Looking for a Flashlight. Any Recommendations?

I have a Surefire E2L and had a Fenix PD30. Surefires are basically bombproof though pretty pricy. The 6PX and G2X do look good....
The fenix got lost on a camping trip but definitely getting a new one, great bang for the buck light.
 
Something to also consider is the UI. I love the UI on both the RA Clicky and the Jetbeam clicky lights with the IBS. If I was only gonna have 1 light for a BOB, survival kit, camping, or SHTF it would probably be something in a very common battery size like a AA. There are some seriously awesome AA lights out there in both twisty and clicky configs. The better AA led lights can handle both protected/unprotected cells and even the higher voltage L-ION rechargeable batteries. It is nice cause you can use the rechargeable for daily use and have a box of disposables ready to go whenever.
 
I'm going to suggest the Fenix TK20 (if nobody has already). I don't own one but it's supposed to be a great light. Runs on AA's, warm tinted beam which helps out a lot outdoors, and rugged as hell.
 
Olight M30 Triton ,700 lumen max power, easy to operate , LED , $139 from New Graham .
I have mine for few years and very happy with it .
here is pic , only pic i have
761331014_TWZxt-L.jpg
 
Robocarullo said:
Something to also consider is the UI.
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I agree, that's why the Nitecore D10 has become my favorite light. It's not the brightest but it has a great low and high enough high. I love how I can turn it on and off multiple times and it doesn't cycle between levels. I get so annoyed with my Fenix and Quark lights when I want to use short bursts of light but end up cycling through low, med, high, sos and strobe, just to have to do it again a few seconds later.
The piston drive with variable ramping just exudes quality and functionality.
 
surefire e2l, handsdown. also, you guys buying cr123 batterys, make sure your getting non chineese batterys. they have a reputation, for exploding.
dave
 
hoopster said:
I agree, that's why the Nitecore D10 has become my favorite light. It's not the brightest but it has a great low and high enough high. I love how I can turn it on and off multiple times and it doesn't cycle between levels. I get so annoyed with my Fenix and Quark lights when I want to use short bursts of light but end up cycling through low, med, high, sos and strobe, just to have to do it again a few seconds later.
The piston drive with variable ramping just exudes quality and functionality.
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Yeah the Nitecore lights were definitely at the top of the list to consider when I bought my last one. I would like to get a D-10 to play with eventually.

My buddy has a Quark, it is nice but not for me. The functionality is there, especially that moonlight mode that lasts FOREVER! The styling and clicky/twisty combo is however sort of a turn off for me.

I forgot to mention programability in my last post.... some lights have it some don't it is also a selling point for some. Personally I really like to be able to set the brightness/order of the various modes. For instance with my EDC light I do not want the light to go right to the highest setting when I click it on, I prefer a medium low brightness.

For the "bump in the night" light on my bedside table I have it set to only a few lumens for the first setting then high for the second setting. This is to avoid wrecking my night vision if I wake up and have to turn the flashlight on.

This is just for me though your needs may be different, just some stuff to think about. Really you will probably end up buying a few.
 
i've got a bunch of Surefires. but unless you buy a dozen or so batteries at a time, online the price of buying two at WM or in the photo department in a pharmacy or wherever can get a litle steep.

Fenix and a few other companies have some great AA powered lights. AAs are available EVERYWHERE, and with LEDs have reasonable runtimes. 123s will give you longer runtimes, but it's not a huge issue.

all my weapon mounted lights are 123 powered, most of my EDCs are AA.

Fenix has, what looks like a great headlight in their HL20 which runs on 1 AA and gives 105 lumens, with several brightness settings. these come with a diffuser and are about $40

Fenix also has some other "conventional" lights in different brightness ranges and using different batteries.

and Pentagon Light has their MOLLE light which is a modern anglehead light so it can be clipped to a pack strap or something. this is about $30

i haven;t had a chance to get either of those yet... but they're on my short list.

Surefire is great, but they're no longer the only game for a high quality, very bright, compact light.

i have three of the Streamlight Pro Polymer 4xAA lights which are good, inexpensive general illumination lights, but one died recently and i need to send it in. good for around the house but slightly larger than i usually want to pack.

i've lost two or three G2 Surefires.
 
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i used to be a surefire guy (i still have my two 6p led, one mounted on my ar) but after reading reviews here about fenix lights i decided to try a pd20 for edc...couldn't be happier so i ordered another one last night.

don't really care that they use cr123a's intead of the more common aa's since i buy them by the box load/year supply.
 
I also used to be a surefire or nothing guy. Had a E1L ($99.. lost it), have a 6P LED ($60.. 80 lumens), have an L4 ($175 100 lumens). All ran/run on CR123As.

I recently converted to Fenix because of the price and more advanced LEDs. I dont know why surefire claims to be the best as far as new led technology is concerned because they arent. They've been using the same old LEDs forever (until now with the G2 and 6PX models which are actually quite impressive). I also like using AAs rather than 123s. Cheaper and more available. I have a TK10 ($60, 225 lumens) on my AR, and an LD20 ($60, 2 AA, 205 Lumens) for my pocket. Hope to get an LD10 ($50, 1 AA, 132 lumens) for christmas. All my fenix lights put out more light and with tighter beams than my surefires.

Incidentally, Fenix has just released some new lights.. you guys that like E01s are gunna be happy.
 
If you are going with a CR123A powered light these are a good deal. From what I have read they rate pretty high. I use them myself but have little experience with anything other than these and the Streamlight brand. Honestly when I am using the light I don't really keep track of the lumen rating, duration etc, but I have had a positive experience with them.

http://www.lighthound.com/Battery-Station-CR123A-CR-123a-CR-123-CR123-Battery_p_120.html

I also like to store them in these....

http://store.bugoutgearusa.com/batterycarrier1.html
 
Surefire or Streamlight are great. I am also looking at trying out a Fenix PD20 R2 CREE XP-E LED Flashlight and expect this would be a great light. I have a small 1 AA Lifegear ligth that seems to work fairly well but havent really abused to know how durable it is. They are quite affordable. Anyone know how rugged the lifegear lights are? I am not expecting they are very tough given the price....
 
try dealextreme.com they arent top end torches but they are pretty well built and solid pieces and they also have good prices on batteries and other LED emitters and pieces for upgrades and do it your self projects as well..bought a eastwardYJ mainly cause it was water proof..and after 3 yrs and numerous times dropping it and it being in the water its still going strong..i couldnt bring my self to buy a $150+ flashlight..figured i could spend that money on a good knife..but each to their own..good luck on the decision.

P.s. i would put this cheap $30 Eastwards Throw up against any of the surefire.fenix. streamlights. or anyother lights out there..this bad boys throw is Ridiculously bright 100yrds easy.
 
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I have owned a few Fenix's and gave them away. They worked fine for their task, but a few years ago I decided I'd rather buy American. Fenix/Olight/Nitecore are ok quality for the money, but I reject the claim that they are 'as good or better' than Surefire. SF has gone out of it's way to keep their business in the US and I support them for that, and their customer service is outstanding. I have had many parts replaced due to my own negligence, and never been asked to send a light in, usually the part arrives quickly with no questions asked. Short of losing the damn thing, when you buy Surefire you don't really ever have to buy another one.
 
gallonoffuel said:
I have owned a few Fenix's and gave them away. They worked fine for their task, but a few years ago I decided I'd rather buy American. Fenix/Olight/Nitecore are ok quality for the money, but I reject the claim that they are 'as good or better' than Surefire. SF has gone out of it's way to keep their business in the US and I support them for that, and their customer service is outstanding. I have had many parts replaced due to my own negligence, and never been asked to send a light in, usually the part arrives quickly with no questions asked. Short of losing the damn thing, when you buy Surefire you don't really ever have to buy another one.
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Big +1
 
As with knives, I've accumulated more than a few lights.

I carry a Surefire E2L which is a great LED-based light. It's bright, small and very rugged. The head failed on it after 3 years, and Surefire replaced it at no cost, so their customer service is spot on. The only downside is cost, at around $149, it's not for the faint of wallet.

You could also get a Surefire G2, for $36. It's plastic, but definitely not a WalMart special. It is not an LED light, but it is bright and rugged.

I always buy the batteries from Surefire, buying them locally can be ugly expensive.

I'll add a +1 to the idea of a head lamp. I have a Petzl Tikka in my my hunting pack and it is the stuff for working with your hands in the dark. I've had to field dress a deer, troubleshoot an ATV problem or setup camp in fading light and it's no fun trying hold a flashlight in your mouth while you do it.

SP
 
I go surefire all the way. They're the best out there, and I have nothing bad to say about them.

For EDC, I carry their E1B - small, lightweight, lasts a very long time on 1 battery. I have G2 LED lights (with traffic wands) in both my car and my gf's car, both were ~$50 - very affordable, and very good lights. The newly introduced G2X Pro and 6PX Pro look very promising as well!

For travel, I carry an E2D in my pocket, and an A2 (red) in my pack. You can't carry a knife on planes anymore, so the E2D is my best bet if I ever need to defend myself with anything, and serves as a great light... I use the A2's red LEDs for when I'm tripping over things at night, and don't want to blind anyone else, or wake anyone.

Surefire definitely makes great stuff. (and yes, buy batteries direct from SF!)
 
bd51 said:
I have a Fenix LD20 and it is AMAZING. Super bright (180 lumens), long battery life, rugged, reliable, and also incredibly waterproof. Buy one and you wont be disapointed.

They are also not that expensive for what you are getting they usually run about 60 bucks.
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+1 on the LD20 I have a few of these and love them.
 
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