Good EDC flashlights?

I have been super happy with my basic Fenix lights. Last summer I got their headlamp/detachable L-shaped flashlights and noticed that either the battery was bad or the light itself was broken. I sent it to the official importer and got brand new v.2.0 in return that has worked beautifully! That's one of the reasons why I don't really like getting fancy high ends with shady warranties.
 
Memento_Mori said:
Been looking at a fenix pd35, but wanted some input on what the best or better edc lights are? I keep seeing reylight pop up here and there, and a few others, but i know nothing about flashlights.
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There is no "best" light. There may be lights that suit your particular needs better or worse. What are your needs?

I currently own mainly Fenix and Nitecore lights, and I'm very happy with all of them. I have two more Fenix lights on my "to buy" list, and I'm standardized on 21700 for tactical and utility, and AA for backpacking, but my EDC light takes either an 18350, 16340 (what is in it right now, because it there were no 18350s with built-in USB when I bought it), or CR123A, and I recently got the Nitecore NWE30 emergency beacon which takes CR123As, but as it's for emergency use only, I don't need to have battery compatibility with anything else for that device. I do reserve one CR123A primary as a backup for my EDC, should I be on the road without a way to charge an 18350 or 16340 cell.

My list:
(to buy) Fenix TK22 TAC, with bicycle mount, for my bicycle headlamp, 21700
(to buy) Fenix HM70R headlamp, with helmet mount, 21700
Fenix PD36 TAC, currently my bicycle headlamp, will be my nightstand light, 21700

Nitecore EC11, my current EDC, 18350/16340/CR123A

Fenix E12 v2.0, backpacking handheld, AA
Fenix HM23 headlamp, backpacking headlamp, AA
Nitecore LA10 CRI, backpacking camp lantern, AA
Nitecore NWE30 emergency beacon, CR123A

(maybe to buy) Fenix CL27R lantern (21700) or Nitecore NWL20 lantern (21700)
 
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bdmicarta said:
I have admired Olight products but never bought one. I have at least 8 Fenix products, 6 or 7 that get used regularly, and I've never had any problems with them.
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Never had any luck with Olight. Wouldn’t charge fully or malfunctioned on the job when I needed them most (multiple different lights)
 
Terry M. said:
Never had any luck with Olight. Wouldn’t charge fully or malfunctioned on the job when I needed them most (multiple different lights)
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My brother had problems with 2 Olights. He went back to Fenix.
Olights offer an attractive package with cool charging features and a number of offerings in a neutral tint, but I hear of too many problems.
The only complaint I have with Fenix is they don’t offer enough models in a neutral tint.
 
No Led-Lensers ???.
Sure , they are a bit expensive , but I think that their overall quality is worth it.
🤔.
 
I've been carrying the same Fenix e12 since 2019, and it's been a great light.

Ms. WW's birthday is coming up, so I just ordered her a single AA malkoff based on recommendations I've read here.

https://imgur.com/a/mrd1IGb
Here's my Fenix, it's survived drops, dunks, and at least a couple of trips through the washer.
 
Astrogator said:
No Led-Lensers ???.
Sure , they are a bit expensive , but I think that their overall quality is worth it.
🤔.
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I remember my first led flashlight was led lenser. It was amazing for it's time and the build quality was fantastic (thick aluminum frame). Then pretty quickly they became flimsier, most even made of plastic and little underpowered in comparison to the competitors.
 
I’ve had good luck with olights, but I know many have had trouble. I carry an arkfeld pro at work as the laser and light is nice in one package. But, the guys who do most of the work are harder on stuff and the olights haven’t lasted. I buy them streamlight wedges and they love them and they last. I have a couple Fenix also and they have been quite reliable for myself and my guys.
 
I am a big fan of the MARATAC Titanium AAA flashlight. I also like the ReyLight Ti Mini Pineapple but am having issues with the head assembly at the moment.
 
I'm a big fan of the Streamlight 1L-1AA; uses either a CR123 or AA (or can use an AAA in a pinch!), easy to carry, and programmable function. All for under $50👍

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I’ve been carrying an olight because it’s a smaller AA pocket light. It’s good. It has two brightnesses. My issue with it is it always falls out of my scrub pockets. Not my jeans or shorts though. But the other side of that coin is this light has been dropped half a hundred times and still functions perfectly. I used to carry streamlight flashlights. I still own them and my bugout bag light is a streamlight. Their warranty, the way they stand behind their product, is second to none. I owned a light for two years and it started acting strange and they replaced it without batting an eye. They won me over forever with that. And they happen to be excellent flashlights as well.
 
You won't do better than fenix, imo. I'm not sorry surefire.
Depending on your needs, do you have fields and need long throw? Pd35 v3.0.

Live closer and need a more broad beam for more even light? Ld30.

I could go on for a bit, I've tried lights from streamlight and others but once I went fenix, you don't go back. It's like you've used Walmart knives your whole life then someone hands you a maxamet spyderco and you realize you didn't even know what could be yet.
 
We are blessed with a bevy of options. Like anything else, it depends on your needs. My personal favorite brand is Convoy. The owner participates with the community on Budget Light Forum, tries to meet niche needs, and is sometimes willing to do small customizations at the ask. (For instance, I've often asked for models with smooth reflectors to be shipped with an orange peel reflector and he has always been happy to hook me up free of charge.) Beyond that, it's just the raw level of choice. There are a bunch of models using battery types from AA to 21700, with a wide variety of emitters at different color temperatures (or colors). Some models have electronic switches but I prefer the mechanical switches with a programmable choice of a dozen different mode groups.

Here are a few of my Convoys with warmer high-CRI emitters. My camera phone isn't really adequate but they are among the better EDC shots I've taken with flashlights shining. The top one has a titanium body and the other two are aluminum.

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One more Convoy EDC pic for good measure. Also a beam shot on a foggy night with a Convoy, probably running a Nichia 519A at 3500K (my camera phone is not true to color temperature).

Then, just for fun, the beam from a green thrower on another foggy night.

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elevator man said:
Live closer and need a more broad beam for more even light? Ld30.
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All my flashlight buddies and a few family members have the LD30. If they would just come out with a neutral or high CR version I would be in flashlight heaven.
 
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I identify an edc flashlight as one that doesn’t come on in my pocket. I’ve carried the nitecore MT1c pro, but I’ll never carry their edc lineup of flat lights.They’re health hazards with the amount of accidental activations I’ve had with them. The shrouded switch and heavy activation pressure keeps it from turning on in my pocket. The rovyvon e30 angel eyes has come on in my pocket but I think that’s from the way I pushed the light back into my pocket. And after months of carry, it’s only happened twice. I’ve also carried the pokelit with no problems. The pd36r I’ve carried with the tube slightly unscrewed. I thought the olight seeker 4 mini would be nice but the clip is a pain. The baton turbo has a better clip and you can twist the tail to prevent accidental activations. Lastly, the arkfeld ultra’s are great for what I need so much so that I bought 2.
 
Streamlight Wedge XT for encounters, Surefire Sidekick (possibly discontinued) for general use.
 
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