What flashlight?

A

Alteran

Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
106
I want a flashlight for everyday use, preferably pretty small. Will be used outside at times, especially suring the summer, it will be taken camping. I am thinking of either Surefire, Photon, Fenix, Inova, or Nuwai. Surefire is almost a definite no due to price, though. And I have a strong preference for LEDs. I am currently considering the Photon II, Inova X5, Inova X0, Surefire E1E/E2E executive elite, Surefire 6p original, Surefire ElL outdoorsman, Nuwai Q3.

Yeah, I don't really know what I want. And if anyone knows a Canadian retailer of any of the above, then that's even better! If you have a flashlight thats not up there and you think is great, I'm open to suggestions as well.
 
you can pick up a surefire g2 nitrolon for about 25.00. great light and bright at about 65 lumens.

i have many surefires, imo the best on the market, and very versatile. the e1e is one of my favorites too. 15 lumens, but you wouldnt know it, very bright and more than sufficient for camping.

the surefire led's will set you back some, but you will be happy.
 
Surefire E20 - Outdoorsman. 25 lumens, 150mins, and it's got a really nice throw. Illuminates well to 50 feet, and has enough flood around the spot for general use.
 
Checkout the Fenix at fenixstore.com.

I have the L1T plus an L2T body, 2 power output levels, small, convenient and extremely good!!!

You can also checkout the P1D CE Fenix light on a well known auction site which is advertising postage from Canada, so I assume they will be local to you..........Good Luck!
 
Fenix is a good value. Here is a link to a Canadian Nuwai and Fenix retailer-
http://www.j2ledflashlight.com/ . And 4sevens at http://fenix-store.com/
is great to deal with also. He also offers free shipping to Canada, and is taking pre-orders for the new Cree Led based lights. Much brighter and longer run times then Luxeon. I would recomend the L1d-Ce for your needs. 1 aa, multiple light levels from 9 to 85 lumens and $60 Cdn shipped!
 
I'd get the Fenix P1D CE. Really bright for its size. 135 lumens, and has HA-III. I currently have one on my keychain.
 
I swear by Surefire. As said the G2 is a great value...the L4 is the best of the best. If you can afford it, I recommend getting an L4 as it will be the last flashlight you ever buy...
 
I love my lights almost as much as my knives, There is another tread on EDC lights, check it out. I personally never leave home without my Streamlight Strion (~$85). My main complaint about it is the battery/charger situation. It is super bright, but if it dies, you are SOL unless you have a charger and or extra lith/ion batt with you.

Unlike you, I have never been a big fan of LED lights, although they are getting better every day. I did break down and buy a handfull of Inova X1's. Small, Light, Durable. I have one in each of my jackets, glovebox, tool box, and two in the boat. They take 1 AA battery, throw good usable light, and seem almost bulletproof. They are fixed focus, but for less then $20...good light for the money and small enough to always have one at hand.
 
Another vote for the Fenix lights. They are well made the fit and finish is great. They are also very bright for their size, and take common AA batteries which can be purchased just about anyplace. All in all a great light.
 
One great new light, Amilite Neo T-5, takes one CR123 lithium battery, 2 brightness settings(either 15 lumen or 30 lumen on low) and over 140 lumen on high, click on, 15 (or 30) lumen, click again, 140 lumen, click off, HAIII (very tough, hard anodized) hardcoat. This light has a floody beam w/great sidespill, it's a great edc light.
 
Wow! Good needs profile. Check this site out. It might help you decide.
http://www.imagometrics.com/FLReviews/FLR.home.htm
I'm gonna answer by by breaking your needs down, line by line
1) everyday use pretty small (My vote: Nuwai Q3 or any Fenix that's shorter than a two AA also consider...http://www.imagometrics.com/FLReviews/Plm4.htm )
2) Some outdoors in summer, camping at times (My vote:Nuwai Q3 or any Fenix that's shorter than a two AA, plus several extra batteries depending on the length of the camp out. also consider http://www.imagometrics.com/FLReviews/Plm4.htm )
* These days, Surefires are grossly overpriced for what you get.Inova's are nicely made and I hear they finally abandoned the lenses in favor of reflectors. Possibly a good choice there too.
*Go for anything that uses AA's rather than 3V Lithiums. I just say that because in the woods, someone is likely to have something ELSE with AA's in it that you can pirate in an emergency, gas stations to everyone else all carry AA's.
* After a lot of research, I'm sorry to report that neutral binned LEDs don't cut it for me in the dark outside and certainly not camping. I use a Lupine Systems Otto-X headlamp mounted on my SAR helmet for 'outdoors' use. I also have an old Longbow Micra and a Fenix AA ( can't remember the model) both these have amber filters on the lenses to warm up the beams.
* In my car I use a Streamlight Survivor. In my opinion, it's the best all around flashlight for serious outdoors use at night.
* The light you and I really need is a Photon Proton with a mix of Amber and white LED's in one array. If I could beat that into the owner's head, you'd have the perfect light for your requirements.:D


Alteran said:
I want a flashlight for everyday use, preferably pretty small. Will be used outside at times, especially suring the summer, it will be taken camping. I am thinking of either Surefire, Photon, Fenix, Inova, or Nuwai. Surefire is almost a definite no due to price, though. And I have a strong preference for LEDs. I am currently considering the Photon II, Inova X5, Inova X0, Surefire E1E/E2E executive elite, Surefire 6p original, Surefire ElL outdoorsman, Nuwai Q3.

Yeah, I don't really know what I want. And if anyone knows a Canadian retailer of any of the above, then that's even better! If you have a flashlight thats not up there and you think is great, I'm open to suggestions as well.
Click to expand...
 
+1 for http://www.j2ledflashlight.com has helped me a lot with Q3's too!

mnj said:
Fenix is a good value. Here is a link to a Canadian Nuwai and Fenix retailer-
http://www.j2ledflashlight.com/ . And 4sevens at http://fenix-store.com/
is great to deal with also. He also offers free shipping to Canada, and is taking pre-orders for the new Cree Led based lights. Much brighter and longer run times then Luxeon. I would recomend the L1d-Ce for your needs. 1 aa, multiple light levels from 9 to 85 lumens and $60 Cdn shipped!
Click to expand...
 
Don't rule out the Dorcy metal gear flashlights.

Low price, good light output, good run times, and takes normal AA or AAA batteries.

Untill very recently I carried a Photon 2 but it got tossed. Its a PAIN IN THE A-- to change batteries, you need a tiny phillips driver, and the LED drops out when you open it. Its small and handy till it goes dim. I replaced it with a Dorcy AAA pocket light for edc.

For outdoor and camping I now use a Peal Solutions single AA LED. Gives a really bright beam of light for 50 yards, uses easy to come by batteries, and changing them is just unscrew the end and drop in new battery.

I still have my Nite-eze LED maglights around, they are too bullet proof to retire. Good soft flood for around camp or in the tent, and cheap to feed. But if I was just starting out in flashlights, I'd go Dorcy.
 
I have an e2e. I like the metal case, and the fact that the bezel is not a strike bezel like the e2d. Less likely to be viewed as a weapon. The e2e carries very easily. The worst problem with the Surefire's is the 123A batteries- not too cheap or locally available- but they do pack 6 volts (2x3) into a compact package. If your'e really on a budget the G2 is a good light- I just don't got for the plastic body.
 
I love my Fenix ,I got my L2P with a spare L1P body from LED lights for everyone. It was only 45$ canadian shipped and with the L1P body can be either a 1AA or 2AA. That is like 2 lights for the price of one although you can only use one at a time. The owner posts on CGN as Subzero and had my light to me in less than a week. There are newer lights from Fenix but thats why I got such a good deal.
 
Alteran said:
I want a flashlight for everyday use, preferably pretty small. Will be used outside at times, especially suring the summer, it will be taken camping. I am thinking of either Surefire, Photon, Fenix, Inova, or Nuwai. Surefire is almost a definite no due to price, though. And I have a strong preference for LEDs. I am currently considering the Photon II, Inova X5, Inova X0, Surefire E1E/E2E executive elite, Surefire 6p original, Surefire ElL outdoorsman, Nuwai Q3.

Yeah, I don't really know what I want. And if anyone knows a Canadian retailer of any of the above, then that's even better! If you have a flashlight thats not up there and you think is great, I'm open to suggestions as well.
Click to expand...

for a nice every day carry i would go with the e2e or e2d models the nice thing about the e2d model is it puts out a LOT of light and double as a nice self defence tool with incorporated strike bezels.
 
the P1D-CE is the only way to go on a lite that size, probably 4X as bright as a SF E1, 2X as bright as an E2, and a little brighter than a L2 or L4(137 lumens IIRC, the L4 is 100 and its brighter than that), along with 2 lower settings, all on 1 123 batt, batt life isnt bad either, slightly smaller than a E1 in size, all for $70 shipped.

the best little light available right now by far imho, and i love SF lol.

the darn thing compares favorably to my SF L2 and L4 which cost between $150 and $200.

the only con is i wish it had a clickie switch ala SF vs a twist switch, but if ya arent using it for a tac light (with a pistol) it really makes no difference, and the fenix folks told me they would have a clickie body for sale soon.
 
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