Flashlight Suggestions.

In my hiking/packpacking emergency kit, I keep a surefire yellow G2L, and a surefire saint minimus headlamp.

I recently got into a situation where I was having to split logs with a knife at night, completely unplanned. It wasn't a survival situation, but our trip would be been somewhat ruined had we not been able to get to dry wood to make a lasting fire (4 attempts before I started batoning). The surefire minimus completly kicked ass, and even on the lowest setting (which is good for 80 hours of run time I believe) I was easily able to see to split logs with my F1.

I'll never go camping or hiking again without my surefire lights.


-Freq
 
Fenix TK20 runs on 2 AA and can take some abuse...I run mine on sanyo eneloop rechargeables.
 
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If you like the 2 x AA form factor, then the LD20 is a good bet. It is by far my best seller in that size, with the 4Sevens Quark AA2 coming in next. The new LD20 has the R4 LED, maxing out at 205 lumens. If you like a lower low, then the AA2 is the way to go since its lowest setting is .2 lumens vs 9 on the LD20.

Another option is the Jet I Pro EX v3, if you like to program your lights. It has three modes that you can program to different brightnesses, strobe, SOS, beacon, or whatever else you want. The options are ridiculous.
 
You know, I've been very pleased with the new 5.11 series of Police flashlights - full size and mid size. They have NO batteries and are powered by a capacitor. They take 90 seconds to charge - yep that's right, 90 seconds.

I did the math, because they use no batteries the capacitor can be charged twice per day and it will take over 200 years at that rate to wear it out.

It can be charged either AC or with DC. It has a standard setting, high beam and strobe. The light lasts on standard setting for one hour steady and then downgrades to a lower "back up" light setting for another hour before going dead. I then charged it back up with my solar panel and DC adapter (took around three minutes with the solar panel) and it is good to go. Yea, they're a bit big...bigger than a Fenix or Surefire but the trade off is I always have light and even in a SHTF situation can have a recharged light wtih minimual power draw and in 90 seconds. Not a bad solution. That and my business is a 5.11 dealer so I can get them at cost!

I keep one by my bed, one in the car and one in my bug out kit.
 
I got the itp eos upgraded version, and the LD20 today. I went into the garage affraid the low settings were not going to be useful. I was wrong the are very usable power settings and for most small tasks are sufficient light to get things done. The high power will get tested tonight. Thanks for al you feedback. I think I am going to like these lights. In a couple of month I will be picking up the Surefire G2 for sure.
 
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