Flashlight recommendation

David Mary

David Mary

pass the mustard - after you cut it
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Richard 21 said:
By the way, it might seem inappropriate, but I wanted to ask if anyone could recommend me where I could get a very good flashlight, because the last one I had I ruined, but now I'm looking for something better.
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I like my Klarus X2TC quite a lot, but the factory pocket clip wasn't quite right for me, so I swapped it out for an O-light M2T Warrior pocket clip, which I had to grind a small amount to make it fit. Best flashlight I have ever owned. YMMV, of course, but the Klarus has a great and super intuitive tailswitch and strobe mechanism, plus with the O-light clip, deploys very easily from the rear left pocket where I carry 24/7.
 
I think Olight offers the most bang for the buck.
And they're extremely well made.
Just decide how many lumens you want and the size.
The side button user interface is stupid simple.
 
I think O-lights are fairly good from ones I have handled, but I find them notably heavier than similar sized and powered offerings from Klarus and Fenix.
 
Another vote for Olight! I handled a few of their lights, including weapon lights. Well made products, very reasonable prices. I’ve been using Olight S-Mini for years no issues at all.
 
Streamlight makes a solid product. A Strion saved my life years ago.
 
A Klarus was the first “high end” light I ever tried. It crapped out within a couple weeks of light use. Their Chinese customer support, with language barriers, ended up going in circles. I got nowhere after weeks of communication, and then they went dark. Lost me for life.

I’ve had 6 or 7 O-lights now. Only ever had an issue with one (gun light). Mentioned it to their rep at Bladeshow one year, and he said to just email them. It was past the warranty period, and they still replaced the light, no questions asked. Customer for life. Big difference having a US presence I think.

I’m interested in trying Lumintop next.
 
I've been on a flashlight kick lately. For the money, considering lumens, features, durability, support, and price Olight seems to be the best value to me right now. Wait for their flash sales or pick up here on the exchange and you can get some really good deals.

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The newer lights are so powerful/efficient, I've downsized my EDC to a Lumintop Tool AA 2.0. With a 14500 lithium battery installed, it's nearly as bright as an older 18650 light and far more pocketable. They're inexpensive too, so I have a couple of them. I also have the EagTac version (D25A MkII), which is more expensive. These little AA-size lights can put out 800 lumens with a 14500 cell installed.

For a "full size" modern light, I still rely on a Fenix UC35 USB-rechargeable 18650 light. I like the Thrunite T1 for the in-between 18350 size that can crank out 1500 lumens.
 
craytab said:
Hmm. I can only find that in a blurb on the product ad page and not in the technical specs. Wonder if it is really true?
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Good question...

Regardless, for me, the point is that the little AA lights that can use a 14500 cell put out PLENTY of light; enough so that I'd rather have one in my pocket all the time rather than carrying an 18650-size light only when I thought I might need it.
 
Recently received the new Nitecore TINI2. Amazing little light with about 500 lumens in turbo mode. It has full lockout so it shouldn't come on in the pocket. The little screen indicates runtime remaining, battery level, mode status and lockout status. It's rechargeable and tiny. Not very macho though. No Navy Seal tactical stuff.
Factory specs:
BRIGHTNESS OUTPUTS
MODE OUTPUT RUNTIME
Turbo 500 lumen 15 min
High 200 lumen 45 min
Mid 65 lumen 2.5 hr
Low 15 lumen 8 hr
Ultralow 1 lumen 60 hr

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craytab said:
I've been on a flashlight kick lately. For the money, considering lumens, features, durability, support, and price Olight seems to be the best value to me right now. Wait for their flash sales or pick up here on the exchange and you can get some really good deals.

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What's your opinion on the bike light? How is the mount? So many bike lights have promising specs but have terrible mounts.
 
Planterz said:
What's your opinion on the bike light? How is the mount? So many bike lights have promising specs but have terrible mounts.
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I've had it since it came out in September and love it. Until the recent cold and wind I ride for exercise 4-5 times per week 30min or 6 miles per outing on generally crappy city streets (Lots of bouncing and hills).

The mount is the best I've used and I've had a few over the years, from the crappy Amazon specials to some from dedicated cycling companies that should know better than put out the garbage mounts they have. Apparently, the mount has some go-pro inter-functionality that is important but I don't know anything about go-pros so can't really comment. I can say that it doesn't jiggle around, is very secure, and looks like the hardware is quality. I sort of wish you didn't have to rotate it to get it in and out because I mount it next to another light and have to be mindful of the order I attach and remove them, only a minor annoyance.

The light itself is fantastic. From what I can tell, you get the full 1500 lumens the whole runtime (no step downs), something many non-bike lights, even from olight, don't do. Battery life is good. I get 1 hour of full high (two rides) and it doesn't usually get in to where the red indicator comes on (20-11% remaining power). I doubt you get the 100 minute claim on full, especially in the cold, haven't tested it though. The strobe is very good, I do wish you got the full or at least more lumens in strobe, the light is certainly capable. I do use the strobe to help cars see me if my ride starts late and the sun is starting to come up. I really like that the battery is big, usb-c, and can be used as a power bank to charge other things. Also, the recharging port is placed properly so you can run the light off a portable power bank if need be.

I've got another capable light that I run along side the olight that is put out by a cycling light company that gets many things wrong where the olight gets them right, including putting the charging port on the bottom of the light so you can't use the light while it is charging (the mount on that light is trash too).

The olight RN1500 is a collaboration with magicshine, and you can get the same light under their brand but with less lumens. I've come to really rely on the olight. It is on the spendy side but considering the Lumens, features, quality, and that the company really backs their products, I think it is well worth the price. Plus, it is actually a really good stand alone flash light as well.

Edit: also, it isn't massive considering the battery and lumens you get.

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While I own a couple handheld flaslights (not counting the ones for spearfishing) I believe that for anything that requires a two hand operation, a headlamp is the way to go. I am a Petzl guy currently using the SWIFT RL, but I also own a Led Lenser H7.2R and I am also a happy camper with that one.

But I am not trying to blind anyone for SD or holding it along with a gun.

Mikel
 
Wow I just read something very interesting:

Ken J. Good said:
I work for SureFire so there is an inherent perceived bias (and there probably is!) and I endeavor to always keep that in mind.

That being said, I had dinner here at the Shot Show 2002 with one of the SureFire Institute’s adjunct instructors, Bill Murphy.

The following quoted by permission.

Bill has years of experience with Huntington Beach PD in patrol and SWAT operations.
He has been a Gunsite instructor for quite sometime, has his own quite successful firearms training business and has multiple shootings under his belt. Bill studies several martial arts and is well respected in the Southern California region.

Last year we gave Bill a 10X dominator for field-testing. It is our 2-stage, 60-500 lumen duty flashlight. He used to carry an SL-20.

He told me that for years he had an average of 15-20 reportable uses of force annually.
Bill is proactive to say the least. He is mild mannered, friendly, but will be there for fellow officers in a heartbeat.

Anyway, I was absolutely surprised when he told me that last year he had ZERO reportable uses of force…ZERO.

He said he had been in just as many similar situations, but EVERYTIME he illuminated with the higher output light, the situation moved in the lower use of force direction.
He absolutely attributed this zero number to the proper use of the 10X.

He stated the he has used his SL-20 many times as a defensive impact weapon, and was wondering how the 10X would fare in the same capacity. He said never perceived a situation that would justify using the 10X in that role, so he could not provide data.

Now there are many contributing factors to any given situation and use of force, but this is notable in my opinion.

I am going to give 10, 10X’s to him to distribute to his more active officers. In return, I am asking them to give me a month-by-month report of use of force activity. It will be easy to corrolate data and compare in to previous years.

Any other takers on this test and evaluation study, email me. Police officers only. I can only extend this offer to a limited number of officers.
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He's talking up a certain light, but I think it makes the point that a powerful light in general can serve as a great means to deescalate a threat, if applied properly. And since that post was from 19 years ago, and he was talking about a light with a max output of 500 lumens, the choices available to us now are light years ahead. Get it? Light? And years....? okay, okay I'm done. :rolleyes:
 
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