EDC Lighting questions

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mwelch8404

Joined
Feb 10, 2002
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I'll shortly (hopefully) have some spare money to upgrade my lighting.

I don't want to buy/spend any more than I NEED to.

For my keychain/edc/ALWAYS Light, I've pretty well decided on the Fenix LOP SE.

As far as a "thrower" I've decided on (pretty much) the SureFire A2.

My only concern with the A2, is if I need to purchase a seperate "Tactical: light for offhand use with a handgun.

I do quite like both the SureFire L2, and the NightOps Gladius - where the "pretty much" comes in - but their larger (even if only slightly) size, and the fact that they are both LED puts me off.

Size for the EDC choice is an obvious consideration. LED is less so, but I'm really sure the majority of the use will be outdoors, therefore the Incan seems to win out.

Do I need to consider a more tactical light than the A2? Or, do I need to consider an additional light like the 6P or 9P?

Again, I am trying to be frugal, but this will probably be "it" as far as light purchases go, for at least a few, if not several years.

Anyone else settle on the LOPSE and A2 combo? How does it work?

Just looking for some other opinions.
 
I have an A2, and it's not my favorite SF light. I usually carry an E2E or L4, both of which I have equipped with clickie switches (to my knowledge this is not an option with the A2) because they are both a bit shorter than the A2. The incan/led setup on the A2 sounded great when I got it, but I always have a small LED on my keychain, and I'd actually prefer to have a second light available so that makes the A2 LED a none factor.
 
The A2 has some advantages over the L4, but some are made moot by carrying a secondary light like the L0P-SE. The LEDs of the A2 give you the option of a low-light, low battery consumption mode, but you also have that on the Fenix; and on the Fenix it's even better because rechargables are easy to utilize. Rechargeables aren't an option on the A2. The part where the A2 really shines (excuse the pun) is the incandescent beam. Incandescents simply look better than too-white LEDs. Plus, the A2 is the only incandescent with digitally controlled output, so it doesn't yellow out and dim with dying batteries like regular incandescents do.

The L4 has some advantages over the A2 though. It's shorter, slightly narrower, and lighter. And you can use 17670 sized lithium-ion rechargables for guilt-free battery use. However, it's not a thrower. You get more of a flood.

I don't know that you'd need yet another light for use with a handgun, but if you do decide to go that route, I'd go with a C2 (since it has a pocket clip) with the 120 lumen lamp. If you're only ever going to use it in a "tactical" situation, you really don't need to worry about the 20 minute battery life. I think the A2 is "enough" though, just keep an eye on battery life.
 
Planterz said:
I don't know that you'd need yet another light for use with a handgun, but if you do decide to go that route, I'd go with a C2 (since it has a pocket clip) with the 120 lumen lamp. If you're only ever going to use it in a "tactical" situation, you really don't need to worry about the 20 minute battery life. I think the A2 is "enough" though, just keep an eye on battery life.
Click to expand...

No, really mostly an EDC light first and foremost. Several of the reviews I've read say the A2 is THE "EDC" LIGHT...

The biggest problem with Surefire? Too damn many choices.

Still really like the idea of the L2. Really like the U2 also. As much as I like the incan light, "levels" and runtime are very seductive.

I even thougt about the 6P or G2 with the high output lamp, but I would really only use it as an offhand light...

My real hope, is that IF I can figure it out now, I can beat the addiction off.
 
I've owned an L2 and a KL1 head, and currently own an A2 and a KL4 head. The L2 is nice, but kinda long. Low mode is enough for most anything, and the high is very impressive. But it's the same beam as the L4, which is a short range flood. The L4 and L2 can still "throw" some, but that's more a virtue of the fact that it's just a bright light, rather than one that focuses light forward (a property of the Lux V emitter and smallish reflector). A U2 will throw better because it has a larger reflector.

The L2 can use 14760 sized rechargables (the inside is too narrow for 17670s), but runtime is fairly short. I'd stick with primaries myself. Given this, I'd choose the A2 over the L2 any day of the week.

Am I right in assuming that no matter which you choose, you'd want it to be used as a "tactical" light if necessary? If so, the A2 is a fine choice. If not, I'd personally recommend going with a 1xCR123A sized light like the Fenix P1D-CE or HDS EDC. In terms of output vs. size, these smaller lights are far more impressive than the larger Surefire LED lights and can't be beat for practicality.

If you go with an A2, go to opticshq.com and pay for the membership. It'll more than pay for itself in the savings they'll give you on any single flashlight. Superb service too. I got my A2 there, the Gift Set package, which included 2 more batteries and a spare lamp ($25 value for the lamp alone) for less than anybody else sells the plain A2.
 
I have a Surefire A2 I use for travel. The build quality and quality of the LED and incan bulb are first rate. Very smooth, useable light.

For EDC though, I have a miller modded ARC-AAA. The Cree XR-E is amazing. On low, it's just enough for reading and not taking away my night vision. On high it puts out more lumens that you could ever imagine from a AAA battery. If it's after dark, and also EDC the new Fenix P1D-CE. Three light settings, and you would not believe the high beam that can be obtained from just 1 CR-123 battery (the A2 requires 2, which makes it just a bit large for EDC for me). The Fenix is regulated light, not quite as smooth as the surefire, but unless you're a wall hunter it should not bother you in real world use. Check unknownVT's posts here, and do a search on candlepowerforums.

If you were dead set on the A2, I'd wait until a Cree version became available. Surefire announced they are going to start building on the Cree LED, and I bet the A2 is one of the first to be redesigned.
 
imho i have the best combo for edc lights, a fenix P1D-CE in my pocket and a L2 surefire in my bag, used to carry a arc "aaa" but the fenix took its place, a little shorter and about 2X as wide as the arc "aaa" the fenix still carries very well in a pocket and blows the arc away as far as brightness and also has a low and medium setting, the surefire L2 is what i'm using as my tac light now and i dont know if i could do any better for any amount of $$, i am happy with my lites now.

i do still need a KL5 head for my M2 surefire mounted on my M4 though.

LEDs are the way to fly these days.
 
I'm not too impressed with the "throw" of the SF LED lights, I have an L1, L2 and L4 but use an Inova T3 for a work light because the optics it uses delivers the light a lot further than the SF's. I sold my A2 long ago.
 
I've heard SF has new LED's coming out anyone know or heard? I'm in the market for new LED and can't decide.
 
skunksoup said:
I've heard SF has new LED's coming out anyone know or heard? I'm in the market for new LED and can't decide.
Click to expand...

i have heard SF is gonna come out with some stuff which has the cree LED's but i dont know how soon this will be, or when they will be readily available to the gen'l public, due to the demand from the military all SF LED stuff is in short supply, been my experience anyway.
 
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