Whats the deal with Surefires???

OK I also have been thinking about this, my current light is a Maglight solitaire, I modified the spring so that it so doesn't flicker and gave it a better battery, now that light is brighter than most lights I’ve handled and according to you guys it sucks, now lets see, I currently don’t own a knife above a 100 bucks, how am I going to justify spending 80 bucks on a flash light? Now after fixing my solitaire, to the point where it never fails, I want to know, how bright is a surefire? Does it make a little spot of light brighter than the sun shoot from my hands? How’s it compare to a photon II led in brightness? Cause that’s what I expect when paying that much for a light, And the sad thing is according to you guys, it provides, so I have no reason to deny it, besides the fact that its so expensive…:( I feel like a noob :footinmou
 
Just a suggestion but if you want a pretty bright light but don't want to pay the price for a Surfire I would suggest going to walmart and buying the Brinkman Legend LX (not the Legend). From a review I read it is just a TAD (read not much at ALL) brighter than a Surefire E2E. It cost around 19.99. I do know it is quite a bit brighter than my 3 Cell Mag! Just a suggestion.

Ryan
 
You can probably get Surefires for a lot less than $80. For example, the G2 is usually available for less than $50. It was on sale at Botach for $30 a while ago, though I'm not sure how long it took them to actually ship them out. My E2e cost a little more than $70, and my 6P cost a little more than $50.

There really is no contest between Maglight Solitaires and Surefires. The former are good for small close-up tasks, similar to a Photon. If you ever have to use a Surefire for something close, you have to use the non-hotspot light area, or you'll blind yourself. Surefires will throw light further than wide-area task lights. It's overly bright for most tasks, but I carry mine for the infrequent occasions where I really do need a bright light. Besides the money factor, there's no reason to go with less.
 
Yeah, I did finally pop for the extra few and buy an E2e and no, I an not at all unhappy about it and yes it is a great little light and beautifully made and have already spent toomuch time playing with it.

Is it worth it? Well, near as I can figure - dollar for dollar - it probably is not. I mean it might 9 times better than a Mini-Mag (at $11.00 for the MM) but is it 4 times better than a good $18.00 flashight? Or 2.8 times better than a $24.00 light? Or.....

So,ewhere along the line you have to figure just how much something is worth TO YOU. If money is no object then I doubt you can better on today's market than SF. If money is a consideration, there are SF's that may be worth the price, or may not.

I now carry my E2e along with my ol'reliable SAK and a couple of other things. I still have never actually NEEDED the power of the SF, but riding the New York City subways or traveling up the elevators of one of out skyscrapers, it is very comforting to know it is there.
 
Originally posted by Will'em
Now after fixing my solitaire, to the point where it never fails, I want to know, how bright is a surefire?....How’s it compare to a photon II led in brightness? Cause that’s what I expect when paying that much for a light...
Click to expand...
Obviously, there's a huge difference in runtime and battery cost, beside the cost of the lights, but since I can't sleep and am bored out of my skull....here you go.

From 8 feet 1)Photon II-It actually looked brighter in person, but same camera, same settings, lights all in the same place.
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I don't either, most of the time. I use the KL1 head on the SF E2e, and a Streamlight Stinger and UltraStinger for more light. The Stinger is brighter than any of the lights I posted pics of, and the UltraStinger much brighter than that. Plus, since they're rechargeables, they run for "free":D What a deal!
No matter how cheap you can find them, those 123 batteries get ridiculous if you use a light alot. I'd go through a pair a night if I depended on them.
 
I carry a SureFire E2E and have an Arc AAA on my keychain. I use my ARC AAA more often it's the size of a maglite solitaire, but more powerful. When I need more light I whip out my E2E.
 
I have an X5T, E2E and Arc AAA. I use the Arc far more than either of the others. It's the same size as a mag Solitaire and but in my opinion, kicks it's butt. My LE version is both brighter and longer lasting than the Solitaire and with the LED instead of a bulb, I'll likely never have it burn out just when I need it most. I also have had a couple keyring mounted Solitaires whose focus optical assemblys worked themselves loose and dissapeared while I was carrying them (car alarm remote, light and ignition key usually hang out of my pocket with the bulk of the keyes in the pocket). The snug fit on the Arc's head seems like it would never work loose like that.

Best of all, unlike the Surefires that seem a little expensive for you right now, the Arc AAA can be had for around $25.00. It's still more than a Solitaire but in my opinion, it's way worth the extra money. I should have a couple show up tomorrow in the big brown truck for xmas presents for a couple buddies of mine.

jmx
 
Well guys, I now have the Surefire E2e from the passaround right now and I am convinced. I am buying 2. One for my wife and one for me. What I am wondering is which model?? I want it to have at least the same power as this one, which is 60 (Whatever) so that rules out the E1 series, For myself I want one that has a simliar finish and tactical look to the E2e, As for my wife, she just wants something this strong for its size. What do you think of the M2, G2 for the wife and other models. This E2e is the only one I have ever seen in person and I love it. But without your guys help, I might be leaving out another model that might deserve my first purchase. What I am thinking now is E2e for me and G2 for her. But I want to hear the experinced Surefire guys chime in. Thanks
 
I find it difficult to carry anything larger than an E2e in regular trouser pockets. You can probably put a larger 2-cell in the lower pockets of cargo pants. How would your wife be carrying the Surefire? If it's a large enough purse, a larger light should fit. Otherwise, I'd recommend the smaller E2e since the light output is almost the same as a 6P/C2/D2/M2/G2. The latter have much greater expandability though, so you might want to take that into consideration for your own EDC light.
 
My wife would be carrying it in her purse. I think the E2e is the one for me, I guess I was just trying to cheap out and get her a G2 while they were on sale:D She said she just wants something that size and power to put in her purse. I may just have to get 2 E2es. But whats the diffrence between the E2e and the E2?? I know they look diffrent, but she already said she didn't reall care what it looked like.
 
I like the hell out of the E-1. Once I realized that lithium batteries don't have to cost $5 each I liked my lithium lights even more. May have to buy a G2 and see what I think of that particular SureFire flashlight.

I own the UTL that Insight Technologies makes for H&K's USP series of pistols. Got a good enough deal on it that I could undercut retail and still make a little $ but I won't sell or trade it. That is a cool light. IT backs them up extremely well. Called them when I managed to misplace the itsy bitsy plug which covers the remote switch connection and they sent me a new plug gratis in about a week's time. There are knife companies that could take lessons from IT on customer service.It doesn't hurt that the gal who does their customer service number answering sounds sexy as he**. LOL
 
TheBadGuy, the E2e-HA differs from the E2 in that it has a Pyrex lens, a pocket clip, and a hex bezel. The regular E2 has a plastic, Lexan lens, no pocket clip, and a round bezel. Some people prefer the smoother feel of the E2 (I've never held the E2 before), but I would worry about scratches for EDC.

Note: the E2e-SG (smoke grey) has a Lexan lens, even though it's an Elite model.
 
i believe the e2 still has a pocket clip, but it's mounted on the bezel and thus isn't as flexible, also if you replace the head with a kl1 or such you lose the pocket clip on the e2, not on the e2e.

- Pete
 
Maybe I will get the E2e for me and the E2 for the wife. I am not to sure she would like the G2 as much:)
 
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