The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List

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RichS

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First – a big thank you to Captain Spaulding for taking this thread over for me over the last couple years! I think it's time to give him the break he deserves, and I also think it is time for a refresh to this thread.

The major change is to make the Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List an annual list, so that manufacturers cannot guarantee a permanent spot on the list due to past successes. To stay on the list year after year, light makers will need to remain relevant, innovative and on the cutting edge of ever-expanding lighting technology. This does NOT mean that there is a restriction on what year a light was made to be eligible for a vote. You may have a 20 year old light that is no longer made, but you feel like it is a true "must-have" for you. It can go on the list. The point is, no light will remain indefinitely on the list as it will be started fresh each year. It will be difficult for lights to remain relevant and compete year after year with no updates.

So here we go – this is the 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List. I know it's not quite 2013 yet, but close enough. At the end of 2013 we'll crown the top 10 lights of the year, and start a brand new must-have list on 1/1/14. I'll keep track of the annual top 10 winners each year so we can see who stays on top over time.

Here are the rules for casting votes for the "must-have" list:

  1. It has to be a "must-have" for you. Meaning, of the lights you own, this one is a "must" have - and therefore you would never consider selling it. (unless of course you were in dire straits)
  2. It must be a specific light - this is a specific "must-have" flashlight for you, not a favorite manufacturer or line of flashlights
  3. Please limit your total votes to no more than five (5) lights. This does not mean you should automatically list five of your lights, but this is the limit. This is not intended to be a list of all the lights you own. If you have more than one light you feel is a true "must-have" light, feel free to list more than one. However, we want to avoid individuals indiscriminately listing all their lights.
NOTE:

  • You cannot cast a vote for a light you do not have - you are casting a vote of confidence based on your experience with a light.
  • You can change your mind and ask me to add/remove a vote, but you need to let me know which votes you are adding/removing to remain at 5 or less votes for the year.
I'll start with my own "must have" lights: A2 - regulated incan goodness, with the practicality of long-run LEDs when needed / Fire Foxes FF3 – 4,000+ throwy lumens out of something the size of a pop can – everyone needs one of these.. / 4Sevens MiNi 123 – crazy how such a tiny package can be so bright (high-CRI tint is nice too!) / 4Sevens Preon Revo (SS, neutral) – tiny, great UI, always unobtrusive and in my pocket when I need it!
______________________

*The Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List* (Top 10 Lights by Ranking)

*Requires minimum 5 votes*

...#1: (2-way tie)
..........- HDS Systems EDC Clicky
..........- SureFire C2
...#2: Zebralight S600
...#3: (3-way tie)
..........- Fire Foxes FF3
..........- Foursevens Mini ML (123)
..........- SureFire A2
...#4: Fenix E01
______________________

**246 Votes / Updated Through Post #105**

#
Votes
Nominee#
Votes
Nominee
(11)HDS Systems EDC Clicky(1)Fenix TK75
(11)SureFire C2(1)Fire Foxes FF1
(8)Zebralight SC600(1)Foursevens Maelstrom G5
(6)Fire Foxes FF3(1)Foursevens Maelstrom S18
(6)Foursevens Mini ML (123)(1)Foursevens Maelstrom X10
(6)SureFire A2(1)Foursevens Mini MA
(5)Fenix E01(1)Foursevens Preon 1
(4)Foursevens Preon Revo(1)Foursevens Preon P0 SS
(4)Mac's Customs Tri-EDC(1)Foursevens QB2A
(4)Muyshondt Aeon(1)Foursevens QTA
(4)Solarforce L2M(1)Foursevens Quark Pro QP2A
(4)Sunwayman V10r Ti(1)Foursevens Quark Pro QPA
(4)SureFire E2e(1)Foursevens Quark Pro QPL
(4)SureFire LX2(1)Itp A3 EOS
(4)Zebralight SC52(1)JetBeam PA40
(3)Fenix PD32(1)Klarus NT20
(3)HDS Systems Rotary(1)Klarus XT2C
(3)JetBeam RRT-0(1)LiteFlux LF2XT
(3)Maglite 3D
(3)Malkoff M61(1)ma_sha1 Darth Vader
(3)Malkoff Wildcat(1)ma_sha1 Mega Blaster
(3)McGizmo Haiku(1)ma_sha1 Swan Blaster
(3)NiteCore Tiny Monster TM 11(1)Mac's Custom's EDC
(3)Sunwayman V11r(1)Malkoff MD10
(3)Zebralight H502(1)Malkoff MD2
(2)EagleTac Clicky D25C(1)McGizmo Mule
(2)Fenix E05(1)McGizmo Sundrop
(2)Fenix LD01(1)Muyshondt Nautilus
(2)Foursevens QT2A-X(1)Nailbender XM-L P60 Module
(2)JetBeam RRT-01(1)Nitecore D11
(2)Klarus XT11(1)NiteCore EC1
(2)Malkoff M30(1)NiteCore EC2
(2)Maratac AAA(1)NiteEye Eye10
(2)Peak Eiger(1)Olight i2
(2)Peak Logan(1)Olight i3
(2)Quantum DD(1)Olight M21X
(2)SureFire 6P(1)Olight S10
(2)SureFire C3(1)Peak Eager Ultra
(2)SureFire E1B(1)Peak Beam Systems Maxabeam
(2)SureFire EB1(1)Petzl Nao
(2)SureFire L1(1)Petzl Tikka XP 2
(2)SureFire M6(1)Shadow SL3
(2)SureFire Z2(1)Sipik sk68
(2)Tain Piccolo Ti(1)Solarforce L2P
(2)Thrunite Ti(1)Solarforce L2X Extended
(2)Thrunite TN 30(1)Solarforce P1
(2)Thrunite / Saabluster TN 31(1)Spy 007
(2)Zebralight H31(1)Supbeam K40
(2)Zebralight H51F(1)SureFire 6PX Pro
(2)Zebralight H600(1)SureFire 9P
(1)Arc AAA(1)SureFire E1L
(1)Armytek Predator v2(1)SureFire E2DL
(1)Dereelight Nighthunter(1)SureFire Fury P2X
(1)Dereelight Nightmaster Aspheric(1)SureFire G2
(1)DQG AA(1)SureFire M2
(1)DQG III AAA(1)SureFire M3T
(1)EagleTac D25A(1)SureFire M4
(1)EagleTac D25LC2 Mini(1)SureFire Minimus Vision
(1)Eagletac G25C2MK(1)SureFire Z2
(1)EagleTac M3C4(1)Thrunite Scorpion V2 Turbo
(1)Fenix E15(1)Thrunite T10
(1)Fenix HL21(1)Titanium Innovations Illuminati
(1)Fenix LD10(1)Ultrafire hd2010
(1)Fenix LD25(1)Zebralight H60
(1)Fenix LD41(1)
(1)Fenix MC11
(1)Fenix PD20
______________________

Votes By Manufacturer:


Manufacturer# Votes% of Total
SureFire5021%
Foursevens239%
Zebralight229%
Fenix198%
HDS Systems146%
Malkoff104%
Sunwayman73%
Fire Foxes73%
Solarforce73%

NOTE:
For those of you who are non-Flashaholics or new to this forum, you should be aware that several of the models lend themselves to be very easily modded. For example, any of the models using a P60 sized drop-in (developed by SureFire), such as the SureFire 6P, C2, Solarforce L2, L2m, etc., can be easily converted from an incandescent to LED, or from a stock LED to a new higher output LED. In fact, this ability to be easily modded/upgraded may in fact be large factor for it being included in the "Must-Have" list. As these lights cannot be purchased as a host only, they are listed as a complete light.

CAST YOUR VOTE!!
 
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mvyrmnd

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The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast Your Vote!

Mac's Tri-EDC. It'll be extracted from my old, dead, clawed hands.
 

Yourfun2

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Re: The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast Your Vote!

Foursevens Mini 123
Foursevens Quark 123
Eagletac Clicky D25C Ti
Nitecore Tiny Monster TM11
 

kelmo

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Re: The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast Your Vote!

Muyshondt Aeon
Surefire E2e
Malkoff MD10 - I know its not a complete light but it completes a light!
Arc AAA
Tikka XP 2
 
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enomosiki

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Re: The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast Your Vote!

LX2 Ultra
EB1 Backup
 

880arm

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The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast Your Vote!

Five that I would not part with:

Surefire C2
Surefire LX2 (unless they release the Ultramax)
Surefire E1B (until I get an EB1)
Malkoff Wildcat
JetBeam RRT-0
 

walterr839

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Re: The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast Your Vote!

Fire foxes FF3
Saabluster TN 31
47 Preon1 with clicky lion bat
A2 Calipsoii WW ring
 

Raptor Factor

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Re: The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast Your Vote!

Surefire LX2 Ultra
Surefire EB1
 

ma_sha1

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Re: The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast Your Vote!

Firefox 1
Firefox 3
Darth Vader
Mega Blaster
Swan Blaster
 
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Ishango

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Re: The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast Your Vote!

For me currently it's the following lights I would not like to part with, each has its own advantage and I like these most of all my lights (at the moment :) ).

HDS Clicky (EDC-E1S-120)
Zebralight SC51w
Eagletac D25C Clicky
Olight S10
 

GrizzlyAdams

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Re: The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast Your Vote!

Malkoff Wildcat
Surefire C2
Surefire E2E
Fenix E01
3D cell Maglight

not sure if it counts but they would all be modified with Malkoff parts
 
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gunga

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The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast Your Vote!

If you have the money, these are my must haves

- McGizmo Haiku
- Mac Tri Edc, ti
- preon Revo
- Sunwayman V10r ti (with 14500 tube)
 

SimulatedZero

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Re: The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast Your Vote!

I don't know if this light counts for the 2013 list as it is not a brand new design but, the Fenix LD25 is a must have for me. I can't even recall how many times I've said to friends that this is the perfect light for me. The UI is easy enough to learn once you play with it a little bit and it allows access to a variety of modes if you need while keeping two primary modes quick and simple. The warm, neutral tint is an absolute must have for hiking in the woods, or anywhere for that matter. It makes things so much more comfortable and inviting.

So, if it qualifies, I vote for the Fenix LD25 being somewhere on that list.

P.S. If it doesn't qualify do I still have five votes left? :D
 

Risky

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Re: The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast Your Vote!

Fenix PD32. Does not get the love it deserves.
 

Outdoorsman5

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Re: The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast Your Vote!

1. Quark AA (now called the "Quark Pro QPA) with a neutral XML head, regular UI, tactical tail switch, deep carry pocket clip, & runnin on a single rechargeable AA sized 14500 Li-ion battery for a whopping 400 lumens. Five excellent output options including a moonlight mode.
2. Zebralight H51Fw - my favorite all around headlight...floody with enough throw to see up trail, eight excellent settings including a moonlight mode, very bright high, and best UI around.
3. Olight M21X - my favorite pocketable thrower.
4. EagleTac M3C4 single XML - my favorite monster thrower.
5. Zebralight SC600 - just awesome, single 18650 battery, 750 lumens with a total of 9 excellent output options, and best UI around.
 
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scout24

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Re: The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast Your Vote!

Three of my five, more to come:

Fenix EO1, bombproof AAA.
Muyshondt Aeon, backup pocket perfection.
Malkoff Wildcat XP-G2, portable stadium lighting when you NEED to light up EVERYTHING.
 
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shelm

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Re: The 2013 Flashaholic's "Must-Have" List -- Cast Your Vote!

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