EDC Flashlight, Also for Camping/Campus

quattrokid73

quattrokid73

Joined
Nov 2, 2007
Messages
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In light of my current design project in school (an emergency flashlight), I've decided on upgrading my EDC flashlight.

I currently have an Arc AAA-P on my keychain, which is exceptional for light duty and is solid as a rock.

I also have a Surefire G2 (incandescent) that I use for more demanding tasks, as well as camping, urban exploration, night hiking, and searching for my cats when they hide 8-)

The Surefire is a nice light but at 60 lumens/1hr of runtime (with TWO CR123s), it's not very efficient. I'm going to give it to my bro for Christmas and get a new one.

I wish I could afford an Arc 6, but $300 is steep.

I've been looking at the Novatac series as well as the Surefires. I am very confused as to the differences between the Novatac line. Can someone please explain this to me?

Also, how do you guys like the Surefires as compared to the Novatacs? Perhaps the E1B and L1 in the Surefire line.

Ease of use is a huge factor to me. I want something that is drop dead reliable but never a hassle to adjust. Multiple modes is a plus. High for blinding light when needed and Low for battery conservation and remedial tasks. Tactical strobe is a bonus!!! Trying to stay to one CR123.

Thanks!
 
I HIGHLY recommend the Nitecore line, I think I have an "extreme" or some such, it was the best single-123 I could find, for $80 not a bad deal. Here is a good light review site:
http://www.light-reviews.com/reviews.html
also you can get drop-ins for Surefires for $50 that give 225 lumens, I forget the guiy's name it starts with an M, very nice southern gentleman, but you need a metal body not a poly body due to the heat generated.
 
Consider the latest version of the Surefire E1L dual level Cree flashlight. It is powered by a single CR123A battery, built tough, and easy to operate.

I use one every day. The battery runtime is about 4 hours or longer at the 45 lumen high intensity setting. Made in USA.
 
Well I'm a little insane but I carry a McLux PD (I'm a college student too). It is basically the originator of the Arc6 design and I think it is the best light ever made. Mine skidded on asphalt today at pretty high speeds and while it didn't come up looking just like new I didn't worry one bit about the function, because I know it'll work no matter what I throw at it.

But failing that I think you would do really well with any of the dual-stage Surefires, like the E1L or E2L or L1 or A2. They are my OTHER favorite lights.
 
Id recommend the Nitecore EX10 then. Variable brightness, easy to use, very bright high and very dim low. Just no strobe.

I've been EDCing one (replaced my Fenix P2D) and I love it.
 
You should look at Inova "T" series or ITP "T" series. VERY bright, Totally reliable. And can be had for under $70
 
I carry a Fenix P3D every day, from work to school and wherever else I am near sundown.

If I had it to do again, I would've gone with a P2D, just for the on-belt comfort and conceal-ability. Not that you really need to conceal a flashlight, but it's more pocket-sized.

Mine's been through a lot of bouncing around and drops, and barely shows the damage. It's also very water-resistant, mine's been dropped in a few feet of standing water, left there, then washed off with no problems.

Another nice thing about Fenix: The P3D goes for about $65.00, and the P2D goes for around $45.00.
 
quattrokid73 said:
Ease of use is a huge factor to me. I want something that is drop dead reliable but never a hassle to adjust. Multiple modes is a plus. High for blinding light when needed and Low for battery conservation and remedial tasks.
Click to expand...

For me personally, all of the above requirements currently equate to an RA Twisty. Please read on, I don't think you will be disappointed:

http://ralights.com/?id=Twisty
 
I'm going to second the recommendation for Fenix as well. I carry a L1T V2.0 as part of my cycling gear (I am a commuter 4-6 days a week). Have been carrying and using it daily since spring, in all types of weather, both as a bike light, a helmet light and as a handheld flashlight and the only thing I've noticed is how impressive it is!

For the money, I'm absolutely sold on Fenix (Very punny, I know).
 
I carry a Fenix P3D and I recommend it. Even on the lowest setting it's more than adequate to light a trail.
 
I don't mean to disparage the Fenix lights at all. I own several and think they're a very good purchase. Compared to the RA Twisty, the Fenix has the advantage of being less than half as expensive and physically smaller in size in the 1xCR123 configuration (although some of the Fenix single cell lights are almost too small for primary duty). The OP, however, has specifically asked for something that's easy to adjust, has multiple useable light levels and is "drop dead reliable". All those requirements fall right in the RA Twisty's sweet spot.
 
man save your cash!!!

Get a dropin module for your surefire - it is easy and cheap and gets you the latest led technology - there are huge numbers available for $50 for the markov to $8 from deal extreme - they are all going to give a massive lift in performance of the surefire - light and duration. The G2 casing is good - there is no need to get rid of it

See here http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=193992

all your questions can be answered - I have several of the Deal extreme dropins and they work well.

I have also recently got the Photon microlites - and the version II is great it sat in my front jeans coin pocket for the last week of cameprvanning through New Zealand and was accessible and useful when needed for small tasks. Though I did not find out how to get the new one I had just taken from the packet out of Demo mode till I got back!
 
If you want something larger, you cant go wrong with a Fenix TK10. Simple controls with a high 225 lumen mode and a general 60 lumen mode. It last 1.5 hours on high, while a very nice 10 hours on the general 60 lumen mode. Can be had for about $70 at Knifeworks(cheapest place I could find).
 
Tha looks like a good unit ! The 2 mode would be useful too - as too much power all the time can be a pain. There are dropins which also do similar things. How do you switch between power modes?

For real camping a headlight is very useful - and saves the teeth - I find the cheap and readily available Energiser brand 3 AAA units good for me - 1 red led that does not destroy night vision and 2 whites for more normal stuff - but not so bright as to be blinding.

I use this camping and hunting - when hunting I use the red led to walk through the fields and everyso often stop and do a scan with the spotlight attached to the rifle - then if just power walking back to camp or general camp work I go to the two white light mode. Works for me
 
I say go with a surefire E1b it is my favorite EDC light because of the dual modes and the fact that it is extremely easy to carry.
 
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