Flashlights

[jeepdreamer]

my likes...

I usually have a few of those little LED "squeezey" lights like what are usually sold at the checkout line. One LED and a watch batt in a triangular housing..Tough, cheap, brite, and last a long time + fits on a key chain or in a pocket no problem. Just have to get the ones that are on/off, not the push to use as that makes two handed use hard.
I use a Black Knight M9 rechargable for FOB use and it is outstanding. Its made by Pellican and can be auto or home charged. It will eventually go in my jeep if I ever get out ot this dang country!! LOL!

 

[Fireman78]

Check out these lights from Nebo.

http://http://www.nebotools.com/cat.php?cid=16

Very inexpensive. Of course they're Chinese, but almost all of the LED lights are coming out of China. I've purchased several hundred of these for our industrial supply house, with only 2 returns (so far).

I bought my first Nebo light at a truckstop in Arizona. It was at the registar in a small display case, i couldn't resist. It has turned into a great little LED for 15 bucks that I use all the time.

 

[-JD-]

Another vote for Fenix flashlights, along with 4 Sevens. http://www.4sevens.com/
I collect flashlights and just love my Fenix and 4Sevens lights.

For those of you who like Surefires ( I have a few ) look into retrofitting your old ones with a new Cree L.E.D. reflector. World of improvement.

I have both a Fenix LD-20 and a 4Sevens Quark AA² R5. Very similar, but I would recommend the 4Sevens AA² for the "Moonlight" mode which they claim gives a 30-Day continuous runtime and, in my experience, is usable for close up reading, walking, and other minimal light tasks - Great for emergency/survival situations where you want to use a light, but don't want to risk significantly depleting the batteries in case of critical situations requiring serious lighting.


A low cost, "buy a bunch and spread them around" option is the TechLight Lumen Masters available at Costco store 3 for $18 and reviewed here: http://brasstard.com/2010/04/13/in-review-costco-tactical-lumen-master-flashlight-by-techlite/ I like them, they can throw a lot of light, and for $6 you can have one close at hand everywhere. Sometimes more is "better"

 

[dro805]

i just bought the 3 pack techlite from costco 2 days ago and i really like them for the price and the flash/ strobe is pretty cool

 

[soonenough]

For those of you who like Surefires ( I have a few ) look into retrofitting your old ones with a new Cree L.E.D. reflector. World of improvement.

Is this something commercially available, or do you hve to do the modification yourself? I know SureFire was selling LED conversion heads on their website a couple years ago, not sure if they still do or not, but I had looked into getting one for my E2E since that thing is a battery hog.

 

[Corey]

Well bummer.
Surefire told me today the flashlight is two weeks out.
They are out of stock.
They are fairly new, and flying off the shelves.

 

[theksmith]

recently found this, and it makes a good toolbox light:

a mini review and a mod: http://www.offroadpassport.com/forum/showthread.php?t=727&highlight=joby

 

[Dion B]

Another vote for Fenix and 4sevens.

I have Surefires, Mags and Fenix and I find the Fenix to be on par with Surefire throw and output except from 2 AA Batteries and about 1/3 the price. If you go the AA or AAA route then definitely get NiMh rechargeables, they won't blow up and puke the acid inside and kill the light.

I also carry the cheap key ring lights that cost about a buck a piece, nice insurance.

check out this site for good deals on batteries and the cheap key ring lights.

http://www.batteryjunction.com/

Dion

 

[Master-Pull]

Alright thanks for all the info guys, I'll be looking around for a good deal on some of these flashlights you listed out.

-Alex

 

[02TahoeMD]

Is this something commercially available, or do you hve to do the modification yourself? I know SureFire was selling LED conversion heads on their website a couple years ago, not sure if they still do or not, but I had looked into getting one for my E2E since that thing is a battery hog.

Yes, commercially available, and found at the site that Dion posted up. I have an R2 in one of my old 6P's. Here is the page at Battery Junction.

If you wish to stay "factory", Surefire still has a complete replacement head you can put on their lights as well. Surefire conversion light.

 

[Palehorse1]

Keep a couple of the Nitecore Smart PD D10 SP R2 AA battery powered lights in the vehicles we own as well as on my person. Like the rugged construction, performance, and that it uses batteries that are readily available everywhere we travel.

 

[soonenough]

Yes, commercially available, and found at the site that Dion posted up. I have an R2 in one of my old 6P's. Here is the page at Battery Junction.

Sweet, thanks for the link! How does the battery life using the Cree LEDs compare to the incandescent from SureFire?

 

[02TahoeMD]

Sweet, thanks for the link! How does the battery life using the Cree LEDs compare to the incandescent from SureFire?

I have not had the new light head long enough to report on battery life, but most L.E.D. flashlight products give an improvement over that of a traditional type of bulb. To my eye, the Cree reflector even has a better "throw" of the beam of light over the factory one. It is almost painfully bright compared to the old one.

If you visit a candlepower / flashlight forum you may find more info on battery life and lumen / output comparisons.

 

[109 Pretender]

The Surefire lights are awesome - and expensive. I'm like Silver Bullet, I use Mag lights. They're relatively cheap, come in all sizes, last forever even if abused, and are available everywhere. For the cost of one Surefire you could buy a 4 D cell, a AA mini, upgrade to the blue light if that's what you like (I don't-because as an ave. human, my eyesite is more centered in the yellow/green spectrum and I appreciate shadows - they give depth and shape to the form that's being lit). Oh, and you could buy a year's supply of batteries too!

There's no Q that Surefire makes a top shelf product and they are very popular with the military and LAW groups - but I think the Mag lite represents the best value and it's tough as well.

Nowdays, I think I use my Petzl headlamp more than a flashlight because it keeps my hands free. But, when I have to take that midnight trip into the woods - I carry my 4 D cell 'cause it makes me feel like I could clobber a bear with it!

I'm also an advocate that you really can't take too many flashlights with you when camping, especially if you have kids. Issue each of them a flashlight along with the responsibility to not lose it or use up the batteries in one night. Then sit back and enjoy their newfound "job responsibility". Oh, keep a spare handy just in case...

 

[Corey]

My Surefire 6PX Pro shipped yesterday finally, it will be here Friday.
I will get a comparison beam shot of its 200 lumens compared to my other Surefire light at 80 lumens.

These were on back order for a long time.
Not sure if they are made in China and had to wait for the slowboat to make it to Surefire, or if they are made in the USA, and they were just overrun with orders for this new light.