After some thought...

P

Psychopomp

Joined
Feb 21, 2005
Messages
2,662
I've been toying around with the idea of getting a new Surefire. I love my little G2 and regard it as one of the best purchases I've ever made... but...

With the 120 lumen lamp, the run time is, well, horrible. A set of batteries lasts about two weeks.

I spent some time looking at the E2e, and the L4. While the run time of the L4 is better, I don't know that I can justify the price. Lately, I've been using my big 4 D-cell Maglite for checking the mail late at night and other night time ops, and I've come to the conclusion that it does just fine.

The mini-Mags aren't bright enough for my tastes, even with the LED conversion (they're still great indoor lights for night time, indoor ops), and both my 3 and 4 D-cell versions are a bit big.

So, I've decided to get the ultra-tactical 2 C-cell Maglite.

Yes, I'm a badass.
 
try to find a used E2e at a good price then get a KL1 head from SF (~$50) and put her on the E2e, makes a great combo, lotsa batt life/almost as bright as the std E2e, barely a diff if any/lower price than the L4, IIRC SF makes a E2e w/the KL1 head but i dont remember the model.

since i did this mod i have carried mine almost exlusively, works great..

also the fenix lite works pretty darned well for the $$.
 
SIFU1A said:
try to find a used E2e at a good price then get a KL1 head from SF (~$50) and put her on the E2e, makes a great combo, lotsa batt life/almost as bright as the std E2e, barely a diff if any/lower price than the L4, IIRC SF makes a E2e w/the KL1 head but i dont remember the model.

since i did this mod i have carried mine almost exlusively, works great..
Click to expand...

hmm... that's a thought.

I don't know though. Sometimes I just wanna go check the mail without lighting up the whole neighborhood. And I've always had a special place in my heart for Maglites.

When I was little I watched my dad run over his 6 D-cell Mag with his brown, late-70s Chevy van. He loved that flashlight and was a little upset that he'd just run over it. When he picked it up and pushed the button and it worked he was relieved, and I was impressed. That was probably 20 years ago and he still has that flashlight and it still works.

I've yet to try to recreate that event with any of my Mags. Knowing my luck it would do more damage to my car than the light.

I'll keep the E2 mod in mind, and knowing me, I'll probably do it sometime in the future... but for now I'm happy with the prospects of a new Maglite :D... and the money I save can (and probably will) be used for knives.
 
Psychopomp, there's an easy solution at hand.

Get the Inova X5T, white light LEDs. The Inova takes the same lithium 123A batteries as your G2 -- the exact same batteries depleted by the G2 will still work in the Inova!

Not as long as fresh ones, but longer than they worked in the G2. I estimate, very roughly, that instead of the 20 hours the Inova should get from fresh batteries, I see about 10 hours good use.

Furthermore, while bright enough for close work, the Inova will not light up the neighborhood with the spill when you just want a quiet light.

I platoon an X5T with my Surefire E2. They are almost exactly the same size, and both together can fit in the bottom of a jacket pocket practically unnoticeably. If anything, the Inova is tougher than the Surefire.
 
I'll 2nd the Innova X5. I got one for Christmas and love it. I was lucky enough to recieve a Surefire E1E last Christmas, but a 90 munite runtime on these batteries doesn't cut it at my house.

The Innova is bright, well made, and suprisingly tough. If I were unfortunate enough to have to pick one for rough duty, it would be the Innova.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Psychopomp, there's an easy solution at hand.

Get the Inova X5T, white light LEDs. The Inova takes the same lithium 123A batteries as your G2 -- the exact same batteries depleted by the G2 will still work in the Inova!
Click to expand...

I may have to pick up one of the Inova lights. I've always been very impressed by the ones I've messed around with. They seem like incredibly well made little lights.

I bought myself a 2 D Maglite today just for the hell of it, but you can never have too many lights around. Considering I live in the middle of the forest with no street lights, any ammount of money spent on good flashlights is never wasted.

I've got the big Mag in the car, my G2 on my desk and I'll probably drop this new 2 D Maglite in the little basket I have sitting on the fire place hearth next to my front door.
 
I'll third the nomination for the X5. A U-Haul ate mine a while back but it had a nice soft but bright throw to it.
 
SIFU1A said:
IIRC SF makes a E2e w/the KL1 head but i dont remember the model.
Click to expand...

I think it's the E2L. The X5s are good for a nice soft flood light but if you are happy with your mag, then that's great! Less toys to buy ;)
 
Psychopomp said:
Sometimes I just wanna go check the mail without lighting up the whole neighborhood.
Click to expand...

That's a good reason for two level lights like the SF L2 or SF A2, or the multi-level lights like the SF U2 or HDS EDC line...

When I was little I watched my dad run over his 6 D-cell Mag with his brown, late-70s Chevy van. He loved that flashlight and was a little upset that he'd just run over it. When he picked it up and pushed the button and it worked he was relieved, and I was impressed. That was probably 20 years ago and he still has that flashlight and it still works.

I've yet to try to recreate that event with any of my Mags. Knowing my luck it would do more damage to my car than the light.
Click to expand...

I think he got a little bit lucky. While the head and tail are pretty strong, there is a reasonable chance that it would flatten the battery tube a bit, making it so you couldn't get the batteries out causing an eventual failure.

BTW, you are buying your batteries online, right? No reason to pay more than $1.50 a battery.

-john
 
FWIW i didnt like the X5 much, imho a lite that uses 123 batts outta be brighter than the X5 irregardless of batt life, swapped mine for a T1 & like the T1 a lot better. as long as ya need a not very bright lite the X5 is ok though. mine was a lot dimmer with old batts also.
 
I just received a Fenix L1P for Christmas.

Premium Model Features:

Uses a 1-watt 100,000-hour R bin Luxeon LED, no need for a fragile incandescent bulb
Maximum brightness: 46 Lumens
One 1.5V AA battery , inexpensive and widely available
4-hour working time (2-hour peak brightness)
3.61" (L) x 0.79" (D)
Constructed of aircraft grade aluminum
Type III hard anodized finish, highly durable
45-gram weight
Waterproof
Toughened ultra clear glass lens with AR coating
Push-button tail cap switch
Capable of standing up firmly on a flat surface to serve as a candle
Colour: Black
Included Accessories: Belt Pouch, Lanyard, Extra O-Rings, Spare tailcap boot

http://www.fenixlight.com/flashlight/fenixl1.htm

Small, robust, excellent value for money, runs on rechargeable AA cells and the light output is incredible.

Highly, highly recommended.

maximus otter
 
ccdog said:
I think he got a little bit lucky. While the head and tail are pretty strong, there is a reasonable chance that it would flatten the battery tube a bit, making it so you couldn't get the batteries out causing an eventual failure.
Click to expand...

He didn't stop on the light. Just rolled over it backing the van up. It was also in the front yard which probably helped some (the light sank into the ground a little). But hey, I was four and it didn't take much to impress me.

Speaking of buying batteries online... where is a good source? I'm out of CR123As.
 
Psychopomp said:
Speaking of buying batteries online... where is a good source? I'm out of CR123As.
Click to expand...

Yah, for high power lights like the SF incandecents, I tend to stick with the SF batteries (I just buy them from www.surefire.com) or the Streamlight batteries which are more expensive (I use brightguy.com).

For less demanding applications, you can get Batterystation.com cells for $1 ea. if you are a candlepowerforums.com member, or from amondotech.com (Titanium brand), also for $1 ea.

-john
 
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