Bostonbull
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2013
- Messages
- 12
I know nothing about quality lights or batteries!!!
First light purchase and I want to something tough that will last years. From use around the house, to my pack while hiking, to jungle trips, to using at work. I want one light that can be good at many things, and be durable.
Another important factor is ability to blind someone. I want my family to be able to carry this light and blind someone if need be so they can escape.
I put that my budget is $100, I would like that to be with batteries and a charger, if at all possible. Not a deal breaker, but would be nice to stay in budget.
Need to purchase within two weeks, I leave for a jungle trek mid February.
I take care of my equipment, cleaning, and updating as required. But I am not easy on EDC items. MP4 is my blade choice for durability for instance. I don't ever want to drop this light from my hip and see it in pieces, or have it sit in a wet pack for a few hours hiking and it wont turn on due to being damp.
If it fits in my jeans pocket comfortably, all the better. if not so be it. handheld, for a woman's hand as well, is crucial.
I travel often, it has to be in my backpack and make it through TSA no questions asked.
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
__X__I would like to purchase the light in person from a brick and mortar store. I am located in __Boston, MA___.
__X__This will be mail-order or Online (location doesn't matter).
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
_X_Up to $100.
3) Format:
_X__I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
4) Size:
__X_TINY - Every day carry (2-4 inches).
__X__SMALL - Every day carry (4-7 inches).
5) Emitter/Light source:
__X_I don't know.
6) Manufacturer:
__X_I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
__X_I would like a light from a specialty manufacturer (Possibly limited run/Custom).
7) What power source do you want to use?
_X__I don't know/I need more information on power sources.
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
__X_I want a separate/stand-alone charger (this involves removing the batteries to charge)
__X_I don't care
8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is not a happy experience).
__X__I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (1-10 lumens).
__X__I want an indoor "blackout" light (15-50 lumens)
__X__I want to confidently walk around an unlit/unpaved rural area (60-150 lumens).
__X__I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
__X__I want to illuminate an entire field, the neighbor's front yard several houses down, impress my friends and neighbors, etc. (300-700 lumens).
__X__I want search and rescue type illumination (800+ lumens).
__X_SPECIAL NOTE: Burst/Turbo mode Category - There are several lights that will run at a super bright maximum for a very limited period (usually 5-10 minutes) and then will "step-down" to a lower level for thermal control. Check here if this is acceptable.
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
____All Flood: I am doing "arms length" tasks like reading and campsite cooking.
____Wide Flood: I want a defined flood area for semi-close tasks like after-dark campsite tasks or working on a car.
____Narrow Flood: I want a sharply defined flood area that will project some distance for tasks like trail walking.
__X__Wide Throw: I want a beam with a noticeable hot-center for distance throw and a significant amount of "side-spill". Good for rough trail hiking, search and rescue, and general distance work.
__X__Narrow Throw: I want a beam with a very tight "hot center" and minimal "side-spill". Good for distance viewing, fog, and looking through dense undergrowth.
__X__Turbohead: I want a far-distance projector with a sharply focused spot of light and minimal or zero side-spill. Good for extreme distance and impressing your friends.
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
__X__Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
__X__Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
__X__5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
__X__30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
____50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
____150+ yards (I am searching from a helicopter)
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum continuous output).
_X___3 hours + (I critically need this light to run on max for extended periods in between battery changes/charges).
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
__X__Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
__X__Any size switch will do.
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
__X__I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
__X__I want a strobe mode. (Oscillating pattern to confuse/blind aka "Police Mode")
14)Material/Finish/Coating
_X___I don't care.
15) Water resistance
__X__IPX4 (Splash resistant)
__X__IPX7 (Waterproof to 1 meter/30min)
__X__IPX8 (Submersible to greater than 1 meter for 4 hours)
16) Storage conditions
__X__In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
__X__Emergency kit (long standby periods)
__X__Automobile glove-box (wide temperature swings, long standby periods, critical reliability)
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________).
____Dedicated R/G/B secondary LEDs.
____"Hybrid" light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
____Pocket/belt clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Crenulated bezel
____Non-sparking, Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments
First light purchase and I want to something tough that will last years. From use around the house, to my pack while hiking, to jungle trips, to using at work. I want one light that can be good at many things, and be durable.
Another important factor is ability to blind someone. I want my family to be able to carry this light and blind someone if need be so they can escape.
I put that my budget is $100, I would like that to be with batteries and a charger, if at all possible. Not a deal breaker, but would be nice to stay in budget.
Need to purchase within two weeks, I leave for a jungle trek mid February.
I take care of my equipment, cleaning, and updating as required. But I am not easy on EDC items. MP4 is my blade choice for durability for instance. I don't ever want to drop this light from my hip and see it in pieces, or have it sit in a wet pack for a few hours hiking and it wont turn on due to being damp.
If it fits in my jeans pocket comfortably, all the better. if not so be it. handheld, for a woman's hand as well, is crucial.
I travel often, it has to be in my backpack and make it through TSA no questions asked.
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
__X__I would like to purchase the light in person from a brick and mortar store. I am located in __Boston, MA___.
__X__This will be mail-order or Online (location doesn't matter).
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
_X_Up to $100.
3) Format:
_X__I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
4) Size:
__X_TINY - Every day carry (2-4 inches).
__X__SMALL - Every day carry (4-7 inches).
5) Emitter/Light source:
__X_I don't know.
6) Manufacturer:
__X_I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
__X_I would like a light from a specialty manufacturer (Possibly limited run/Custom).
7) What power source do you want to use?
_X__I don't know/I need more information on power sources.
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
__X_I want a separate/stand-alone charger (this involves removing the batteries to charge)
__X_I don't care
8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is not a happy experience).
__X__I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (1-10 lumens).
__X__I want an indoor "blackout" light (15-50 lumens)
__X__I want to confidently walk around an unlit/unpaved rural area (60-150 lumens).
__X__I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
__X__I want to illuminate an entire field, the neighbor's front yard several houses down, impress my friends and neighbors, etc. (300-700 lumens).
__X__I want search and rescue type illumination (800+ lumens).
__X_SPECIAL NOTE: Burst/Turbo mode Category - There are several lights that will run at a super bright maximum for a very limited period (usually 5-10 minutes) and then will "step-down" to a lower level for thermal control. Check here if this is acceptable.
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
____All Flood: I am doing "arms length" tasks like reading and campsite cooking.
____Wide Flood: I want a defined flood area for semi-close tasks like after-dark campsite tasks or working on a car.
____Narrow Flood: I want a sharply defined flood area that will project some distance for tasks like trail walking.
__X__Wide Throw: I want a beam with a noticeable hot-center for distance throw and a significant amount of "side-spill". Good for rough trail hiking, search and rescue, and general distance work.
__X__Narrow Throw: I want a beam with a very tight "hot center" and minimal "side-spill". Good for distance viewing, fog, and looking through dense undergrowth.
__X__Turbohead: I want a far-distance projector with a sharply focused spot of light and minimal or zero side-spill. Good for extreme distance and impressing your friends.
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
__X__Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
__X__Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
__X__5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
__X__30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
____50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
____150+ yards (I am searching from a helicopter)
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum continuous output).
_X___3 hours + (I critically need this light to run on max for extended periods in between battery changes/charges).
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
__X__Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
__X__Any size switch will do.
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
__X__I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
__X__I want a strobe mode. (Oscillating pattern to confuse/blind aka "Police Mode")
14)Material/Finish/Coating
_X___I don't care.
15) Water resistance
__X__IPX4 (Splash resistant)
__X__IPX7 (Waterproof to 1 meter/30min)
__X__IPX8 (Submersible to greater than 1 meter for 4 hours)
16) Storage conditions
__X__In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
__X__Emergency kit (long standby periods)
__X__Automobile glove-box (wide temperature swings, long standby periods, critical reliability)
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________).
____Dedicated R/G/B secondary LEDs.
____"Hybrid" light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
____Pocket/belt clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Crenulated bezel
____Non-sparking, Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments