The Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast your vote! PART 2

[CaNo]

Zebralight H501w is a must have light for flood and beautiful warm tint. I refuse to sell this light for it's many usages, and ease on the eye. Perfect for night projects / camping / walks.

Quark AA R2 for the ability to use 14500 cells and the ability to use easily obtainable AA cells. This light is strong! It's throw is very impressive. It's UI is very useful as it gives you almost every form of light you need:

Moonlight-Low-Medium-High-SOS
-twist-
Turbo-Strobe

Also with the Quark Prism, you can use this light also as a diffused or non diffused headlamp.

Fenix E01 for excellent runtime, ability to be dunked in water and still perform, and will prob still be running when all your other lights have already died. Did I mention, it will suck all the juice out of your AAA cell, to the point where another electronic prob will not function with the low juice remaining in the AAA, but the moonlight function in the Fenix E01 will still work until that battery is completely empty?

[Kevin1322]

I understand your criteria of listing lights that are reasonably abtainable, but it seems to me great collections consist of items that are hard to get. Just my 2 sents. Also, I am in agreement with some others that it is more about catagories for me in my collecting (though I understand your reply). Still, I'm glad you are doing this thread. Thanks.

My "must haves":
Surefire 6P - for the revolution it started and how often it has been copied.
Olight M20 Warrior Premium - amazing what they achieved with this light in most every aspect IMO.
Dereelight DBS aspherical - possibly the best throw to size ratio to date (from what I've seen).
1D grooved mag by wquiles (or other)
Malkoff mag drop

I'm surprised no one has said the DEFT yet, but I don't have one.

[Fender]

Surefire LX2
Surefire M6

[Monocrom]

Another vote for the Nitecore EZ AA.
Great AA light. I've dropped mine on concrete, and washed it under running water. Still works! Ideal for lending to a non-flashaholic during an emergency, such as a blackout.

EDIT:

My vote only applies to the old EZ AA model. The one that is twist for on in low-mode, then twist a bit further for high-mode. To turn off, twist all the way in the opposite direction.

[RichS]

I am not surprised to the see the Ra at the top of the list, nor the M6 on the list because of its versatility. I am actually a bit surprised to the the A2 on the list though. Thought the A2 was losing popularity - they are not pulling as much as they used to in the CPF-MP.

I'm with you on the Ra and M6, but I also put my A2 on the must have list. Even though they are not pulling as much on CPFMP now, what am I going to replace it with? Where do I get another high quality (or any) fully regulated pocketable incandescent with a practically limit-less run LED low?? Not to mention the awesome upgrade of the FM A2 Strion kit...

All "must have" entries added! We have a new addition to the Flashaholic's "Must Have" list - the first 4Sevens light - and several others right on the cusp of being added!

[Locoboy5150]

Rather than just list my favorite lights, I'd rather add a favorite "must have" category of light to this thread. I think that every flashaholic must have a super bright, huge light that while maybe completely impractical, just blows the minds of non-flashaholics that would never ever even remotely consider such an extravagant purchase. That type of light is what separates us flashaholics from the non-flashaholics.

Everyone's definition of a "Mind Blower" light is different depending on things like budget and storage space, but I'll bet that every single one of us has blown the minds of non-flashaholics with at least one of the lights in our collections, no matter how large or expensive. For me, my mind blower light is my Fenix TK40. It's the one light in my collection that always makes non-flashaholics jump because of how bright it is...then I kick it into turbo mode and blow their minds away.

A light in this category doesn't have to blow away people's minds with just brightness either. The first time that I picked up a Surefire M6, I didn't even turn it on and it blew me away with its wonderful high quality feel. I have never ever held a flashlight that just felt *that* good in my hands. It was like holding the holy grail of flashlights.

So, I think that every flashaholic must have at least one "Mind Blower" light.

[applevision]

I'm in:

1. Zebralight H501 (couldn't live without... wouldn't want to!)
2. Quark CR2 MiNi (so much bang for such a small size!)
3. My TiFli (a custom sadly no longer made... but with me 24/7/365)

whoo hooo!

p.s. BRILLIANT idea! I love this thread and LOVE the list. What a great thing to do! I wonder if the makers can use this in marketing materials... "Our light was voted as a 'Top 10' on the prestigious CPF board!"

[rayman]

2D P7 Maglite
Zebralight H51
Nitecore EX10

rayman

[kaichu dento]

Quark CR2 MiNi (so much bang for such a small size!)

p.s. BRILLIANT idea! I love this thread and LOVE the list. What a great thing to do! I wonder if the makers can use this in marketing materials... "Our light was voted as a 'Top 10' on the prestigious CPF board!"

I forgot my watch pocket lights!

I'll add a vote for the MiNi CR2 and my EZAAw. People see them and think how cute they are, then BAM, and they also know they're a serious light too!

There's been several posts mentioning how this thread should have better been presented, but I think the OP did a good job of explaining his understanding of their issues and why he did it the way he did.

To those wanting this poll to go in a different direction, please start another!

[Batou00159]

d10 and 6p

[bstrickler]

Sorry to rain on the parade, but instead of another "list my favorite light" thread, how about thinking about "must have" lists classified by usage.

I say that because a lot of lights y'all are listing have redundant characteristics. Because people tend to suggest lights they have experience with (hopefully!), the list will keep growing.

Think about categories instead:

- handheld light
- headlight
- SHTF light
- backup light
- scorcher
... you get the idea

Handheld:
For long-distance (not really any need for 500+ yard illumination, unless you're using binoculars or something):
6P with LF 250-lumen XR-E R2 dropin
For long life:
6P with P60L (modded with high CRI P4). Could also double as backup light

SHTF light:
Quark AA^2 tactical NW (has all the brightness modes you would technically ever really need)

Headlamp:
I've only owned one, and thats the Energizer 1xAA.

Scorcher:
Probably a Mag with a 64440 (haven't owned or tried one myself, but it looks like it'd be great for that use, but not much else, with the short battery life, unless its hooked up to a constant power supply)


~Brian

[davidt1]

2D P7 Maglite
Zebralight H51
Nitecore EX10

rayman

The H51 is available in Germany already?

[Thermion]

HDS Ra Clicky
Arc AAA on keychain.

[RichS]

Rather than just list my favorite lights, I'd rather add a favorite "must have" category of light to this thread. I think that every flashaholic must have a super bright, huge light that while maybe completely impractical, just blows the minds of non-flashaholics that would never ever even remotely consider such an extravagant purchase. That type of light is what separates us flashaholics from the non-flashaholics.

Everyone's definition of a "Mind Blower" light is different depending on things like budget and storage space, but I'll bet that every single one of us has blown the minds of non-flashaholics with at least one of the lights in our collections, no matter how large or expensive. For me, my mind blower light is my Fenix TK40. It's the one light in my collection that always makes non-flashaholics jump because of how bright it is...then I kick it into turbo mode and blow their minds away.

A light in this category doesn't have to blow away people's minds with just brightness either. The first time that I picked up a Surefire M6, I didn't even turn it on and it blew me away with its wonderful high quality feel. I have never ever held a flashlight that just felt *that* good in my hands. It was like holding the holy grail of flashlights.

So, I think that every flashaholic must have at least one "Mind Blower" light.

No question, the TK40 is a mind-blower! Hopefully we all have one. I added a vote from you for the TK40. As a true flashaholic, I also have a couple of mind-blowers. One is the Stanley HID and the other is a FM 1909 Mag mod - it definitely will drop some jaws...but, neither is an absolute must have for me, as I upgrade and change those kinds of lights to move on to something different or brighter, so I didn't add them to my "must have" list.

I'm in:

whoo hooo!

p.s. BRILLIANT idea! I love this thread and LOVE the list. What a great thing to do! I wonder if the makers can use this in marketing materials... "Our light was voted as a 'Top 10' on the prestigious CPF board!"

I forgot my watch pocket lights!

There's been several posts mentioning how this thread should have better been presented, but I think the OP did a good job of explaining his understanding of their issues and why he did it the way he did.

To those wanting this poll to go in a different direction, please start another!

Thanks much guys.

There's no doubt this thread could have been organized in any number of different ways with more, less or different rules. But, I chose to go in a more open-ended route where CPF'rs would feel free to include as few or as many true "must haves" lights for this thread so that it is as comprehensive as possible. I must say I'm very pleased with the results of this thread so far! Very interesting information indeed. In the end, the number of CPF member endorsements per light across our experienced community will tell the tale...

[alejo71]

Quark Mini AA

[Kevin1322]

Also, meant to put the:
Solarforce Masterpiece Pro 1 head - for it's incredable throw and capatibility to be used with so many lights.

[tygger]

McGizmo Haiku XP-Gw 2AA
Zebralight H501 (replaced by H51w when released)
4Sevens MiNi AA
LF2XT Neutral
Ra Clicky EDC
Elektrolumens Anglelux 1W

[RichS]

OP updated. ...And McGizmo Haiku joins the list!

[Jeff S.]

HDS Ra Clicky

[COAST]

HDS Ra Clicky.... 170 preferably.

[LightWalker]

Fenix E01
Quark AA
Quark 123

[AlphaZen]

Quark Mini AA = Must Have

[baterija]

Surefire 6p (really a P60 host that's a must have but it's the definition of the class)
Solarforce L2m (can't skip the 1 cell host once you start)
LF2XT (really anyone of the Liteflux XT lineup in my mind but each one has slight improvements and it's the latest)
Photon Freedom
Photon Proton Pro

[was.lost.but.now.found]

I see a lot of people are still nominating lights that are not currently available. What if you had a separate list of must have "classics"?

[RichS]

I see a lot of people are still nominating lights that are not currently available. What if you had a separate list of must have "classics"?

Good point - I tried to strike a balance here. There are most definitely must have light that are no longer readily available, but are must haves for collectors, etc. I wanted to have a comprensive list of highly-prized lights that someone new to CPF could refer to and check out and actually purchase if desired. Some of the lights that are no longer available from a normal dealer or manufacturer are pretty easily obtainable via CPFMP. I included some of these in the list.

But on further thought, I think it might be even more interesting to spin off a thread from this, specifical for those lights that are "classic" must haves - for the ones that are no longer available but highly prized by the CPF Community.

So, there would be two threads:

• The Flashaholic's "Must Have" List
• The Flashaholic's "Must Have" List: *Classics*

I'd then make this thread completely clean with only lights you can currently purchase through some manufacturer/dealer. What do you think?

[was.lost.but.now.found]

I think that thread would be very popular.

[I came to the light...]

Excellent idea, especially the top choices list. I look forward to seeing this list evolve with more input. Mine are the Ra Clicky and SureFire LX2.

Also, I don't know if you're interested, but I could make a website for this list to solve the classics issue and enable improvements. For example, you could have a common list of must-haves, with a checkbox at the top determining whether classics are allowed. Then you could add stuff like graphical comparison bars, category filters, and really anythng you can think of. Of course, the downside would be that the list would no longer be directly on CPF, although you could still accept entries here and manually update some version of the list. Tell me if you think it's a good idea.

[Cataract]

TK45 (extensive review coming soon)
M1X
TK20
TK11
PD20 or 30
HP10 or Fenix Headband
Quark RGB
Quark AA or 123 neutral
Quark Mini
L0D
Strion
Surefire P6 with some Malkoff drop-in
one 35 watt + HID

With these, you can cover all bases for just about any use / situation / battery configuration... And you have enough to spell HELP on the ground in light segments

[kaichu dento]

So, there would be two threads:

• The Flashaholic's "Must Have" List
• The Flashaholic's "Must Have" List: *Classics*

I'd then make this thread completely clean with only lights you can currently purchase through some manufacturer/dealer. What do you think?

I like the list just the way it is and don't really see any need to go beyond your original intent.

[DM51]

I don't think we want more than one thread like this.

Besides, today's "latest model" is next week's "classic", next month's "no longer available" and next year's "antique".