Best & worst personal/travel light?

C

cardimon

Joined
Sep 20, 2000
Messages
1,539
Yeah, I know, a loaded question if ever there was one, but a message in the thread "I'm in the dark! Inova X1 woes" got me thinking.

What influences you the most when making this kind of decision? LED or incandescent? Manufacturer? Alkaline or lithium? Size? Thumbswitch? Twist-on / twist-off?

Let's hear your tales of woe as well as your success stories.

I carry a ton of lights myself, but if I were restricted to just one -- no wait -- that's freaking torture -- let's make that two -- I would pick my SureFire E1e and E2e. The E1e is carried on my person. The E2e rides in my coat or jacket pocket. They're just too bloody useful to do without.

If I were to further open the limit to three, I'd toss in my beloved Inova X5-T.
 
I choose the Streamlight Twin Task 2L as my "personal EDC light" because it gives me either LED or Xenon light at the push of a button, as well as good "run times" on a pair of 123 lithium batteries. I also have a Twin Task 1L "on the way", for when the slightly longer TT 2L is just too much to carry...

I sure wish Streamlight would come out with a Twin Task 3L...:).
 
I fly a lot for work and when I was looking for a flashlight I had lots to choose from. In my carry on bag I have a Innova X5 and in my pocket I have a Princeton tech Eclipse. Both are LED and therefore have long battery life. That's what I wanted in a travel light. I didn't want to have the batteries dead when I needed them. And for just about everything I needed, the LED's are bright enough.

I just bought a Streamlight Twintask L1 and L2 so I'm thinking about swapping one out for the X5. But maybe they'll go other places like my bug-out-bag or in the truck. Of course I've got flashlights everywhere (just like knifes), so I still don't know.
 
Best EDC for pocket - Arc AAA. Best EDC for backpack - Surefire E2E. Worst EDC for pocket - Photon. (Expensive/low life batteries.)
 
I got a Strion because it recharges and is very bright. I also carry a secondary light, often a Photon Freedom and sometimes the X5T, the hard anodized version of the Inova. The last two lights are for long runtimes when brightness is not needed or wanted.

I also have a Nuwai Q-III that I sometimes use instead of the Strion when I can't carry the larger Strion.

I have these with me when I travel, often both in my pockets.
 
Illiya said:
Best EDC for pocket - Arc AAA. Best EDC for backpack - Surefire E2E. Worst EDC for pocket - Photon. (Expensive/low life batteries.)
Click to expand...


Second that. It makes great backup light, though.
 
I've been EDC'ing a Strion lately, but I just aquired a Surefire L4 LumaMax.
It is the brightest LED light I have ever seen! Beats my E2-e and the Strion for beam brightness! it lights up a whole room!

It is now my new EDC.
 
I sure wish Streamlight would come out with a Twin Task 3L...:).[/QUOTE]


sounds good to me, i'd have to have one............
 
"Best & worst personal/travel light?"

The best travel light is the one you have with you when TSHTF.

The bigger the torch, the less likely it is that you will be carrying it.

The more robust it is, the more likely that it will be functioning when needed.

LEDs will provide all the light you need for 95% of situations.

Therefore: Arc AAA.

For specific tasks I have the Surefire E2e-HA and E1e; also the Streamlight Twintask.

I don't see the need for 12 x 123 cell "tactical" pocket searchlights that can bring down Iraqi MiGs.

maximus otter
 
Im new to the whole hi end flashlight craze, but i love my surefire e1e. The quality is awesome and its so small you just slip it in your pocket. I also like the e2e but its a little bigger and i didnt think id carry it as much, so size does matter in this case.
 
My travel light is a mini mag. It's cheap, the batteries are available everywhere, the bulbs last a long time, it's got decent run time and it's bright enough for everything I've ever needed. I have an Arc AAA and was thinking about using that but I haven't made the switch yet.
 
I travel with one X5T, one Strion, several $1 Countycomm LED lights, one Photon Freedom, one UK eLED 4AA, mentioned earlier and one of my favorite torches, and a Nuwai Quantum III, another near favorite because of its intensity, brightness, white beam, and small size.
 
I EDC a Surefire L4 with a Pila 168S rechargeable battery and McGizmo 2-stage tailcap (has a low setting for extended battery life). The LED/rechargeable combo is about as close to "free" light as you can get, because the LED will last virtually forever, and with a rechargeable battery (albeit an expensive one) I don't have to spend $2.50 on batteries for 2 hours of light. And the L4 is really is a "wall of light".

Even though the L4 is not a big light, its big enough that no one but a flashlight geek will carry one daily. So a smaller, pocketable light could include and Arc AA or AAA ordered from ebay, a similar small LED from www.peakledsolutions.com, etc. The Gerber/Infinity lights and Dorcy lights (from Walmart, etc) are good, cheap ideas as well. I prefer an LED since they don't self destruct after a few hours like an incan will. I continue to experiment with finding the best EDC, and thats part of the fun.

Honorable mention to the Nuwai Q-III. Its $40 - $50, and very small and very bright. Nice flood that rivals higher-end $200+ mini lights like the Aleph series.

As for the Inova X5, its unregulated and is therefor good at draining the last drops from "dead" CR 123 batteries that won't power up other, regulated lights.

God help me, but I love flashlights.

best regards
 
maximus otter said:
"Best & worst personal/travel light?"
For specific tasks I have the Surefire E2e-HA and E1e; also the Streamlight Twintask.

I don't see the need for 12 x 123 cell "tactical" pocket searchlights that can bring down Iraqi MiGs.

maximus otter
Click to expand...

When I'm answering a house alarm at 2 in the morning and I'm doing a permeter check through the cactus, rattlesnakes (nothing wakes you at 2 in the morning more that hearing a rattlesnake that you can't see while standing waist deep in cactus), coyotes, bobcats and javalina I want the biggest baddest, brightest flashlight around. In addition, if someone is in the house I want them to know I'm outside, hopefully giving them a chance to get the heck out before I have to go in.

So back to the original question, my two would be/are the SF Z3 with the P91 bulb ass. and a SF L4.
 
At present my travel light is an Inova X5T. I'll be picking up an X1 soon, mainly because it takes AAs. With AAs (and AAAs) you have a choice between alkaline and lithium batteries, and they are cheaper and esaier to find. I also have an Arc AAA on my key ring.

Paul
 
I used to carry a maglite solitaire but that was too dim...

Then I got a mini-mag AA but the beam seemed a bit poor on that for its size, and it was a bit on the long side for my trouser pocket

So I got an Inova X5 which is a good light but I didnt like the tail switch as much as the surefire 6p I got shortly after. Problem with the surefire is it uses 123a batteries and if youre caught short theyre 12 GBP for two in a mormal shop. (and they only last 60 mins...)

Then someone suggested I try a CMG ultra. its a great little light, low cost, bright enough for most uses and takes a cheap AA battery, lasts for ages on it too.

So now my 'best' lights are the CMG ultra which I carry all the time just in case, and the surefire 6p which I carry when I might need a brighter light
 
maximus otter said:
"Best & worst personal/travel light?"

I don't see the need for 12 x 123 cell "tactical" pocket searchlights that can bring down Iraqi MiGs.

maximus otter
Click to expand...

A 12 cell light can't bring an Iraqi MiG down :rolleyes: ...but I'm sure a 20 cell one can :p ($2900.00)

http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/prrfnbr/24204/sesent/00


My most useful personal light is the CMG Infinity Ultra. Size and runtime are very important.
 
Princeton Tech Scout is my carry light.
2 LED's, 3 brightness settings, 2 flashing modes, 4 2032 lithium cells, waterproof, headlamp or pocket carry, $23 CAN., good compact carry in the pocket, good switch - won't easily turn on in your pocket accidently yet easy to turn on when needed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top