Flashlight recommendations please.

Reading back through here one note I didn't make very clear (forgot to add) is the Fenix runtimes are usually in the form of a chart on the instructions sheet. The fl1 times are on the back of the box.

After using the PD36R for a couple days I find settings 1 and 2 are where I use it most. I've used 3 a few times but am yet to need 4 or 5.
 
Another vote for Sofirn - I have way more lights than I really need and they are all users. Nothing fancy, ranging from cheap no brand stuff to olight, nitecore, fenix, archos and so on as well as various BLF models. Headlamps, diving lights, bicycle lights etc.
I have been generally happy with most of them, though the low end Fenix tended to die quickly (for their price).

Lately I have been mainly buying and using Sofirn. Their batteries are OKish and cheap but do not always have the same capacity.
 
calm said:
Another vote for Sofirn - I have way more lights than I really need and they are all users. Nothing fancy, ranging from cheap no brand stuff to olight, nitecore, fenix, archos and so on as well as various BLF models. Headlamps, diving lights, bicycle lights etc.
I have been generally happy with most of them, though the low end Fenix tended to die quickly (for their price).

Lately I have been mainly buying and using Sofirn. Their batteries are OKish and cheap but do not always have the same capacity.
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Out of curiosity which Fenix lights did you loose? I haven't messed around much with the cheaper ones, I've mostly bought TK and PD lights. And 2 LD lights. I just bought my first E light going on 2ish weeks ago and it's a good light but I don't care for the lack of memory. For a work light it gets aggravating that it starts at 5 lumens every time. I you could program what setting it started at I'd love it.

I bought a light years ago that you could program the output of each setting and have up to 5 settings. That was pretty cool but the light itself was soso
 
BlindMouse2of3 said:
Out of curiosity which Fenix lights did you loose? I haven't messed around much with the cheaper ones, I've mostly bought TK and PD lights. And 2 LD lights. I just bought my first E light going on 2ish weeks ago and it's a good light but I don't care for the lack of memory. For a work light it gets aggravating that it starts at 5 lumens every time. I you could program what setting it started at I'd love it.

I bought a light years ago that you could program the output of each setting and have up to 5 settings. That was pretty cool but the light itself was soso
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I am talking a decade ago, it was three E05, on keychains, that stopped working and could not be fixed (possibly a driver issue as a good cleaning etc. did not help) after a year or two, or so, and an E11, that had very thin springs that would have to be adjusted for proper contact all the time. At the time I also got some Tank007 E09 keychain lights that are still going strong.

It is likely that these issues were fixed later.
 
For the keychain size I was always fond of the streamlight microstream or the Olight i3 series. Both have good pocket clips. That's what always kept me off the e05

My first Fenix lights I got 2006-2007. I'm actually taking my original PD32 back to work with me today for a spare in my toolbox. I gave a mechanic coworker one of my old TK15's for Christmas last year and he has properly beat the crap out of it and seems to love at the bottom of his 90 lb road box when not in use. I can honestly say the finish does not hold up to that level of abuse well.

I'm still really impressed with the PD36R. 2 weeks with it today and I'm still on my first charge. I have a feeling it'll take a few more weeks before I need to charge it again. I spend most of the time on the eco mode (30 lumens) and some time on setting low (150 lumens). I've used medium briefly for spotting equipment in the yard at work but haven't needed high or turbo yet. The reflector is very well done on the one. I used to spend the majority of time on medium or high with the PD35 v2. And had to swap batteries every couple of days. I'll pick up the battery adapter to be able to run 18650's in it. It'll be interesting to see battery usage with a 2600 or 3500mah instead of the 5000mah. Really it should be a simple math problem for runtimes but that doesn't always seem to be the case.
 
Many good options already stated. My choixe has been the Olight s2r baron 2. For outdoors (backyard work, camping, etc), I like the larger Olight perun which has a long battery life.

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bikerector said:
Many good options already stated. My choixe has been the Olight s2r baron 2. For outdoors (backyard work, camping, etc), I like the larger Olight perun which has a long battery life.

View attachment 2009850
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Is that one of the models that has a magnetic charger? I kind of like the idea of just grabbing it and knowing it's good to go without having to swap batteries.
 
BlindMouse2of3 said:
Is that one of the models that has a magnetic charger? I kind of like the idea of just grabbing it and knowing it's good to go without having to swap batteries.
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It is. I feel like their whole lineup has the mag charger now, and the spaceman charger too that the kids won't leave alone.

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P_A_S_1 said:
Surefire gsx is $90 but it's a plastic body that runs on 2x cr123 although you could probably drop a single 17670 in it. If your willing to go to $120 Malkoff md2 is similar but aluminum and takes 18650s. The Malkoff is a floody beam that has some reach. Both below 1k lumen but two good lights that may be worth a glance.
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Are.thr.Malkoff lights mostly flood?
 
MTHall720 said:
Are.thr.Malkoff lights mostly flood?
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They make various drop-ins for the md2/p6 that vary mostly by tint and output/runtime with a beam profile thats floody but not a flood light, they have some reach. Closer to a thrower then a flood light if that helps.
 
Drop bear said:
Actually going the other way. I picked up a torch from the local hardware store called iron horse. And that was pretty cheap and works fine.

It does sos mode and hippy mace. But I think they are kind of useless do I don't generally bother.


I think Coleman even do versions like that that really are not too bad.
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By the way I have been eyeing off a c battery(sort of) 2000 lm ironhorse at my local shop.
 
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