Best Flashlight

Depends on what you really need/want. Runtime, brightness, color, quality, form factor, size, weight, materials, power source, price... there are many factors. For the market that Surefire targets, there's none better. I own a number of SFs and I love them all.

Still, that doesn't mean there aren't awesome lights from other sources as well. For instance, I can't wait to get my grubby little hands on the Arc LS4. :D

For lots more discussion on lights, check out www.candlepowerforums.com
 
As stated above - best for what? What do you want it for (Fireman/EMT, Police, Military, sportsman, home owner, car emergency, camping, run-time, output, quality of beam........).

In no particular order a few that come to mind (not all inclusive)

For LED's:
  • ARC AAA
  • CMG Task Light Government model
  • Streamlight 1W Luxeon Tasklight
  • Streamlight Tasklight 3C/LED combo
  • SureFire Aviator
  • SureFire L4

For traditional bulbs:
  • Mag-lite with Hi-cap Ni-Cad's and a Carley Lamp (real torch on the cheap ;))
  • SureFire Executive Elite E2
  • SureFire M3/9Z (9V high output lamp models)
  • SureFire M4
  • Streamlight Stinger HP
  • Streamlight UltraStinger
  • UnderWater Kinectics line (small or large - good quality)
  • and of course several of the Princton-Tec model
 
Sid Post,
You forgot the excellent Inova X5 in your LED list...awesome light.

What's the CMG Task Light Government model? Can't find it on their site.

Competition to Surefire (but still a notch under in build quality, IMO) is the Pelican M6...cheap, cool light.

Warthog
 
I've carried a Surefire everyday for the last seven months, and I really can't imagine that an EDC flashlight can get much better.

Personally I'm willing to trade off a bit of performance for smaller size, so I decided to go with the E1 instead of the E2. It is still plenty bright, and significantly easier to carry.
 
I have several Sure Fires, but, to my mind, the "perfectest" flashlights I own are my Arcs: I have two AAAs and an LSH-P. They're bright, little, light in weight and perfect for EDC. They also use LEDS, which means you don't have to worry about changing lightbulbs (definitely a factor for Sure Fires, which need lamp assemblies costing around $20).

Someone mentioned the Inova 5X. My experience with these flashlights has not been good. I've bought several, and nearly all of them developing flickering problems. I sent the first one back, but its substitute had the same problem. And so did two more that I bought. I've given Inova enough chance to prove their worth, and they definitely did not make the grade. I won't be buying any more of them.
 
Originally posted by fishbulb
Personally I'm willing to trade off a bit of performance for smaller size, so I decided to go with the E1 instead of the E2. It is still plenty bright, and significantly easier to carry.
Click to expand...

Are you using the KL1 or KL4 with your E1? :)
 
I think the "government model" is a bit overkill...what would you need 'hard anodizing' for on that light? I mean, you can toss that flashlight around and it won't get damaged, just dinged up a bit.
 
Originally posted by Warthog
I think the "government model" is a bit overkill...what would you need 'hard anodizing' for on that light? I mean, you can toss that flashlight around and it won't get damaged, just dinged up a bit.
Click to expand...

Agree, but people who can't settle for less will want HAIII finish. Surefire folks would love to brag how nice their lights are finished and how durable it is. That is how HAIII is for them.
 
Originally posted by Skyline
Are you using the KL1 or KL4 with your E1? :)
Click to expand...

I'm still on the original bulb that came with the light. I think that's the KL1, but I'm not sure. Whatever it is, it's certainly bright enough for any dsily use that I can think up.

I have been thinking of getting one og the Nitrolon G2s for the car. Thirty bucks for something that tosses out 120 lumens, which would be overkill, but would also probably be quite fun.
 
Originally posted by fishbulb
I'm still on the original bulb that came with the light. I think that's the KL1, but I'm not sure. Whatever it is, it's certainly bright enough for any dsily use that I can think up.

I have been thinking of getting one og the Nitrolon G2s for the car. Thirty bucks for something that tosses out 120 lumens, which would be overkill, but would also probably be quite fun.
Click to expand...

Just some minor corrections. The E1 comes with an incandescent bulb. For my uses, it's too focused a beam. The KL1 is a 1 watt Luxeon Star that fits the E1 and E2. It offers a regulated 18 lumens for the E1 for an hour or the E2 for 5 hours in a broad flood pattern that is great for close up work. The KL4 is a 5 watt Luxeon Star that offers a regulated 65 lumens on the E2/L4 for over an hour, or around 50 lumens (approx) on the E1 for about 15 minutes. Either of these is vastly superior to the original bulb, IMHO.

Also, the G2 comes with the 65 lumens P60 lamp assembly. You may purchase the P61 120 lumens lamp assembly separately. Note that since the G2 has a lexan lens, you have to be careful using the P61. It's quite likely to melt the lens. :D
 
Interesting. Could you tell me whereabouts I could get one of these KL4 bulbs? Sounds like just the sort of thing that I've been looking for, as I would really like to avoid having to replace the incandescent units if possible.

I see that Surefire dealers are selling the KL1, but nobody seems to have the KL4.

I'll probably end up with the KL1 regardless, but getting about three times the current output from my E1 is just too sweet to pass up. Yes, I am aware that just a few hours ago I said that the E1 is bright enough for anything that I can imagine doing with it. That was before I knew that it could be brighter:D

I know that the G2 comes with the P60, but there is simply no way that I would be able to resist getting the P61 as well, if for no other reason than to see just how bright the thing actually is.
 
Currently, the KL4 is only officially available as part of the L4. The L4 is really an E2e body + Z57 clickie tailcap + KL4. Dealers on CPF have the L4 available for sale for about $140. Sometimes Tactical Warehouse has the KL4 available for single sale for about $95.

As I mentioned, the KL1 is a great deal because it produces just the right amount of light to navigate at night and for tasks. Some people may also suggest the Arc LS or future Arc LS4 as other great lights with the 1 watt Luxeon Star.

Ah, when you said $30 for the G2, I didn't think you meant getting the P61 separately. That's another $20 right there, hehe. :) If you are considering the G2 though, you might also look into the G2Z. I've been EDCing a G2Z/P61 for quite some time now and I love it! :D
 
I posted this in another thread - so forgive the repeat -

The best and most useful flashlight - somewhat like knives -
is the one you have on you -
as shown by the recent Eastern Seaboard blackout.

Here's a list of pocketable flashlights - all LEDs

LEDs have the advantage of being virtually indestructable - low power consumption and high energy/light output efficiency - enabling flshlights the size of "dog-tags" to be made using coin-sized batteries that last over 10 hours and some are claimed at 120 hours.

Photon II
P2_arrows.gif

http://www.photonlight.com/more_info/tech_specs.html

I like these, it's available in yellow LED - my favorite non-white mono-color - a good compromise between good contrast/definition and not over-affecting my dark-adaption. Low priced about ~$10.
I've EDC'd a yellow Photon I for well over 6 years, still on its original battery - the battery life for yellow (along with red and orange) is claimed at 120 hours.

Inova MicroLight
micro-opq-wh.jpg

http://www.inovalight.com/site.html?ML-ov

Nice design and feel - but only available in white, red, green, blue LEDs - white tends to be blueish. Low priced about ~$10.

ArcAAA -
aaa33-1s.jpg

http://store.yahoo.com/flashlight/arcaaa.html

Single AAA battery LED flashlight, very popular.

CMG Ultra-G
fb9a67e5.jpg

http://countycomm.com/light9.htm

Single AA battery LED light - my EDC (in the other pocket)

There's a bunch of LED enthusiasts - "flashaholics" over at the CandlePowerForums -

http://www.candlepowerforums.com//ubbthreads/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=UBB3

Also check out this mammoth thread:

EDC - What's in Your Pocket(s)??
 
I've got three CMG task lights. The "Government" model is Whiter and Brighter. Well worth the trivial upgrade expense. I also like the convenience of AA batteries over the ARC AAA LE I carry on my key chain.
 
I have been rotating between an Inova, E1E, E2E, ARC LS, and ARC AAA. Outdoors I prefer the E2E by a wide margin for the way it throws light. In the house I find the E2E too bright for most utilitarian stuff and the ARC LS is perfect. The Inova now stays in the glovebox and the E1E I gave to my Dad and the Arc AAA is on my keys.
 
My current favorite EDC light is the SF L4. This light is bad-ass. It's just about perfect for me. I also carry an ARC LS and a Photon II with me so I guess I'm a freak ;). If I go out with just one light it's the L4, hands-down.
 
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