Flashlights/Headlamps?

T

trailside22

Joined
Sep 8, 2005
Messages
400
This is a topic that I have not seen much in the RAT forums. I believe flashlights are a very important part of survival and was wanting others take on flashlights for camping, survival and edc purposes and what light you use. I have recently really been looking at some of the new headlamps that are out. I love to be able to use two hands instead of one. There are tons of brands out there and you can pay whatever you want to pay for a light. The good thing about the RAT community is they differentiate between the hype and the real deal. I would like to know what some of your thoughts are on flashlights and also what you use.
 
trailside22 said:
I have recently really been looking at some of the new headlamps that are out. I love to be able to use two hands instead of one.
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I have a Zebralight H501 and a Zebralight H60w - they are REALLY good. You can use them as a headlamp or you can clip them to a pocket. I also own a few other flashlights of the normal hold in the hand variety. My most powerful flashlight draws 216W regulated (but has a short run time). I keep thinking that I should be able to use enough self control to only take 6 lights when I go camping - one day I'll achieve that!

I love gadgets!
 
I've been using a Petzl Tikka Plus for a while now and really like it. Love the fact that it lasts so long, on low and even on high, and that fact that it frees up your hands which can be a major help. Mostly use it around the house since I can't go camping all the time, but it is a big help. I got my dad a Princeton Tec Quad headlamp, so I'll have to report back on how that one is, but seems really good. I think the only real thing I'd want in my next one would be waterproofing. I think the Tikka Plus is water resistant, but I'd like to have some added security.

As for flashlights, I have an LED AA maglight which has been good too. A lot of surefires look cool, but the price is up there. Again, I think I'd want to get something waterproof next time.

I'd say go to the store and check them out. Hopefully they have some working ones you can test. As long as you aren't getting one from Home Depot, no offense at all to the store just the headlamps I've seen there, you should be good. On a side note, I ordered a bunch of photon led keychains for myself and family, so that will eventually be my new EDC on my keys.
 
I carry an Inova T1 in my man purse every day, but for camping a headlamp is more than sufficient.

The Black Diamond Gizmo at $20 has been fantastic in hot to sub zero temps for two years now.

Very comfortable and super reliable. :thumbup:
 
I have a Jetbeam RRT-0, RRT-1 and Maratac AAA. I'm looking at a a couple Fenix lights (TA21, TK12) and a few NiteCore's (Extreme, Smart Ring SR3).
 
For a headlamp that works well in the light, in the dark, is comfortable, and easy on batteries, check out the Princeton Tec EOS, and make sure it is the 50 lumen model. Waterproof, lithium/nimh compatible...it is a decent size and weight as well. They run $40 or so, I think.

For something kind of cool, there is a setup I have yet to try, called the 4Sevens Quark, with the headband and prism. It lets you buy a quality flashlight, then turn it into a headlamp when needed.

IMO, ultra high output on a headlamp is useless. I want the headlamp for closeup tasks, and want a broad beam of light that will last a long time. If I need to spot something at a longer distance, I use a flashlight better suited with a tighter beam. Right now when backpacking in the winter I carry the PT EOS and a Surefire E1B for spotting things farther out, like trying to find firewood in the dark. The headlamp lights up your path, and the flashlight lights up things a ways out.
 
riz_aaroni said:
I've been using a Petzl Tikka Plus for a while now and really like it. Love the fact that it lasts so long, on low and even on high, and that fact that it frees up your hands which can be a major help. Mostly use it around the house since I can't go camping all the time, but it is a big help. I got my dad a Princeton Tec Quad headlamp, so I'll have to report back on how that one is, but seems really good. I think the only real thing I'd want in my next one would be waterproofing. I think the Tikka Plus is water resistant, but I'd like to have some added security.

As for flashlights, I have an LED AA maglight which has been good too. A lot of surefires look cool, but the price is up there. Again, I think I'd want to get something waterproof next time.

I'd say go to the store and check them out. Hopefully they have some working ones you can test. As long as you aren't getting one from Home Depot, no offense at all to the store just the headlamps I've seen there, you should be good. On a side note, I ordered a bunch of photon led keychains for myself and family, so that will eventually be my new EDC on my keys.
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+1 I love the Tikka and even had to get a second one since my wife loved it so much she stole the first one!

- Mark
 
I just recently picked up a energizer lithium flashlight with the CREE LED 110 lumens at gander for only 6 bucks. WHAT A STEAL. this light is bright as hell... and about the 1/5 the cost of typical 110 lumens light run. I wanna get a nice headlamp as well. being hands free is amazing, just gotta find one that can cast a decent beam.
 
Pride and joy is a Surefire E2d Defender
The E2D is a compact high-output flashlight with self-defense enhancements. The SureFire incandescent lamp and a precision micro-textured reflector produce a smooth, brilliant 60-lumen beam—three times the light of a big two-D-cell flashlight, and enough to temporarily blind and disorient a person by impairing his night-adapted vision. The E2D's pushbutton tailcap click switch provides secure, ergonomic activation control: press for momentary-on, press further to click constant-on. A crenellated Strike Bezel® and scalloped tailcap provide further personal defense options.
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I recently had a minor problem with the switch on the Surefire, I sent an email to them and they have sent me a replacement switch free of charge. I think this is outstanding customer service, considering I bought the torch second hand, and have no idea how old it is.

I also have a Fenix TK11 R2 as backup.
Turbo Mode: 240 Lumens
General Mode: 60 Lumens
Tactical grip ring and momentary-on switch make this a useful tool for the Military / Police and anyone looking for a high quality, long throw flashlight for frequent use.
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Outstanding value for such a powerful torch. And comes with pouch, lanyard, replacement O rings and tailcap rubber as standard.

Am looking at a Nitecore exstreme tactical bezel as my next purchase (but dont tell the wife!!)

P
 
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Fenix LD20 + Headband.
Low mode : 9 Lumens ( 71hrs ) - Great for survival Situation
medium mode : 47 Lumens ( 13hrs )
High mode : 94 Lumens ( 5 hrs )
Turbo mode : 180 Lumens ( 2 hrs )
SOS mode, Strobe.
Uses 2 AA batteries!!
T6 Aircraft-Grade Aluminium
Headband includes spare battery storage
 
+1 on the Tikka Plus headlamp. I never go camping or hunting without it.

I also have a Streamlight Microstream that I picked up for $13 - it's a single AAA led with tailcap clicky. This is my EDC light, and I feel naked without it. http://www.streamlight-flashlights.com/microstream.html

I'm really hoping that Santa brings me a Surefire E2DL Defender. To me, the E2DL is the pinnacle of modern tactical lights. *drool*
 
When I go camping I take a Princeton Tec headlamp, a surefire G2 (with cree r2 5 mode led) and my keys have a fenix E01 on them.
 
Well.... being the urber geek that I am, I suggest that you take a look at EDCForums Flashlight recommendation checklist and then see what you come up with for answers. My own answers ended up pointing me to a totally different light then I was expecting and I am very happy with my choices.

But as a base recommendation, I would tend to say that a LONG runtime can be more important then the number of output Lumens. Fenix and Surefire tend to be the most popular, but I have a Gerber LX 3.0 that lasts forever on a set of batteries and works very well for me.

(note EDC forums, the thread replies post top the top, so you have to scroll all the way to the bottom to get to the check list).
 
subneural said:
I also have a Streamlight Microstream that I picked up for $13 - it's a single AAA led with tailcap clicky. This is my EDC light, and I feel naked without it. http://www.streamlight-flashlights.com/microstream.html
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That flashlight looks really cool, though I am always confused as to why a headlamp, the tikka even, would have a much longer runtime. The Tikka on high have a runtime wayyyy longer than that flashlight. Even if you cut the tikka's rtuntime by a third to account for the extra batteries it has, it is still much longer.

The microstream looks great for EDC purposes though and is cheap.
 
I mainly carry two flashlights depending on what is going on. Oh and a photon micro light on my key chain.

I carry a Nitecore D10 as a sort of EDC light, I don't carry it everywhere but when I think I am going to need a light I put it in my pocket. It is a great light, runs on one AA battery, and is just a bit bigger then the battery, which is why I love it so much. No matter where you are or what is going on you can (almost) always get your hands on a AA battery. I also like that it is a tail cap button that is flush so you can use it as a candle. Another great thing is that it has adjustable light settings so you can use it on low or high or anywhere in between. This is a very durable light as well. I have carried it a lot of different places from the woods to the movies, and it has performed amazingly. I have even used it underwater for short stints.

Now my woods light is a Petzl Tikka XP. I love this light! It runs on 3 AAA batteries and has literally gone to hell and back with me. This is the light that I throw in my bag no matter where I am going, climbing, backpacking, day hiking it is always with me. It has a great runtime and bot spot and flood lighting options. It also has three levels of light and a strobe option. It is also small enough that when I put it on i barely know its there. Also I have used it in extreme cold, extreme hot and underwater (briefly) and it performed amazing with everything I have done with it.

These are both excellent lights that I would suggest to anybody, and they both go into my EDC bag as a just in case I may need them.
 
Wanderlust said:
I carry a Nitecore D10 as a sort of EDC light, I don't carry it everywhere but when I think I am going to need a light I put it in my pocket.
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I carry mine everywhere. I have other 1 x AA lights (Fenix L1D, Jetbeam Jet-I Pro, Nitecore EZ-AA, Quark AA) but the D10 has one feature that puts it ahead of the rest for me. I leave it in my pocket with the head loosened which puts it into momentary mode, when you push the button the light comes on, when you let the button go the light goes out, when you twist the head tight the light comes on and can be turned off by loosening the head or pushing the button. This feature means that the light will NEVER turn on in my pocket and drain the battery. So for the light I keep in my front left jeans pocket everyday the D10 is great.
 
I've a couple of SureFire Centurions and a few other nice flashlights, but my goto flashlight is a Streamlight Sidewinder. This little guy has an adjustable head, white, red, green and blue LEDs and five different modes. It isn't real powerful, but I use it every day, it's that handy. It will fit in a shirt pocket or can be clipped to Pals webbing. Costs about six bits.
 
petzl tikka, and a couple of double a maglites. but iam looking in to the
double a olights ( t15 and t25). does anybody have one of them?
 
Gadgetaholic said:
I carry mine everywhere. I have other 1 x AA lights (Fenix L1D, Jetbeam Jet-I Pro, Nitecore EZ-AA, Quark AA) but the D10 has one feature that puts it ahead of the rest for me. I leave it in my pocket with the head loosened which puts it into momentary mode, when you push the button the light comes on, when you let the button go the light goes out, when you twist the head tight the light comes on and can be turned off by loosening the head or pushing the button. This feature means that the light will NEVER turn on in my pocket and drain the battery. So for the light I keep in my front left jeans pocket everyday the D10 is great.
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This is true I forgot to mention that feature. Which is kind of weird because it is one of my favorite things about it.
 
Coming out of the security industry I have ( at last count) 9 Maglites but the torch I reach for is a surefire G2 led.
But headlights I use a lot. Mainly a Petzl Tikka Plus but I have several Petzl E+lites floating around, If we are goning to by out after dark there is at least a E+lite is in my pocket.
Carl
 
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