What is the best small flashlight?

Arc is great AAA light for keychains or every day use! Fenis are my favorite AA lgihts though...I love surefires, but dislike the cost and danger of the CR123 lithiums...I had one vent before and it scared me away from any lgiths tha use them, which is pretty much all the really good ones, lol...
 
I wont touch c123 lights with a 10 foot pole.

They are hard to come by in most stores and not enough availability. Common battery types only for me.
Interestingly in the past 5 years we had 2 disaster type events here locally and the only batteries left on the shelf after it was over was C cells and 9V squares. Makes you think.

Skam
 
So many good lights out now, if your just getting into them it's a great time! (not counting the
86t8bcj.gif
factor!)
 
skammer is right, CR123 batteries are fairly hard to come by. However, they are the best for EDC in my opinion, since they are a very compact power source and most of the top lights use CR123's. No harm in keeping a small stockpile of these batteries either, since they have a shelf life of 10 years.

I have lights that run on 9V's and AA's and AAA's, so being able to use standard batteries isn't a big problem. So, I guess I'm endorsing the ownership of some of those too. :shrug:
 
How do the Victorinox LED flashlights compare to some of these more expensive models? I'm looking at getting the 2xAA victorinox.
 
skammer said:
I wont touch c123 lights with a 10 foot pole.

They are hard to come by in most stores and not enough availability. Common battery types only for me.
Interestingly in the past 5 years we had 2 disaster type events here locally and the only batteries left on the shelf after it was over was C cells and 9V squares. Makes you think.

Skam
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I've been using c123 batteries for the past 15+ years in the military. Shelf life is outstanding and I've used them all over from South American jungles to the sunny/sandy spots in the Middle East. I've seen pictures of lithium cells rupturing, but I've never witnessed it first hand. All our COMSEC devices (except the new ones) use 123 batteries; all our radios use a larger battery composed of 123-sized cells (these are usually pumping out 20 watts for man-pack radios). For me, there's no fear of availability, especially when deployed:D I still like the output and size effeciency of the 123 cells.

Now, with that said, AA and AAA lithiums are a huge leap for the majority of battery devices. I still have a ton of AAA, AA, C, D and 9V alkaline batteries stocked in the house, but for long-term storage (think of emergency strobes, flashlights in kits, GPS, etc.), the lithiums are much better at keeping them "loaded" and not worrying about them. I've had several electronic devices destroyed from a leaking alkaline cell. Regardless, current alkaline cell production is top notch, excellent life span and as long as you rotate batteries annually, you'll be okay.

It's funny you mention the C and 9V batteries left on the shelf Skammer. That has been my experience as well. I do have a C-Cell LED, but I may look at picking up a couple of C-Cell LED Mag Lights. The PAL LED's are absoutely great! They take a 9V battery, and they last forever...with a high, low and strobe function, they're a great emergency light; additionally, a little steel wool and a 9V battery is a good fire-starter. I have one of these in both my kids' and wife's kits.

That remeinds me...I need to pick up some more 9V and AAA batteries:D

ROCK6
 
I agree with Skam. Wouldn't touch a 123 light, unless I were currently in the military, then I would touch anything BUT a 123 light.

I guess it might also depend on how much you want to use the light. I use mine EVERY NIGHT and some times ALL NIGHT when tracking. 123's won't last long enough and would require me to take a second mortgage on my home.

Perhaps you could get by with 123s if you are a more casual user or get your 123s issued. But not me. I also wouldn't want to rely on finding a supply of 123s in a long term survival situation.
 
Geez, who only owns one flashlight? I've got D and AA Maglites, button cell keychain lights, a couple AAA lights, at least one AG-5 light, and one 123A light. I bought a couple spare battery packs. I see them everyhwere and I live in small town Idaho.

All that said, self-powered flashlights make FAR more sense in long term situations. I own about a half-dozen of them, four also have an AM/FM radio. They work very well and seem quite durable based on my experience so far.
 
CR123's won't last long enough? My Surefire E2L runs for 9 (NINE) hours on two cells, fully regulated and then hours more of useful light after that. Bet you can't find an alkaline light with that kind of output and longevity.
 
CSG said:
The best flashlight I've owned is the Gladius Night-Ops. That's more of a tac light and stays at home at my bedside. I really am impressed with the Viatek mini crank light and have now made them the main kit flashlights.

http://www.viatekproducts.com/SPD/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=19D0000-1169071906
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i second the night ops. i love it, my dad has alot of sure fires i pick my night ops i like the fact that you can bring the light level down realy low and the battery's last a long time.
 
carrot said:
CR123's won't last long enough? My Surefire E2L runs for 9 (NINE) hours on two cells, fully regulated and then hours more of useful light after that. Bet you can't find an alkaline light with that kind of output and longevity.
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I own several lights with 100+ hrs on alkalines, not as bright but plenty enough for area lighting. The majority of the long burn LED light industry is based around alkalines. Bet you cant find a battery for your light when TSHTF and you are out.

My PC Tec Apex headlamp puts out more power than your surefire and lasts 5 hrs with NiMh rechargables on high 8 hrs on medium and 100+ hrs on low. Slap them into my solar charger at home and I have unlimited light power. If I owned a cr123 light I would go rechargable.

Skam
 
Still, no pros and cons discussion of crank LED lights. You guys are missing the boat on being battery-free!
 
CSG said:
Still, no pros and cons discussion of crank LED lights. You guys are missing the boat on being battery-free!
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Its a good point, I have seen them but havent taken the plunge yet. Any reviews about them on line?

Skam
 
carrot said:
CR123's won't last long enough?My Surefire E2L runs for 9 (NINE) hours on two cells
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I have a surefire-- but not LED--in a drawer. No, it won't last long enough for my use. That's just one night of use. I sometimes run a light all night long at work when tracking. I'd have to buy a new set of 123s every day or so. It's also not the kind of light I would trust for a survival situation. I wouldn't want to carry a week's worth of 123's in my kit. That would be $140 worth of batteries and who knows how many lbs.
 
Skam, I don't know about reviews online but I bought some of the larger ones (DuraPro) in two-packs at Costco last year and the year before. They work well but are a bit bulky. Then I came across the little Viatek at a local Fred Meyer for about $8. So far, I'm very impressed. It's small, light, and has a tacky rubber grip and lanyard. Three LED's and very decent light. For a survival/woods flashlight, it seems very good. It's not claimed to be waterproof but assuming the generator works without breaking from too much cranking, it lets you see a trail at night and do camp chores.

Get one and try it out. Go to viatek.com or look from my first post in this thread for the specific link.
 
CSG said:
Skam, I don't know about reviews online but I bought some of the larger ones (DuraPro) in two-packs at Costco last year and the year before. .
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I have seen those exact lights at my costco and wondered about them.

thanks for the info.

Skam
 
One hit on them from flashlightreviews.com seems to be if you don't follow the directions and crank them for a minute at least once every three months, they may not hold a charge. I've been happy with the ones we bought and have had one set for a year and the other for two years. They are household/auto emergency lights as they're a bit big and bulky. It's the little Viatek that I see as being a good pack/trail light.
 
CSG said:
Still, no pros and cons discussion of crank LED lights. You guys are missing the boat on being battery-free!
Click to expand...

I have one and like it;
82m2bgh.jpg

but like stated it is bulky and once the batteries inside
stop holding a charge, all you can do is throw the light
away, it's sealed and not meant to replace the batteries.

P.S. I put them rubber/sticky washers on for shock absorbing
in case I drop it!
 
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