Questions from a flashlight newbie

Chiro75

Chiro75

Joined
Feb 4, 1999
Messages
5,786
Somehow I've gotten bitten by the tactical flashlight bug! Doh! I had a SureFire 3P that I never used because it was a little round for EDC and it chewed up expensive batteries like you wouldn't believe. I've spent some time looking at various websites and for $35 the Inova X5T looks like a really pretty good purchase. But, I'm willing to accept any recommendations because I'm sure there are some real "sleepers" out there. Here are my basic criteria:

1) I'd prefer a metal body, I think, and I'd like it to be small enough in diameter for pocket carry.

2) I'd prefer it to be LED.

3) I'd like it to use regular AA or AAA batteries.

4) The smaller the better in these criteria, of course.

5) $30 or less would be cool.

The CMG Infinity Ultra looks good, too, but maybe it's too small? I want something practical with a lot of light. The X5/X5T look like a good deal. Also, on that note, if that is the better one, should I go with the government issue one or the original? Price is the same.
 
Well, the X5T, although a great light, is out due to your list of criteria. It's not small enough for pocket carry IMO. The only way I'd carry one is in a belt sheath, which is sorta EDC friendly but not always. Ohh, and it also uses lithium cell batteries, which are the same thing you didn't like in the SF. They'd last longer being in an LED environment, but they're still pricey compaired to Energiser or Duracell or whatever.

Looking at your criteria, there's two different kinds of lights to look at.

1. AA size lights. You mention the CMG (Now Gerber) Infinity Ultra, and Arc also has a AA light. I've got both the Ultra and the Ultra-G (Gov't issue), and the only real difference between the two I have is the anodizing. The Ultra-G is much heavier, I haven't scratched it at all while the other is softer, it will scratch with moderate force. I use the Ultra-G for my SAR tracking light, and the Ultra is my late night SHTF light. The only problem you might have with this size is pocket carry. They wouldn't fit in so well on a keychain, IMO. Mine is about the size of a 20ga Shotgun shell. I could carry it in a pocket, but it'd probably be upright in a back pocket, either next to the wallet or on the other side with a hankie. Mine are both on lanyards. If you do go with the Ultra, just go Ultra-G for the same money. There's no disadvantage to doing so.

2. AAA size lights. CMG has one in the Sonic, but between the other two main competitors, it's a waste. Don't even bother, unless you really like the odd look of it for some reason. The two competitors in my mind are the Arc AAA and the Dorcy AAA. The Arc will meet your criteria every time. It's a tough light, a smidgen smaller than a Mag Solitare, but with all of the benefits of LED technology. The standard version is like 25 bucks, the premium version is 35 bucks. The only downside is that these are hard to find sometimes. People on Ebay will sell them in the 50-60 dollar range. The Dorcy, while it's not quite as tough, is under 6 dollars at my local Wal-Mart. I like it for the fact that I have to worry about it like I would an expensive light. I can use it hard, put it away wet, and lend it out without a care, as it's a cheepie. While 95% of the time I've got 4 flashlights on me, this is the one that gets used the most by far.
 
Chiro75 said:
...I had a SureFire 3P that I never used because...it chewed up expensive batteries like you wouldn't believe...
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Oh, sure...NOW you tell me.:D.:D. (BTW...I'll send-out those trade items to you tomorrow [Monday] morning.).

(No, actually, I know that the Surefires eat the 123 lithium batteries like penny candy, but it's not one that I'll use alot, like I do my AA Mini-Maglite or my Photon II...It's just that the little 3P is a handy little bright light, and since it's red, it's soooo cute.:).).
 
Believe me, don't go cheap now cuz later on you'll get your surefires and your arcs and the rest of the stuff you bought before will seem like garbage. that's what happened to me and knives. after getting a custom i bit the bug too. now i only look at customs and high end production knives. there's no turning back once you've experienced quality over cost effectiveness.

with that said, go with the ARC AA or AAA. they're the best mini lights you'll ever need. they're BRIGHT in a very small package. plus they have constant brightness until the batteries run out at which point it goes into a "moon mode" where it still lights but very dim. as a side note, the AA can use lithium AA's so that means a long shelf life.

Dorcy's AAA would be the economical choice. but IMO the arc's look 100x better.

for bigger lights, i look at surefire first. their prices are high, but they deliver the goods. some of the surefires also have constant brightness features. for me, that's a MUST cuz nothing's worse than gradually declining brightness, wondering "did this look brighter yesterday?".
 
Glockman, don't worry, it'll last a pretty long time all the same. It's SHOCKINGLY brighter than the flashlights I've been familiar with before. Great little light and you'll love it.

Now, I looked up the ArcLight AAA. Which is brighter, this one or the Ultra-G, which seems to be about the same size?
 
Chiro, I carry a Surefire E2, which is very bright, and an Inova X5T, which is exactly the same size and uses exactly the same two lithium 123 batteries. In fact, it literally uses the same batteries ... after the E2 depletes them to the point they won't light up any more, I set them aside for my Inova, which gets about 10 hours more light out of them! :)

The Inova is not nearly as bright as the E2, but this makes it more useful for close-up situations where you don't need the massive glare of the Surefire.

For a similar flashlight to the Inova, check out NiteCutters. These are a little cheaper and lighter-weight. Some models are the size of the X5T; the ones I got are smaller, about the size of a pack of Lifesavers. You can get 3 LED red, white, or green, or 5 LED white or green, or you can get any one, and buy the other heads and swap them if you want the different colors.

I recommend the website, with its good explanation of which colors are best for what use, and why. This inspired me to get the 5 LED green, although I generally prefer white light. The green makes a great light for walking around at night without glaring everything out, but shows up every bump and pothole.

Also check out the Inova X1 !!! I gave mine to my daughter, but I gotta replace it. Too good to miss. It's much smaller than the X5T but made with the same massive durability. It takes one AA battery. It has a focussed beam that lights up an immediate area, not the entire periphery. It is almost small enough for a keychain light. Whatever else you get, pick up one of these.
 
I recommend a MiniMag with Opalec Newbeam LED conversion.
Mine see more use than any other of my lights.
Great runtime, cheap to run, regulated light, and a low battery indicator.

Not the brightest - but nice clean, even light.
 
Chiro75 said:
1) I'd prefer a metal body, I think, and I'd like it to be small enough in diameter for pocket carry.

2) I'd prefer it to be LED.

3) I'd like it to use regular AA or AAA batteries.

4) The smaller the better in these criteria, of course.

5) $30 or less would be cool.
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The CMG Infinity and Gov't models are too big around for my tastes. The beam quality of the ARC AAA is much better.

I use either my ARC AAA LE or a SureFire E2E. A Mag-lite with the LED conversion might make a better overall utility light though.

The Streamlite 3C Task Light is a great light in its own right, though too big for your needs.
 
The Arc AAA is a heck of a lot smaller than an Ultra-G. The Ultra model is about the same size around as the barrel of a minimag, and about as long as a shotgun shell. You could carry it on your keys, I guess, but you'd either have to enjoy having a ton of huge stuff in your pocket or be like 10 feet tall. Between the Ultra and the Arc, there's going to be a slight difference, but it's not going to be mind-blowing or anything. You'd be able to tell a difference, but there wouldn't be much of one. Being a AA, the Ultra *should* stay lit longer.

Are you wanting EDC or every day use?? I've got 4 lights on me 95% of the time, and without a doubt I reach for the Dorcy most often. It's not on keys, which is a plus for me, because when I'm looking at something I usually want my hands free. I can just pull it out, hit the back button, and it's lit. If I want to let go, I can twist the endcap and it stays on, so I can use both hands or whatever. There's no doubt, as far as construction and beam quality the Arc wins. The Inova X1 would also be a great light. For me, working with this stuff most every day, it's nice to have a fairly decent light that I don't have to worry about. Most of the time, it does the job for me, and it's the least expensive option. Heck, for six bucks, pick one up and if you don't like it, give it to a youngster. They'll have a ball with it!
 
just thought i'd throw in my opinion:

i EDC the inova X5T and find that if you put it in the right spot you forget it's there. i either wear cargo shorts or jeans, if i'm in shorts i drop it in my strong side cargo pocket and let it lie flat and that works great. if i'm in jeans i'll just slip it into a hip pocket and as long as it stays to the outside it works good enough too.

i used to carry the X1 but after using it outside for a few days i decided the tight beam just didn't work well enough for me so i switched to the X5T. I really like the X5T, it's bright enough to use indoors or outdoors and was cheap enough that i can live if i lose it, the battery life is also a plus.
 
I used to be pretty much in love with my Arc AAA... Until I got my first Luxeon :eek:

If you want to have incandescent (or better) performance in a white light package you gotta try a luxeon (Arc LS, Arc 4, Longbow, Sandwich Shoppe drop-in, etc). Unfortunately, you pretty much have to go with CR123 batteries (although you can get the Longbow with a 2 AA config and drop-ins fit minimags), but IMHO they're really worth the extra expense.

I got my Longbow last week and it outshines all my flashlights except my Scorpion.

Guy
 
Chiro75 said:
1) I'd prefer a metal body, I think, and I'd like it to be small enough in diameter for pocket carry.

2) I'd prefer it to be LED.

3) I'd like it to use regular AA or AAA batteries.

4) The smaller the better in these criteria, of course.

5) $30 or less would be cool.
Click to expand...
How small do you want to go? The new Streamlight Jr. Luxeon meets all of your requirements, unless you want something shorter. I don't have a problem carrying it. You can clip it into a pants pocket so it stands up vertically and it'll look like a pen. The diameter of the head is a little bit thicker than the X5, but the overall body is thinner.
 
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