What's the best emergency survival flashlight?

[cbxer55]

Whatever you have on you at the time.
Best to have one and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
I never leave home without my U-2.
And at least 2 sets of spare batteries.
And a Leatherman Charge and its bits.
And a Benchmade Ruckus.
And a Kimber .45.

 

[Glock40]

First of all would be a headlamp. For me that would be the PT Quad.

Second would have to be the A2. Runs forever on the LEDs and a nice bringht incan if the need arises.

But in all honestly we are flash light lovers so the correct answer would be every single light that you own. And every battery that you own

 

[Burgess]

Always great "food for thought" here, when reading threads like this.


And to Sub_Umbra, thank you much for sharing your special insights and experiences.

When you speak, i think that we ALL pay close attention !

Myself, i really like the Princeton Tec Sport Flare,
with a SMJLED-PR bulb installed. (thanks to Nerdgineer for the tip!)

Bought several of 'em, when Camp-Mor still had 'em in stock.
So glad that i did.

Great soft, 360-degree area light.

Or remove the G-I-T-D rubber cone, and it's a "floody" flashlight.

And with the SMJLED bulbs (alas, no longer available),
runs for 24+ hours on 2 AA alkalines. Very handy, indeed.

 

[Lee1959]

Probably good advice post Katrina in N.O., but it's not necessarily going to be the case after every hurricane, depending on where it hits

Of course there is no such thing as an absolute when you are discussing disaster planning. However, are you willing to bet your life, the life of those you love, and anyone who depends upon you, on the goodwill and intentions of others/strangers?

Best thing to do, from my point of view, is prepare for the worst, and be happily surprised should it not occur.

After Andrew demolished parts of Miami and it seemed like relief was never going to show up, many neighborhoods banded together with plenty of bright lights, weapons, and organized patrols and watches. These neighborhoods suffered the least vandalism and violence.

Even in your specific situation, times change, even from month to month, communitiy dynamics and personal interactions change, and the end result could be greatly different should the same situation occur even in the same place. Again, are you willing to gamble everything that people will react the same in every situation and protect you?

No, I say the same thing as I always do about such situations. Plan on the worst, take the best if given the opportunity...

 

[Martin]

Glowrings (GTLS markers) are great. Not exactly flashlights, but marking stuff I grab often avoids flashlight use.

 

[MikeSalt]

My P1D-CE wouldn't leave my side. I disagree with comments that AA batteries would be more available. These are common, so the majority of people will be using AAs, Cs, and Ds in their non-CPF flashlights, which are likely to be poor incandescents, eating up batteries like an Alkaline Alligator. 123s remain the almost sole domain of CPF-type torches. Being that there are not many CPF members in the UK, specialist cells would be in low demand, and therefore high supply.

 

[Sharpdogs]

I strongly agree with greenLED's comments. The Infinity flashlights are tough, great run time and can even double as a headlamp if clipped to a baseball cap. The SL Propolmer uses the same commeon AA batteries. The Propolymer is not the brightest light but should be plenty bright to light up a dark alley or corner to identify a threat. They make a great combination. Both cars and my BOB's have Gerber Infinities and/or Safe-Lights.

 

[Lee1959]

Mike,

I wholeheartedly agree with your position on batteries, here is a copy of a post I made on another forum I moderate on the subject of commanlity or diversity of supplies.

It has long been a popular idea that it is better to consoldate certain things into a common item, caliber, battery type etc. I was always of the same mindset in many way, but as of late I have been reconsidering this stand.

Hearing things out of Katrina and other emergency situations has made me ponder this and I have started to come to the conclusion that in certain areas, it not only makes sense to diversify, but it builds in a natural safety factor. People found that certain items, or sizes went faster than others, D batteries and AA batteries for example, went before AAA, C, and CR123s.

In the case of an emergency, where resupply is not likely , certain popular items will go faster than others. If you limit yourself to one specific caliber or battery, then you severly limit your possiblity of finding that item should you need to.

Yes, I hear you now, but I will have enough to last me for the next millenium because I only have to stock up one, well, **IT happens, and supplies get lost, destroyed, stolen, confiscated, etc. And saying it wont or cant happen to me, does not stop it.

Yes, I do agree that buying readily available popular items makes it more likely you will find them, however, adding somethig a bit less popular is not a bad idea and increases your chance of finding that resupply due to lack of popularity.

Ok, here is an example of what I am saying:

Man X has Rifle caliber .223, Pistol 9MM, Shotgun 12 guage, has several of each for himself and each member of his family, plus a supply of ammunition. Natural disaster hits suddenly, he is unable to move stores out of danger, and they get wiped out in a flood or other catastrophe. He goes to store to find more, he has 3 possible calibers/guages to find ammunition.

Man Y has Rifle calibers .223 .35 Remington .22 LR, Pistol 9MM, 9MM Makarov, .380 ACP, .357 magnum, Shotgun 12, 16 guages, has several of several different and some single models for himself and member of his family, plus a supply of ammunition. Natural disaster hits suddenly, he is unable to move stores out of danger, and they get wiped out. He goes to store to find more, he has 9 calibers/guages to find ammunition.

Man Y has more chance at finding some ammunition for at least one of his calibers. Something like the 9MM Makarov would be even more likely to find than other more well known calibers, giving a slight hedge. In part this is because while it is semi-exotic, it is also popular enough as to be fairly common in many sporting goods supplies.

Same can hold true with batteries. I have started carrying in my stores, AAA, AA, CR123, C, D lights, and batteries for each. The CR123s would last longest on shelves because they are not as well known to the general flashlight public as the others. Just like calibers I find different ones better for different tasks, but, anything is better than nothing which you might end up with if you limit yourself too much.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Sub_Umbra]

I favor diversity in cells, also. I've noticed that the hardware store near me stocks M/\Gs. When there is a hurricane warning the M/\G AAs and Ds leap out the door, along with cells to fit them. Only THEN do all of the C lights and cells go. I don't buy lights or cells right before a storm but I firmly believe that if you have a bit of everything you may be able to use a bit of everything.

 

[TIP AND RING]

Another nod to the Eternalights. A very impressive, low cost, adaptive, flexible light. The maker was selling the Ergo and Marine models on "Eeek-Bay" for a long time, at below retail pricing. The home brew addition of JB-Weld and strong magnets have turned these into much favored tools.

Another incredible device I've found useful for my Arc and SureFire E series lights is the UBH or "Universal Battery Holder". It allows the use of AA, 123, and CR2 cells with the Arc and SF brands. A VERY nice product, although it still does not raise my opinion of it's ingenuis but often inept maker.

 

[Pax et Lux]

Basically, Sub_Umbra is the one here that knows what he is talking about. I'd advise searching out his survival-related posts in various places on this site.

I had cause to think over his posts during a three-day power outage (nothing at all the Katrina aftermath, but the closest I ever hope to get to that kind of Hell). I stayed in the house, with my wife and two young children. . . the light we all used above anything else was a Gerber IU - maybe because it's childproof, but also you don't need as much light as you think, regardless of security concerns (which clearly weren't an issue to me). I also used a red $1 keychain light, but I use that all the time anyway. Without electricity, you tend to go to bed soon after it gets dark. That's how it is when you are winter camping.

Had I been outdoors, as your post was indicating. . . I'd have probably used my SS PP 4aa and/or Tikka+ headlamp (and wished I had some kind of common battery format, but the Tikka+ is so small and lightweight). I personally don't see the need for a G2 for self-defence, as I have no training in this area.

I guess it's down to choice - and the size of your emergency backpack. Personally, I EDC the Doug Ritter/AMK Pocket Survival Pack (and a whole bunch of trash bags) and the only space I've got in that is for a $1 keychain. Of course, I EDC a couple of other lights as well.

I am putting together a larger survival pack for the house - I'm on the West Coast and it's only a matter of time before the next major 'quake hits - but that's more based towards us all staying in my home/backyard. But then, all this depends so much on the individual. Maybe I'd go the backpack route if I lived in an apartment (likely to be structurally unsound after a 'quake) and had nowhere to shelter. . . or maybe I'm down on this idea because I would not be able to get far with young children.

EDIT: Looks like I overlooked Lee1959 when I wrote the above; no offense meant. Clearly I also need to think of the wisdom of using more than one battery format. . . makes sense over the long-term, with replenishment in mind, where as AA-or-no-way makes sense when you want to start switching cells between different equipment when you are on your own after dark.

 

[MikeSalt]

I've been pondering this one, and I have concluded that the best emergency torch will be of Every Day Carry (EDC) variety. Because, of course, an emergency flashlight that is not on your person is useless if things happen quickly.

 

[FAAbUlights]

If I had to choose just one light to take with me for survival in the wilderness it would be my L2 because it has two modes for extra brightness or nice long runtime. If I were to choose a light that I dont own I would say the surefire Kroma would work very well in any of the suggested situations.

 

[yalskey]

Thanks for all your help guys.

I have picked up 2 Fenix L1T's with the knife special for $98.

I have also bought 2 Gerber Infinity Ultras-M's for about $56

I'm going to Costco tonight to pickup their 2800mah NiMH batteries and charger. I'm also buying some led lanterns that work off of AA. They are similar to the River Rocks (which I can't find at any Targets around me) or the Sylvannia little lanterns.

I'm going to look into some headlamps next. I want AA variety headlamps though.

So I see most people here like the Princeton Tec APEX or the Tikka+... Are those the 2 you guys recommend the most? Again, think survival situation, and AA batteries.

Thanks again for answer my original post

p.s. I just got my P1D-CE and it is freak'in awesome. Very nice, and crazy bright. It puts my G2 with a P61 lamp to shame!!! And it's a third the size!

 

[Martin]

I would definitely want something colored in my arsenal, because white LEDs attract insects so badly.

 

[tibim]

I don't recommend the P1D CE for "survival" simply because once it does not have enough juice to run medium(1st) mode it will shut off and then you cannot turn it back on into low mode. You are simply left with no light.

 

[Long John]

I don't recommend the P1D CE for "survival" simply because once it does not have enough juice to run medium(1st) mode it will shut off and then you cannot turn it back on into low mode. You are simply left with no light.

For this case, always carry a backup light, spare cells, a lighter..........but, I use the Fenix P1D-CE always with RCR's and a clickie and after dropping out of regulation (at med or high) I can still immediately click into low mode.

Best regards

_____
Tom

 

[firefly99]

I think SF L1 being a 2 stage light with a runtime of 90+ hours on low would be ideal. Otherwise a E1L with a tailcap modify for 2 stage would be great too. My tailcap with 22 ohm should last 50+ hours on low.

With a supply of 200~300 CR123 batteries, guess having light for several months would not be an issue.

 

[VWTim]

Yalskey, PM sent with some c.r.a.p. advise.

IMO, the CMG Infinity lights are the absolute best lights for survival bags. Small, bombproof construction, waterproof, long runtime, can use whatever type of AA you throw at'em, etc.

Other than that, something like a Streamlite 4AA Propoly Luxeon would be nice. Again, long runtime, uses AA, tough as nails, waterproof, can run on lithium AA's, etc.

Don't forget spare cells.

You just listed what's in my BOB. I like the Infinities as they really do run forever, while the SL PP is mainly for intermittent or signal uses. I've also supplemented those with a few headlamps.

 

[Atomic_Chicken]

Greetings!

I've thought long and hard about this, and here is my recommendation.

Take two lights, not one. A handheld, and a headlamp. I'd choose the following:

Inova 24/7 Headlamp
Surefire Kroma

Now... the 24/7 is pretty much a no-brainer for the headlamp, but you might question why I would choose the Kroma for the 2nd light. Here is the reasoning:

#1 - Uses the same batteries as the Inova 24/7, so you only need to take one kind of spare batteries with you.

#2 - The Kroma has a VERY long runtime (>50 hours continuous) in low-output red or blue... and the blue is actually quite bright and useful even in "low" mode.

#3 - The Kroma has half the lumen output of an L2 or U2, but it is MORE than enough for any kind of nighttime navigation. It also has very reasonable throw and one of the best beamshapes you will find in ANY light.

#4 - The Kroma has a red mode. This is FANTASTIC for two reasons: Animals you might be hunting won't be able to see it, and you WILL be able to see it... and see everything else after you turn the light off because your night vision hasn't been ruined.

#5 - The Kroma, like all other Surefire lights is tough as nails, waterproof, and MORE than grippy enough to keep hold of in wet/miserable/cold conditions.

#6 - The Kroma has a two-stage tactical switch combined with full-white-always-at-full-press, for quick dark-to-full-bright at the push of a button tactical use. Blind a potential opponent before he even knows you have a light - without fussing with various "modes" and other settings like you would need to with most other variable-output-power lights.

#7 - The Kroma just feels GOOD to carry for long periods of time - it's ergonomically a great light.

I think the two lights make a perfect compliment for each other, the Inova 24/7 for hands-free use and beacon/SOS/oddball modes and the Kroma for a truly excellent all-around handheld... those are DEFINITELY the lights I'll grab first if there is ever a major disaster.

Best wishes,
Bawko