Could someone please rank surefire, streamlight, fenix, and pelican from best to worst and why? Also, I really like the surefire e2dl but am scarred by the $160 price tag...is there anything out there a little less expensive that would serve the same purpose? Thanks
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Flashlight Rankings
- Thread starter jono12
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2007
- Messages
- 14,462
The Quark line of lights are really nice for the money.
1. Fenix - great lights, super bright, great price, always improving their designs
2. Surefire - very good lights, very expensive, finally making lights with multiple settings
3. Streamlight - don't own any
4. Pelican - dont own any
1. Fenix - great lights, super bright, great price, always improving their designs
2. Surefire - very good lights, very expensive, finally making lights with multiple settings
3. Streamlight - don't own any
4. Pelican - dont own any
As everyone will say- what is your purpose for the light? Every day; night spotting; 2 feet away or a football field away? There's so many different ways to rank them that it is more or less impossible without knowing what YOU want. I've used many flashlights, high and low priced; they have their niches. What are you looking for- size wise? Inside or outside? How far away, and how big is what you're looking at? How long do you need batteries to last? Are you ok investing in batteries (either uncommon non-rechargeable or rechargeable?). I can recommend brands without input, but they mean nothing, and often aren't the best suggestions without your parameters.
Zero
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2005
- Messages
- 19,834
from my experience:
1. surefire: simple interface, bright, very durable, great warranty/cs, best reliability of the group.
cons: expensive, uncommon batteries.
2. streamlight: decent higher end stuff, great budget models.
cons: mostly use rechargeable batteries, not as bright as others.
2a. fenix: best variety, very bright, battery choices, small/pocket friendly.
cons: not as reliable, not as durable, complicated user interface.
4. pelican: durable, simple interface.
cons: few models, feel "cheap".
1. surefire: simple interface, bright, very durable, great warranty/cs, best reliability of the group.
cons: expensive, uncommon batteries.
2. streamlight: decent higher end stuff, great budget models.
cons: mostly use rechargeable batteries, not as bright as others.
2a. fenix: best variety, very bright, battery choices, small/pocket friendly.
cons: not as reliable, not as durable, complicated user interface.
4. pelican: durable, simple interface.
cons: few models, feel "cheap".
powernoodle
Power Member
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2004
- Messages
- 11,974
I pretty much agree with Brother Morimotom, though I do find Fenix reliable. I own several of each manufacturer except Pelican, and like them all. Though I have several Surefires, the real downside for me is that many cannot feed on rechargeable RCR123 batteries, they are not regulated to maintain a flat output as the battery diminishes, and they are spendy.
My current favorite brand is Quark, though a Streamlight Stinger LED rides in my Man Sack.
Streamlights.
Modded Surefire 6P.
Chicks dig a melted lens.
Surefire M3 Turbo with extender.
Compare with a Quark 2xAA. The Quark has as many lumens, is 1/3 the price, multiple output levels with strobe, is regulated, and feeds on AAs or rechargeable AAs. Just something to consider.
My current favorite brand is Quark, though a Streamlight Stinger LED rides in my Man Sack.
Streamlights.
Modded Surefire 6P.
Chicks dig a melted lens.
Surefire M3 Turbo with extender.
Compare with a Quark 2xAA. The Quark has as many lumens, is 1/3 the price, multiple output levels with strobe, is regulated, and feeds on AAs or rechargeable AAs. Just something to consider.
I'd like to throw NiteCore in on your choices as they're very good lights with good options and a very strong price point. Of the others I like Surefire if price isn't an option. I've used a company supplied Streamlight for 2 years straight and have had to have one replacement so far.
I have a whole bunch of flashlights. I worked through Mag, Fenix and Nitecore before getting to 4sevens — a natural-tone Quark 123 tactical for EDC, and others besides.
Recently I splashed out $160 on a Surefire LX2, and now I carry that despite its downsides — it's larger, only slightly brighter, less floody, and three times the price.
Why? Dependability. My Quark would occasionally fail to light, need a shake, or need the tail cap to be tightened. My Preons: one would whine, one had a dodgy clicker, and they scratch easily.
Surefire has a reputation for reliability (that this light seems to represent fully) and outstanding customer service. The two-stage tactical+twist tailcap is versatile, too.
I'm starting to learn the truth of "buy cheap, buy twice".
Recently I splashed out $160 on a Surefire LX2, and now I carry that despite its downsides — it's larger, only slightly brighter, less floody, and three times the price.
Why? Dependability. My Quark would occasionally fail to light, need a shake, or need the tail cap to be tightened. My Preons: one would whine, one had a dodgy clicker, and they scratch easily.
Surefire has a reputation for reliability (that this light seems to represent fully) and outstanding customer service. The two-stage tactical+twist tailcap is versatile, too.
I'm starting to learn the truth of "buy cheap, buy twice".
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2005
- Messages
- 19,834
lx2 is the best light ive ever owned.
re: brightness, you really get to a point of diminished returns. at about 200 lumens, it becomes difficult to see a real improvement as the rating goes higher.
some brighter lights may throw better, but this may not be a function of the lumen rating but rather the reflector or other attributes.
re: brightness, you really get to a point of diminished returns. at about 200 lumens, it becomes difficult to see a real improvement as the rating goes higher.
some brighter lights may throw better, but this may not be a function of the lumen rating but rather the reflector or other attributes.
Jason B.
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2007
- Messages
- 11,179
I like surefire because of the quality and ideal UI. Over the years other lights tend to fall apart, have connection issues, the coatings wear away, and like to stop working when you need them the most. YMMV
My friend wanted a light after seeing mine but didn't want to pay the SF price. He went with a fenix L2d and was happy for a while until most of the above happened. His light went from black to silver, the threads wore so bad the light would rattle, and always had issues with it not working unless he gave it a few smacks.
My surefire that he originally drooled over is still in my pocket today 6 or 7 years of carry and going strong. The coating is almost all there (looks new), the threads are all tight and smooth, and it has never failed.
My perfect pocket light has been the SF L2, now a milky extreme with 350lm of super flood light
High and low mode has covered all my needs and when I need throw or more light I grab the 900lm maglite
Streamlight is good but the rechargable ones I had would die or dim in a year or two, battery sticks always gave out.
Pelican: I have a 7060 and would say it well made and tough, offers LOTS of spotting distance but not much spill lighting. Great LE light as intended but not much for general use. Quality but cheap feeling. Its the only pelican I've ever owned. FYI, pelican is ver popular with Fire departments.
My friend wanted a light after seeing mine but didn't want to pay the SF price. He went with a fenix L2d and was happy for a while until most of the above happened. His light went from black to silver, the threads wore so bad the light would rattle, and always had issues with it not working unless he gave it a few smacks.
My surefire that he originally drooled over is still in my pocket today 6 or 7 years of carry and going strong. The coating is almost all there (looks new), the threads are all tight and smooth, and it has never failed.
My perfect pocket light has been the SF L2, now a milky extreme with 350lm of super flood light
High and low mode has covered all my needs and when I need throw or more light I grab the 900lm maglite
Streamlight is good but the rechargable ones I had would die or dim in a year or two, battery sticks always gave out.
Pelican: I have a 7060 and would say it well made and tough, offers LOTS of spotting distance but not much spill lighting. Great LE light as intended but not much for general use. Quality but cheap feeling. Its the only pelican I've ever owned. FYI, pelican is ver popular with Fire departments.
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2010
- Messages
- 388
I edc a surefire g2 grate light . And at $39 you can't get a much better deal. For $69 you can get the new g2 with the aluminum bezel that produces 120lm good value. I have not tried any of the others listed. But have been thinking about giving the fenix Light's a try. Or save up for the e2d defender that I want. Mostly fore the strike bezel as an sd light. if your looking for a good small edc light. Take a look at the novatac light's. They are supper small and supper bright At 120lm with two other settings for 3&10lm. And way between 3.1&3.9 with batteries. and I have heard good things about them. Good luck on your search
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2005
- Messages
- 1,152
For overall quality--nothing beats the Surefire.
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2009
- Messages
- 3,292
I have a Surefire 6P with a Malkoff drop-in. I only bought the 6P because of its reputation. A couple of months after that, i was in the market for a smaller backup light. Many of the guys at CPF spoke highly of the Surefire E1B Backup. Again, i got it based on its reputation and whqat other people recommended.
You need to ask yourself what you need the most and you need to be honest about it, cause for the price of one Surefire you could get maybe 2 great lights with higher output.
Most important for me was reliability, and i havent regretted my Surefires yet. They perform as they should every time i turn them on. I recommend them.
You need to ask yourself what you need the most and you need to be honest about it, cause for the price of one Surefire you could get maybe 2 great lights with higher output.
Most important for me was reliability, and i havent regretted my Surefires yet. They perform as they should every time i turn them on. I recommend them.
thats easy, dont buy a surefire. go fenix or quark. bright good quality lights for half the price.. win win