SureFire 6PDL LED Defender

SIFU1A · May 7, 2009

i would get an L4 for when ya need something bright and a fenix (something,like the P2DCE )for utiliity when ya need something dimmer.

thats exactly what i did and for me its a great combo.

DEA · May 7, 2009

i have the asp 3 cell tactical triad, and boy, this baby is bright
above 200 lumens? but it does get hot with sustained use
we were picking up brass after a night shoot and it was like daylight

Katdaddy · May 7, 2009

zenheretic said:
How much does these Malkoff leds cost?

Malkoffdevices.com

$55 and up. Everybody who has one raves over it.

carrot · May 7, 2009

JeepinMatt said:
Yeah I was just checkin out the E2L. A bit of a step up in the max lumen output, I like that. Really nice battery life as well. I think I'll go with that one, seems like a great choice.

Thanks for all the tips guys!

I highly recommend this model. I have THREE. It is tough, slim, and easy to carry. Also quite bright and the dual mode makes it very useful.

redpoint · May 7, 2009

Several people above have mentioned multi-level or dual-level lights. I would tend to agree b/c you get task lighting level and a much brighter level for hiking, navigation etc. The only problem with these lights is that they're a bit more expensive and you can't upgrade them as technology rapidly advances. That said, they're the best of both worlds. I use my bright little C2 + headlamp b/c handhelds suck for task-oriented lighting: e.g. making dinner ... they also suck for negotiating difficult terrain. To be honest, you really can't go wrong with a SureFire, the hype is warranted.

Jason B. · May 7, 2009

redpoint said:
Several people above have mentioned multi-level or dual-level lights. I would tend to agree b/c you get task lighting level and a much brighter level for hiking, navigation etc. The only problem with these lights is that they're a bit more expensive and you can't upgrade them as technology rapidly advances. That said, they're the best of both worlds. I use my bright little C2 + headlamp b/c handhelds suck for task-oriented lighting: e.g. making dinner ... they also suck for negotiating difficult terrain. To be honest, you really can't go wrong with a SureFire, the hype is warranted.

You can upgrade all surefire lights you just gotta know the right people

SF L2 MC-E LED, 3-5 lumen low and 300+ lumen high

JeepinMatt · May 7, 2009

knifenut1013 said:
You can upgrade all surefire lights you just gotta know the right people

SF L2 MC-E LED, 3-5 lumen low and 300+ lumen high

300+ is intense. I don't think I've ever seen a light with that much output lol. I'm surprised it doesn't melt everything in its path haha.

SIFU1A · May 8, 2009

redpoint said:
Several people above have mentioned multi-level or dual-level lights. I would tend to agree b/c you get task lighting level and a much brighter level for hiking, navigation etc. The only problem with these lights is that they're a bit more expensive and you can't upgrade them as technology rapidly advances. That said, they're the best of both worlds. I use my bright little C2 + headlamp b/c handhelds suck for task-oriented lighting: e.g. making dinner ... they also suck for negotiating difficult terrain. To be honest, you really can't go wrong with a SureFire, the hype is warranted.

imho the fenix are very reasonably priced for what ya get.

Biginboca · May 8, 2009

I also like the Fenix products. I've had one for a few years that's 1/3rd as big as a 6P but puts out 120 lumens on high and also has 2 lower power settings as well. It's barely bigger than the single 123 battery it takes and easily works on a keychain. I can't imagine lugging around something as big as a 6P these days when you can get lights much smaller that are also brighter and more versatile for less $$. I get the impression that a good portion of the price of the Surefire lights goes to support their massive marketing campaign, not into the product itself. In other words, I think you get a *decent* light at an obscene price compared to what else is out there.

I own 4 surefire lights that sit in a drawer unused. Actually I haven't looked back at the brand since discovering the Fenix line.

Check out the OLight M20 also. Smaller than the 6P, costs $70, has 4 power settings with the brightest at 240 lumens.

storl · May 9, 2009

Biginboca said:
I own 4 surefire lights that sit in a drawer unused. Actually I haven't looked back at the brand since discovering the Fenix line.

Surefire still makes a good product and they have a great name, but the innovation is definitely coming out of Asia these days, primarily China and Taiwan. They tend to be smaller companies with smaller dealer bases, so they can react to new technologies very quickly. A new LED gets released and all of the Asian companies have five lights incorporating the new technology a month later. They are doing some pretty cool things with the electronics these days as well.

Surefire does have some nice niche lights like the Kroma and Aviator though. I don't think China or anyone else has come up with much of an answer to them. Coleman does have a premium light that has a CREE plus a few red LEDs, but they are not stocked many places and people do not associate Coleman with high quality, so not many people have heard of them.

JeepinMatt said:
300+ is intense. I don't think I've ever seen a light with that much output lol. I'm surprised it doesn't melt everything in its path haha.

Haha, take a look at this video of mine then. Your head might explode, and it only shows three of the 700 lumen lights on the market.

[youtube]BlQ7vzXqz4A[/youtube]

davide · May 9, 2009

storl,

The part of your video where you compare the lights to a 4 d-cell maglite is eye-opening (or pupil-closing I guess). I knew that these lights were advertised as being bright but, those three are pocket floodlamps.

scamero · May 9, 2009

I have several "asian" lights (fenix and others) and a surefire 6p led. The surefire is a step above the asian lights in quality IMO. It may not throw as well as some fenix's, but the light is more useable with the 6p. You can tell it's a high quality flashlight when you handle it. I can choose whatever light I want on duty, and I don't quite trust the fenix's enough to carry for real world, day to day use. They are neat lights, but I still go with my 6p led. Just my .02

zenheretic · May 9, 2009

scamero said:
I have several "asian" lights (fenix and others) and a surefire 6p led. The surefire is a step above the asian lights in quality IMO. It may not throw as well as some fenix's, but the light is more useable with the 6p. You can tell it's a high quality flashlight when you handle it. I can choose whatever light I want on duty, and I don't quite trust the fenix's enough to carry for real world, day to day use. They are neat lights, but I still go with my 6p led. Just my .02

So you are saying the light is better in the Fenix but the Surefire feels better?

scamero · May 9, 2009

Some of the fenix models have higer lumen outputs than the surefire. Sometimes though, the beam throw pattern makes a big difference in how useable the light is IRL. Fenix's are fine, but they aren't on the same quality level as Surefire IMO. Handling a surefire next to a fenix is kind of like comparing a sebenza to a benchmade. You can just tell it's built very well. I'm not bashing fenix at all, but if I have a couple of thugs stopped on the street at night, and my life my depend on my light, I'd take the surefire, no question.

Jason B. · May 9, 2009

Haha, take a look at this video of mine then. Your head might explode, and it only shows three of the 700 lumen lights on the market.

Ha, just wait till my L2 is a 1000 lumens

Josh K · May 9, 2009

scamero said:
Some of the fenix models have higer lumen outputs than the surefire. Sometimes though, the beam throw pattern makes a big difference in how useable the light is IRL. Fenix's are fine, but they aren't on the same quality level as Surefire IMO. Handling a surefire next to a fenix is kind of like comparing a sebenza to a benchmade. You can just tell it's built very well. I'm not bashing fenix at all, but if I have a couple of thugs stopped on the street at night, and my life my depend on my light, I'd take the surefire, no question.

I know how you feel. :thumbup:

Fenix are fine lights, but there is a big difference between the most lumens, and the quality of construction as well as the effort taken into creating a good beam pattern.

iirc, Surefire has a video about their beam pattern. It's not supposed to be a blinding dot, it's supposed to have a medium sized center bean with a off glow that fades out. I'd have to look it up, but I love it.

knifenut1013 said:
Ha, just wait till my L2 is a 1000 lumens

Just wait till Surefire releases their HID lamps. 5000 Lumens constant 2hr runtime anyone???

Josh K · May 9, 2009

Show me a Fenix or any other flashlight that can do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrsvMrLmLSc

storl · May 9, 2009

Josh K said:
Show me a Fenix or any other flashlight that can do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrsvMrLmLSc

That's not Fenix's target market. They know that the US military will likely never buy a Chinese light over Surefire, regardless of how good it is. Like I said, Surefire is a great company and has some lights that fill important niches. The Hellfighter is $7K, which puts it in a completely different league than any other portable light on the market.

Fenix's TK and TA lights are actually very durable. I and other dealers sell a LOT of them and the Olight M20 to military and law enforcement personnel, who favor them over their issue lights. The Fenix PD and LD lights are not meant to be compared to a Surefire. One major issue is that the recoil of a firearm can possibly switch the modes due to the reverse clicky switch. Still, I sell a lot of them to military and LEO folks that are very happy with them.

Maybe someone with a little less bias will chime in soon.

Josh K · May 9, 2009

storl said:
Maybe someone with a little less bias will chime in soon.

Forgive the bias. I know what I like and I strongly push for it. Sometimes it comes off a bit strong.

Hopefully the TK40 will convince me to buy a couple more Fenix lights. The one thing I'll give them is using AA or AAA batteries makes the great gifts. Last time I gave a Surefire they called up asking about the "funny stubby AA batteries."

storl · May 10, 2009

Josh K said:
Forgive the bias. I know what I like and I strongly push for it. Sometimes it comes off a bit strong.

Haha, I was referring to myself, not anyone else. Never trust the words of someone selling the products in question.