Flashlights? What's up with 'em?

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Fisher of Men

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Feb 22, 2005
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Hey all,

Quick question. I notice in the "What's in your pocket" thread about EDC's that many people have these crazy expensive SureFire flashlights. What's up with that? Is it just another thing to collect? Do the do something special? I only ask because I'm a big fan of MagLite's. I see no reason to pay more than $20-$30 for a good flashlight. I see some of these SureFire ones that are like $350. What? :confused: What am I missing?

I guess it's kind of like the Sebenza knives costing like $400. I just don't get it.

Please explain if you can :)

Not flaming or looking for trouble. It's only that I started seeing these flashlights when I started getting into knives.

Cheers,
Fisher of Men :)
 
I am the proud owner of a few different brands of flashlights. These are tools that I use every day on my job. Maglites and Surefire are two of the brands I`ve used and appreciated. Between those two brands, the Surefire blows the Maglites out of the water in performance and make. The Surefires I own were $32 and $45 . I think the more expensive ones have their places for certain folks who require them. Get yourself a Surefire G2 for around $33 and you`ll see what I`m talking about. ;)
 
I used to feel the same way, until I got a chance to try out an L4 LED Surefire. It puts D-cell Mag-Lites to shame; I mean, it sends them home crying to momma in terms of light output. If you ever get the chance to check one out I highly recommend it; they're one of those things you have to see to appreciate the difference in quality.
 
I see. That's exactly the type of answer I was looking for.

Is NGK a good place to get SureFire's if I'm looking to try one?

Thanks,
Fisher of Men
 
It dropped the money on a G2 a while back, it was a good buy. The batteries can get expensive though.
 
New Graham is good people, you can't go wrong there. Prepare to be amazed (and don't shine it in your eyes!). ;)
 
Batteries are available for $1.00 @ for the surefires at the BATTERY STATION. I have to agree that SFs blow maglights away, but maglights still have their place to be useful. I carry my 5 D-cell magclub right behind my seat. I Consider it to be a club that happens to illuminate ;) . Surefires are the CRKs of lights, top quality and guaranteed for life to the original owner.Bright does have a price!! My G2 with the HOLA will drain two 123s in 20 minutes, but those 20 minutes seems like you have harnessed the sun. This is not the flashlight to aim at your face to see how bright it is :eek:
 
Roadrunner said:
New Graham is good people, you can't go wrong there. Prepare to be amazed (and don't shine it in your eyes!). ;)
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Cool, good to know. I bought my first Spyderco from NGK. I love the bandaid pack. Maybe I'll get some sunglasses with the SureFire :D

Thanks all! :)

Recommend a good SureFire "starter"? I'd love to have LED if possible :)
 
Sunglasses won't help, maybe welding goggles LOL the least expensive way to own a SF LED is the E1 with the KL1 and it is also the easiest on batteries. The E1 is a single battery model.
 
The L4 is great but pricey. For a starter the G2, E2 or the 6P would be a good choice. Be sure to stock up on batteries from the Surefire webstore, they'll cost an arm and a leg anywhere else. Surefire sells them at cost, since hardly anyone could afford to use their cool lights otherwise.
 
Fisher of Men said:

Cool, good to know. I bought my first Spyderco from NGK. I love the bandaid pack. Maybe I'll get some sunglasses with the SureFire :D

Thanks all! :)

Recommend a good SureFire "starter"? I'd love to have LED if possible :)
Click to expand...

When I ordered my Inova T1 from them, they gave me a bandaid pack :D . I was laughing so hard thinking, "How can I cut myself with a flashlight?!".

Since you want LED, I think the Surefire L1 is only $110 from NGK. It runs on 1 CR123 battery and has two brightness settings.
 
Manifest said:
Since you want LED, I think the Surefire L1 is only $110 from NGK. It runs on 1 CR123 battery and has two brightness settings.
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The L1 is a real sleeper. Of all my Surefires it is the one that sees the most actual use. It is great for all the normal stuff a flashlight is needed for. Otherwise the E2E, g2 or 6p are good starters.

Then you'll want a M3, and an A2, and a M6..........
 
dig-it said:
Get yourself a Surefire G2 for around $33 and you`ll see what I`m talking about. ;)
Click to expand...

Might also want to take a look at the Streamlight Scorpion a long time rival to the SureFire 6P (both are Xenon, 2x CR123)

scorpion_specs_01.jpg


It's my preference because of the clickie tail-switch and the focussable head.

The Scorpion's beam is much smoother and more even than the (higher powered) SureFire 9P (3x CR123) that I have.

The Streamlight Scorpion can be found for as low as about $28 with batteries.

You might want to check out this web page:

Overall Output vs. Throw of Selected Lights at FlashlightReviews.com

People who are stricken with the addiction of acquiring flashlights (some at big bucks) are called "flashaholics" -

you might also want to check out CPF (CandlePower Forums) where there are some very knowledgable people.

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
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The downside to the new KL1/new L1, lack of spill beam. You get a really wide spot, thats it. It's sorta like tunnel vision if you want to navigate in the dark
 
Like how the Inova X1 is?


I got an E2e with the clicky tail-cap for $80(shipped) from a guy on CPF! That's like $120 worth of light!

Ya, so you will get some really good deals on CPF if you stick around. Or get tipped off(Thanks Rycen!) :D

Bright lights in small packages attract me, but the E2e does if for me. So I'm pretty much out of the lights for a while, except for some other small mods and stuff I'm going to get for it.
 
You also might want to take a good look at the Streamlight Twin Task 1L and 2L...I have one of each, and I have found them to be excellent flashlights.
 
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