What’s the ‘Spyderco Endura’ of flashlights?

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DangerZone98

Joined
Dec 7, 2019
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Hey fellas. So what’s the best utilitarian reliable flashlight under $150? I don’t really need the Sebenza or Rockstead of flashlights. Simple, rugged, and reliable will do. The following features are nice too:

- At least two settings (low and high); more settings are nice
- Rechargeable, but if not, AA batteries are cool
- Pocket clip!!!
- Hole for paracord lanyard
- Not too big or small, should clip in a regular pants pocket

I’m quite happy with the Fenix PD36R, but I’d love suggestions on an affordable one and done long term flashlight. Thanks fellers.
 
The Surefire Backup MV is a great light if you can live without the lanyard hole and the AA battery. At about 4 inches in length, it's also considerably smaller than your Fenix. Made in the USA with a great warranty.

- Starts out on High at 400 lumens. Not sure what the Low setting is but I think it's 5 lumens.
- Takes one CR123 battery.
- Has a good pocket clip.
- No lanyard hole.
- I clip mine to my left front pocket and I like the size of the light.

Its best feature is the MaxVision beam. I love it for the kind of work I use it for.

Might not be exactly what you want but it really is a fantastic light.

Surefire Backup MV.jpg
 
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Railsplitter said:
The Surefire Backup MV is a great light if you can live without the lanyard hole and the AA battery. At about 4 inches in length, it's also considerably smaller than your Fenix. Made in the USA with a great warranty.

- Starts out on High at 400 lumens. Not sure what the Low setting is but I think it's 5 lumens.
- Takes one CR123 battery.
- Has a good pocket clip.
- No lanyard hole.
- I clip mine to my left front pocket and I like the size of the light.

Its best feature is the MaxVision beam. I love it for the kind of work I use it for.

Might not be exactly what you want but it really is a fantastic light.

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No worries, thanks for the recommendation friend. Looks like a nice compact light.
 
I can recommend Zebra. Excellent management. Several types of light. Three correct modes right out of the box. 18650 batteries. good clip. Very compact flashlight.

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Railsplitter said:
- Has a good pocket clip.
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It's not, I broke it by putting the flashlight on a baseball cap. Now switched to Defender.

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maxjeg said:
I can recommend Zebra. Excellent management. Several types of light. Three correct modes right out of the box. 18650 batteries. good clip. Very compact flashlight.

0-IMG-20230731-150124.jpg




It's not, I broke it by putting the flashlight on a baseball cap. Now switched to Defender.

0-IMG-20230731-150506.jpg
Click to expand...
And with a Spyderco next to it. 😄 Thanks I’ll check it out.
 
I like the Fenix E series lights. The thing is that there are only a couple LED makers, a couple of chip makers, and a bunch of folks who turn light bodies. So as long as you can find someone using a reputable LED and the controller that works for you, almost anything can be had, brand almost (apart from warranty and support) doesn't matter. Due to the economies of scale, lights are closer to being a commodity item than knives since so many other industries use those same components, they are the common part (much like no one really thinks about who a maker sourced their G10 from, or thinks much past a company saying they source from crucible) Hunt around and see what you like, then check candlepower for reliability reports. A lot of companies that were considered trash tier a few years ago have worked hard to prove themselves.
 
For rechargeable litres I like 123 batteries or the 18 something. And just pull them out and throw them in an external charger.

Otherwise I really like led lenser for quality and durability.
 
Otherwise I just picked up a streamlight sidewinder. (Not the boot the other one)
And it is a lot of fun in a durable little package.


It doesn’t punch out buckets of light but in normal use I don't think that matters. The switching mechanism is basic on off and then I hold it to brighten it. But basically it means I am not pressing the button 2 or 3 times to turn it off.

The hands free option is nice I normally put it on my belt and just walk around like that.
 
The Spyderco Endura of flashlights is the Streamlight MacroStream.

USB charging
Two output levels: 500 lumen for 2 hours or 50 for 8 hours
Two-way pocket-hat brim clip
Removeable lanyard ring and lanyard
$53.94 on Amazon.

I bought six for my family 18 ish months ago for Christmas 2021. None of ours have broken or had a failure. Four kids ages 10-14. Mine has been with me every day for those 18 months: office, lawn work, fishing, canoeing, hunting, camping, working in attics, car repair... I've dropped it many times onto concrete and blacktop with no issues. My 14 year old boy, now 16, carries his every day also doing all the same things (replace office with school). He has managed to bend his pocket/hat clip a little, but it still works just fine. My youngest daughter is self-described as "dangerously creative" and her's is still ticking, as well. She's the one who I found using her brand new Buck sheath knife to dig in the dirt and harvest vegetables not even an hour after I gave it to her. She USES her stuff - hard. Her MacroStream definitely gets the most run-time use - extended duration several days per week. I find it on her bedroom floor being used as a bookmark several mornings a week. She's still young enough that she doesn't know that I know she's up reading late almost every night trying to hide by using a flashlight. I don't say anything because she's reading good stuff. My wife's lives in the bathroom medicine cabinet for power outages and removing her tonsil stones a few times a month. My other two daughters test the ability of the battery to stay charged for long periods of time - they use theirs a few times a year for going to camp and flashlight tag with cousins and friends occasionally.

10/10 - definitely recommend and would buy again.
 
I like the Fenix brand- fairly low priced for what you get and good performance. I have PD22, PD25, PD32, PD35 and PD36R. PD22 and PD25 are relatively small, 1 CR32 cell each, PD32 and PD35 are 2 CR32 cells each, or single 18650 rechargeable. I forget what it is but the PD36R uses a slightly larger battery. PD25 is a good pocket EDC light, plenty bright for my use. PD35 with 18650 is more than bright enough for my camping use.

Olight and Thrunite are other reasonable brands that I see, but I haven't studied them.
 
No apples to apples here…

Sebenza = HDS
Endura= Convoy

They aren’t built in Golden but they are reliable and Simon is a gem. S2,S11, M21 just to name a few. All good. Plenty of LEDs to choose from both high CRI and throwy lumen monsters, whatever suits you. Lit switches to add if you want bling. Very reasonable prices.
 
I consider the Fenix brand lights to be in that category.
My favorite AA light is the EAGTAC 25 series. This is the TI version. Slightly warm tint.
The Fenix LD30 is my favorite light at the moment for size and power specs, but it’s not AA. 4.25”
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I've carried a Fenix e12 since about 2019ish. If the newer iteration holds up as well as this one has it's a solid option.

This particular one has survived constant carry, being dropped, dunked, and a few trips through the washing machine.

3 settings, and I run mine on rechargeable AAs. The new ones I believe come equipped with a clip, although this one didn't.
 
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