Help with tactical & LED flashlights

S

Sandman_Bravo

Joined
Dec 31, 2005
Messages
21
I've been looking at a host of lights recently. For the price, The Inova XO seems to have a great beam. I like some of the tactical lights but can't justify the price. I tried some Surefires and they didn't have the depth penetrating beam of the XO. How does the XO compare with the XO3? Does anyone own the XO, a fair priced tactical, or have any suggestions? Also, where's the best on-line site to find & order flashlights? I've been bitten with the knife collecting bug, tactical lights seem to have a similiar effect, unfortunately. :confused: Thanks for any help.
 
I recommend you spend some time on www.flashlightreviews.com. There you can compare various lights in terms of both throw and output with a common baseline.

Unfortunately, the best lights are expensive; yet, there are lots of not so expensive lights that may well fill your needs.

My favorite site for flashlights and related stuff is www.lighthound.com -- a top notch dealer with probably the best overall product selection. But, there are lots of other good dealers out there too, and if you know what you want to purchase, then it's always best to do a little shopping.

One final recommendation -- watch your wallet! If you get the flashlight bug as have many of us, you can easily spend as much on lights as knives.
 
I have an Inova T3. "tactical" LED light. Puts out 85 lumens for 2 hours on 2 lithium batteries according to their write up.
I'm very happy with it and will probably end up with a few more like it in the long run. Its amazing how strong and concentrated the beam is. Very good for spotting stuff far off, but still a wide enough beam to do things fairly close too.
I haven't really handled any other higher end lights besides inova, but from looking online I really don't think you can beat the T3 for the price.
 
If you are contemplating the sizes of the X0 and the X03, you might want to take a real close look at the T series by Inova. I will expand on what Matt has posted. The T3 throws a real bright white beam for a long distance. It has been said many times that the Inova X and T series are the "throw kings". The excellent checkered body and tailcap provides a superior grip, with or without gloves, better than the octagonal smooth finish of the X0 series. Both the momentary and constant click on cap switch (not found on the X0 series) is sure and strong. Not flimsy or indistiguishable as are on some other high end lights. Although the beam has excelllent throw, its spill is minimal. The solution is to simply press fit onto the front a Surfire flip top cap light filter made for their P and G series models. This unit will fit onto the T3 model without problem. And will smooth and even out the beam for good wide area coverage. If you require a long throw and a tighter beam, just thumb flip the hinged cap. That' s it. The hinged cap will help minimze any rolling. Very versatile package without breaking your bank book. This is the current setup that I have as my non emergency utility light.

N.
 
Thanks for all the info. I might just get the T3, or XO3... or maybe a Streamlight. Hmm, the Surefire's look good also. Maybe one of each?
 
Aside from also recommending CPF, i'd also like to add that generally Inova's are not known to have that much "sidespill" in flashaholic-speak. They use optics to enhance the "throw" of their beam.
 
Charlie Moore said:
My favorite site for flashlights and related stuff is www.lighthound.com -- a top notch dealer with probably the best overall product selection. But, there are lots of other good dealers out there too, and if you know what you want to purchase, then it's always best to do a little shopping.
Click to expand...

You are SO right about LightHound. Thanks a bunch for the link. Wow. They have a TON of stuff. :)
 
Nakano 2 said:
If you are contemplating the sizes of the X0 and the X03, you might want to take a real close look at the T series by Inova. I will expand on what Matt has posted. The T3 throws a real bright white beam for a long distance. It has been said many times that the Inova X and T series are the "throw kings". The excellent checkered body and tailcap provides a superior grip, with or without gloves, better than the octagonal smooth finish of the X0 series. Both the momentary and constant click on cap switch (not found on the X0 series) is sure and strong. Not flimsy or indistiguishable as are on some other high end lights. Although the beam has excelllent throw, its spill is minimal. The solution is to simply press fit onto the front a Surfire flip top cap light filter made for their P and G series models. This unit will fit onto the T3 model without problem. And will smooth and even out the beam for good wide area coverage. If you require a long throw and a tighter beam, just thumb flip the hinged cap. That' s it. The hinged cap will help minimze any rolling. Very versatile package without breaking your bank book. This is the current setup that I have as my non emergency utility light.

N.
Click to expand...


As for me, I don't like tail cap switches where you press for momentary and press harder for "ON." The X series (with the flat hexagonal sides), where you press the tail cap button for momentary on and twist the tail cap for ON, rather than the T series (with the checkered grips) does fine by me.

By the way, I too am jonesing for an XO. And I mean an XO. :)
 
cardimon said:
You are SO right about LightHound. Thanks a bunch for the link. Wow. They have a TON of stuff. :)
Click to expand...


Their customer service is even more impressive. This dealer is truly top notch.
 
Sandman_Bravo,
If you're searching for a tactical flashlight that is manufactured in the same factory as SureFire, but don't want to pay their high prices, consider Black Lion Gear. The only difference is the patented reflector which SureFire uses. :cool:
 
theunknowncook said:
Sandman_Bravo,
If you're searching for a tactical flashlight that is manufactured in the same factory as SureFire, but don't want to pay their high prices, consider Black Lion Gear. The only difference is the patented reflector which SureFire uses. :cool:
Click to expand...

How do you know they are made in the same factory? Also, are the lights made to the same specs?
 
I hate to have to say it, but those Black Lion Gear flashlights seem to be the standard Chinese made "Police" flashlights, and from what I hear are nowhere near Surefire quality.

Also, what's this about the Surefire having a patent on thier reflector? What did they patent? I've seen a lot of reflectors that look quite a lot like Surefire ones...
 
Matt Shade said:
I have an Inova T3. "tactical" LED light. Puts out 85 lumens for 2 hours on 2 lithium batteries according to their write up.
I'm very happy with it and will probably end up with a few more like it in the long run. Its amazing how strong and concentrated the beam is. Very good for spotting stuff far off, but still a wide enough beam to do things fairly close too.
I haven't really handled any other higher end lights besides inova, but from looking online I really don't think you can beat the T3 for the price.
Click to expand...


I agree; I'm blown away by my T3. I have an X5 for map reading, etc. in the car) and had an XO; the XO was like a toy compared with the T3.
 
i also like the T series vs the XO, i have a T1 and a T3 and for the $$ are pretty good lites, the best i have seen except surefire, only con imho is they are bigger than a comparable SF.
 
I have been very happy with my Inova T3. I carry it more than my Surefires. Check out the Pelican M6 as well.
 
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