Need a New go to light

[Mowgli25]

my current light is a Coleman max AAA3 light that puts out about 150 lumens and that has been my go to light since my huge maglite led is amazing but not something i can carry around with me for the day if i needed it to.

1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?

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! :-)

Less than $150.


3) Format:

I want a flashlight.



4) Flashlight-specific format/size:

____Every day carry small (2-4 inches).
____Every day carry medium (4-7 inches).


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.
____I would consider getting a light that is pieced together (for example a “host” or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a “drop-in” emitter from another source). Under the right circumstances, this path can provide more options to the consumer to meet specific needs, and can often be easily upgradeable as technology improves.


7) What battery type do you want to use?

____I intend to use alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D) (disclaimer, while it does not preclude all choices, these are not recommended for many of today’s most powerful lights)
____I intend to use rechargeable nickel chemistry (NiCad, NiMH, NiZn)
____I intend to use lithium primary batteries (CR123, CR2, Energizer Advanced/Ultimate Lithium AA/AAA)
____I intend to use rechargeable lithium (li-ion) chemistry. Feel free to specify a size if you know which size you want (14500, RCR123/16340, 17500, 17670, 18650, etc.)

I dont know what a lot of the battery types mean but i want to be able to run rechargeables

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).


__x__I want to walk around an unlit rural area (50-150 lumens).
__x__I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
__x__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) Throw vs. Flood: At what distance will you be most likely to use this light? Select all that apply.

i have a small light for close work so supper low close low brightness isnt really needed

__x__5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
__x__30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
__x__50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
__x__150+ yards (I want maximum throw possible)


10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum output).


____30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
____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 Type and location (choose all that apply):


____I don’t know.



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 strobe mode. (Blinks to show location.)
____I want SOS mode.
____I don’t care.



14)Material/Finish/Coating

____I don’t care.

 

[Gregozedobe]

I suggest you think a bit more about how much throw vs flood you really want. All the super throw lights have very little side spill and are impractical for general yard use. It is possible to put a diffuser on the lens, but this is an extra step. Have a look at the Deft EDC for an example of a thrower with diffuser.

 

[angelofwar]

You can get a Surefire LX2 off the Marketplace for right around $150. Probably the best quality you can get for your needs at that price. And grab an F04 if you find it too throwy. My LX2 is my EDC go to, and, it has "performed" on more than one occasion. A very usable low, a perfect tactical high, VERY reliable/well made, and, has one of the best UI's in the flashlight industry. Do a search on the "L1 UI" if you want some more reading on that aspect. Not as many lumens as you want, but, 200 "Surefire Lumens" should be more than enough :0)

My two favorite lights that do flood AND throw, with-out diffusers, etc:

a) The A2Z
b) The A2L

 

[Jrubin]

I am going to recommend a zebralight SC600 it's such a great all around light. Useful for most any task. Here is a little runtime info


High: H1 500Lm with 750Lm turbo in the first 5 min (2hrs) or H2 200Lm (5.9hrs) / 330Lm (3hrs) / 500Lm (2.1hrs) / 4Hz Strobe
Medium: M1 65Lm (18hrs) or M2 21Lm (50hrs)
Low: L1 2.8Lm (280hrs) or L2 0.1Lm (80days)
Runtimes are tested using Panasonic NCR18650 (2900mAH) batteries. Light output are out the front (OTF) values. All levels are current regulated.

 

[Mowgli25]

I had looked at the sc600 but I'm just not really into the side button

 

[jhc37013]

I had looked at the sc600 but I'm just not really into the side button

So you may want to change your answer on question #12 to a tail switch, do you plan to carry the light in your pocket or in a holster on your belt or in a bag? You answered 2-7 inches and your not certain about what the battery type so that really does not eliminate or include any specific light's so we need to try and narrow down a couple things.

First about the size are you thinking 2-4" or 4-7", when you decide on that we can begin to discuss battery type, as you can imagine size has everything to do with battery type.

If you want you could decide on the battery type first like 1x Li-Ion 18650 or 1-2x AA Ni-Mh and then we can help match light's to the battery(s) you want to use.

If you just can't make your make mind up about any of the above at least start by telling us how you intend to carry the light and will this be a Every Day Carry light?

 

[Mowgli25]

For #12 is the sc600 ends up being the best light I would still get it so that's why I didn't want to say tail button only.

As far as size I really wouldn't want it to be longer than about 6in if I can help it. I don't know much about the battery's so I can really comment to much on that. I plan for it to be Every day carry in jeans or in a bag.

 

[FlashKat]

You may want to look at:
Klarus XT11
EagleTac G25CS
Sunwayman T20CS
Jetbeam RRT-2 or RRT-21
Thrunite TN12

 

[jhc37013]

Ok so there are plenty of great light's in the around 6" range but unless you get a really skinny light like a 2xAA Quark XM-L then carrying it in your pants pocket is going to be a real task. That's not to say you can't do it I because I can in my 5.11 pants but that's why I asked if the light was going to be your EDC light because to large and your going to regret choosing it for EDC task.

Imo the SC600 is the best EDC available right now and Li-Ion 18650 is really the best way to go for a rechargeable, if you want to use Ni-Mh AA then the Quark 2xAA XM-L Tactical is a real pleasure and not to bad to EDC thanks to being so skinny because of the AA's.

Other light's you may want to look at include

Eagletac T20C2 MKII XM-L
Thrunite TN12 - smaller than the T20C2 and very bright
Eagletac D25LC2 - it's a twisty but great beam with good throw and spill, great quality
Quark 1xAA- small and run it on 14500 for nice output
Fenix PD31 and 32- multiple modes good quality

That is of course just to name a few there is plenty more options I hope you find what your looking for.

 

[Mowgli25]

Still looking up some of those suggested. My biggest thing is I want to be able to use rechargeables and non if need be.

 

[FlashKat]

That's my preference to be able to use rechargeable and non for emergency use. Also with SHOT Show happening now there probably will be new releases coming out very soon.

Still looking up some of those suggested. My biggest thing is I want to be able to use rechargeables and non if need be.

 

[Mowgli25]

okay so i checked out a few so far

these seem a little big for everyday pocket carry
Eagletac T20C2
Sunwayman T20CS
EagleTac G25CS-this one just looks so cheap to me even though it seems good as output
Jetbeam RRT-2 or RRT-21

im comparing size to a surefire 6px pro i own also. i dont really want it bigger than the 6px since that is just a little to big for me to pocket carry everyday. the 6px is a 9/11 model thats the reason i dont use it everyday. so im looking for something smaller, brighter, and can run rechargeable

really liking the size of the following you guys recomended

Thrunite TN12
Eagletac D25LC2
Quark 1xAA-not bright enough i think
Fenix PD31 and 32
Klarus XT11
also looked at the 4sevens
quark123 and 123(2)

 

[FlashKat]

One more- Jetbeam BC25

 

[jhc37013]

okay so i checked out a few so far

these seem a little big for everyday pocket carry
Eagletac T20C2
Sunwayman T20CS
EagleTac G25CS-this one just looks so cheap to me even though it seems good as output
Jetbeam RRT-2 or RRT-21

im comparing size to a surefire 6px pro i own also. i dont really want it bigger than the 6px since that is just a little to big for me to pocket carry everyday. the 6px is a 9/11 model thats the reason i dont use it everyday. so im looking for something smaller, brighter, and can run rechargeable

really liking the size of the following you guys recomended

Thrunite TN12
Eagletac D25LC2
Quark 1xAA-not bright enough i think
Fenix PD31 and 32
Klarus XT11
also looked at the 4sevens
quark123 and 123(2)

Good list and of those I EDC my Quark X 123x2 Tactical all the time, it is fabulous and just an all around wonderful EDC light but if want to use rechargeable then you will have to use 17670 Li-Ion which has a shorter burn time than 2xcr123, you can also use 2x 16340 (RCR123) but that has an even shorter run time than 17670.

I have a Fenix PD31 and all though great I still enjoy the forward switch and programmable UI of the Quark, maybe the PD32 is better than the PD31 but I still prefer the programmable 2 mode UI of the Quark not to mention I really do not like the beam of my PD31's they have to many artifacts or at least the two I have are bad other members have said there beams are fine. The Quark X has a much higher lumen count so I guess that has something to do with it as well.

Of those on your list and with your rechargeable requirement I guess the TN12 makes about the best sense, the Eagletac D25 is another good light but I'm not sure how you will like a twisty UI as your EDC especially one without memory.

I don't like to beat a dead horse and maybe it's really dead but I'll the SC600 is a superior EDC light to those mentioned above, you mentioned not really liking the side switch but I will ask have you ever tried one on a light 4" long? It really works for EDC duty's and with the supplied UI I can not imagine anything but the side switch on this light and that UI IMO it's the best available and very intuitive.

You should be satisfied with any of those choices but I will say choose your battery's and charger carefully and this is one area if you can help it don't go cheap, you have a better chance of going cheaper with a less expensive light and great battery and charger.

 

[Gregozedobe]

Still looking up some of those suggested. My biggest thing is I want to be able to use rechargeables and non if need be.

If you want to use primary batteries (non-rechargeables) then that effectively narrows your search to only lights that use AAs or CR123s.