High End Flashlights vs Retail Store Flashlights

[xbxb]

uh oh, here we go

 

[metalfof]

How much do you want to spend?Fenix may not be the best , but do offer great value for money,try a L0d(single AAA) keychain flashlight-you will be amazed at what it offers.

 

[Jason B.]

Two G2's and a C3. They just died. Dead lamps, I suppose. Never bothered to try to fix them as I went LED instead.

So if the bulb in your maglite went out would you say the same thing about them? The surefire lamps are a high output tactical use lamps that only have a life of around 20 hours. I'm sorry but to put down one of the best production flashlight makers because your lamp blew is a little silly. Maybe you just needed to put new batteries in.

 

[Josh K]

So if the bulb in your maglite went out would you say the same thing about them? The surefire lamps are a high output tactical use lamps that only have a life of around 20 hours. I'm sorry but to put down one of the best production flashlight makers because your lamp blew is a little silly. Maybe you just needed to put new batteries in.

What he said. Inca lamps do blow, get Led's if you don't want to have to worry about that. Notice that Fenix has only recently come out with the upper end (300+) lumen lights while Surefire has had them (in inca lights) for a while.

 

[Jason M D.]

I have two "COAST" LED LENSER lights. One is a 1 watt single AA battery. The other is a 3 watt 3 AAA battery. Also have various other lights including a MAGLIGHT 3 watt 3 AAA LED (not impressed though).

Push button is in the end of both COAST lights. The 1 watt is flared at the lamp end and the 3 watt is not. Batteries last a long time and they are bright enough to give you a headache with just a glance. Bought both a Home Depot. Not as expensive as a Surefire but not cheap either.

I keep the 1 watt on my side (used alot at work) and the 3 watt in my Camelback.

Don't know if they make the 3 watt in the style I have anymore.

Hope this helps.

 

[Wildewinds]

So if the bulb in your maglite went out would you say the same thing about them? The surefire lamps are a high output tactical use lamps that only have a life of around 20 hours. I'm sorry but to put down one of the best production flashlight makers because your lamp blew is a little silly. Maybe you just needed to put new batteries in.

New batteries? Are you trying to be rude? I guess you're upset because you're a Surefire fanboy. Neither light saw more than 5 hours of use.

 

[Josh K]

New batteries? Are you trying to be rude? I guess you're upset because you're a Surefire fanboy. Neither light saw more than 5 hours of use.

I guess they had it in for you. Did you contact Surefire? Perhaps obtain a replacement?

I don't know about you, but just because I blew a tire in my car doesn't mean I feel all Civics are junk. They are junk however.

 

[Jason B.]

New batteries? Are you trying to be rude? I guess you're upset because you're a Surefire fanboy. Neither light saw more than 5 hours of use.

Not at all, and I'm not upset. If you ever check out this place you would understand why I ask something that sounds so stupid http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/

Sure you can call me a fanboy but that's only because I have enough knowledge about flashlights to know they are the best. I don't think they would have such a good rep with the military if they were not up to the task.

 

[Superfuzz]

Surefire, all the way. Im on my 2nd, currently a 3 cell G3 Nitrolon. Damned good piece and has held up through some pretty rugged use. Never go back to lesser light sources.

 

[enderwiggin]

Inova might not have the highest output but they sure do make some great lights. The Inova X5 is only 4"x.865", runs 6+ hours before it drops to 50% and only costs around $40 and is avaliable at Target and other stores.

The Fenix lights are nice and I'd love to see them in more shops but thats probably not going to happen any time soon. Different lights for different uses.

Heber

Oh, don't get me wrong! I still have my Inova X5 as a backup and spare camping flashlight, and I loved carrying it. It's a great value for what it is.

 

[jfindon]

There is no comparison. I'm going to try to do a comparison of my Maglite 3D (or 4D, I forget how many cells it takes) and my Olight M30. It will be funny to see how little light the Maglite throws compared to the Olight.

Even my SureFire G2 with 170 lumens Cree LED gets trounced by the M30, and the Maglite couldn't even compare to the G2.

A couple people ask why I paid over $100 for my M30 when I could just get a Maglite, but they don't come close to understanding the difference.

 

[unit311]

I cant believe people still use maglights. I had a guy over to fix the furnace the other day and he was using a 3d maglite. Why would you carry something huge and heavy when there are lights powered by 1 AA battery that are brighter? The only reason i can think of to carry one is if you were working in a bad neighborhood and needeed a club.

 

[Josh K]

I cant believe people still use maglights. I had a guy over to fix the furnace the other day and he was using a 3d maglite. Why would you carry something huge and heavy when there are lights powered by 1 AA battery that are brighter? The only reason i can think of to carry one is if you were working in a bad neighborhood and needeed a club.

I wouldn't even use it as a club. Those things are heavy and slow to swing. I'd rather take a 6D Maglite empty.

 

[Jason B.]

I cant believe people still use maglights. I had a guy over to fix the furnace the other day and he was using a 3d maglite. Why would you carry something huge and heavy when there are lights powered by 1 AA battery that are brighter? The only reason i can think of to carry one is if you were working in a bad neighborhood and needeed a club.

I like my 3D but its much brighter than any 1 AA light

 

[DaveH]

Meh, surefire lost it's edge years ago. They do not have anything competitive in light output anymore. Yes, it would be nice if Fenix used real knurling and not that baby knurling, but when the light output is 2 or 3 times a surefire, at half the cost, it's just a winner.

Maglite? -> joke.

 

[dano]

Meh, surefire lost it's edge years ago. They do not have anything competitive in light output anymore. Yes, it would be nice if Fenix used real knurling and not that baby knurling, but when the light output is 2 or 3 times a surefire, at half the cost, it's just a winner.

Maglite? -> joke.

Two or three times the output? Based upon what?

I'm not going to feed into the (currently) absurd Fenix vs. SF debate. However, a statement such as that is completely absurd.

Comparing build quality, materials, 3rd party compatibility, warranty, accessories, dealer network, etc, Fenix can't compare to Surefire.

I'll say it again, regardless: output isn't everything.

 

[Jason B.]

Meh, surefire lost it's edge years ago. They do not have anything competitive in light output anymore. Yes, it would be nice if Fenix used real knurling and not that baby knurling, but when the light output is 2 or 3 times a surefire, at half the cost, it's just a winner.

Maglite? -> joke.

E2DL and the new LX2 smash a lot of fenix lights in output, UI friendliness, build quality, warranty.....

Surefire's are also rated different than fenix, surefires are known to be under rated in their lumen output. E2DL is really much closer to 200lm than 120.

 

[Josh K]

Meh, surefire lost it's edge years ago. They do not have anything competitive in light output anymore. Yes, it would be nice if Fenix used real knurling and not that baby knurling, but when the light output is 2 or 3 times a surefire, at half the cost, it's just a winner.

Maglite? -> joke.

Yeah, this is intelligent.

I'm starting to feel a CS test is in order. Purchase a 6PL from Surefire ($90) and a comparable (price wise) model from Fenix. Send them to me, and I'll flatten them in a 30 ton shop press. After you receive them back, send each in for warranty service. Surefire will send you a brand new light, I'm not sure what Fenix will do.

I could rant like a fanboy, but the bottom line is you're comparing a Strider/Sebenza to a Boker Trance.

 

[Jason B.]

I could rant like a fanboy, but the bottom line is you're comparing a Strider/Sebenza to a Boker Trance.

And why folks don't see that is beyond me

 

[kgd]

I like candle lanterns. You stare into the flickering flames and get all sleepy and hypnotized. Who the heck wants to see beyond the flame?