Nuclear Tough Flashlights?

Tyrkon Lawson

Tyrkon Lawson

Joined
Oct 31, 2003
Messages
8,583
I recently sold off my Fenix TK10. It was an awesome tank of a flashlight. Nuclear tough IMO. But it took CR123 batteries and I am trying to get all my gear to run on more common batteries. I have a couple mini-mag flashlights and wasn't too impressed so I bought an LED mini-mag (2 AA) and was really impressed with the output on this thing.

maglite_SP22117J.jpg


So what flashlights do you guys pack with your INFI? I'm mainly looking for lights that take the more common batteries such as AA, AAA, etc... :thumbup:
 
malkoff md2 w/hi-lo swith and a m60 and m61 drop in.made in the usa and awesome:thumbup:
this one takes cr123's though.
i also like 4 sevens aa lights,,very nice for chinese made.
 
Surefire makes a headlamp (the saint) that runs on 123 or AA batteries... 0 to 100 lumens.
 
Surefire 6P with Malkoff M61W bored for 18650 batteries and hard anodized Type 3 by oveready.com

Elzetta with Malkoff M60WF, crenelated bezel and clicky tail switch is off getting bored for 18650.

The 18650 rechargeable cell holds about twice the power of two C123 batteries. Primaries are for suckers.
 
I have a mixture of lights from Surefire (low end), Fenix, Inova and Nitecore. Surefire is the gold standard but they come at a price. The advantage of C123s is the longer run time and increased output compared to AAs. Also lithium batteries are superior in terms of resistance to cold draining and have a 10 year shelf life so they last a long time. As a result of this I have standardized my lights around these batteries.
 
I use a Fenix LD20. It replaced the mini mag which had the LED conversion. Been looking for a good head lamp though.
 
I know that CR123 are better than AA and AAA for good reasons. But with three children I always have a ton for AA and AAA at my house so if there is an emergency I will always have batteries on hand. Even if I have to take some out of my kids toys. So I just wanted to have some good quality flashlights that take these more common batteries.

Great suggestions so far. I am taking notes. :)
 
Tyrkon Lawson said:
I know that CR123 are better than AA and AAA for good reasons. But with three children I always have a ton for AA and AAA at my house so if there is an emergency I will always have batteries on hand. Even if I have to take some out of my kids toys. So I just wanted to have some good quality flashlights that take these more common batteries.

Great suggestions so far. I am taking notes. :)
Click to expand...

With a 10 year shelf life (and no toys to put them in), if you had a stash of 123 batteries you would always be set- and you wouldn't be banking your preparedness on a bunch of half dead "common" batteries you have to scrounge from your kids' toys.

As a father of 2 boys, I never have fresh AA, AAA, or C batteries around when I want them... But, the 123s are still in their flavor fresh pouch.
 
I've been very happy with the 4Sevens and Nitecore lights I've had. A lot of the newer AA lights are not to far off brightness wise from the 123's. Example, the 4Sevens QuarkAA Turbo vs 123Turbo. 190lumens vs 200. When it comes to run times though, AA is always bested.
 
I have a few Coleman LED 3AAA flashlights which I use as general purpose flashlights alongside my Streamlight Stinger and Surefire 6P LED.

They are cheap so I don't mind the kids messing around with them and I don't stress about the battery prices.

The shape is like a fatter 6P and about the same length. It is the highest quality I have found for the price.
 
I picked up this coast 8420 LED lenser T7. It puts out 200 lumens of focusable light and uses 4 AAA batteries. I think it's a great little light.
 
I've got four Maglites with Malkoff dropins and three Fenix AA lights. I'm interested in picking up the new Surefire 2xAA model out now and maybe a Zebralight. I love the LED technology.
 
hlee said:
With a 10 year shelf life (and no toys to put them in), if you had a stash of 123 batteries you would always be set- and you wouldn't be banking your preparedness on a bunch of half dead "common" batteries you have to scrounge from your kids' toys.

As a father of 2 boys, I never have fresh AA, AAA, or C batteries around when I want them... But, the 123s are still in their flavor fresh pouch.
Click to expand...

For whatever reason I always have AA and AAA. When I do a Costco run I buy a mega pack and set some aside for flashlights. The kids get the rest. So in an emergency I should always have AA or AAA but just in case there are the kid's I could use if I have too. But I get your point. The cree lights will be my personal stash. :thumbup:

I do plan on getting a good Cr123 light or two but would also like other lights around the house to be able to use the most common batteries I have on hand all the time. And I would rather not have cheap ones.
 
You will not get any AA or AAA flashlight love from me. Of course I have mini mag lights scattered around. LED and incandescent, factory and drop in. They are great stocking stuffers.

I did the whole CPF thing and when it comes down to it and you get over the brightest, or the latest and so on and so on, it comes down to one light for me.

It runs off of CR's that you do not favor. I can't stress enough, spend a little more and get A LOT more. Buy this light and a case of SF 123's. Spread them around. A box in your truck, a box in your house. Get a 10 dollar pelican case with a foam insert that holds the CR123's individually and throw it out in the snow until you need them years from now.

Too many times I needed a light that had 'fresh' C, D, AA or AAA cells a year ago... guess what now they are dead. Those extras the kids had been using are in the remote control.

For just over 300 dollars be prepared and have a real light that you can rely on.

Get the Surefire U2a
U2A2.jpg


U2A1.jpg


I have used this light for 3 years now. At a job that demands it regularly. I have also used it for everything else. 1-120 lumen. Spot and flood.

I bought a case of SF batteries when I first got this light. I still have 2/3's of the case. You don't always need tactical bright. You do have it when you do though. You will be amazed at how efficient this microprocessor regulated flashlight performs in every aspect.

Okay, so that is my little spiel. Eagerly awaiting what AA or AAA flashlight you end up with:D:thumbup:
 
surefire makes a great light(I've owned several) but there are alot of new competitors(at least they are becoming known) that are making solid tactical lights for less money. Olight is a good example and so is Fenix. I recently bought an Olight M31 Triton with 4 power settings including a probe. I have to say that I'm glad I picked it over the competing Surefire model that I was going to buy which costs twice as much. LED is the way to go these days but I've talked to really smart people that I know and they say that LED's will be nothing compared to lights that we will have access to in the near future.
 
Man you guys have a lot of info. Great stuff. Just to clarify... it's not that I do not favor Cr123 it's just that I wanted lights that took batteries that are much more common. Good stuff guys.

I liked my TK10 but found that it often got accidentally turned on in my pack and would be low or dead when I tried to use it. Are there lights, CR123 included, that protect from this?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top