time for a new EDC flashlight.

W

Waldamir

Joined
Jun 30, 2012
Messages
287
My 5.11 ATAC Plx just gave out on me and now I need to find a replacement.

I'm looking for something that's plenty bright (120 lumens or better preferably better) lightweight, a good value, reliable, and simple. I'm not looking for something with 10 different modes just like a one or two mode.

I'm not that fluent in the world of lights but I was looking into the maglite xl50.

I'd like to know what you guys would suggest. :)
 
I think that maglite is a good option. It has several modes of output, it has good light output, it uses common batteries, it is reasonably compact and reasonably inexpensive.

I carry Fenix lights myself. I have an LD01 that I EDC. It has good output from a single AAA battery and is very small. It will fit in my pocket without me even knowing it. I have a slightly larger Fenix PD32 that I carry when I know I will need a good light. This one is larger but still fits pretty easily in my jeans pockets. It has a lot of light output but used a pair of CR123 cells which are expensive and hard to find if you don't buy them from the internet. The CR123 batteries still have advantages, the user will have to decide if the cost and availability problems are worth the advantages.

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I have a lot of older LED lights and I've been convinced of the advantages of LED's for a long time, but current Cree LED's are so much better than my older LED's.
 
I have the NITECORE INFILUX IFE1 LED FLASHLIGHT, and recommend it. Battery Junction is G2G.
 
I've been really enjoying the eagletac d25c clicky. It runs on 1 cr123 battery and is incredibly bright for its size, about 300 lumens on turbo. The standard high is around 200. I opted for the xml led version which is a bit floodier than the xpg version but still has plenty of throw for an edc light.

I can also speak highly of the fenix ld01 if tiny single AAA lights are more your style.
 
If you are willing to make the jump to 18650 rechargeables, try the Thrunite TN12. I just ordered one. Supposed to put out 705 lumens for 72 minutes. It's barely 5" long.
 
I carry the Streamlight Microstream. Its small, lightweight and bright enough for most situations. Runs on 1 AAA and fits in the coin pocket of jeans. About $20. 25 Lumens


 
Not to get you started down an irreversible path, but there's a whole community of folks over at candlepowerforums that could give you some great suggestions. They're as knowledgeable about flashlights as some of the gurus around here about steel. I've actually spent quite a bit more time there and have only recently started hanging around BF.

I get asked for recommendations for flashlights all the time, and at one point, I just created this nifty little flashlight selection utility to help folks narrow down their requirements. You can either tabulate your numbers by hand, or you can download as an Excel document and the fields will auto tally. In any case, be sure to read the instructions. It forces you to choose which things are most important to you in a light since some features play against one another.

In any case, once you get your numbers, go ahead and post them back here and we'll really be able to help you narrow down your search.

Cheers!

-G
 
I'm quite a fan of the 4Sevens M2A. Yeah, it has the extra strobe, SOS, and bacon modes, but they are suitably hidden within the UI so that you don't have to go through them unless you actually intend to access them. Max output is 180 lumens with a low mode of 3 lumens. I think medium is around 30. For a 2AA light it really just disappears in your pocket, and I find the knurling grippy enough that it is easy to twist the bezel with one hand if need be.

For a clicky light, I like the Terralux Lightstar-100. It's about $20 most places, and offers a high of 100, a low of 50, and a strobe which is also avoidable. I've thrashed on mine and haven't had any issues. It has an odd concave lens design that makes it quite the thrower, especially for a 1AA light.
 
jetbeam BC10 (or BA10 if you prefer AA).

it'll run you around $30 bucks (which is probably what the xl50 costs).

270 lumen high.

30 lumen low.

without the strobe, sos, beacon crap.

it's also of higher quality than the maglite imo.
 
I'm not that knowledgeable in flashlights, but I have had a SureFire Defender and love it. Made in the US and indestructable, though pricey.

It seems like outside of Surefire, everything is Chinese. I have a Fenix P1, which is amazing bright. I sometimes carry it on my keychain, but the paint wears very quickly. It is simple to operate and takes on CR123. I had a JetBeam that was very bright but overly complicated to use and seemed a little flimsy.

I just traded into a 4 Sevens Preon 2, which might be worth a look. It is $40-50 and takes two AAA batteries. The size and weight of a metal pen with the brightness of the SureFire Defender. Made in China by a Chinese company, too.
 
I started out with the Maglite XL50 and still love it but it's just to dang big for me to be an edc flashlight. It stays in the glove box of my truck now. I now carry an iTP a3 EOS and love it! It will fit in the change pocket of my jeans and was only like $20 from Amazon. It isn't quite at the output that you are wanting at 96 lumens but for an edc type of light I don't feel that it has ever let me down. It uses 1 AAA battery and has 3 basic settings. 4sevens also makes some nice lights.
 
lava_lamp said:
I'm not that knowledgeable in flashlights, but I have had a SureFire Defender and love it. Made in the US and indestructable, though pricey.

It seems like outside of Surefire, everything is Chinese. I have a Fenix P1, which is amazing bright. I sometimes carry it on my keychain, but the paint wears very quickly. It is simple to operate and takes on CR123. I had a JetBeam that was very bright but overly complicated to use and seemed a little flimsy.

I just traded into a 4 Sevens Preon 2, which might be worth a look. It is $40-50 and takes two AAA batteries. The size and weight of a metal pen with the brightness of the SureFire Defender. Made in China by a Chinese company, too.
Click to expand...


to my knowledge surefire and lenslight are the only US made flashlights (excluding anything custom).

maglites are mutts IIRC (assembled with parts from the usa and china).

my personal favorites are surefire, sunwayman and olight.

normally, im not a fan of jetbeam either but the bc10 is a quality light, easy to use (2 mode clicky) and affordable.

bc is their basic line and it will most likely exceed the OPs expectations.

the preon 2 is great but not grippy enough and lacks a decent pocket clip .
 
budget and battery preference?

heres a few examples of lights i own,
[video=youtube;Ncs4jhdwuZE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncs4jhdwuZE&list=UUKClyq43eJWQasSUSJcqohw&index=11[/video]
 
jkulysses said:
I started out with the Maglite XL50 and still love it but it's just to dang big for me to be an edc flashlight. It stays in the glove box of my truck now. I now carry an iTP a3 EOS and love it! It will fit in the change pocket of my jeans and was only like $20 from Amazon. It isn't quite at the output that you are wanting at 96 lumens but for an edc type of light I don't feel that it has ever let me down. It uses 1 AAA battery and has 3 basic settings. 4sevens also makes some nice lights.
Click to expand...

ITP is now olight, olight and foursevens work closely together and may even share the same manufacturer.

anyway you would probably love the new olight i3s EOS.

it's one of the best triple a lights i've owned.

4 modes (low, high, moonlight and strobe), xp-g2, strong removable/reversible pocket clip, 5 different color variations, glass lens, impact resistant and waterproof (which are some of the obvious features).

it costs less than $25 bucks too.

:)
 
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I carry a Fenix PD20 everywhere. Takes a CR123A. It's been upgraded and is now called the PD22. 200 lumens.

The PD32UE if you want something a little larger is also popular.

Check the link in my signature.
 
I EDC either a Streamlight Protac 2L which has 3 modes; High 180 Lumens for 2.5 hours, Strobe-180 for 6 hrs , And a low of 10 lumens for 50 hours. its a great flashlight, it runs on 2 CR 123's and theyre relatively expensive but you can get them at lowes for 1/3 the price of anywhere else and its a better battery- Surefire... I also recommend the Streamlight Protac 2AA which also has the 3 modes of 120 Lumens on high for 1.75 hours, strobe of 120 lumens for 4 hours, and low of 14 Lumens for 21 hours... Theyre great little lights and come with a sheath and are pretty affordable, if you go on Amazon you can get em for around 30$... Hope you find the one that fits your needs!!! Thanks, Dusty
 
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