High output flashlights

[silenthunterstudios]

I have two high output lights right now, including a Klarus ST11 at 950 lumens and a Nitecore P12 at 950 lumens, both running 18650 rechargeables. I'm waiting on receiving a Zebralight headlamp with 1020 lumens. I've got a Fenix TK17 and a Fenix PD22UED, both at 400 lumens. I've also got a Streamlight tactical single CR123A with 180 lumens and two Surefires, a 6PL and a G2L with I believe 80 lumens each.

I was looking at higher output lights. 3500-5000 lumens. I like the Nitecore TM26. Are there any other low cost, high quality handheld lights out there? Something about the size of the TM26. Some of these lights look like they should be mounted on the roof of a first response vehicle. I'm looking for something no bigger than a Maglite.

 

[kinzli]

There's a good number of mods you can do to Maglights to get them up over 1000 lumens. I have one that is up around 4000 lumens, it runs 12 1.2V batteries and drives a high output lamp bulb. It makes a ton of heat and a ton of light (literally lights paper on fire), but also will run through those batteries in a matter of minutes. If it's all for wow factor, great, but then there's the balance of usable light, etc. I'm not sure you're going to find much in longer-running lights in that output range that's not big due to the amount of battery required to drive them - so you either get short runtime or large batteries.

Also, throw versus flood. Yet another area to have lots of options.