Am I cheap or what?

The Tourist

The Tourist

Banned
Joined
Dec 23, 2001
Messages
2,796
I like nice toys. I liked my Harleys, my Mustang, my big trucks, but some stuff just isn't worth the sacrifice to me.

Like watches, I just want to tell the time, but I'd like something that isn't fragile. I bought a Timex Ironman Indiglo.

Well, recently I've been jealous of your SureFire flashlights, and it seemed like a great idea. I researched them, admired them, but for me it just wasn't worth endangering the next Microtech. I just wanted to see in the dark.

I bought a Ray-O-Vac Industrial. It's about the size of a compact flashlight, has a high intensity bulb and takes readily available AA batteries. It's impact resistant, and if the chips were REALLY down I could use it as a kuboton (sp?). I took it into an interior room with no windows, I could see everything.

I paid $3.67 for the light. What's your take on this? And you can be blunt with me, I won't look at your sincere advice as a flame. Thank you.
 
Well, I don't believe SureFires are worth it to me iether
(Except maybe the E's) SureFires are designed to be used with
a gun (Except the E's), so till I get my dream AR-15 they
just aren't worth it. On the other hand I like my
Streamlight Scorpion (It's alot like the Surefire 6P)
Only about half the price (and the bulbs are about a 1/4 the price)

One question have you every seen the out-put from a 2 cell CR123
type light?

I just love takeing my Scorp. camping instead
of a 5D Mag-light. :eek:
 
Atrick-Pay, no I have not seen that model, but I will research it. For camping and long term power outages I have a bright yellow plastic lantern (Coleman?) with 6 D size batteries, an AM/FM radio, and a selector switch for both one and two bulb florescent lighting. For my house I have rechargeables jammed into outlets. I needed a portable emergency light.

I do have a small ARC Flashlight which is LED on my keychain with a +5 hour life. I did want a compact LED flashlight, but I have had good luck with Ray-O-Vac bulb type flashlights. The only one that ever crapped was a Ruff-Neck (sp?) that died after a D battery leaked during long term storage.

The Industrial was purchased for a niche need.
 
I needed a portable emergency light.
Click to expand...

I don't know what kind of emergency you want to plan for
but the one hour run time on a set of batterys in
Scorpion or most Surefires, Mite be a problem.
On the other hand the batterys should be fine for 10 years
without any problems (In theory)

I don't know for sure but I would guess that a 2 cell CR123-type
light would be as bright or brighter then your Coleman 6D
and would be smaller then a 2 cell AA light. :eek:

You mite also want to look at the Streamlight Stinger
(It's a rechargeable light): www.streamlight.com

Another place with lots of good info is: www.candlepowerforums.com

And TRY to find a place you can SEE a 2 cell CR123 light
(Police-station, Fire-station, Sporting-goods store..Etc)
 
Atrick-Pay, I like the 6D lantern to set down during a long term power outage and use it like a floor lamp. The radio is handy because during outages you can get emergency news.

But boy! You sure know a lot about lights. I think I'm covered, but I'd like to try out the durability of these items. The lantern is proven, the rechargables are proven, my wife's small light got her out of a brown-out in a tall Las Vegas building and my ARC Light can get me to the truck.

I was looking for compact and impact. Ya' know, if it doesn't work I'm out about four bucks, and the batteries came with it.
 
As long as it does what you want it to, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, IMO.
I've got one of those 2AA Rayovac Industrials, and two of the 2D versions, too. They're dependable lights-tough, and waterproof. The company I work for also issues them for use on the job, and I've been using the 2D versions for several years. I bought these for spares, and they ride in my truck's toolbox most of the time.
I've got some nicer lights, and these aren't my favorite flashlights or anything. Compared to some of my others the beam quality sucks (especially my 2AA), but that's never kept them from being usable. They're not specialty lights with a bunch of cool features, just simple dependable tools. They're work lights. And they work:)
BUT,
I like smaller more convenient to carry lights (and also better beams), too, like the Inova X5 for EDC, and the Streamlight Stinger for when I need some reach. The Inova fits in a back pocket alongside my wallet, and I've got a Blackhawk belt pouch for the Stinger when I don't leave it in the cab of the truck. Their size makes it more likely that I'll have one on me than one of the bulkier "low-tech" lights, which I have never been comfortable carrying. In that respect, paying that extra money for convenience and features can be well worth the price sometimes.
I wish they made smaller rechargeables, that didn't sacrifice performance to the 2x123 lights, so I wouldn't choke at the battery prices:(
 
I love the Ray-O-Vac Workhorse series -- my favourite cheap lights. Heard good things about the industrials too.
 
As far as I have ever been concerned, buy what YOU want, and you will be happy. I do have a Surefire 9P, and it sits in the nitestand next to the Sig 220. That is what it was designed for. I also keep a 2D Mag light in both nitestands. I also keep a Petzl Duo headlamp in a drawer under the bed. I keep three 12V deep cycle batteries in the cellar in battery boxs, with power inverters (600Watt) mounted on the top of each box. I plug energy effeciant flourecent lights into these, as well as radios, scanners and small TV. Going cheaply is not a bad thing really. I built bike lights for my night cycling because I would not pay the high price of the production stuff. Mine is brighter than the factory lights. Heavier, but brighter. It is fun inventing cheaper, but better things like that. BTW, I also wear a Timex Ironman Indaglow. Good watch, great price. Take Care and have fun!!!!!
 
Do a search here or on Candlepower forums on Brinkman Legend LX , a small 2-CR123 battery light available at Wal-Mart for $19.99. I've got one, so I can vouch for the price, the fact that Wal-Mart does stock 'em, and the fact that it lights up the night like a Christmas tree. It rocks, and I didn't need a second mortgage. The Ray-o-vac AA's are good and tough and there's a lot to be said for having several cheap and tough lights spread around the house, but if you want to try a Poor Man's Sure Fire...keep an eye peeled for this Brinkman Legend LX at Wal-Mart.
 
I also wear a Timex Ironman with Indiglo. Great watch, and the best part of it was it costed me $30. :D
 
Ichabod, I know what you mean. If you find some practical, low-cost gear that does the job for you, go for it.

For flashlights, I have four different kinds of LED lights, each for a different task. They fit my needs, so I am willing to pay extra for them. On the other hand, I don't own any Surefires or other incandescent lights. I think they are awesome lights, and I would like to find a reason to buy one, but don't see a need for me yet.
 
Underwater Kinetics & Princeton tec make some great lights in the sub $30 range that use common batteries. The UKE 4aa (AKA q40) is a great light that puts out a decent amount of light, as is the PT tec 40 (also 4aa). The PT surge uses 8aa and has output that rivals the scorpion/surefire 6p/z (although the beam quality is not nearly as good as the Surefire). The princeton tec attitude is a 3 LED light that uses 4 aaa batteries, has a decent light output, and will run around 150 hours on a set. The rage uses the same body, only w/ a brighter incandescent lamp assembly, and shorter runtime. Take a look at www.brightguy.com to see the various models (great place to buy from)

Sam
 
Sure, someday I'd like to drive a Land Rover and wear a Rolex. Until the time comes when I can afford the finer things, something of lesser quality will have to do. Some things mean more than others. Start with the most important and gradually chip away at it. Sooner or later you'll have the toys you want the most.

Paul
 
PRINCETON TECH!!!!!!!!!!!

Just like Flotsam said above.

A friend turned me onto this brand. We used to lust after those $80 MAG LITES-heheh, too.

You should at least check this company out. I have the Surge model and two Rages. They blow my Mag-Lites away. I'm not joking, I have at lest (3) 3 D cell, (1) 5 D cell, (1) 4 D cell, and (5) mini-mags. I never use them anymore.

Another thing, I don't think you can really appreciate the Princeton Tech's until you see the price. My friend first found them at 'the bright guy'. But-and I hesitate to bring up a dirty word here at BF-we found that Botach Tactical sells them even less. (And BTW we both have received numerous orders from them without a problem, maybe they have seen the light?).

Anyway, I don't care where you buy one, but it would be wise to at least check them out. As stated above, maybe not the best beam compared to a Surefire, but what the hey for under $10 bucks my Rages kick!

Mongrel
 
I wear a Timex INDIGLO and nothing beats it for its Dick Tracy Memory function...
sadly the strap aint so robust and it cost me half the cost of the watch to get the strap replaced!
 
Thanks guys for your responses over the last few days. As people related their experiences and options for equipment, I started to look at other everyday things I use where lower cost was part of the equation.

In another thread we discussed gel pens. I use the Pilot G2, as well. We get a corporate discount at Office Depot.

I wear Uvex safety glasses with mirrored lens. They have a 99% UV rating, they don’t look that bad and they double as shooting glasses. About 6 bucks.

I carry cheap knives for cutting wet or muddy things along with my EDC LCC. One knife was free, the other is a stainless Opinel, which cost 8 bucks.

There’s a place in Black Earth, Wisconsin called the ‘Shoe Box’ that gives incredible discounts. My wife and I go a few times per year. I bought a pair of Tony Lama boots and saved 150 bucks. I believe the inside upper leather lining had a cosmetic blemish; it’s inside the boot, and I still can’t find it.

I handload. One entire wall of my garage has wheel weights, tin, and linotype. I have bought .223 brass only once in my life. Truth be told, the other +7,000 cases where found at shooting ranges. I have been less successful with .45 ACP cases, but even those range in the thousands. Further, a local sporting goods store went bankrupt about 15 years ago. I bought all of their jacketed center-fire bullets for a buck a box. I still have over HALF of them left to use. The primers number about 21,000 of all sizes.

I know that some guys act like penny-pinchers, but I do not. I really spoil my wife. I pick up dinner checks and I am a good tipper. I tithe to my church. It’s just that lately I’ve noticed this streak that I am on. I haven’t changed my habits, I’ve just become more aware.
 
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