Flashlight Advice Needed

M

maury

Joined
Sep 24, 2000
Messages
606
Well, after being on duty last night for Midnight Mass, I have finally decided that my only New Year's Resolution is going to be to reduce some weight on my equipment belt, and the first piece to be replaced is going to be my flashlight.

I have carried the same 3 D-cell Kel-Lite for a couple of dozen years. I will probably end up carrying it from time to time depending on the detail - can't argue with a piece of equipment this reliable! However, weight-wise, some of the LED's I have seen advertised seem to be an attractive alternative.

Here's where I need some recommendations and advice. Basically, I would like something that would give me the same (or greater) light than the Kel-Lite. If it runs on AAA cells, so much the better. I have also seen some in catalogs that use a couple of C-cells, but have no idea of how all of these compare in light output.

Sturdy construction is important – the light will probably get dropped occasionally, or just plain bounced around - maybe aluminum, maybe other material as long as I can keep the weight down and still have a reliable piece of equipment.

Any suggestions, as always, most appreciated!

And (a politically incorrect !) MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!
 
S-U-R-E-F-I-R-E........E2e-HA rides my duty belt quite comfortably...did so last night 0000-0600 and will again tonight 1800-0600...MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!:thumbup:
 
I also suggest a Sure Fire, but I recommend the G2, assuming you don't mind carrying in a holster/sheath. It's a great starter around $30 IIRC. The E2e is a good alternative if you got the cash and you need the pocket clip.


-Have a good one.
 
If you do not mind using cr123 batteries then the Surefire G2 is an amazing choice. It has proven itself all over the world and is only $30!
If you have to stay with AA batteries then some of the underwater kinetics make good choices. Also, the Pelikan Super sabrelight (3c) or the stealthlight(4aa) have very focused beams but can take a beating.
 
LEDs are rapidly overtaking incandescents in all applications...but not yet in every catagory. You're not going to see car headlights in LED for at least a while (years away). Similarily, even the best LED lights can't compare to big honken flashlights like a MagCharger or Streamlight SL-20. Especially in the throw department (throw is the term used for how far the beam goes).

Thus, IMO, a cop should have 2 flashlights: one big, heavy, superbright flashlight for stuff like traffic stops (something you can break a window with, or use as a club if necessary), and something smaller that you can take anywhere, so if you leave your big light behind, you're still not without light.

My reccomendation for the latter would be a Sureflre L2. It's a bit longer than the E2/L4, but if it's on a belt, the additonal length doesn't really matter. It's brighter than the L4, and much brighter than the E2L, but it also has a low setting, which is great when you don't need a ton of light. If you're looking at something like an ID upclose, the full brightness will blind you. The low setting won't.

The only issue would be the lithium batteries, which are extremely expensive if you buy them at the store, even at Wal-Mart. However, you can get them in bulk from Surefire's website ($1.25 a piece), or for as little as $1.00 from batterystation or amondotech. At these prices, they're cheaper than store-bought Duracells or Energizers. And best of all, lithium batteries aren't affected by cold like alkalines are. If you leave your light in your car when it's 15 degrees out, you could get really dim, sluggish output out of a regular alkaline. Not so with lithiums.
 
Get a Streamlight. There are MANY different models to choose from, and they cost alot less $ than most SureFire models, and IMO are just as good.
 
I picked up this SureFire G2 for Christmas. Nice light weight.
SF.jpg
 
Actually, I have an E2e and it is usually tucked into a jacket or BDU pocket. Use it rarely, and not for any legnth of time due both to battery cost and heat.
Have looked at Streamlight Twintask and the 3 AAA model looks pretty good so far (on line, anyway ).:confused: Thanks for the suggestions so far - what a great way to spend a Christmas evening: Looking for a present for Me!!
 
What about a Fenix L1P (1xAA) or L2P (2xAA)?

fenixl2p.jpg


They're approximately $50 if you use the CPF Group Buy and run with semi-regulated (L1P) and fully regulated (L2P) output for a long time. Runtime graphs show the L1P at about 4 hours of output before dropping out of regulation, with the L2P (being pretty much the same light with better regulation and an extra AA) obviously running about 2x as long.

It's very popular over at CPF right now...

Of course, that being said, I've just paid up for a Orb Raw NS, which gives you only 15 minutes of ridiculously bright output from a light shorter and not much wider than an AA battery which runs off impossible to find rechargable lithium batteries :D
 
Somewhere on another thread, someone mentioned that Sam's Club sold a pair of black aluminum flashlights with twin cell 123's for $20. I bought a set and gave them to my father-in-law and I think they are comparable to my Surefire. In fact, I liked them so much I called my wife to pick up another two sets. :p
 
Surefires and other lights which run on CR123 batteries are nice and bright, but your batteries generally only last an hour. And most SFs, including the G2, use a costy bulb assembly that has something like a 30 hour lifespan.

Consider the Streamlight ProPolymer 4AA Luxeon (the brighter 1LED flavor, not the 7LED) at under $30 most places. Lots of light, runs on 4 AA batteries, has non-diminishing output until the batteries die, and uses an LED that will never burn out. :thumbup:

best regards
 
Can you give us more information about how you plan to use the light, your price range, etc?

For example, trying to read things up close prefers a less bright light. Longer use requires some throw (which LEDs typically are not as good at). Tactical use suggests full brightness at first activation. Price range can be a big factor.

Just for fun, I'm going to throw out something a bit off the wall. If price isn't a huge issue, I'd consider an HDS EDC Basic 60LE with the upcoming lithium-ion 18650 (rechargable) battery pack and tube, a Concealco SF100 holster and a SF F04 beamshaper.

With the (protected) 18650 rechargable battery pack, you should get monster runtime (over 4x the one 123A cell runtime), even at brighter output levels and since it is rechargable, it will be cheap to run.

The HDS is a multi-level light so you can dim it when you don't need as bright a light. The EDC gets SIGNIFICANTLY more runtime, even when output level is slightly reduced. The "60" model is 60 lumens, and almost as bright as your SF E2e. They also have a 85 lumen version which is about the same as the E2e, but won't be back in production until Feb. until they ramp up their production (this is the version I have).

The "LE" (law enforcement) version re-orders the output levels so it is full brightness at first activation.

The F04 beamshaper makes the light into a nice flood for close up work, but slips off for long throw.

The Concealco holster fits the light nicely, is inexpensive, and fits with other duty gear.

Here is a review of one of the HDS models. The EDC Ultimate 60 XR is a very similar light to the 60 Basic LE, except the Ultimate versions allow you to change the four preset levels where the Basic versions do not. The Basic and Basic LE are the same except that the levels are re-ordered. The "XR" model means extended runtime and simply has a bit more runtime than the normal model.

HDS EDC Review

-john


Edit: You can get an idea what the light would look like with the 18650 battery pack from this picture (middle light) which shows the HDS light with the optional 2x123A battery pack. The 2x123A pack and the 18650 pack are probably going to be the same length with the 18650 perhaps being ever so slightly fatter - my guess is you won't be able to see the difference easily.
 
Well, thought i was pretty clear about intended use: on my belt as part of my duty gear. Working in a large city, there really isan't much need for long throw. In terms of past use, the light from my 3 D cell Kel-Lite has always been more than enough. By the way, was told that that light is now a "collecatable" - who'd a thought?

Cost, of course is a factor: I don't want to cry too much if it gets lost or destroyed somewhere along the line.

Also don't want something exotic that eats Cr-123's and/or gives a zillion whatever's of light for 10 minutes. Doubt that I will ever need more than a couple of hours of run time. OK, for the next blackoput, I can carry a spare set of batteries, along with my back-up E2e.

And speaking of batteries: something that runs on AA's would be preferable just for their easy availability. And low cost.

I like the idea of a solid, machined aluminum body: occasionally might need to crack a walnut or something .........

That's about all on my "wish list" for now.

All help much apprecited!
 
I use the G2 [ I prefer plastic when working around electricity] but while very bright battery life is 1 hour. However a Luxeon LED is fairly bright but batteries last much longer .Compare Pelican M6 with xenon for 1 hour to the M6 LED for 40 hour life....One of the confusing things is that there are two Luxeon Leds one is 4 times a bright as the original ,technology keeps changing.
 
mete said:
I use the G2 [ I prefer plastic when working around electricity] but while very bright battery life is 1 hour. However a Luxeon LED is fairly bright but batteries last much longer .Compare Pelican M6 with xenon for 1 hour to the M6 LED for 40 hour life....One of the confusing things is that there are two Luxeon Leds one is 4 times a bright as the original ,technology keeps changing.
Click to expand...

Be very sceptical about mfg runtime claims. Most very high output LED lights tend to have similar real world runtime to incandecent lights.

Take a look at the actual runtime graph of both of the Pelican M6 LED versions as well as the incandecent version in these reviews:

Review Pelican LED 2330. I'd call that something like 2 - 2:30hrs runtime with an "output" of 37.6.

Review Pelican LED 2390. I'd call that about 1:35 hrs runtime with an "output" of 52.44.

Pelican M6 (incandecent). I'd call that about 50 mins runtime with "output" of 57.

So, as you can see, only the M6 2390 is close to the output of the incandecent version, and it only has a bit more runtime for a bit less output.

-john
 
That's what I said , I'm confused .Thanks for the links .There are two LED bulbs listed ,one considerably brighter . The makers should be much clearer in their descriptions.
 
Sorry Mete, I understood about the two versions - I was mainly trying to say the 40 hr runtime claim by the mfg is complete hogwash.

I was also trying to say that LEDs don't necissarily get great runtime when they try to compete head to head with high output incandecent lights.

-john
 
I like the Inova T3.Made in the USA,fairly priced,85 lumen durable long lasting LED bulb,special designed lens made of glass,you get a powerful light that also has a pretty good run time compared to incandecent,less heat,lock-out tail cap,three-way switch,alot of good qualities.I paid 57.00 for mine on ebay.
 
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