Flashlights: which is the best?

I've dealt with Surefire, Maglite, and countless junk brands. Surefires are my favorite, although the batteries don't last long. They cast a much better beam than a Maglite or junker. The metal cased Surefires can be used as a "fistload", although I've never done that. For all around good flashlight, I would get a box of 123A Surefire batteries and a G2. Costs a little more than a new LED Maglite, but has a much better beam. I've got a G3 and a E2O right now, gonna get an A2.
 
Best bang for the buck, IMO, in a general usage flashlight is the Streamlight ProPolymer 4AA Luxeon (thats the flavor with 1 LED). It is both throwy and floody, indestructable, eats readily available batteries, accepts rechargeables, has a flat non-diminishing output for 4 hours, and costs around $30.

Edit: link.

right on
 
powernoodle said:
Streamlight ProPolymer 4AA Luxeon
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LED technology has advanced faster than most can believe, what with Luxeon Stars a few years ago, and now the Cree LEDs.

Your recommendation, for example, is flat-out beaten by the Fenix L1D, which throws out more light for a comparable about of time on a single AA. It only costs $10 more.

This isn't plugging the Fenix, or the Cree LEDs specifically; it's just to say that each generation of LEDs beats the previous flat on its face so completely that you have to catch up with the times to get the best deals in lighting.
 
I just picked up a fenix P3D with the orange peel reflector and a couple rechargable batteries and a charger from Lighthound.

Just got the shipping confirmation e-mail today, but so far it's the best online shopping experience I've ever had. The shipping e-mail gave me all the extra info I could ever wish for, they did all sorts of little things to help with international customs, without my asking.

If I ever buy another flashlight, it'll be from them.
 
Grr.... Just ordered one direct from the fenix store. Although I love this free international shipping! :thumbup: And the CPF discount helps even more! :)
 
Buy a Maglite 2C with Magled dropin. A serious light with a serious runtime for a serious price. I wouldn't buy an expensive tactical-SWAT-torch that runs on pricey lithiums, which make good pipebombs by the way. My brothers 2xCR123 flashlight exploded. Literally. This phenomenon isn't new.

For EDC a Fenix is perfect, if you don't mind the several ouput modes and the reverse clicky. But small things happen to get lost faster than a Maglite for around the house use.


A maglite is tough, available everywhere, if the LED breaks you still have the halogen bulb in the tailcap, it has a true clicky switch, runs on cheap batteries for a very long time, makes a good impact weapon and all spareparts are as cheap as dirt if something breaks. I don't have to mention that it's still made in USA, do I?
The 2C has the perfect form for a flashlight IMHO. Not too small, not too big and besides that, it looks beautiful, especially in silver-grey.
If the maglite breaks, you can take care of most problems yourself.

I use a Magled 2C myself and I am more than pleased with it's output.
 
ive been using cr123 powered lights for over ten years, and have never had one, nor heard of one, blowing up.
 
MORIMOTOM said:
ive been using cr123 powered lights for over ten years, and have never had one, nor heard of one, blowing up.
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At CPF are several threads about exploding cells. And not every CR123 user is part of online communities.
It happens only to flashlights with at least two cells. Single cell lights don't explode.

I never believed it would happen to me, but then, *poof*, I went to my brothers room and he just pointed at his flashlight, that was standing there on a shelf, untouched for days.


ETA: Here is the thread I posted at CPF click
 
wonder if it was the quality of the batteries? i use the surefire batteries, and have never had one even leak.

i have one, two, and three cell models. many i personally know use similar lights, i wasnt referring only to on line communities.

we use two cell fore end lights on department shotguns, never had an issue. every pistol light our officers currently use, including our swat team, uses 123's, never an issue.

what type of light is that? i cant tell in the pics.

conversely, i have ruined at least three maglights when the alkaline batteries leaked and corroded the inside of the light.
 
The worst thing that can happen to an alkaline powered flashlight is, that the batteries leak. But when something happens to a lithium cell, it literally explodes. My brothers flashlight had a tailcap with a plastic button, so the pressure was released quite easily. (it was a Wolf Eyes flashlight with LED tailcap)
But at CPF there are photos of very tough flashlights which are tightly sealed with a tough tailcap, and they looked like pipebombs after the explosion. If something like that happens while you have your aluminium flashlight in your hand, your hand is gone. If it happens in your pockets, say goodbye to your balls.

It can happen to SF batteries as well.

A reason why it doesn't happen to policemen for example, is that they change their batteries more often and when the batteries are dead, they change them earlier because normally they need their flashlight again soon.
These explosions are typical for almost dead cells, but they can also occur when one battery has a different voltage than the other(s), so it's possible with new cells, too.


Lithiums are good for law enforcement, because of their low weight and size and the power they provide. But I don't see any reason to recommend them to the average Joe. I've never been robbed and noone ever broke into my home, but a lithium powered flashlight exploded in my presence. If safety comes first for you, don't sleep next to a >2xCR123 flashlight, because they are definitely dangerous, that's undeniable. (this is no "I don't believe in burglars" speech)
If you use them, make sure that you know exactly how to handle them. I guess you know how, considering that you never had an accident with lithiums.
 
I have a Fenix LOD CE, and I think you will be suprised at the output of the little keychain light. plus AAAs are easily available. I've noticed that the Energizer Lith. seems to do better than most in this light.
 
I have a SureFire G2 with a WolfEyes HO LED. It's amazingly bright for the size.
 
I thought one of the causes of the blow ups was mismatched levels in batteries. 1 new cell with a partially depleted cell. Always good to replace both cells at the same time with two new cells of the same age. :)
 
Wow! Just got back to read and learn about this thread and was shocked. I had heard such rumors of course, but took them as bull.... but no more. There is just too much evidence to the contrary, and I thank you guys out there for bringing this up.Otherwise,users like us would never know.Tip of the cap to you all.

I have had to return a light but it was a VERY expensive rechargable light. it was ready to explode,until I manually released the pressure and the tail cap litterally blew off. Yeah, Dumb.but hell...I didnt know! The battery stick was a mess with a ton of leakage. The company returned to me a brand new Light.Didnt think much more about it till now.

I also caught up with some of the comments that included 'I wont buy chinese junk and will only buy surefire', I chuckle cuz those posters sound like me. Anyone who knows me knows I buy (or try to buy) the very newest or best of a certain gadget. I can tell those posters have not had the pleasure of handling a fenix light. Wanna know how bad I am? I refuse to buy Glocks. Gasp! what? Yup. To me, Garbage. Chew toy for the K9. Plastic(polymer)should never wrap or encase Metal.In my circles of shooters it is known as a yuppies gun,and a very unsafe one at that. Huh? you dont put safeties in triggers! Boom shackalacka. Every cop I know, every Agent or shooter I meet who is issued a glock and HAS to carry one looks down to the ground when they see my customized ever so gently 1911. Just a thing I have a qwerk about. I think AK 47's are junk. Stamped metal on a firearm? The Horror! ...and so I make sure I upset everyone here, I'll add a few others. I hate cats, vermin. Mossy oak wearing mall rats during hunting season.Come one guys, mossy oak is field gear and isnt gucci or polo. The words 'Tactical or Extreme'. Uggh, over used to the point of being redundant and silly. If you gotta sell something by prefacing those words to it, it prolly isnt. Oh yeah! almost forgot! If you own a knife or watch etc etc that has Navy Seal or Green Beret stamped on it... it isnt. Trust me. Been in the biz too long. The spec ops/ SWAT guys I know use the finest of gear and most if not all is sterile. Ask a guy like Busse (I doubt he remembers me) if he remembers having around five sterile badger attacks at the Great Western gun show when 8 or so short haired guys overheard telling another customer that he had some...and quickly sold them to the gents at an amazing price(I still have mine, 175 bucks,thank you Mr. Busse)in the early 90's...And yes, he asked to see our credentials.

Rant over, sorry. (umm, no not really, hehehe)
Again, thanks for the heads up on some of these safety issues, Really.
 
The *best* flashlight? That's easy.

The one you have on hand when everything goes dark. Beyond that I can't say. Does your life depend on the light? How long do you use it at one time? How far do you need to see? What's your budget? Looking foe edc size or one you just leave somewhere?

Highly subjective. Look at http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb
 
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