Ultra Bright Flashlights

I bought one of those clone super bright flashlights that look just like, and I suspect are made alongside the known branded ones, and it's amazingly good for only like 10 bucks and change. It has slow and fast flashing, SOS. a half and full brightness and makes a nice club too. It takes 3 AA batteries or you can use a rechargeable one that makes it even brighter! It's painful to look at on high. Battery life is impressive on the 3 AA batteries. It does get warm if it's on high, but the way the switch is, it would be very unlikely to turn on accidentally.

Looking at the site I bought it at, it looks like it's been discontinued, but this one is pretty similar, without the AA option.
Convoy C8 Black LED Flood Flashlights Sale, Price & Reviews | Gearbest

Gearbest has a huge assortment of flashlights. I have a bunch of the single AA ones all over my apartment, in every room, they work great and battery life is very good:
Zooming LED Flashlight Black Adjustable Focal Flashlights Sale, Price & Reviews | Gearbest

One thing about gearbest, they are slow and slower about shipping. I've ordered quite a few items from them and ship times ranged from days to six weeks! I got all the stuff I ordered, and it came decently packed, but you have to be patient.
 
Streamlight.
Since nearly all of them are Chininiesm, might as well purchase one that has a track record.

I have a number of Surefires, but have moved to Streamlight as my preferred weapon light. The Streamlight product line had some items that met my needs unaddressed by Surefire.
 
We have a large number of 2 cell Surefire lights, and I carry one pretty much all the time, moving it from pocket to pocket, etc. Even in the daytime it can be handy. I did a training class some years back and the instructor turned off the range lights as an object lesson while we we were shooting. Everyone else had to struggle with the background light; I just dug out my flashlight and carried on.

There are two 3 cells on rifles another one waiting for my ordered Marlin, because Pat Rogers did a good training video showing the difference in throw/threat ID. Well before 50 yards, the difference was potentially lifesaving. Even though out of LE, old habits based on good training have mostly stuck around.
 
Midway had a OD40 Long distance illuminator on sale for $39. WAS $129. I Did some research on that price and cheapest price I found elsewhere $102. So I took a chance and that thing is great. Puts a perfect bright light ring about 6 feet across out to at least 75 yards. Not meant for close in lighting but for spotlighting something out aways. Can get a rifle mount or a mount to put it on a scope from Amazon. The company is Optical Dyanamics.
 
Now that LED's are all the rage, almost everyone's got them. I have tried them several times, from cheap ones to expensive ones and find that they are a double edged sword - at least to me! In fact all the LED Flashlights I had I no longer own as I gave them away. I simply can't stand the ultra bright bluish light! Yes - I am aware that they now come in different color tones (haven't owned one of those yet) but honestly, am still very happy with the 3 dozen or so Maglites, waterproof US Navy & Army surplus lights and mini Maglites. They give a very pleasing soft light that I can work with for any amount of time I need to.

The ultra bright LED's do serve some great purposes if you are a LEO, in the Service, an avid Outdoorsman at night, etc. etc. but these days I use flashlights mostly for working in dark places, inside cabinets, inside Engine Bays, cleaning & illuminating Bores of guns, working on wiring underneath my Lionel Train Layout, etc and have no need to be blinded by a super bright LED.

When I tried to use the LED's while working under the dashboard of my SUV, it was very hard to get it just right so that I could see what I was doing without being blinded. OK - so I am an "old fart" that doesn't like change - that is true, however there is more than just that to me when it comes to flashlights!

When my SIL - to be brought me 3 hi-tech expensive LED's one weekend and said choose one as a gift from him, we went out to the backyard and I tried all 3. After cycling them all through their sophisticated modes, I said, "thank you for your kind thoughts and generosity" however I'll be happy to stick with my Xenon and Halogen Maglites. He thought I was nuts - but said, OK.
 
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chief38,

FWIW, that's one of the things I like about the Malkoff LED I used to update my old Surefire 6P. It's their warm-flood model, which, in my opinion, does a really good job of recreating the light from an incandescent bulb. It's why I use it as my nightstand light.
 
I have a couple of THRUNITE flashlights, a 15 and a 20, both are adjustable, Both get very warm if left on at top settings. Both are capable of lighting up anything out to "way out there". Back in the day, we were shocked at the difference in the light from the adjustable spotlight on our patrol units when we changed out the regular seal beam for an "aircraft landing light", I have got that in my pocket now with either of these handheld lights. Both are 2500+ lumens and are USB rechargeable. Even at moderate settings you don't want either of these lights in your face - - very painful.
 
Jeff423 said:
I'm not a flashlight person but I wonder if these "lumen" measurements are accurate or are they like shop vacs that claim phenomenal HP ratings that exceed the capacity of the wall socket that they are plugged into?
Click to expand...

The claims are similar to automakers that say a teensy little asian economy car engine has more horsepower than a 400 cubic inch V-8 under a pair of Holley double-pumpers.
 
Jeff423 said:
I'm not a flashlight person but I wonder if these "lumen" measurements are accurate or are they like shop vacs that claim phenomenal HP ratings that exceed the capacity of the wall socket that they are plugged into?
Click to expand...

The only accurate measurements are those that are ANSI lumens.

The standard sets an even playing field, and requires specialized equipment (collimating sphere and various meters) to accurately quantify. If the lumen rating isn’t stated as ANSI, they’re likely bogus.

Lumen rating is only one part of the picture. While lumen numbers state total output, LUX ratings quantify how bright the actual beam is.

A 300-lumen light can illuminate an object at distance better than a 2000-lumen light, much like a 500 horsepower car can lose a race to a 300hp car. Lux is a function of surface brightness of the diode relative to its physical size; therefore a smaller, brighter LED with less overall output will put more light down range.
 
crstrode said:
The claims are similar to automakers that say a teensy little asian economy car engine has more horsepower than a 400 cubic inch V-8 under a pair of Holley double-pumpers.
Click to expand...

Easily verifiable via dynamometer. RPM x Torque/5252=horsepower.

Power ‘under the curve’ is a different story.


The Collimating Sphere is the Dyno of the flashlight world. Horsepower sells cars, lumens sell flashlights.
 
As someone who carries a flashlight every day I keep a close eye on the development of flashlights. I do not bemoan the days of yore when a big Maglite was the hoss dog light to carry around as a multi-purpose impact tool as well as a light. I carried a Streamlight Stinger on my duty belt for over 12 years and loved them as they were bright (in their day), lightweight (in their day), and very rugged.

I also carried smaller lights like the Surefire Executive E2e incandescent that was just about indestructible, but would only run about 45 minutes on a set of batteries.

About two years ago I transitioned to Fenix LED lights. My daily carry now is a Fenix PD35 that is very reliable, very solidly built, very bright was the highest setting at 1,000 lumens, and runs several hours on a set of batteries.
 
I bought a Fenix RC05 many years ago and it's still the one I have in my pocket. It tops out at 300 lumens but it works for me.
 
BTW, the led high output lights make great hand warmers in the winter, if you get stuck without gloves. :D

My favorite daily carry light now is the Klarus XT-1A. Runs off of a "AA" size 14500 series rechargeable battery. Carried a Surefire L4 at work, eventually settled with the Fenix PD32 because it allows for different levels of output in different situations. BTW, Surefire has an excellent warranty, and their customer service is great.
 
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I have a Fenix PD20 that was my keychain light for quite a few years. My only complaint is that it's not a "push-clicky", in that I have to push the button in then release it to turn on, which is different from all of my other lights. I like having the option of momentary-on. Otherwise, Fenix makes good quality lights.
 
ContinentalOp said:
I have a Fenix PD20 that was my keychain light for quite a few years. My only complaint is that it's not a "push-clicky", in that I have to push the button in then release it to turn on, which is different from all of my other lights. I like having the option of momentary-on. Otherwise, Fenix makes good quality lights.
Click to expand...

Those are known as reverse-clicky switches.

I also prefer forward-clicky switches, especially with multiple level-equipped lights. It allows for rapid progression through the modes without going through the full click cycle.
 
I probably need a better flashlight or two, but 90,000 lumens (if true) would be ridiculous. That's equal to about 90 100 watt incandescent bulbs. Crazy bright. It'd be like staring into the sun. Right now I've just got a couple of cheapo LED lights I bought at Sams - I think they were RayOVac brand. They work and use three AAA batteries which are cheap and easy to find. Not sure how many lumens, but I imagine less than 200 on their high setting.
 
PatriotX said:
Those are known as reverse-clicky switches.

I also prefer forward-clicky switches, especially with multiple level-equipped lights. It allows for rapid progression through the modes without going through the full click cycle.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I knew my terminology wasn't quite right.
 
Back in the day, my BIL gave everyone a 2 D cell Mag-light. I just looked at it, the battery expiration date is 2016. :-) It resides by the bed. Is there a kit that I can install in place of the old style light bulb??

I recently purchased a Streamlight Stylus Pro that uses 2 AAA size batteries. I never thought that I would use it as much as I do around the house, from working on the lawn mower to cleaning a pistol.

I want to purchase the MBH one for her purse that won't get lost. I'm not sure that can be accomplished without a continuously flashing red light. By the way, if I want her to know that I'll tell her myself. :-) Suggestions??

Have a blessed day,

Leon
 
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