Scottpants
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2015
- Messages
- 5
Hey everyone! I started reading a thread about EDC flashlights over on xdtalk.com and found my way here. I'm looking to get a relatively inexpensive LED flashlight to keep in my nightstand. I know very little about flashlights other than that the junk that advertises "9 LEDS!!!!" is utter rubbish. There's nine of them because they're crappy LEDs.
Anyways, it's not something I'll carry with me every day; it'll sit usually unused in my nightstand and maybe I'll get a second one for my car. I like the idea of a clicky because I want to be able to use it with my handgun when things go bump in the night. So that means I also want something that fits comfortably in my fist. And I want something that runs on AA because I have some Sanyo Eneloops and I'm not interested in buying another kind of battery just for this one specific light.
I browsed through a few other threads for AA lights and honestly got kinda lost and overwhelmed. Lol! I'm not familiar with the popular brands, so that's lost on me. But I've heard that CREE LEDs are really good. That's about the extent of my knowledge. All that to say, here's my recommendation request checklist... Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
==================Flashlight Recommendation Checklist================
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
This will be mail-order or Online (location doesn't matter).
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
Up to $50.
3) Format:
I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
4) Size:
SMALL - Every day carry (4-7 inches).
5) Emitter/Light source:
LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
6) Manufacturer:
I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
7) What power source do you want to use?
I intend to use Rechargeable cells (NiMH or NiCD) based on the usual AA sized cells common to most stores.
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 not a happy experience).
I want an indoor "blackout" light (15-50 lumens)
and/or
I want to confidently walk around an unlit/unpaved rural area (60-150 lumens).
Burst/Turbo mode is acceptable.
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
Not really sure, to be honest? One of these, I guess:
Wide Flood: I want a defined flood area for semi-close tasks like after-dark campsite tasks or working on a car.
Narrow Flood: I want a sharply defined flood area that will project some distance for tasks like trail walking.
Wide Throw: I want a beam with a noticeable hot-center for distance throw and a significant amount of "side-spill". Good for rough trail hiking, search and rescue, and general distance work.
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
up to
5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum continuous output).
Probably this:
90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
Not Important (A "night-stand" light). But I don't want a piece of junk. I've had some piece of junk lights from Harbor Freight, so actually...
THIS:
Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood).
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
I want a momentary switch (Predominantly for use with signaling and short bursts of momentary light only).
I want a tail mounted clicky (found on the majority of today's high end lights).
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
14)Material/Finish/Coating
Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today's higher end flashlights)
or
Stainless steel (durable, but much heavier than aluminum)
15) Water resistance
None needed
but would be nice...
IPX4 (Splash resistant)
16) Storage conditions
Honestly, could be any of these:
In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
Emergency kit (long standby periods)
Automobile glove-box (wide temperature swings, long standby periods, critical reliability)
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
Pocket/belt clip
Anyways, it's not something I'll carry with me every day; it'll sit usually unused in my nightstand and maybe I'll get a second one for my car. I like the idea of a clicky because I want to be able to use it with my handgun when things go bump in the night. So that means I also want something that fits comfortably in my fist. And I want something that runs on AA because I have some Sanyo Eneloops and I'm not interested in buying another kind of battery just for this one specific light.
I browsed through a few other threads for AA lights and honestly got kinda lost and overwhelmed. Lol! I'm not familiar with the popular brands, so that's lost on me. But I've heard that CREE LEDs are really good. That's about the extent of my knowledge. All that to say, here's my recommendation request checklist... Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
==================Flashlight Recommendation Checklist================
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
This will be mail-order or Online (location doesn't matter).
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
Up to $50.
3) Format:
I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
4) Size:
SMALL - Every day carry (4-7 inches).
5) Emitter/Light source:
LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
6) Manufacturer:
I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
7) What power source do you want to use?
I intend to use Rechargeable cells (NiMH or NiCD) based on the usual AA sized cells common to most stores.
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 not a happy experience).
I want an indoor "blackout" light (15-50 lumens)
and/or
I want to confidently walk around an unlit/unpaved rural area (60-150 lumens).
Burst/Turbo mode is acceptable.
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
Not really sure, to be honest? One of these, I guess:
Wide Flood: I want a defined flood area for semi-close tasks like after-dark campsite tasks or working on a car.
Narrow Flood: I want a sharply defined flood area that will project some distance for tasks like trail walking.
Wide Throw: I want a beam with a noticeable hot-center for distance throw and a significant amount of "side-spill". Good for rough trail hiking, search and rescue, and general distance work.
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
up to
5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum continuous output).
Probably this:
90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
Not Important (A "night-stand" light). But I don't want a piece of junk. I've had some piece of junk lights from Harbor Freight, so actually...
THIS:
Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood).
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
I want a momentary switch (Predominantly for use with signaling and short bursts of momentary light only).
I want a tail mounted clicky (found on the majority of today's high end lights).
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
14)Material/Finish/Coating
Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today's higher end flashlights)
or
Stainless steel (durable, but much heavier than aluminum)
15) Water resistance
None needed
but would be nice...
IPX4 (Splash resistant)
16) Storage conditions
Honestly, could be any of these:
In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
Emergency kit (long standby periods)
Automobile glove-box (wide temperature swings, long standby periods, critical reliability)
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
Pocket/belt clip
