Rethinking my flash light purchases.

The E2DL is a great light, much brighter than stated and a much better low mode than a fenix. Fenix make a nice light but the surefire is better, if you are looking for something to carry every day that won't take up a lot of space and has more usefullness then get the E2DL. If you don't want to spend that much on a light though, get a fenix. Can't really go wrong either way.
 
most of whats been said is what I was looking for, the reason behind the brighter spot, focus of the light its self.:thumbup:

I just made me think when I saw the pics, I was under the impression the TK10 was better in the throw, flood department, and for the most part it is, but not as much as I thought.

I have done mucho testing with the lights I have, and the tk10 has been stunning to say the least, as of now there has been nothing thats come up that I needed 225 lumens, but its nice to have, just in case you know?

I do alot of night travel, as thats the time Im up most. I've done night shifts and my girl friend still does, so any traveling for the most part takes place at night, in really dark area's:D
So it was important to me to have a good solid,BRIGHT light, which I did get with the TK10.

I do think however that a light with a good tight beam pattern wouldbe nice for an EDC light, in which case with TK11 would have, be much cheaper, but I also have to look at the bulk of it when pocketing the thing, thats my main beef with TK10 right now.

What im looking for in a light right now is something that I carry edc, I all ready have a light I take for everything else, the TK10, 60 lumens is plenty enough, as it is the 60 lumens is too much for entering a room and not waking the GF up, she can get really pissed :D then I flick it to 225 and its like "WHOA, TURN THE LIGHT OFF!":D

When people say the Surefires are better, with out getting into a pissing match, what makes them better?
Made in USA?
Tighter beam pattern when thats what you want?
 
I find i prefer long distance throwers, pencil beam, high lumen. I like to be able to point at a cliff top or ravine 300+ feet away and scan it. Or look all the way across a lake and scan the shore (like when i'm in a canoe, looking for a camping spot or to find people). I also like the project that beam waaaay down the alleys and lanes at night when i do my Night Watchman gig, to look for crack addicts trying to get in. Or when i'm on the roof its really easy to pitlamp them from 5 stories up.

dont have any use for low light levels or flood beams, although i own a few.
 
My signal lamp has got some good lumen :D just need a really long extension cord.
These are some serious torches ... unfortunately over here they all seem to be about $100 :(

Trivia - my smallest kit has a 3v button cell from a PC motherboard and an ultrabright LED wrapped in gladwrap :thumbup:
 
Bushman5 said:
I find i prefer long distance throwers, pencil beam, high lumen. I like to be able to point at a cliff top or ravine 300+ feet away and scan it. Or look all the way across a lake and scan the shore (like when i'm in a canoe, looking for a camping spot or to find people). I also like the project that beam waaaay down the alleys and lanes at night when i do my Night Watchman gig, to look for crack addicts trying to get in. Or when i'm on the roof its really easy to pitlamp them from 5 stories up.

dont have any use for low light levels or flood beams, although i own a few.
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What type of light do you use Bushman?
Im going to need something compact, within reason of course, but you know what I mean. A good tight beam, something more than the TK10, and a decent lumen output.

does the Pelican you have fit those parameters?

Does anyone know if the E2DL will bring these features I need?
 
I see the need for a strong, long range light, with a tight beam, at times;

but mostly when hiking or camping I prefer a wider pattern, and find that I don’t need a super bright light.


I’ve been using some of the Inova LED lights and the tiny Peak Matterhorn LED light quite a bit in the woods this winter and have been very happy with their performance.




"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike
 
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Fonly, the LAPD fits a couple of those paramenters, although i feel the light could be much much brighter (300 lumens would be a start). That being said it is pretty good - tight focus, excellent throw and pure white beam.

its not that compact, though i can fit it in my pants pocket no problem.

if you want bright, compact (and one heck of a good price) check out the EDC carry from Electrolumens......700 lumens , li-ion rechargable.....machined aluminum housing......
http://www.elektrolumens.com/
 
..personally I carry a Nitecore DI for EDC altho it is plenty bright enough on high to punch thru the darkness outdoors. Have you looked at the TK20? ..its purportedly a better outdoors "thrower" w/ nice side spill. The dual cell Nitecore (I forget the model #), the TK20's "competition", is purportedly a better indoors "thrower" w/ more spill and a looser hotspot.
 
My 2 cents and being in Africa ....maybe limited due to range available but as luck would have it .... I have the Surefire and TK10 and TK11. They are so similar in light output that I doubt all are measured using the exact same baseline. That said, the Fenix's lights are half price compared to Surefire here so that does add up for hard use gear that may be damaged or lost in the process. I like the TK11 for running the 18650 but the 17670 Li-ion does great work in the TK10 as well. In a pinch the 17670 can run the in TK11 but it's a rattle fit ;-)

On long range light .... I have a Wolf Eyes HID flashlight. Most all my flashlight look anemic compared to this one with none getting close to range or true white output. I have the Shark and upside is a longer run time compared to a halogen.
 
Ive got a few pics coming up that I took with the tk10, its certainly no slouch, so when I get the E2DL, its going to be interesting.

This is shot at a couple of those 10 foot cinder cylenders. It was about 100 meters away, I was happy with it to say the least.
P2010100.jpg


Now, at a fence about 200 or more meters away. I am certain with the TK10 I could easily light someone up at 200 meters, its a stunning light. I can only imagine a true 200 plus lumen from surefire, if they channel that light like they do with the E2Dl, I would be amazed.
P2010099.jpg
 
Fonly, the biggest problem with the light you have is that it isn't designed for EDC. It is a bigger tool. The Surefire E series are. If you choose to spend the money on one, you will get a nicely built, easily carried lighting tool with a great warranty. The newer optics are quite good, and make good use of the light they receive.

BTW, the big difference between the E2DL and the E2L is that one comes on high first, and the other comes on low first. Don't know if it matters or not. Other than that and the crenellations, I believe they are basically the same.
 
Any Cal. said:
Fonly, the biggest problem with the light you have is that it isn't designed for EDC. It is a bigger tool.
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Exactly, while it rides fine my lunada, its not the best in pocket, considering the price, and output level I've lived with it.:o

But from what im hearing about surefire lights, it changes my original thoughts on what lights I feel I should have.:thumbup:
 
I had a Surefire G2, then got an Outdoorsman, sold the G2. Got a G3, then got another G2. The Outdoorsman sat unused, and I just traded it for a PSK from Landi.

I would like to get an Aviatior, but right now, I am getting along fine with my big Maglite, and the Surefires.
 
Fenix is great... they put a lot of work into pleasing flashlight aficionados and it shows -- you get brighter and cheaper lights... ones that even run on AA and AAA, which Surefire has refused to do for years (this is changing with their introduction of a new spinoff, ICON, which will make lights geared towards the general consumer).

However, Surefire are just tougher and designed better. Conformal coatings mean the light won't get fried if water enters it (although you should still take precautions), the overall designs are more comfortable to hold and use, especially under adverse conditions (Fenix's knurling sucks, and few lights are even knurled), they have pocket clips, and they are just about as bombproof as you can get. Pocket clips on Surefire are an integral part of the design... on most Fenixes they aren't present and if they are they are an afterthought.

That said, not everyone needs a Surefire but there are very few people who wouldn't be quite pleased to own one.
 
Leatherman has partnered up with Fenix to make some new EDC lights and the Leatherman Serac S3 gets extremely high marks from me... the overall design is far superior to most of Fenix's normal offerings with a pocket clip and stainless steel bezel and simpler user interface.
 
Yeah, I remember hearing about the Leatherman lights, they do look interesting.
 
Just depends.....

I like light weight and easy on the batteries. For police/fire/SAR/military use things take on a whole different view. Those retina burners will nix your night vision. Of course, if you point it at someone, you will nix his vision too, which might be a good thing.

LED headlamps work for trails, setting up camp and in the tent. Small compact lights with good battery life that will fit on a keychain are "always there" rigs. I don't need to see 100 yards, just what is in front of me. Getting them all on the same battery is a good thing.

I'm using the Fenix E01 on my survival lanyards now. The coin cell rigs like Photon, Inova, and CountyComm are great but just not as tough as the Fenix. Most are a royal pain to change the batteries--- dealing with 4 tiny screws halfway up a mountain in a rain storm is not my idea of fun. If you use that style, just carry a couple and don't worry about spare batteries.

My headlamp du jour is the Black Diamond Gizmo. It uses 2 AAA cells and will go 40+ hours on low-- it has high and low settings. It is $20 and less on sale and weighs just 2oz. Petzl and Princeton Tec also make excellent headlamps.

I EDC a heavier 3 watt flashlight for urban commuting and work.

I think it is better to have several small lights than one big bright one. Murphy loves the number one :)
 
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