Surefire Cost Alternative

The Tourist

The Tourist

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Dec 23, 2001
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As you know, I recently purchased a Surefire 6P, and to allow maximum battery life, I replace the bulb with a single LED head, the KL3. There is no fooling yourself, this item might be used in survival or emergency circumstances, and losing light after only 30 minutes concerned me.

I went back to Gander Mountain today to buy a 3-LED head. I figured I could then have brighter light (if necessary) and prolonged battery life. I showed the sales guy my flashlight.

"I see what you're trying to accomplish," he stated, "but why are you doing it the expensive way?"

This had me confused.

He went on, "A multi-LED will still diminish your battery life, and for lots more money. Why not buy a second flashlight?"

I explained to him that I am a married man, married to a woman who knows how to shoot.

"No, no, not another 6P," he said, "but I can sell you a E1e-HA with a bulb, that takes the same 123 battery, lasts more than 90 minutes, and it would save you OVER TWENTY BUCKS."

More toys, less money. Gee, I'm glad Gander Mountain is having a sale! And the E1e sure is a cutie!
 
While the E1e is a nice little light, I don't get the point of the salesman's pitch. If you really wanted a backup light to the 6p, I'd get an Inova X5 - it will give you a nice flood-type beam, lasts many hours on a set of batteries, and uses the same batteries as the 6p (it will even give adequate light from the batteries that no longer power the 6p). I have one matched up w/ my E2e - perfect, compact little set.

Or you could look at the streamlight twintask lights - Incandescent & LED in a reasonably small package (and all for about 1/3 less than a 6p)
 
Get yourself one of those ARC AAs....last about 10 hours on a single AA and are very pocketable. This may not be what you are looking for considering they aren't especially bright compared to E1e and 6p, but they are reasonably priced and will probably last forever.

I just bought my dad the smaller ARC AAA for christmas and he loves it. He complained that he couldn't see to get into his car sometimes at night so I bought him this. Provides a lot of light for something that is barely bigger than the AAA battery itself.
 
Originally posted by The Tourist
As you know, I recently purchased a Surefire 6P, and to allow maximum battery life, I replace the bulb with a single LED head, the KL3. There is no fooling yourself, this item might be used in survival or emergency circumstances, and losing light after only 30 minutes concerned me.
Click to expand...

The KL3 will run in a 6-volt setup, spec'ed, 19 lumens for 4.25 hours, going to moderate-output "moon" mode for another 4.75 hours, with a reserve "limp-home" mode of over 50 hours.

The E1e's performance either with incandescent (unregulated 90 minutes of 15 lumens) or KL1 LED bezel (16 lumens for 1.5 hours followed by 8.5 hours "moon" and 50 hours of "limp home") pales in comparison.

If your KL3 lost power after only 30 minutes, you've got a seriously faulty KL3 head.

During the NE blackout this past summer, I ran my KL3/C2/Z48 setup, with a fresh set of Toshiba CR123As, for well over 9 straight hours before I noticed that it dipped into "moon" mode.

Allen
aka DumboRAT
 
Thanks guys,

It goes to where I am, and what I'm doing.

First, I do own an Arc AAA LED. It's on my key-chain.

The next issue is where I am. In a blackout at home, I probably won't use the Surefires at all. Like firearms, there are plug-in rechargeables and battery lamps throughout the house.

In a jacket, and for general use, the LED head on the 6P will work fine, probbly for 90% of the away-from-home uses.

Every once in a while I need a tight, hot beam, in a smaller area, and usually for repairs on a smaller item. I find the LEDs to offer a nice blue-white light, but more diffused.

The hot bulb-type light is better for things like, a dropped spring on the floor (which I did a few weeks ago), peering into tight corners, inspecting things in a dark truck at zero-dark-thirty, etc.

And most of all, when I've left my 6P in my jacket and my jacket SOMEWHERE ELSE! Aaaargh!

It happens. I used to live in a two-floor house. Beautiful home, I really loved it. No matter what, if I needed a first-floor item, it was on the second floor, and vice versa.

My new E1e has been right where it belongs all day. In my right front blue jeans pocket, where the SnG is clipped. No matter how I sit, they don't collide and scratch or bother me.

And that folks is what I have been striving for all along.

edit: BTW, the 6P with a hot bulb lasts 30 minutes. The E1e will last over 90 minutes. I also consider that a benefit.
 
Are you running the P60 or the P61? You'll get an hour of runtime with the P60 at 60 lumens, or 20 min. at 120 lumens on two CR123As.

Like DumboRAT says, the KL3 should get you some extremely long runtimes. What about trading out the KL3 for a KL1 on the E1e? Should be similar output, the KL1 might actually be brighter both in terms of output, and perceived brightness. And you'd get a much better runtime as well, with not much change in the body profile of the light.
 
sph3ric pyramid,

That's not the whole story, and I don't think I'm making myself clear.

Ideally, and in a perfect universe, I could buy ONE THING, and get the white-blue LED light I like aesthetically, long run time, and then flip a switch or rotate the bezel and get a hot, focused beam of light (like the original 6P bulb has) and still get long run time.

I flipped the 6P on with the bulb-head, and was blown away by the power. I don't need that every day, and I don't want to keep feeding the thing batteries.

In looking for a multi-LED head, I was trying to get power without paying for power, if you follow me. And of course, I didn't want to keep changing heads--or carrying them, for that matter.

To be sure, you're asking the specific questions that experts will ask. I figure it this way; I can afford what I did. I'm not going to be gulping batteries. I get to use the LED I like to look at. I do get a hot bulb, albeit in a smaller size. And even in this smaller size, I get 90 minutes of run time.

I don't think this went too badly. I'm happy, I have what I wanted (and in reality needed) and I spent about 175 bucks. You might have chosen differently and landed at the same point. But hey, this is good stuff, none the less.
 
Ideally, and in a perfect universe, I could buy ONE THING, and get the white-blue LED light I like aesthetically, long run time, and then flip a switch or rotate the bezel and get a hot, focused beam of light (like the original 6P bulb has) and still get long run time.
Click to expand...
Surefire Aviator.
 
topgunpilot20,

To be honest, I did not see (or was not shown) that model. And the display looked like they carried a full selection.

But after playing all afternoon, I like the little pocket E1e. And I don't take my jacket or a fanny-pack everywhere. That was one of the nice things about the Arc AAA LED. I always have my keys, and that's where it hung.

That's the trouble with you experts! Okay, now ask me a pistol question.:D
 
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