$150 to spend.....ideas?

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nutnfancyfan

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Nov 30, 2009
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alright i have a 150 dollar gift card to amazon. now i just have to decide what i want to get. it doesnt have to be esee, because im also considering a folder and a flashlight, but then again....well i am an esee addict.

here is what i have so far - esee 5, esee4, izula.

considerations- esee-6, esee-3, flashlight of some sort( no clue what i should look at in this category), good folder ( spydie military maybe)

all recommendations are greatly appreciated
 
In regards to your flashlight consideration I can lend my opinion.

I own only two flashlights, a Streamlight Stylus Pro and a Fenix LD20. I started with the Streamlight and it would disappear in my back pocket, there was no reason not to have it. The Fenix I just picked up a 1-3 months ago and I absolutely love it. Fits great in the hand is very, very bright. Depending on what you want to spend I'd say get the Fenix and if not that go for the Streamlight. They have both done wonders for me. :thumbup:
 
The ESEE-3 is a nice knife.

Speaking of flash lights. I'm going to buy my mother and I a Fenix TK11 R5 for Christmas. I have a Fenix TK11 R2 and it's very nice. I think you could get them for -$80 online. Possibly do some research on google & candlepower.
Fenix-TK11-R5.jpg


ESEE-3 & a Fenix flash light. :thumbup:
(Might be $40 over your allotted money though)
 
Hard to recommend stuff for you to purchase when I don't know what kind of activities you like to do ... camping/ouitdoors stuff? You mentioned flashlights, The SureFires sure seem to be popular here, I've been really happy with my Fenix and 4Sevens flashlights. Beware they can be an addicting hobby too :D . Candlepower forums is a good place to research

If you don't already have a good folder, that would be good - something like a Zero Tolerance 0350 series should be available for around $112, and I *really* like my Spyderco's - Military, Manix 2, etc.

Do you already have a bag for carrying stuff around, something like Maxpedition Jumbo EDC? I don't know if Amazon would be the best place to get something like that, haven't looked for it there.

And of course your ESEE collection won't be complete until you also have the Izula II, the 6, 3, and Junglas and Lite Machete - oh yeah and the Laserna pack and all the other soft goods they are coming out with :D
 
150 bucks is 2 half-gallons of Cazadores Tequila.
 
okay need to clarify i little i guess. mainly my activities are camping/ backpacking, though i will admit i have several knives i never use, instead just have like 4 beaters. but i do want all my knives to have the capability to be used if i need them to. i am both a user and a collecter
@rodloos- i actually just bought a mexpedition fatboy, waiting for it to arive

with the whole flashlight thing( correct me if im wrong) it seems to me that fenix and especially 4sevens are affordable, and probobly the better light over many surefires, and surefires are still bulletproof amazing flashlights. really only downside is price and lack of different light modes.
 
@rat- lol i dont think i can get that off of amazon( plus i got a while to go before the tequila.....well at least legally )
 
dde[ends on what use youll be butting these things to.

for an EDC light, i lean towards AA, and Fenix has several. depends on if you want a small 1xAA pocket light to keep with your keys or something bigger and brighter.

i just ordered a Spidey Manix 2 in orange G10, 1 of 600 from cutlery shoppe, but that would chew up most of your budget and i don't think they'll take that gift card. there are other, generic versions of the same knife for less, just not orange.

the Fenix LD 40 looks really nice. 4xAA and 270 lumens with multiple levels and modes. not exactly pocket sized tho.

after the holidays i'll be getting a Fenix headlight. their less expensive one that takes 1 AA and runs about $40. perhaps more than one of these because they seem like a good value. one for the GHB, one fo r the house, etc.
 
As far as an ESEE goes I would recommend the 3.
For a flashlight I have been looking at a Fenix PD30 R4. Max Lumens 265. Runs on Cr123 batteries. Overall very nice fit and finish, and around $60 I believe.
For a folder you can't go wrong with a Benchmade :D. I love my 710SBKD2 and you should be able to find it on Amazon for under $150
 
The 3 is my favorite, can't really go wrong with it. I am pretty happy with my Gerber LX3.0 LED flashlight (not as fancy as the surefire or others, but it is well over 6 years old and is still going nicely). Folder wise, I have been using a Kershaw Mini cyclone PE for years, great open assist blade, and damn strong.

Me? I would order a copy of "Light's Out" by David Crawford which was just released in print, maybe a copy of Deep Winter by Thomas Sherry.
 
There are many many knives that you could look at. What are the main tasks that you use the knives for? And what would you need to flashlight to do?
 
@thegame- depends on what knife i get really, folder of small fixed would be edc, flashlight would be edc, collectability. dont want the flashlight to be any larger than say an ld20 or aa2 . just want to have some lighting capability
 
For the flashlight, then just have a look at the Fenix/4sevens as already said. As for knives, look at Condors knives, too. They have a lot that are well below 150, and will allow you to get multiple, or to get more items. There are many many flashlights, but Fenix and 4sevens are likely your best bet.
 
For a nice pocket light, try the Inova X1

Sleek, very sturdy, nice beam pattern. No gizmos, just a nice light when you need it. American made, too. Gave it to my friend's 1 year old to play with, he was swinging it with the lanyard into the hardwood floor, and it didn't even scratch it, let alone break anything. One of the best $20 I've spent. Plenty of dough left over for an ESEE blade.
 
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With respect to flashlights - I like the Fenix E20. It's half as expensive as the LD20 and you wouldn't really notice a difference unless you had the two of them side-by-side. It's serious bang for your buck - you could easily get one of those AND an ESEE 4, maybe even a 6.
 
I'd get a Maratac AAA flashlight for under $30 and save the rest of your money for Spydercos or a Junglas. The Maratac is the one flashlight I wouldn't give up and is really all I ever need. IMHO is puts all Fenix lights in the AAA category to shame and it's on my key chain 24/7.
 
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I'm putting in a vote for a flashlight and Machete (depending on what light you get, either a Tramontina, Condor or Esee). The Esee Lite machete is a workhorse for sure.
 
If you plan to pocket carry the light- streamlight microstream is good and cheap. Single aaa. I carry one daily. Have a single and dual 123 fenix but they are a bit big for pockets with other items.
 
i am a long time flashaholic nerd... inova and fenix are staples of the diet, i've got maglite and niteize conversions, and a long history of customs and other models. these days, i lean STRONGLY towards Jetbeam - they're just amazing. the latest generation of lights can use rechargeable lithium batteries too - awesome stuff, otherwise, i would standardize on AA, AAA, and 123 in that order.

knives. mmm. cewl! many brands :) this being the ESEE side of things, i'd have to honestly recommend "Buy Becker" :) hah hah. just kidding. no really, a BK2 :>

books! why not spend the mad money on survival and other books? some good knot books? yah! you can always buy knives and lights later... knowledge is wonderful. a good read, a good drink, there you go. i highly recommend "The Ax Book: The Lore and Science of the Woodcutter" :) heh heh.

also, as you are getting a maxpedition, you might as well order accessory pockets, molle and grimlocs and other goodies for that bad boy.
 
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