking, Tail Switch Flashlight with AAA Battery. $20 off Amazon.

 

[ladder13]

 

[crazyphil]

Here is a little Gordon that came along with a larger flashlight.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Generally buy the Cheapies, do have 2 Fenixs.
Only buy AA, AAA units, have plenty of those batteries including re-chargables.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The AA Mini Maglites are my favorites though I've had several ruined by leaking batteries.

 

[DWalt]

There are many very good flashlights out there in the $5-$10 price range. No need to spend any more, plus if you lose one, no big deal to replace. My best flashlight is a 4 D-cell Maglite I converted to LED, but my everyday favorites for use are much smaller, lighter and cheaper ones. Have one small Sur-Fire, kept in the glove box and very seldom used.

 

[Baxter6551]

Olight i5t is my everyday. Two light levels low and high. Takes one AA battery. Can hold in mouth for hands free. Two way pocket clip. Great customer service. The i3t is smaller and takes one AAA.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Here are my EDC knife and flashlight. The little Preon takes one AAA battery and has three power settings selected by twisting the output cap. At the lowest power setting, it's great indoors, lasts a long time; and at the highest setting it will light up a whole back yard.

John

(Click for larger image)

 

[tlawler]

I just picked up one of these Olights. Rechargeable battery, so it's easily charged with vehicle or from a solar panel if the power goes out and no searching for CR123 batteries. It has a turbo setting that puts off 2500 lumens…this sucker is bright. Can be worn as a headlamp or clipped on to clothes.

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0BYS7FZPZ?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title[/ame]

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I've grown to really appreciate my OLIGHT i1r 2 EOS.

Two settings: 5 or 150 lumens by twisting the barrel. Plenty for getting from the truck to the front door on a pitch dark night or finding the tiniest item in a dark drawer.

Unscrew the barrel all the way to expose the charging port for either a USB on the computer or wall outlet.

$17.95

 

[wood714]

I use my cell phone.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I use my cell phone.

My Galaxy S-22+ is plenty bright for my needs.

 

[Goldstar225]

I've been using a Streamlight Protac 1L/1AA for almost six years. You can use a CR123 or AA battery. It's survived two trips through the washing machine. The only thing I would change if I could is to eliminate the strobe feature and retain just the hi/low settings.

 

[Erich]

I have several - I have been in the good habit of keeping a light on me for at least 20 years.
Used to EDC this one CR123A Fenix (a great light); the other (Ultra EDC from LAPG) is positively nuclear in brightness with its 1100 lumens
- it stays by the bed

Kinda on the weak side, but was EDC years back

The Malkoff head on the Surefire E2e is heck on wheels.

My wife carries the black version of this little Streamlight AA Stylus Pro - this one lives in my airplane kit

Always have a micro Fenix on the key ring

But this Streamlight Wedge is my EDC - it's not the brightest, but it lies flat in the pocket and it just so easy to use

Back when I was still working, I'd buy five-packs of reasonably bright LED AA lights to give to women who'd ride my bus during the dark mornings. Amazon . . . I probably gave away 30 of them over the years. Have a bunch around the house (guest room, guest bath, front entry table drawer) to be used/given away as needed. I heartily recommend the practice . . .

 

[BKLooney]

Absolutely, without fail, my EDC flashlights are always on me.

The older I get, the stronger my cataracts get...light helps a lot, especially reading menus in restaurants.

I like the AAA ones for EDC. My two favorite ones are the Pelican 1910 and the Olight i3T Super Led Flashlight Snowflake Red (which came as a Christmas freebie when I bought a PL-3 Valkyrie for my nightstand Glock 19).

 

[Breakaway500]

I've been using these aluminum AA ones off of Amazon. $10. With batteries. If I lose one I don't even look for it...for long. Amazingly bright..and using rechargable batteries a source of illumination is always nearby and dependable. Make nice gifts too.

 

[Inusuit]

I carry a Fenix every day. Use it more often than other EDC stuff - Spyderco Endura, Leatherman, mini lighter, lip balm, Glock 19.

 

[sophie]

I've been using a Streamlight Protac 1L/1AA for almost six years. You can use a CR123 or AA battery. It's survived two trips through the washing machine. The only thing I would change if I could is to eliminate the strobe feature and retain just the hi/low settings.

I have many models of Streamlight, several ProTac 1L/1AA, Microstream, Redline rechargeable, an olight gifted to me, 3 Milwaukee M18 flashlights for lighting up complete rooms in emergency situations. My favorite carry pocket flashlight is a Streamlight Microstream Rechargable light in Coyote color and has only 2 brightness levels. The first push is 500 lumen and second push is 50 lumen if I remember correctly and the beam is natural light and not blue in color like some I have. The rechargeable battery lasts a long time between charges. Never have too many flashlights.