Please help me choose my first "real" flashlight

[flipangle]

Up until now I've bought only cheapo flashlights. Now that I have the funds, I want to get a good flashlight. Unfortunately, since I'm new to this, I'm not sure what to get. Here are the criteria:

-price should be less than $150. Anything more expensive and I will have to spend money on a lawyer or a psychiatrist since my wife will either divorce me or have me go see a shrink!

-has to have wow factor for the wife. She should see why the light is worth the price.

-length should be less than 8 inches since I will mount the light on a bike as well as using it around the house.

-I'm flexible on battery type. Would prefer AA but know that I may have to go with cr123 or 18650.

-would prefer that the body width is equal or less than 28 mm since most commonly available bike mount don't take larger lights.

-as bright as possible

So far I've narrowed my choices down to the TK35 and the SC600. The TK35 will not mount easily on a bike doe to its shape but I could figure something out. Any other good choices besides these two torches? Thanks so much guys! That's all I need now is another costly hobby

[JKodiak]

Since you are considering TK35 or SC600 I guess you want powerful light? The total output from flashlight is measured by lumens. It means total amount of light can produce. How far a flashlight can light is measured by lux (intensity of hotspot). Both of those lights are good but if you plan to use light on a bike you need a light with reasonable throw. TK35 throws very well but with its odd shape is doesn't fit to most bikemounts. SC600 does not throw beam far, it creates wall of light which lights everything nicely near you. Around house you will do just about anything with light that can produce around 150 lumens. The wow factor mostly comes from throw IMO, unless you go to extremes with lumen ratings.

I would suggest 4Sevens Quark Turbo AA2 + Fenix bikemount combo. Quark Turbo AA2 uses two AA batteries and has larger head than normal Quark thus providing better throw. If you look for cr123/18650 light then I would consider Fenix TK21. The SC600 is really great and small light but for bicycling I really would stick to lights with reasonable throw so you can see further away.

[papageorgio]

One more vote for the aa2 turbo quark. About 75 bucks and is definitely a great wow factor light especially if you are new to this addictive habit. I have several lights, but find myself reaching for the quark the most. If your budget is 150...perhaps you could get the turbo for throw and maybe another light for flood. CR123 and 18650 lights are great, but i think you will be VERY happy with a Quark Turbo for your first high-end ish purchase. What is the nicest light you have now? If you are thinking a 2AA light is going to be on par with a 2aa MiniMag you are in for a pleasant surprise! Good luck

[tre]

I would not limit yourself to 1" size. Get a two fish cycle block and you can get to 1.5" light
http://www.batteryjunction.com/twofish-cycloblocks.html

You need to decide how far you want to see.

The SC600 is a great light. It is more of a flood light which will illuminate objects well up to about 100 feet.
The Thrunite Scorpion V2 has every bit of the output of the TK35 without the odd shape. It will illuminate objects well to about 150 or 200 feet (you can add the turbo head to see a little farther)
The 4sevens Maelstrom X10 is another great light (uses a 26650 battery) that will illuminate objects in the distance better than the above two. (about $135 shipped for light, battery, and charger)

All of the above are about the same output. The difference is throw.

If you want to stick with AA cells, look at the Sunwayman M40A XML (make sure it is an XML). It has good throw and great output (about the same as the above lights). It is a 4 AA light. Throw is between the Scorpion V2 with turbo head and X10 (or there about). My Sunwayman M40A does not throw quite as far as my X10 but the beam shape is really nice. All of the 4 lights I listed are wow lights.

The quark AA turbo is a wow light if you have never had a good light. It is not a wow light compared to the above lights. It is cheaper than the above lights though and runs on 2 AA cells. IF you want to stick with 2 AA cells, it is a good choice.

[flipangle]

[QUOTE=JKodiak;3715259]Since you are considering TK35 or SC600 I guess you want powerful light? The total output from flashlight is measured by lumens. It means total amount of light can produce. How far a flashlight can light is measured by lux (intensity of hotspot). Both of those lights are good but if you plan to use light on a bike you need a light with reasonable throw. TK35 throws very well but with its odd shape is doesn't fit to most bikemounts. SC600 does not throw beam far, it creates wall of light which lights everything nicely near you. Around house you will do just about anything with light that can produce around 150 lumens. The wow factor mostly comes from throw IMO, unless you go to extremes with lumen ratings.QUOTE]

Thanks for the quick definitions of terms. Really helpful. Also thanks for the recommendations.

What is the nicest light you have now?

I don't have any nice lights. Just ones you can get from Costco. I think they are Mags.

I would not limit yourself to 1" size. Get a two fish cycle block and you can get to 1.5" light
http://www.batteryjunction.com/twofish-cycloblocks.html

The 4sevens Maelstrom X10 is another great light (uses a 26650 battery) that will illuminate objects in the distance better than the above two. (about $135 shipped for light, battery, and charger)

Thanks for the TwoFish recommendations. As for the Maelstrom, I was thinking about this one too after reading positive things about it. However, if I understand it correctly, the 26650 is a proprietary battery sold only by 4sevens. This makes me a little hesitant. What if 4sevens as a company goes belly up, how will I get new or additional batteries? If I'm incorrect about this, please let me know.

[Milestar]

I would like to recommend XTAR TZ20 T6, R01 T6 and B01 T6, they are all with LED and Mode DIY function, you can change the LED between Q5, R4, R5 and T6, and the high, mid, low, strobe and SOS. the unit price is range from 40~70USD.

Also their diameter are about 28mm, CR123A/ICR123A and 18650/18700 supported.

More information pls contact me.

[Bigmac_79]

Check out the Sunwayman V20C. My wife said wow.

[tre]

However, if I understand it correctly, the 26650 is a proprietary battery sold only by 4sevens. This makes me a little hesitant. What if 4sevens as a company goes belly up, how will I get new or additional batteries? If I'm incorrect about this, please let me know.

This is not correct. 26650 cells are used in a wide variety of applications. They can be purchased from TacticalHid and batteryspace to name a couple. AW also sells them on and off.

They are available here:
http://www.batteryspace.com/limnnire...ated148wh.aspx
and here:
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sho...Ah-sale-thread!

Google LiMnNi 26650 and you will find them everywhere. 4sevens sells them so customers can do one stop shopping. Their charger will also charge 18650 cells and many other types.

If you don't want to do Lithium Ion rechargeable cells, the Sunwayman M40A will give you 85% of the performance of the X10 on rechargeable NiMh AA cells (Sanyo Eneloops are a good brand that many use here - They can be purchased from Costco or Amazon).

[enomosiki]

ThruNite Scorpion V2.

$130. Less than seven inches in length, one inch body, 680 ANSI lumens and 200+ meter throw using only two primaries. Spend another $30 for the turbo head and turn it into a 300 meter light.

It has yet to fail to shock anyone I've shown it to. Even people with more experience in flashlights are impressed when I show them it only takes two primaries to get that much light out. In fact, it's so bright that it even hurts to look at the beamshot within a meter.

[flipangle]

[QUOTE=tre;3715505]This is not correct. 26650 cells are used in a wide variety of applications. They can be purchased from TacticalHid and batteryspace to name a couple. AW also sells them on and off.QUOTE]

Thanks for the correction. I was confused by their website which says that they use "proprietary" battery.

[tre]

I don't know why they say that. I guess they want you to purchase their battery.

[squaat]

I have both a quark 2aa and a tk35 (running on 18650's) I don't think the quark is bright enough for a bike headlight though it is much better than must if the crappy 2.5mm bike lights that most people use. (talking commut commuter bikes here).

If looking for wow factor the tk35 has it. Great spill and throw. If you can figure out how to mount it that is. Personally I love the form factor.

[flipangle]

I have both a quark 2aa and a tk35 (running on 18650's) I don't think the quark is bright enough for a bike headlight though it is much better than must if the crappy 2.5mm bike lights that most people use. (talking commut commuter bikes here).

If looking for wow factor the tk35 has it. Great spill and throw. If you can figure out how to mount it that is. Personally I love the form factor.

Yeah, I wish it were shaped normally.

[uknewbie]

Elektrolumens EDC-XML

1000 lumens, built like a tank, 5.3" long, $129.99.

This thing has wow factor just to hold when it is turned off!

http://elektrolumens.com/EDC-XML/EDC-XML.html

[Napalm]

If I would need "approval" from wife to buy a flashlight I would first spend some time fixing the wife

The M40A recommended by tre definitely has the wow factor however I think it's a little bit throwy (narrow beam) for bicycle use. And once you see it you won't want to risk scratching/denting it by mounting on bicycle - it's the perfect candidate for a "shelf queen".

Nap.