Flashlights: which is the best?

H

Hanae4fun

Joined
Jul 24, 2007
Messages
214
Well after using my maglite for couple years, it finally broke. (Left it on top of my car and drove off :mad: ) Anyway so I'm thinking of getting another one, something new. Any suggestion? I don't trust those dinky small one may it be keychain or whatever. Is there any other companies besides maglite? I usually use my maglite to search for things...(actually, I think that's what all flashlights are for... :p )

Well thnx in advance!
 
What do you find most important? A very bright beam? A light that lasts a long time? There are trade offs between the two. Do you think something hands free would help? What about waterproofness? I have an led that will burn a long time, but the light output is not great. My Surefire is extremely bright, but will only provide light for about half an hour.
 
I carry a flashlight everywhere, it is a part of me as is my pocket knife,money,badge wallet and car keys. I carry a gun too but it isnt always on me,but near me. I am hardly a rambo type nor am the kinda person who puts himself in places of danger when I am not at work. Anyways, I am a gadget guy. Gadgets like a good EDC flashlight are essential. I own numerous lights, Surefires,Maglight LED, ARC,pelican and even a custom 300 dollar McGizmo....one of the guys at work bought a Fenix Model L2D 2AA (Cree LED) on EBay and whoaaaa! two AA batts and a whopping 135+ Lumens! 58 bucks on Ebay, I bought three. It kicks the crap outta every expensive light I own! and smaller then a maglight 2AA.This is one mean mean flashlight I strongly advise all to pick one up. I use a flashlight everyday as it is my job so I think I know lights.
my 2 cents....
 
i prefer surefire, and own about ten. 3 cell, led, a couple one cells, three pistol lights, and a rifle light. they are pricey, but the brightest and most durable i have owned. they are always on the cutting edge of the technology, and others are just trying to keep up.

streamlight, fenix, and others also make quality products, for less money, but ive been buying surefire for years, and always will.
 
"Best" is subjective when it comes to most things, including flashlights. Surefires are very well built and are exceptional tactical lights and are built like tanks, however, they're battery life to brightness ratio is behind the curve since they are dragging their knuckles coming out with LED lights. And their incandescent bulbs have a very short life.

Surefire E2D Executive Defender puts out 60 lumens max for 1.25 hours, bulb life is rated at 20 hours. $110 brand new. Or the E1L does 30 lumens for 10 hours for 100 bucks.

A Fenix P3D, similar size to the E2D and E1L, is rated at 160 lumens max for 1.8 hours, has different brightness settings (lowest setting 9 lumens runs for 65 hours, has an SOS and strobe settings), and the Cree LED is rated for 50,000 hours of life. $60 brand new. Also does 40 lumens for 13 hours.

Check out www.lighthound.com, that's where I got my P3D, and they have the newest models. My E2D is now sitting in a drawer awaiting it's E-bay fate while my P3D is now my go to guy. They are still very solid, run brighter and longer in the same size package, and are almost half the price. I'm sticking with my Surefires weapon mounts for my pistol and AR, but, for my pocket carry the Fenix is a no-brainer for me.
 
MORIMOTOM said:
surefire currently uses cree leds. i just bought a e1l with the cree. fantastic light.
Click to expand...

Oh ok. I stand corrected.

Surefire: American made, bombproof. Usual price: above $100.
Fenix: Chinese made, very slightly less rugged than Surefire. Usual price: less than $60.

Performance-wise, even the "dinkiest" flashlight from Surefire or Fenix can outclass your original Maglite, so you might be pleasantly surprised. Their higher-end models output something around 10 times more visible light.

Edit: For example, the Fenix P3D, which fits inside your palm, outputs about 3 times more light than a 4D Maglite. In lighting circles, the Maglite is referred to as merely "a stick with a bulb".
 
znode said:
Oh ok. I stand corrected.

Surefire: American made, bombproof. Usual price: above $100.
Fenix: Chinese made, very slightly less rugged than Surefire. Usual price: less than $60.

Performance-wise, even the "dinkiest" flashlight from Surefire or Fenix can outclass your original Maglite, so you might be pleasantly surprised. Their higher-end models output something around 10 times more visible light.
Click to expand...

yup, total agreement. at one time the mag light was the brightest and the toughest around. also very affordable. they currently make some decent rechargeables, but for the same money you can get a surefire, streamlight, or fenix.

my biggest gripe with the mag is the "loose" beam with the dark spot in the middle.
 
MORIMOTOM said:
i prefer surefire, and own about ten. 3 cell, led, a couple one cells, three pistol lights, and a rifle light. they are pricey, but the brightest and most durable i have owned. they are always on the cutting edge of the technology, and others are just trying to keep up.

streamlight, fenix, and others also make quality products, for less money, but ive been buying surefire for years, and always will.
Click to expand...


I know the Guys over at Surefire and have known them when they were Laser Products in Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley.I at one time was even featured on thier webpage.Even took several tactical classes like the low light and CQB classes. I knew them when they were associated with Combative Concepts etc etc. I love thier stuff, I still own and have on my turnouts a surefire 9N rechargable. But...once you use or see what these Fenix lights can do in such a small package and how they blow away a surefire(at half the price and no need for pricey 123 batts!)..... it is an embarashment [sp]to surefire. sad to say.

my spelling is terrible tonight, gotta be tired.turning my pager,kenwood TK,cellphone OFF! :rolleyes: :yawn:
 
FireInvestigator said:
I know the Guys over at Surefire and have known them when they were Laser Products in Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley.I at one time was even featured on thier webpage.Even took several tactical classes like the low light and CQB classes. I knew them when they were associated with Combative Concepts etc etc. I love thier stuff, I still own and have on my turnouts a surefire 9N rechargable. But...once you use or see what these Fenix lights can do in such a small package and how they blow away a surefire(at half the price and no need for pricey 123 batts!)..... it is an embarashment [sp]to surefire. sad to say.

my spelling is terrible tonight, gotta be tired.turning my pager,kenwood TK,cellphone OFF! :rolleyes: :yawn:
Click to expand...

you have conviced me to give them a try, see above post.


i prefer the 123's though, so went with that model. $1.25 per battery is not to expensive to me.
 
I like the Fenix line a lot. Although I must say if you are on a budget...I just picked up a JetBeam CL-E for about 25 bucks shipped. Its a very nice light for the price. Its a single AA battery light so its easy to carry in the pocket and is very bright considering its size.

I'm one of those people that like to be able to beat on or not be afraid to use whatever I EDC and at $25 i wouldn't cry if something happened to it. Although I would turn around and buy another.
 
Streamlight, Fenix, Surefire and Inova at the big names in small flashlights, currently Fenix has the most efficient longest lasting and brightest small lights, but Surefire has more durable nicer looking IMHO lights. Inova is probably the cheapest, and Streamlight's best units are incandescent. I personally love my U2 but at $280 it's not for most people. 6 settings from Nightlight to blidnign light.
 
You'll have to say what you use it for, different use needs different light.

I looked long and hard when I was looking, and settled on a LED 3d cell maglite. Very decent light level, extreme long battery life, strong body, and easy to find battery. I use it in my vehicle and camping, so weight/size isn't a problem.

FYI here is a photo I took of 3D mag led vs halogen mag, pretty impressive.

DSCN0454.jpg


If you really want to get into it:

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/index1.html
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/
 
Thanks so much for the reviews. Man i kinda felt ashamed of my maglite for a while. Anyway I just ordered a fenix p3d. Can't wait for it to come. After hearing from you guys i am pretty sure fenix will be my new buddy for quite a while. Thanks again
 
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