school me on flashlights

R

RDog

Joined
Jul 28, 2011
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I have very little knowledge on flashlights for EDC.

Some things I have read state you need 200 lumens min. for a self defense/tactical light...(or thats the writers personal recommendation anyway).
It seems my old surefire g2 has only 65 lumens, but at close range I sure don't want that shined in my face, How many lumens do you need for a self defense light?

I also really don't like the G2 as I can't carry it ready to "deploy" without the light going off from moving around in my pocket. The only times I carry it is when I keep my hands on it in the pocket of a jacket to protect the pushbutton. If I don't protect the button I need to turn on its safety, meaning its no longer grab and go...but grab, turn and go. Kind of pointless for an EDC self defense light.

For many years I EDC'd a minimag on my hip next to my leatherman, I am guessing with todays advancements there are better, smaller lights for general light use.

So, I think I am looking for two lights, one small AA, or AAA size for general light needs, and something that really can "blind" a bad guy in need.

Any ideas what I should get?

I know many lights have multi settings, but I'd rather not mess with cycling settings when I need high power, nor waste battery power if I was cycling to a lower setting for general use.
 
RDog said:
I have very little knowledge on flashlights for EDC.


> How many lumens do you need for a self defense light?

Everything is relative. But I would say that 180+ is a good starting point.


> So, I think I am looking for two lights, one small AA, or AAA size for general light needs, and something that really can "blind" a bad guy in need.

Any ideas what I should get?
Click to expand...

- Streamlight Microstream is a decent, inexpensive AAA light for general usage. One mode, $17. Nice clip that also attaches to a baseball cap to make a head light.
- Fenix E01: AAA, very low output, but plenty sufficient for a dark environ. Regulated so you get the same output for maybe 10 hours, with diminishing light thereafter for maybe another 10. Twisty head, bulletproof and $15.
- For a bright light suitable for EDC and blasting bad people, you might look at the various flavors from Quark and Fenix in the 2xAA, 1xCR123, and 2xCR123 genre. Nice and thin for belt carry, but very bright. Most are in the 180 - 200 lumen range, more or less.
 
Tactically speaking, most any light shined in someone's eyes in the dark will cause tempoary blindness. (dilate pupil+bright light=oweee). I light the trusty maglights. With a few bucks, you can upgrade the aa models to minimum 140 lumens LED, add a castellated bezel, and a conical 'Bust a Cap), and, pow, one BA light. And stil as tough as any maglight, and cheaper than most other quality brands comparbly outfitted.

Don't get me started on the D5: Oh ho ho ho ho - 1000 lumens!!
 
If your G2 only puts out 65 lumens it must be an incandescent model. Newer LED lights are much more efficient, with higher outputs and longer runtimes. For AA your choices are somewhat limited, and Zebralight's offerings are probably your best bet. They can get pretty bright, too. For AAA, the Fenix E01 is a great option. It's not too bright, but it's plenty bright enough, and the regulated driver is very efficient and the potted electronics are very durable (someone threw theirs off a 5 story building and it worked fine). If you're willing to spend more, the Peak Eiger is my favorite for AAA lights. They also feature potted electronics, but come in different materials, are brighter, and have the option of being dimmable with the QTC feature.

If you want another EDC light that's a bit brighter, you should be able to get away with a single CR123A powered one. You don't need the full 200 lumens to put someone at a disadvantage if their eyes are adjusted for the dark. There are some neat magnetic control ring variable lights like the Sunwayman V10R (which can also use AA batteries with an adapter), Zebralight has some nice offerings again, and HDS lights are incredible (but hard to get right now. I've had mine on order since summer, and some have waited much longer).
 
I've been VERY pleased with the Eagletac d25 series as an all around edc light. Mine is the d25c clicky model which runs on 1 cr123 battery, puts out right around 300 lumens on turbo, has a quickly accessible tactical strob for blasting baddies yet has very useful lower brightness modes available by just loosening the head (head tightened = turbo/strobe, head loosened = low/medium/high). It also features several hidden beacon/SOS survival modes. You really owe it to yourself to check out the Eagletac d25 series. I prefer the d25c clicky for its small size and high output, but the series also includes AA, 2xAA, 2xCR123, and 18650 lights with either twisty or clicky switches.

For an incredibly small yet bright AAA light I can highly recommend the Fenix LD01.
 
My Surefire Fury is pretty sweet, it's either 15 or 500 lumens. It's also a bit large for EDC, IMO. So, I EDC a Surefire EL1 Outdoorsman, which is either 3 or 45 lumens. I bring these two up because they aren't really "tactical". When they are turned on, a single push, they are in low mode. It's easy to double touch either one to get them into high output.
Thing is, lots of tactical lights seem to have a single mode or something like 10. I wanted to conserve on battery life/cost. CR123's are expensive and using up two of them in 2-3 hours is costly, and you'll find yourself with dead batteries way too often.

Maybe something like the Surefire EL1 is an option, for your non-tactical light? I've seen them sell for $94 on one website, sure it's a bit pricy, but you get a very nice light, with a pyrex lens. Later, you can change or upgrade the clicky switch if need be, the lens has a lifetime warranty. The best thing is it's size, the single CR123, it's run time is 8.5 hrs on high and 40 something on low. It's a very clear light, I have older yet more powerful lights, but the EL1 has a better light quality, I can see the same object better with only 45 lumens.

The fury is very very bright, it's not a spot light, more of a flood. I can use a spot light on a tree and have to move the light around the tree to find my bear bag. The fury lights up the whole tree, you don't really have to "aim" the light just turn in the direction you want to look. The fury comes in several different versions, the defender is one you may want to look at.

I can only recommend lights I have experience with or own. A relative owns the Streamlight Super Tac X, and I thought it was bright at 200 lumens. It's larger, has a big dish, and is a beam. It can throw that beam farther than the Fury, but in the woods, I'd rather have the 500 Lumen flood light. The Streamlight also has more modes and is more tricky to get to the strobe. Also, I find the 500 more intense than the strobing 200.

I'm sure other guys have different opinions or experiences, and more knowledge, but these are mine...
 
Stream light customer service is top notch as they have replaced my microstream once before, very quickly. The second one they sent is also in need of warranty replacement. So moral of the story, do not buy the microstream. They are I not dependable for EDCin'

The Fenix E11 is a wonderful choice though. Bright and always comes on. Plus it won't break you or break on you.
 
I am really loving my Titanium Innovations IlluminaTi as an edc light. It really is tiny and comes with a keychain attachment and a pocket clip. Puts out 132 lumens on high. It replaced my Microstream for edc. There are also good single AAA lights from Maratac, Olight an others.

When you say self defense light, do you mean something just to put a flash in someone's face or something capable of striking as well? If you just want light, look into the Sunwayman single CR123 lights. The M10R has a 210 lumen strobe that is very effective. The magnetic mode selection may also negate the need for a second light as it can be left on high or strobe and just twisted to access the other modes. For a larger light capable of striking that won't break the bank the Olight M20 is a great one. 320 lumens and also has a very good strobe.
 
Alright, there have been some great lights/brands named and I have been looking at these.

To clear up my first statements I am not looking for any sort of impact weapon in a light, just bright, blinding light from a light that can be carried at the ready without the light going off just from accident. The exposed thumb button on my surefire is the prime example of what I do not want...unless the newer models have corrected the accidental discharge issue.

There may be other factors I am not looking at with the rear pushbuttons, like how its carried. Maybe with the correct belt sheath accidental discharges would not be an issue?
 
Maybe with the correct belt sheath accidental discharges would not be an issue?[/QUOTE]


Ding ding ding...You got it now. Pocket carry can work if the button is recessed, but I wear my light in a holster on my belt.
 
foxx said:
Ding ding ding...You got it now. Pocket carry can work if the button is recessed, but I wear my light in a holster on my belt.
Click to expand...

Well I have had my minimag go off in its belt sheath many times...these days I keep a small portion of painters tape on it to keep it from turning on so easy. Don't tell me I need to do some sort of the same with these high dollar lights as well?

So what kind of holster do I want? Do all the big companies Surefire, Fenix, Quark Etc. have holsters for ther lights?
 
Actually Surefire has a lock out feature on many of their lights. If you unscrew the tail cap one full turn so the notches line up, the button can't turn on the light. I think the G2 model actually did have this feature before they discontinued it and moved to LED's, but the early versions of the G2 didn't.

A recessed push button would prevent most accidental activations as well. A lot of clickies on lights are recessed now so people can tail stand their lights. If you want to be really sure you don't activate the light, you could get an HDS with the recessed push button. It won't come on easily, and even if the button does get pushed, you can set it in a pocket safe mode that lets the light turn on only if you push the button twice quickly or something like that.
 
My surefire can be made pocket safe, but then it is no use to pull and light without messing with it...which is the root of my problem.

I have thought about gluing some sort of ring around the button, maybe nylon washers or something, to protect it, but the G2 is still bulky for pants pocket carry.

there are a lot of cool lights to look at thanks to everyone who chimed in, hopefully I'll find a few good ones that do what I want.
 
BTW, the HDS rotary has a rotating ring to adjust the brightness, so you can set how bright it will be with the light off. It has 24 levels IIRC, and is designed in a way that there's much less parasitic drain and better efficiency at low brightnesses than an infinitely variable light. You can program the tail button to do different things, but if you need a bright light in a pinch, the default setting is that holding down the button for a second will turn the light on to max power. There's a lot of neat tech in that light if you care to read up on it.

A cheaper option would be the Sunwayman V10R. Single CR123A light again with variable brightness you can set with the light on or off, but it's infinitely variable so it ramps smoothly. A magnetic control ring sets the brightness by sending a magnetic signal through the body, so the waterproofness is preserved. The tail button is recessed, but you could also unscrew the head a tiny bit to lock it out. It's also a very compact light that you can use AA batteries in with an adapter, and the high setting is very bright and the low very low. It comes with a sheath and some spare rubber parts.

I've been pretty impressed with my V10R, still waiting on my HDS.
 
Tsujigiri said:
BTW, the HDS rotary has a rotating ring to adjust the brightness, so you can set how bright it will be with the light off. It has 24 levels IIRC, and is designed in a way that there's much less parasitic drain and better efficiency at low brightnesses than an infinitely variable light. You can program the tail button to do different things, but if you need a bright light in a pinch, the default setting is that holding down the button for a second will turn the light on to max power. There's a lot of neat tech in that light if you care to read up on it.

A cheaper option would be the Sunwayman V10R. Single CR123A light again with variable brightness you can set with the light on or off, but it's infinitely variable so it ramps smoothly. A magnetic control ring sets the brightness by sending a magnetic signal through the body, so the waterproofness is preserved. The tail button is recessed, but you could also unscrew the head a tiny bit to lock it out. It's also a very compact light that you can use AA batteries in with an adapter, and the high setting is very bright and the low very low. It comes with a sheath and some spare rubber parts.

I've been pretty impressed with my V10R, still waiting on my HDS.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I love my V10R. The variable brightness ring is great for edc.
 
Ok Lumens are not a very good measure of brightness, lumens are total light emitted. Lux or candle power are more what your looking for, its the intensity of the hot spot. Thats why your g2 only has 65 lumens yet still blinds you, It is very focused and has a lot of lux.

You want something with a recessed tail switch. And something that starts on high. I cant really recommend anything to you because I use lithium rechargeables, and mostly all twisty lights, or high end stuff.

Did you know they came out with a new mini mag pro with 200+ lumen.
 
Nobody has mentioned the PD32? Has the strobe feature easily accessible, bright, decent spread. Apparently you'll need a sheath for it (I just clip it in my pocket, may have turned once).
 
I have Surefire and Streamlight, but my current favorites are Fenix. I have a LD41 in my backpack and a TK11 on my AR, plus I gifted several to my friends for Christmas. They all got rave reviews.
 
My EDC light is an Olight T15. It uses one AA {they have other battery options in that series} and has a recessed button. In the 6 months or so of having it, I have not had any problems with it turning on in my pocket. . . I keep it in low mode and use it there most often. If I had any issues with the light, it would be the strobe and SOS settings. I don't like how easy they are to activate.
 
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