What is the best flashlight for a mini kit

[backpacker]

What is the best flashlight to add to my mini kit? Size and weight are important.

Thanks,

Geoff Massa

 

[Bagheera]

Hi,

You don't mention the size of your "kit" so I will start with real small kits.

I still think that size wise there you should go for a Photon LED light as minimum backup. Ihave Photon II's but a recent experience showed me it's not waterproof and when immerged can start lighting by itself and drain the batteries. I read and heard good reports about the new Photon III as to ease of changing batteries and being "fairly" waterproof.

Just go and read about some LED flashlight (from 1 LED up to 19 LED monsters) on Doug Ritters Equiped to Survive site at:

http://www.equipped.org/home.htm

For something larger we've been using almost exclusively 2 sizes of Underwater Kinetics flashlights at our scouting group and they performed extremely well.
We have small 2 AAA cell UKE flashlights they come with clip and splitring and last year I bought about 15 while in the states at a Wal-Mart for $4.99 and NO tax because it was in Oregon
These small lights trow a very good fixed beam brught bundle of light that's a lot better then that of a 2AA cell Maglite.

For something bigger we use the 4 AA cell UKE light and this one shines better then many 2-3 cell big Maglite in my view. Again fixed beam (prefocussed) but very bright.
If you stuff 4 AA lithium cells in it the UKE is very light to pack + you can stick it into a survival pack for years as the lithium cells have a life span of 10 years.

Both and a load more lights can be found everywhere but we prefer to go to Brightguy:

http://www.brightguy.com

You'll find a lot of flashlights at this site.

You'll see that I didn't mention any of the even brighter but more expensive lights using 3V lithium photo batteries from Sure Fire or Streamlight the reason is simple we use the following word at scouting:

BASE = Basic Affordable Survival Equipment

and $50-$100 flashlights don't fit in there.

We've just received some ARC 1 LED flashlights using 1 AAA Alkaline batterie and although the Turquoise one has vissible rings it hrows out a lot of light and still remains fairly small. The white one is smooth but produces less light then my white Photon II.
Still we love the lights because they use cheap AAA alkaline batteries that cost us 6 times less then the 3 V lithium CR2016 coin cells, you see we apply again the BASE principle.

Good luck finding your ideal survival lights,

Best regards from Holland,

Bagheera

 

[J. J. Magnum]

I like small lights as well, but I like a lot of light. The more the merrier. I use a Surefire 3p which uses just one lithium battery. It provides bunches of light and is about the size of a 35mm film canister. It is a little more expensive (@ $30) but sometimes you can find them on sale at Cheaper than Dirt. Its a good little light and a bright little light.

 

[Captn Ron]

I feel the best mini light for any reason is the Infinity L.E.D. Light from CMG Equipment. It uses one AA battery and wil last for quite some time. I have one and use it everyday. I also like the PAL L.E.D. light which uses one 9 volt battery and has three brightness settings and a strobe setting. The dim setting is always on and it is very easy to find at night. I own two and use them camping. Neither of the lights i mention are bright spot lights. However, both are good working lights. I read with them at night.

 

[Colinz]

I second the 4AA UKE. Works great. People get stunned by how much light this one can produce (they normally consider MagLite the best option, until they see my UKE )

/Colinz

 

[cardimon]

If size and weight are critical, I'd go for the Photon II Microlight and I'd buy it from www.hosfelt.com. Best prices I've found and the nicest service you could want. Red and yellow are $10.95 and green, blue, white, orange, and turquoise are $14.95.