Boatingguy
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2012
- Messages
- 4
Gentlemen:
Very cool site, and thanks for this forum/service. I've been skulking for days since my son exposed me to his T40CS, prompting me to get a good thrower for nighttime boating - which will be the TN31.
The thrower was easy, but I'm really struggling with a smaller light. I expect this to be EDC, but also to take on my boat.
I prefer to figure things out for myself, but I herein throw in the towel. Holy Moly all the choices!
I'll gladly buy my TN31, cells/charger, and EDC from a Forum supporter if anyone wants to recommend.
Phil
For all questions please select all that apply.
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
__X__I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
_x___Less than $150.
3) Format:
____I want a flashlight.
4) Flashlight-specific format/size:
____Every day carry * Up to 5" *
5) Emitter/Light source:
____LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
6) Manufacturer:
____I want to buy a light from a traditional mass producing manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
7) What battery type do you want to use
____I intend to use rechargeable lithium (li-ion) chemistry. ** 18650 preferred * 123 or AA acceptable.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 impossible).
__*__I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (0-10 lumens).
__*_I want to walk around an unlit rural area (50-150 lumens).
__*__I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
9) Throw vs. Flood: At what distance will you be most likely to use this light? Select all that apply.
__*__Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
__*__Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
__*__5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
* My only experience thus far is my little NEBO, and a small SUREFIRE. The ideal light for my purposes would have at least 3 brightness levels.
PRIMARY purpose however is flood. I expect to also purchase a Thrunite TN31 for buoy-spotting on the river at night.
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum output).
____90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
____3 hours + (I critically need this light to run on max for extended periods in between battery changes/charges).
* Somewhere in these ranges.
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood).
____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
* I always prefer to buy quality products (please, I'm a noob, no NEBO remarks).
12) Switch Type and location (choose all that apply):
____I don't care.
** I'll buy this light on features/performance first, BUT: I'd rather not click-click-click thru modes (annoying), hence my choice of the TN31 and it's rotating bezel.
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
__x__I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a programmable light.
___x_I want a selector ring.
____I want a strobe mode. (Blinks to show location.)
____I want SOS mode.
____I want a beacon mode.
*__xx__ would like a low level for map/instrument at night in boat.
14)Material/Finish/Coating
__x__Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today's flashlights).
15) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any 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)
__x__Pocket/belt clip
___x_Holster
__x__Wrist/Neck Lanyard
*__x__ tail-standing would be nice.
TIA, and Cheers.
Very cool site, and thanks for this forum/service. I've been skulking for days since my son exposed me to his T40CS, prompting me to get a good thrower for nighttime boating - which will be the TN31.
The thrower was easy, but I'm really struggling with a smaller light. I expect this to be EDC, but also to take on my boat.
I prefer to figure things out for myself, but I herein throw in the towel. Holy Moly all the choices!
I'll gladly buy my TN31, cells/charger, and EDC from a Forum supporter if anyone wants to recommend.
Phil
For all questions please select all that apply.
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
__X__I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
_x___Less than $150.
3) Format:
____I want a flashlight.
4) Flashlight-specific format/size:
____Every day carry * Up to 5" *
5) Emitter/Light source:
____LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
6) Manufacturer:
____I want to buy a light from a traditional mass producing manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
7) What battery type do you want to use
____I intend to use rechargeable lithium (li-ion) chemistry. ** 18650 preferred * 123 or AA acceptable.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 impossible).
__*__I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (0-10 lumens).
__*_I want to walk around an unlit rural area (50-150 lumens).
__*__I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
9) Throw vs. Flood: At what distance will you be most likely to use this light? Select all that apply.
__*__Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
__*__Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
__*__5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
* My only experience thus far is my little NEBO, and a small SUREFIRE. The ideal light for my purposes would have at least 3 brightness levels.
PRIMARY purpose however is flood. I expect to also purchase a Thrunite TN31 for buoy-spotting on the river at night.
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum output).
____90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
____3 hours + (I critically need this light to run on max for extended periods in between battery changes/charges).
* Somewhere in these ranges.
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood).
____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
* I always prefer to buy quality products (please, I'm a noob, no NEBO remarks).
12) Switch Type and location (choose all that apply):
____I don't care.
** I'll buy this light on features/performance first, BUT: I'd rather not click-click-click thru modes (annoying), hence my choice of the TN31 and it's rotating bezel.
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
__x__I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a programmable light.
___x_I want a selector ring.
____I want a strobe mode. (Blinks to show location.)
____I want SOS mode.
____I want a beacon mode.
*__xx__ would like a low level for map/instrument at night in boat.
14)Material/Finish/Coating
__x__Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today's flashlights).
15) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any 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)
__x__Pocket/belt clip
___x_Holster
__x__Wrist/Neck Lanyard
*__x__ tail-standing would be nice.
TIA, and Cheers.
