Balog
Newly Enlightened
==================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 $100.
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.
____I would like a light from a specialty manufacturer (Possibly limited run/Custom).
____I am interested in assembling my own components. (for example a "host" or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a "drop-in" emitter from another source).
7) What power source do you want to use?
____I intend to use "Primary"/Disposable Lithium batteries based on CR123 sized cells common to most stores (often a cold weather or long storage choice).
____I intend to use Rechargeable cells based on less common formats (18500 or 18650 Li-Ion, RCR123, et-al).
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
____I want a separate/stand-alone charger (this involves removing the batteries to charge)
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 to confidently walk around an unlit/unpaved rural area (60-150 lumens).
____I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
____I want to illuminate an entire field, the neighbor's front yard several houses down, impress my friends and neighbors, etc. (300-700 lumens).
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
____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)
____30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
____50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
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).
____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.
____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
____I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
____I want a tail mounted switch (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.)
____I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a selector ring.
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).
15) Water resistance
____IPX7 (Waterproof to 1 meter/30min)
____IPX8 (Submersible to greater than 1 meter for 4 hours)
16) Storage conditions
____In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
I'm looking for a rugged EDC light with a basic interface. Use will vary between general day to day "looking under the kid's bed" sort of tasks, and "lighting up the mountainside on a night hike" sort of things. I'm looking for a light that can accommodate that variety, at minimum one <100 lumen mode and one higher output mode. I'm looking for something in the range of narrow flood to wide spot, basically as wide a light area as I can get without totally sacrificing distance. Somewhere around a 6 inch overall length is preferred, can do slightly shorter or a couple inches longer. Looking for CR123 x2 as well as 18650 capability. Tailstands well is important. I'll be using it outdoors in western Washington so water resistance is important. I tend to use lights hard so durability is a big factor, although I realize that you get what you pay for so I'm not expecting multi-hundred dollar weaponlight levels of ruggedness. I'd like them but I realize I probably won't get them.
The biggest factor for me is the interface. I hate hate hate hate hate strobes/beacons so if it has that available I want to bury it so deep I'll never accidentally activate it. I also really don't like having to "click through" multiple settings to get to the one I want every single time. I've found in the past that I tend to do things like double click, press and hold, soft press several times, or turn it off and on rapidly either absent mindedly or just as a condition of how I'm using the light. I've been frustrated in the past with lights where I'll accidentally toggle to a mode I don't want then have to fight with it to get it back. One of the infinitely variable ring style lights seems like a good option, but there are not as many options there and some have a strobe that seems like it's a slight over rotation away from popping on. I'm also not sure if that is regarded as having the same durability as a regular witch? I'm very open to something with 2-3 pre-defined modes as long as it's simple and intuitive to switch, and I don't have to cycle it repeatedly to get back to the same mode every time I use the light. I think some of the Solarforce lights are kind of like that, head tight for max and you loosen it for a lower mode, although their website is not clear on exactly how the other modes work.
I'm ok with buying used if need be to get a nicer light that is discontinued or out of my price range new. Also comfortable assembling one from pieces, but not any serious modifications or soldering etc.
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 $100.
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.
____I would like a light from a specialty manufacturer (Possibly limited run/Custom).
____I am interested in assembling my own components. (for example a "host" or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a "drop-in" emitter from another source).
7) What power source do you want to use?
____I intend to use "Primary"/Disposable Lithium batteries based on CR123 sized cells common to most stores (often a cold weather or long storage choice).
____I intend to use Rechargeable cells based on less common formats (18500 or 18650 Li-Ion, RCR123, et-al).
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
____I want a separate/stand-alone charger (this involves removing the batteries to charge)
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 to confidently walk around an unlit/unpaved rural area (60-150 lumens).
____I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
____I want to illuminate an entire field, the neighbor's front yard several houses down, impress my friends and neighbors, etc. (300-700 lumens).
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
____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)
____30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
____50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
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).
____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.
____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
____I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
____I want a tail mounted switch (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.)
____I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a selector ring.
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).
15) Water resistance
____IPX7 (Waterproof to 1 meter/30min)
____IPX8 (Submersible to greater than 1 meter for 4 hours)
16) Storage conditions
____In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
I'm looking for a rugged EDC light with a basic interface. Use will vary between general day to day "looking under the kid's bed" sort of tasks, and "lighting up the mountainside on a night hike" sort of things. I'm looking for a light that can accommodate that variety, at minimum one <100 lumen mode and one higher output mode. I'm looking for something in the range of narrow flood to wide spot, basically as wide a light area as I can get without totally sacrificing distance. Somewhere around a 6 inch overall length is preferred, can do slightly shorter or a couple inches longer. Looking for CR123 x2 as well as 18650 capability. Tailstands well is important. I'll be using it outdoors in western Washington so water resistance is important. I tend to use lights hard so durability is a big factor, although I realize that you get what you pay for so I'm not expecting multi-hundred dollar weaponlight levels of ruggedness. I'd like them but I realize I probably won't get them.
The biggest factor for me is the interface. I hate hate hate hate hate strobes/beacons so if it has that available I want to bury it so deep I'll never accidentally activate it. I also really don't like having to "click through" multiple settings to get to the one I want every single time. I've found in the past that I tend to do things like double click, press and hold, soft press several times, or turn it off and on rapidly either absent mindedly or just as a condition of how I'm using the light. I've been frustrated in the past with lights where I'll accidentally toggle to a mode I don't want then have to fight with it to get it back. One of the infinitely variable ring style lights seems like a good option, but there are not as many options there and some have a strobe that seems like it's a slight over rotation away from popping on. I'm also not sure if that is regarded as having the same durability as a regular witch? I'm very open to something with 2-3 pre-defined modes as long as it's simple and intuitive to switch, and I don't have to cycle it repeatedly to get back to the same mode every time I use the light. I think some of the Solarforce lights are kind of like that, head tight for max and you loosen it for a lower mode, although their website is not clear on exactly how the other modes work.
I'm ok with buying used if need be to get a nicer light that is discontinued or out of my price range new. Also comfortable assembling one from pieces, but not any serious modifications or soldering etc.
Last edited:
