Best flashlight

[Siggyhk]

Another well priced (and upgradable and interchanable with Surefire g2/6p) light that I forgot and worth a look is the Solarforce l2 and l2m.

 

[medtech]

Be warned flashlights can become very addicting. Once you start look out:]
The Nitecore d10 and and Fenix are both great lights.

Steve

 

[Lone Hunter]

For $25 you can have a well built single AA battery light with a Cree RC-WC led that puts out 170 lumens. Thats along with all the other settings. MTE C3-907 is the one your after .

I also bought one for their scary bright 740 lumen ones, that set me back a whole $65

Oh and they work fine and are built well. Not junk knock offs .

 

[oldsaltgrassbear]

The new surefire G2's are a steal. The price is fixin to double. Get them while you can at the starting price.


SGB

 

[jstgsn]

I'm a retired police officer and have gone through hundreds of flashlights since my rookie years. It began one summer Sunday afternoon, where I was dispatched to meet a lady at her sister’s home. She had not heard from her sister for a few days and wanted to enter the home and check. We went in and found everything neat and in order, at least on the first and second floor. She asked I look in the basement, explaining at the bottom step there were two steps to the right and then if you reach out you will find the light string. I had no flashlight as it was day shift and sunny out. I felt my way down the steps, turned right at the bottom and took another step and then found the last step was broken. I stumbled forward and bumped into "something" that moved away without making a sound. A second later "something" came back and knocked me backwards. I grabed into the darkness and got nothing. The third time "it" hit me I grabbed a cold hand that pulled out of my hand. I then ran up the steps and back into the light. Rumor has it I screamed like a little girl. I called for assistance and when we went back with a flashlight we found the lady had hung herself at the bottom of the steps. When I fell forward I bumped the body and it began to swing.
In any event, after that I began collecting flashlights. Hundreds of dollars worth of flashlights. I'm now 63 years old and have developed my own theory on flashlights. It is much similar to my theory on guns. They make great guns and flashlights, Spotlights and cannons, but if it isn't within reach 24 hours a day – 7 days a week, it’s worthless. I always carry a .380 in my pocket and always have a long gun near by. I always have a little flashlight on me, and several good ones near by.
Those who have posted before are correct, the lights they mention are extremely bright. But I would suggest this before you buy those.
Go to Wal-Mart (or Target or where ever) and buy a $6.00 Energizer Trailfinder LED CapLight. It is 8 lumens and clips onto the bill of a baseball cap. It runs on two 2032 batteries and burns for hours. Fits easily into a pocket. Don’t bother with the three bulb cap light, this one is plenty to get around with in the dark or do choirs in the dark. Keeps your hands free too. Then buy one of the newer $30.00 (+or - $) Mini Mags that has the special switch. Goes from “bright” to “not so bright” to “strobe” to “SOS” and then back again. Fits into a belt holster and works on two AA batteries. These new Mini Mags are awesome, lightway, and easy to keep on hand.
From here you can go to the specialty lights that you keep stored in a safe place.
Just my opinion, but I would have loved to have either of these cheap lights that sunny Sunday afternoon so many years back.

 

[Tostig]

The third time "it" hit me I grabbed a cold hand that pulled out of my hand. I then ran up the steps and back into the light. Rumor has it I screamed like a little girl. I called for assistance and when we went back with a flashlight we found the lady had hung herself at the bottom of the steps. When I fell forward I bumped the body and it began to swing.

without a doubt , the creepiest thing I have read in a long while.......

I woulda screamed right there with ya bro

Tostig

 

[Capolan]

I picked up a pair of Fenix LD20's last week on eBay for $96 shipped (for 2). I bought them after being quite happy with my first LD20 and wanting a few more to stash in various cars and such.

I've gone all Fenix after ditching Surefire - I like AA batteries and not every gas station in the middle of Wyoming on a fishing trip as 123's.

Not sure what the OP is looking for per se, but I have a Fenix PD31 and it is AWESOME.(123s though)

the FENIX LD40 is outstanding for going with AA batteries - 4 AAs, 248 lumens. thats a great number for disposable non photo cell.

Everyone wonders where I got mine, marvels at how frekin bright it is (304 lumens - about the size of a small sebbie - pocketable with ease).

GO FENIX. my next FENIX will be the TK35. Smaller than a 2 D cell maglight - 820 lumens. AWESOME.

 

[Roger999]

without a doubt , the creepiest thing I have read in a long while.......

I woulda screamed right there with ya bro

Tostig

+1 sounds like something from a horror movie. I would have shit my pants in that situation.....

Get a Surefire G2 and drop in an R2 D26 LED module from DX? You can get the G2 for around $35 and the R2 LED is $10.

 

[dasilvakev]

Be warned flashlights can become very addicting. Once you start look out:]

This is very true :thumbup:, bought a couple Fenix lights a few weeks ago and just picked up a few more last night. I'm already up to 6 . Think its safe to say that I'm hooked ...

the FENIX LD40 is outstanding for going with AA batteries - 4 AAs, 248 lumens. thats a great number for disposable non photo cell.

Amazingly bright and love that it uses AA. Since I use AA rechargeable for everything else (GPS, Mouse, etc..), no need to buy more batteries and a recharger.


The LD01 is very bright, 72 Lumens, and uses a single AAA, should be in your price range. Or if you search around for a deal on the LD10 which is 100 Lumens, and uses a single AA. If cost is really a concern, then I would grab an E05.

 

[tiguy7]

Try the iTP A3 EOS twisty. It's a 3 level light with a max output of 96 lumens on 1 AAA battery for $22.00. The Titanium version for $45.00 still has the old Q5 LED with a maximum out put of 80 lumens.

 

[Chocula]

I always have a little flashlight on me, and several good ones near by.

Correct

If possible, go into the nearest forest at night and take along a keychain flashlight (no more than 10 lumens) and whatever else you want. You will find that 10 lumens is quite adequate for navigation or small tasks.

My recommendation: Get a keychain light (coin cell or AAA light) to carry every day and a larger, multi-level light for your bag (1 to 100+ lumens). You can get perfectly adequate lights for a low price; I recommend researching the different user interfaces rather than buying the brightest light. I stay away from lights that change level by turning the light on and off.

My main lights:
Photon Freedom, Arc AAA, Muyshondt Aeon
Maglite minimag 2xAAA with led
Zebralight h50 or something (original twisty model headlamp)
HDS edc high cri

 

[Gravitron]

You will never have to buy another flashlight. As the LED's get brighter and brighter with each passing year all you will ever have to buy is the new LED drop in, and not an enitirely new flashlight. The money you will save over time will more than offset the original cost of the Surefire.

 

[Deebo]

+1 sounds like something from a horror movie. I would have shit my pants in that situation.....

Get a Surefire G2 and drop in an R2 D26 LED module from DX? You can get the G2 for around $35 and the R2 LED is $10.

I'm actually still wiping right up now. :O

 

[Deebo]

At the $50 mark, I would personally recommend the Fenix PD30. I've had two in the past six years and the only reason I bought a second is because I gave my original to a friend. They're both still going strong. More than enough settings and new they're just about $50. Second hand you could probably find one for $25 - $35.

 

[hoopster]

GO FENIX. my next FENIX will be the TK35. Smaller than a 2 D cell maglight - 820 lumens. AWESOME.

You'll love the TK35, it's unbelievably bright and has a good user interface. As for the OP's question, the one light I always have on me is a Maratac AAA and in all honesty it's all the light I ever need.