【Discussion】What's your favorite flashlight and why?

[Mark je do]

Hi, everyone. We are all flashlight enthusiasts, and we may have more than one flashlight. But I believe there must be one that you use the most. What is your favorite flashlight and why? You can show all your gears or your favorite one here.

 

[richbuff]

My favorite flashlight is the Lumintop GT94. Because it has both lots of power and lots of throw.

 

[parang]

I guess it's the Sofirn SC01, because it is always on my key-chain, always with me.

But I can't really make up my mind about bigger ones, picking only one feels cruel:

Acebeam TK16,
Reylight Pineapple Mini,
Manker E14 III NW (with the extension tube),
Armytek Wizard Pro Warm.


And then, there are special ones:
A couple of Acebeam EC65s for photography.
BLF LT1 by the bed.
Throwers that I rarely use, but still wouldn't part with.

 

[bykfixer]

The one I use the most is the one nearby that works. So I suppose my "favorite" flashlight is the one nearby.
Being a flashaholic means that changes depending on where I am because I have a whole bunch of flashlights scattered about.

 

[Olumin]

The light I use the most is easily my Malkoff MDC w. M61WLL, Ive mentioned it in a few threads now. Before I got it it was the Surefire G2X MV. So I guess those would be my favorites in that regard. The size, feel and output, combined with the warm hi CRI tint is just perfect for almost every situation. The clip is easily the best out of any flashlight Ive ever had. Also tough as nails with its potted head.

The G2X was nice because of its very pleasing floody beam, brilliant white light and the polymer body that wouldn't get too cold in the winter. 15/800lm interface is great and so is the switch. Also super tough.

I dont really use the G2X anymore, instead the lights im using now are my Malkoff MD2 and Surefire P2X fury (500 lumen version). Both of those I would say overtook the G2X as my new favorites in that size category.

The MD2 might be my favorite overall flashlight, due to its insane modularity/customizability, durability and head-twist interface. And now Ive even got a 21700 tube for it! How much better can it get? Same great 3000k high CRI tint as in my MDC with the M61W im running.

The Fury is ergonomically perhaps the best light Ive tried. The Surefire Fury reflectors are fantastic, and the 3 I own dont even have bad tint. Same great Surefire forward clicky (better then Mcclicky IMO). Even better, they run perfectly on a 16650. As FiveMega pointed out, the Fury uses a booster circuit. That means it retains full brightness and regulation using a single Li-Ion. Simply fantastic. Most of SFs modern offerings (including the G2X MV) do not. Only downside: No 18650 without boring.

For incans I like the pelican M6, it fits my hand just right, the switch feels nice and the beam is focusable. Also like the Maglite ML25it, specifically the 2-cell, for its simple and intuitive design. Modded to use 26650s with 6-cell bulb for maximum brightness and great runtime. Also ergonomically incredible (I mean, its a tube), but the twist interface makes it not quite on par with the Fury.

I have a lumens factory incan lamp with a E series head that I sometimes run on my MDC, and thats a great combo too. I also have a modified 6P with a lumen factory li-ion incan module and mcclicky upgrade, steel bezel, glass lens... That one I probably prefer over the M6 sill.

As for my favorite out of these, I would say its a tough call between the MD2 and P2X Fury. But Id have to go with the MD2, due to its customizability.
Thing is, I rarely carry the MD2 by itself, but usually together with the MDC. Those two always go together. The MD2s low is too dim for most tasks. If it had a 50 - 80 lumen low, Id probably carry it by itself. As it stands, its missing a medium output, which is probably my only real critique about it.

 

[Owen]

Malkoff MDC HA 123 w/4000K SST-20 is my favorite. Surprising given my list of complaints about it(low way too high, battery limitations, ano wearing horribly, etc.), but the ergos and UI make it the one I grab every time, with the tint being a nice bonus.

 

[vicv]

My overall favorite light if I had to pick just one.....
Streamlight polystinger LED. Old model with the xp-e led I believe.
But that's a tough one. Like Olumin, I love my 2 cell maglite ml25it. But I'm using a tad customs 7212 in it and 2x18500. So small and bright

 

[troutpool]

HDS Rotary. It has the best UI, and it covers the full range of my needs.

 

[vph0107]

It's really tough to pick one, because there isn't a great all in one light that hits everything to me. If I'm okay to cheat a bit, my McGizmo set is the winner. I say set because I have a small pelican case that has different battery bodies, different heads and different light engines that I can quickly swap out.

 

[bubbatime]

My ancient Surefire L2 four flats still to this day is my night stand light. Surefire replaced the switch with a new one a few years ago, but she has been old reliable for me. Just the right amount of light, and not too bright, for a bed side light. Two brightness levels, with just the push of a button, your choice. Love the user interface.

 

[Msf]

My most carried is any one of the Olight S minis or S1 minis because they disappear in the pocket, have a good U/I and can provide hours of use at medium or below settings. That said, if I know I am going into the night, it's normally an HDS Executive it's 18650 battery tube or a Wurkkos FC11.

 

[Showngo]

HDS Rotary with NB30 LED. Love this light, so good.

 

[des-con]

Hi, everyone. We are all flashlight enthusiasts, and we may have more than one flashlight. But I believe there must be one that you use the most. What is your favorite flashlight and why? You can show all your gears or your favorite one here.

Some simple feedback - whenever I reach for a flashlight I grab one of my trusty Maglights with LED replacement. I've tried many others and even designed a few, but I find CR123 and other technologies self-discharge. If I have several flashlights and need one that hasn't been charged recently they're usually not good for long. While I don't light alkaline batteries, if I change them every 2 years I can depend on them to perform

 

[Lighteous]

My favorite is the JetBeam RRT01. In particular the version without a tail switch. It's small enough to put in a pocket. It's very bright on maximum, and silently it ramps from sub-lumen to max. It's great as a nightstand light because here is no chance of switching it on to a setting that is too bright that disturbs the Mrs.

 

[Ned]

Hands down the Olight Baton 3. Compact, 1200 Lumens, rechargeable. Still seems like magic when you punch up the turbo mode.

 

[search_and_rescue]

It will have to be the modded Mateminco MT-90 Plus VN Spec 3 with Driver VNX2.

 

[fuyume]

Yes, I do have more than one, but TBPH, the one I use the most is the one I hate the most, my Inova X1, which for the past 5 years or so has been my EDC flashlight, that replaced my Leatherman Serac S3.

The Serac S3 would be perfect, if it took a AA instead of a CR123A, because CR123As are too expensive in my rural area. The Inova X1 is good because it takes a AA, but the UI is the worst I've ever experienced.

I recently replaced my Inova X1 with a Fenix E12 v2.0 for my EDC light, and now the Inova X1 sits on the kotatsu/chabudai/coffee table that straddles my futon, so it is, by default, the light that still gets used the most. In fact, I'm not even sure if I've actually used the E12 or the HM23 I got this year. The E12 sits in my handbag, and I haven't had a need to pull it out, really, yet. The HM23 stays in my backcountry gear pouch, I haven't had the chance to get out in the woods since I got it, and I've had no need for a headlamp at home.

But of all the lights I own, the only one that I have zero complaints about so far is the HM23. The E12 has terrible color rendition, but other than that, it gets everything else right. The HM23 gets everything right--great color, single AA, great UI, comfortable to wear. If only Fenix would put the HM23 emitter in the E12! (And if only the UI of the E12 and the HM23 was identical! They are similar, but not quite the same. Both are good, but consistency means I don't have to think even a little bit.)

I plan for my next light to be a Fenix PD36 TAC (probably, unless I decide the upcoming TK28 TAC is better for me), and so far as I can see, I'll probably feel the same way about it as I do the E12, everything seems perfect except the color temp of the emitter is too high for comfort. But, it hits all the other points I'm looking to hit.

And I *might* maybe pick up an E20 v2.0 for household use, and give the Inova X1 away, or leave it in my truck. The Inova X1 seriously aggravates me, and I regretted buying it immediately, but it's what I'm stuck with.

 

[JimIslander]

Zebralight headlamps for everything important. Camping, hunting, working.

For fun, Lumintop GTvn Mini - Baby Ultra Thrower. Such a great long range beam with huge bright spill, all in a pocketable package. SBT90.2 5700K DL @2s: 4000L 205Kcd, 905m (Smooth Reflector).

NarsilM is my favorite interface.

 

[run4jc]

Tough to choose a favorite. I'm blessed with a number of great customs. That said, my BOSS 35 FT Distressed aluminum with red secondary and XPL HI 4000k mains is the most carried light I own. Why? Very lightweight. Bright. 4 banks of programming. Easy to program. Amazing beam. Great pocket clip. Superb customer service. So maybe that makes it my current favorite...

 

[Audiowiz]

Hi, everyone. We are all flashlight enthusiasts, and we may have more than one flashlight. But I believe there must be one that you use the most. What is your favorite flashlight and why? You can show all your gears or your favorite one here.

I, like you guys probably can't make up my mind. I probably have 100 lights. My edc during the day is a surefire e1 backup. I bought a couple holsters from akj concealco years ago and they fit this light perfectly. Soft leather has molded to the light. My nighttime edc is a jetbeam rrt-01. Again, I did think ahead and bought a couple of them. I just bought the new version, and although I carry it, it has a switch on the back, it's heavier. Still my favorite light in my sweats. Great light, even better UI, easy one handed operation