Need a reccomendaton on a good flashlight.

Any light the size of thr MiniMag or smaller can be placed in the Nite Ize head band and serve a couple purposes. I use the headband, not for my MiniMag but for my little Fenix E01.
 
Another one to try out...

iTP Lights.

I tried one on a recommendation as a Christmas Present and it flat out PERFORMS. Light, Bright and adjustable lumination. Up to 230 lumens max. Runs on two CR123A batteries. The model I picked up is the iTP C10T Tactical LED. A few models can be had for near or under $50. PM me if interested in knowing where I picked mine up.
 
I have a Pelican M6 2320 which has served me well. Very bright and not expensive at around $40.
 
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/index1.html - I found this most helpful.

You'll have to decide where your ideal tradeoff is between brightness and battery life is. "Tactical" lights are for things going bump in the night, usually they have a 3 watt led or higher, and for an 'average' battery loadout will last a couple hours *at most*.

5mm LEDs are the dimmest, but don't draw a lot of juice. 3-5 of these in a light provide plenty of light for camping, but you won't be able to see far. I have a 4xAAA princeton tec light with 3x5mm LEDs, and also their 'quad' headlamp, 3xAAA, 4x5mm LEDs, and I use both for camping. Again, these don't throw too far but you can walk a trail or cook supper with them. Expect 5 or 10 or more hours of light depending on batteries.

1 watt LEDs are the next step up.. more light but more power draw, but you only need one for a decent light.

Headlamps are very, very useful.

I've heard nothing but good things about Fenix.

I will never buy another regular incandescent light.. the LEDs are getting bright enough to compete. Xenon bulb, maybe.
 
CSG said:
I recently converted an old AA Mini-Mag light with the Nite Ize LED and adjustable tail cap. Three brightness modes and two strobe modes. You're into the whole thing for about $29 ($9 for the MiniMag and $20 for the conversion drop in kit). It may not be as high tech as some of the other lights out there but I must say I was impressed enough that I'm going to do it to the second MiniMag we have downstairs.
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The switch is the IQ Switch, which runs the light dimmer in all modes but does not extend runtime (many reviews on CPF confirm this). I had one and it was noticeably dimmer, but mine failed within 30 minutes of opening it so I couldn't check runtime.

There's another way to go, particularly for the woods: standard MiniMag ($6-10 in my area), plus the SMJLED retrofit. Drop-in LED & reflector. Much brighter, whiter light than any other conversion except the Terralux models. Bonus: 35 hours to 50% runtime on lithium batteries, and it does well on alkalines.

Re the switch I'd get either the standard push-button (if it's still made) or leave it with the factory switch. If you have to have a clicky, the Krolls are supposed to be the sturdiest.
 
The Inova X5 is a good one. It has a good flood and a decent throw and great battery life (20hrs advertised) on two cr123a batteries.
 
Kat013 said:
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/index1.html -
I will never buy another regular incandescent light.. the LEDs are getting bright enough to compete. Xenon bulb, maybe.
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One thing to keep in mind is that LED does not penetrate hazy conditions as well. Smoke, fog, mist etc are all better penetrated by incandescent light. I don't know why though I suspect it is the wavelength of likt that the different lights produce. It is just an observation I have made having owned both.

Making my way thorugh a small cave about 2 years ago I swapped my Fenix for my surefire E2 and the Xenon definitely did better with the misty codition on that cave. In side by side tests they were very similar other than the blueish vs yellow color they produce. In a hazy condition the incandescent did a better job.
 
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