Best Sub $100 Flashlight w/ your EDC?

MORIMOTOM said:
that was my contention with the fenix tailcaps. it was a momentary off instead of momentary on.
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I was just considering a fenix light. This just ruined it. I like how the surefires are just simple and get the job done when needed.


squirrel said:
My EDC is a Sure Fire E2D and by my bed is a 2-D cell LED Mag Light both are great flashlights; I also keep a Solitare Mag in my pants pocket:) never hurts to have a back-up.
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I second the E2D. wont roll around, plenty powerful, stands up on either end and they take a beating.
 
Sheaman, I' m not quite sure what your question actually is. What are you referring to when you say "your EDC"? Are you asking which flashlight recommendation to compliment a firearm for nightstand duty?

N.

www.dozierknives.com/forum
 
I had a surefire G2 but the battery life sucks:thumbdn: I edc Coast TacTorch (led) It's very bright, last a long time, well built & compact w/ lanyard loop..
Check'em out :thumbup:
 
coaldigger said:
I had a surefire G2 but the battery life sucks:thumbdn: I edc Coast TacTorch (led) It's very bright, last a long time, well built & compact w/ lanyard loop..
Check'em out :thumbup:
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It depends what he is looking for. surefires will produce a strong and very bright light but are not really built to sustain it for hours. It you need a reliable light that is bright and reliable go surefire. It your really concerned with battery life i think a rechargable flashlight may be the right route. IMO
 
sixstrings101 said:
I was just considering a fenix light. This just ruined it. I like how the surefires are just simple and get the job done when needed.
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sorry if i wasnt clear. the new fenix 1lt has the momentary on switch. it also has only two brightness settings which are adjusted by the bezel.

very simple to use.


the older models only had a momentary off, and imo, too many brightness settings that were adjusted by toggling the tailcap. too complicated for this simple guy.

the 1lt has alleviated any issues i had with their products.
 
The new Surefire Cree LEDs are more efficient than their earlier LEDs. The E2L is listed to run 14 hours at close to the same brightness. It has amazingly good throw even though it is rated at only 45 lumens. If you want a flood you can slip on the SF beam shaper/diffuser.

It will be interesting to see what Surefire does this year. Will they switch the L2 and L4 to a Cree LED? If they put a Cree in the L2 maybe they could keep the same lumen levels but extend the runtime? OTOH, maybe they would prefer to sell more batteries?
 
I just picked up a Surefire G2 for work <non conductive, i hope>. About $70 and it's pretty bright but it does start to dim before the stated 12 hour run time. No complaints really and pocket size but one of their models with a regulator seems appealing. I did have an outdoorsman model I gave a buddy for doing a few favors for me. Thinking of getting an E2 with a new lamp assembly but then the cost goes up quite a bit.
 
Where does one pick up the Cree LED's? I bought a G2 and saw the LED in the back of Tactical Knives but know next to nothing about flashlights in general and have never seen a Cree for sale in person. (The Innovas I bought seem to be quality as well)
 
CUTS LIKE A KRIS said:
Where does one pick up the Cree LED's? I bought a G2 and saw the LED in the back of Tactical Knives but know next to nothing about flashlights in general and have never seen a Cree for sale in person. (The Innovas I bought seem to be quality as well)
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your g2 is probably incandescent, meaning it provides illumination via a burning filament. filaments can be very fragile, and will eventually burn out or break.

an led (light emitting diode) has no filament, therefore the life of the bulb is greatly extended.

you can buy the led bulb/reflector from surefire directly, or from tadgear.
 
knarfeng said:
Same here. 3 D-cell Maglight.
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They're less expensive but I just can't go back to using a Maglight. I guess they're good if you also want to be able to bop a burglar over the head with it but a nice shotgun would probably be more effective...:D

My buddy at work thought the Surefire was too expensive so he went ahead and found another brand<not sure, Pelican or some similar name> that had a supposed 40 hour runtime but the light is not as "white" and it begins to dim much sooner than the Surefire. I don't have much experience with flashlight companies but Surefire seems to be pretty solid...
 
If you want to use it every time you get up at night to have a pee, check the kids, let the dog/cat in or out, etc., then either a LiteFlux (you pick the model) or a NovaTac because they can be both very dim or very bright.

The Fenix lights are great and one is my EDC but not bedside light because the low is only medium and once it's on say goodbye to dark adaptation.

If you want really bright only, then the Fenix will do fine, as will many other lights. The Fenix at least are cheap and reliable.

Greg
 
I have lots of lights lying about everywhere.
Fenix P3D Q5: My current favourite. I do not need any "tactical" bits and bobs so it is great. moonlight level for normal use and nuclear blast light if necessary.
I got a L1T for my security guard friend and it works great.
Surefire G2 and C2: For "tactical" use or if I need lots of light for short periods of time. They go in my car kit. Definately nothing for taking a leak in the night.
Maglite 4D and 2D: The 4D is in my car kit, not for the light output but for taking out windows and small animals. The 2D is on a bracket below the lightswitch in my bedroom. I do not use it much but it is always there if the power goes.
So as a conclusion. Do not bother about the "Made in China" rumours the Fenix is an incredible light just because it has different outputs.

The LxT and the T1 has momentary switches for you combat people.

If you want a bedside light to go with your macho handgun then pick a Surefire G2.
If you want a bedside light to find the bathroom or see too the kids, just pick a cheap 0,99 LED keychain light that you hold inside your fist to control the light output.
A more clever idea is to get some cable used for dolls houses or hearing aids and put some diodes in small tubes to get mini spot lights that lights your way from A to B in the night, just enough to make you see the floor. The same with the cradle. Some diodes around the bed and a batterypack on the wall.
 
IMO, right seems like a bad time to invest in a new flashlight as so many companies are in the process of switching to better LEDs. Even some American companies are beginning to put out compariably priced lights as Fennix.

Ignoring my own thoughts, I just purchased an Inova T1:
http://www.inovalight.com/t.html It is rated for 85 lumens and was just over 50 bucks. The t2 is also 85 lumens but lasts much longer.

If you shop around many lights are getting brighter with longer burn times...under $100 and are American companies. I can't confirm Inova manufacture's in the US but their engineers are US.



IMO a bedside light should be at least 60 lumens and use the expensive C123 batteries as they have a 10 year shelf life. If you have to use your bedside light more than once in ten years to investigate things that go bump in the night, you might want to worry about a better neighborhood rather than a flashlight. :D
 
By the bed---4 D-cell Mag LED

EDC---either a Surefire E1L or 6P Defender with the incan bulb traded out for one of the new LED modules---Surefire lanyard attached too.
 
Let’s see if we can find the right forum …
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I carry an Orb NS in my pants pocket with an old E2E with ancient KL1 led in my jacket or coat.

At home and in the car I have Maglite 3D cell bodies with Terralux drop in LED modules. The combo seems good considering price, light output, and maintaining the beam adjustment.
 
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