Help with Convention flashlight

Joined
Feb 13, 2001
Messages
750
Okay I'm going to just lay it out for ya...

I'm going to helping out with a convetion this spring (security) and I want to get a new flash light for it. Last year I used a Mag 4 cell which worked well but was ridiculous to carry around.

My needs:
++about a 200 yard throw for patroling the parking lot and putting a spot on people sneaking around in the hotel from a far.
++something that will last the three day weekend or that's rechargeable in a couple hours.
++must and mean must fit in my back pocket (under 7 inches)

I'm not realy interested in steamlights since they seem alot like the mags I already have. (maybe someone can convince me, but I doubt it.) :D

I like the surefires but they like they don't last long on batteries and need turbo heads and new lamps to be effective. I could be wrongs about this but that my impression from what I've read. :confused:

Please somebody point me in direction of my dream light.
It would be nice to have a light that could also be dialed down so I could use it in the dark auditorium with out disturbing anyone but I realize that would be hard to find all in one light. I've been thinking of a small pocket led light or one of these: http://www.1sks.com/store/windmill-zflash-lighters.html

thanks for all your help ;)
 
I think this is a real case of you can have any 2 out of 3 -
but not all 3.

However you might want to go and ask this question of your main light at:

CandlePower Forums

where a lot of Flashaholics spend their time talking about exactly this sort of thing.

As you well know the SureFires are amazingly/eye-burningly bright for their size but basically have short runtimes on expensive lithium batteries.
http://www.san.surefire.com/surefire/content/comparechart1.html

The "regular" 2x 123A batteries lights are the original 6P, E2e and the poly/cheaper G2.....
Brighter using 3x batteries is the Centurion C3

This applies to the nice (and cheaper) Streamlight Scorpion
http://www.streamlight.com/scorpion_specifications.htm

scorpion_specs_01.jpg


One can always carry spare batteries albeit at additional expense.....

Rechargeables - the SureFire Commander 8NX may well be the one to go for. There is a package with charger and 2x rechargeable battery sets
8nx415black_thumb.jpg


http://www.san.surefire.com/cgi-bin/main.pl?pgm=co_disp&func=displ&carfnbr=243&sesent=0,0

The Streamlight Stingers are well liked but may be just a bit too BIG for you at 7.4"
http://www.streamlight.com/stinger-series_specifications.htm

Low Level light -

This I can help a bit better - LED, and perhaps even colored

For sheer size and runtime it's hard to beat the Photon Microlights.
They are small and can reside "almost not there" on one's keyring.
The Photon II is the right model - however to attract less attention there are the "Covert" models - but only available on the more complex than necessary Photon 3, or the Photon Mk.1 withOUT a constant on switch (probably not suitable).

However looking at the "Covert" model - one could easily get the same effect by simply taping on some duct tape to mask the side emission of the light - might be "tacky", but should work.

COLOR - for me yellow works well it is non-glaring yet one gets pretty good color rendition and because yellow is kind of "natural" it disturbs my dark adaption less and proabably attracts less attention. Some people like blue-green - but I don't see as well with that light and to me it attracts attention more - beside the yellow Photons are advertized with 120 hours battery life (vs. 10-12 hours for the blue-green.

Red is the correct color for preserving true night (scotopic/rods only) vision but I doubt if most if any of us really have to use that - most environments have some light to see by, and if one sees any color then it is NOT scotopic vision being used.......

But if you have to use white for color rendition - then there are the Photon microlight white, Inova microlight white (the light is bluer which I don't like - but the LED is recessed and effectively more "covert" in the solid Black plastic version) -

For a NON-keyring white I really like the single AA battery CMG Ultra-G which is a special US Government issue version - really good even white beam on the G version and the LED is set well in the head to give limited side-emissions.

ULTRAG.jpg


What's even better is the current special price of this:

CMG Ultra-G @ $15 from County Comm
 
The Streamlight Stinger is the only thing coming close to your needs.
Size of a 2C MagLite but much brighter.
Focussable for a long throw.
Rechargeable.

The TigerLight is brighter with more throw but a little longer in length (8") and larger in diameter than a D-cell Mag.

The SureFire rechargeables are a tad brighter but they're pre-focussed to more of a flood light and they has a LOUSY record on rechargeables. They don't hold a charge and they're batteries have a nasty habit of dying without warning. I don't mean time to recharge them, dying -- I mean time to throw them away, dying.

You might also do a search for "xenergy" or "nuwai".
They have a light with both a high-intensity xenon bulb and 3 white LEDs in the same unit. That lets you choose either a bright spot light or a low LED light. Not as bright as the Stinger and not as much throw but you get the low light option.
They make both a rechargeable and a lithium powered model.
 
Stinger HP XT

If the Streamlight Stinger HP is good enough for standard issue to police officers, it should be good enough for what you need.

  • Weighs just 14.6 ounces, less than 9 inches long.
  • Tactical tailcap switch allows momentary or constant operation.
  • Machined aluminum case.
  • One hour run time.

The non-"XT" version is a little lighter and doesn't have the tail switch. I've used this light a little and remain impressed. It is basically a larger SureFire that is rechargable.
 
Have you considered the Priceton Tec Tec 40? I have one and like it very much. It's not big, runs on 4 AA batteries and is very very bright. You won't be disappointed.

product_tec40_outdoor_big.jpg


Here are the specs:

Power: 4 Watts
Batteries: 4 AA Duracell ® (Included)
Reflector: Focused Narrow Beam
Burn Time: 3-5 Hrs.
Weight: 5.1 oz. With Batteries
Bulb: Halogen
Waterproof: 500 ft.
Warranty: Lifetime
 
there are just so many options!

Does any on know of a color filter that will work on the streamlight or the streamlight hp???

thanks!
 
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