A Flashlight for my dad

[lovenhim]

Hello everyone. I am thinking of a fathers day gift for my dad and i am not sure if I want to get him a multi tool or a flashlight. My dad is 65, set in his ways, has his way of doing things, works on cars and sells autoparts, builds engines, and is from the old school so it takes convencing to try something new. He is the handyman type who builds his own wood deck on his house, lays his own concrete sidewalk, etc you get the idea.
He seems to like the pen style flashlights that are long and thin. He always carries them in a shirt pocket or clipped to a shirt rather than pocket carry. He has been buying %6 made in China penlights from Kmart and they simply do not hold up. He needs the length for getting the light in to tight/deep areas like the inside of a cylinder head for an engine, so a short light 3 inches long will not work. What is out there in the $20 or less range that will fit the bil here? Thanks for the help. :)

 

[Chevy-SS]

I'd get him this Preon 2: http://www.4sevens.com/product_info...=1932&osCsid=43c0098fcb37df61e7a7a29ce8956e3e

Yeah, it's more than you want to spend, but it really fits your criteria, plus it throws out a ton of light for such a small package.

If you need more convincing, then check out this review of the Preon 2 done by 'nutnfancy': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YvBLRJX0jk

Oh btw, in that video 'nutnfancy' also talks about the $20 Streamlight Stylus penlight, which is right at your price point.

-

 

[Ajax517]

Stylus Pro if he'd want something a little more built up and that used regular batteries.

The Preon is awesome but about twice your price range.

 

[photonstorm]

another vote for the Preon 2

spend the extra 20 on your old man

 

[Kindle]

The Stylus Pro or the Microstream are probably better options than the Preon for your dad.

The Streamlights click on - click off without any multimodes to fiddle with and the Preon's high mode is far more than your father going to need for what he's using it for. In fact it's high enough to be a hindrance in a lot of situations. On the positive side low is the default setting when first turned on.

The Preon is also going to get dinged up pretty quickly if he's using it as a tool rather than a toy.

I say that as someone whose EDC is a Preon 1.

 

[daf3m]

No specific flashlight from me.Just an advice: Prefer a warm tint emitter than a cool ..

 

[lovenhim]

The Stylus Pro or the Microstream are probably better options than the Preon for your dad.

The Streamlights click on - click off without any multimodes to fiddle with and the Preon's high mode is far more than your father going to need for what he's using it for. In fact it's high enough to be a hindrance in a lot of situations. On the positive side low is the default setting when first turned on.

The Preon is also going to get dinged up pretty quickly if he's using it as a tool rather than a toy.

I say that as someone whose EDC is a Preon 1.

I will now just have to find the light for him. I see it online and that is cool, but I would like to find it locally so I can see it first. I like the Streamlight idea because it fits for all I need it to do. He would be using the light for closeup work, not more than 3 feet away so that will be perfect and not too bright for when he is 6 inches away from it. :)

 

[Kestrel]

Another vote for the Stylus Pro, although I don't have a Preon to compare it to. A very good penlight, with a rock-simple clicky UI.

My Dad is exactly the same BTW. I gave both my parents Stylus Pros last year.

 

[Kindle]

My Dad is exactly the same BTW.

Ditto

 

[jabe1]

Go with the stylus pro. I got a Microstream for my dad (78yrs old) a few years ago... he EDCs it now, and requested another as backup in case the first gets lost. He used to carry a duracell 2xAA.

 

[Wilmette]

Not to get off topic, but anyone know if the Preon 2 mentioned above is a forward clicky? Amazon's description is, umm...typical.

EDIT: Disregard. Found a YouTube vid that shows all.

 

[BIGLOU]

What about the new Eagletac PN20 or PN20a. Just my 2 cents.

 

[ypsifly]

Score another vote for the Streamlights. I own both a Micro and a Stylus Pro and they are durable and very simple in operation. I edc a Microstream at my job and it is perfect for close range work.

I have noticed that gun shops tend to carry Streamlight products and there are three near me that keep both of the above mentioned lights in stock. Call your local gun shops/ranges or go to www.streamlight.com and look up listed dealers in your area.

 

[glockboy]

+1

another vote for the Preon 2

spend the extra 20 on your old man

 

[LEDninja]

Chevy-SS pointed you to the most expensive Preon 2. You can get one for a bit less. Still above your budget.

 

[afraidofdark]

I'm a big fan of the Stylus series, especially as gifts to non-flashaholics, so consider this another vote for a Streamlight for your dad.

The Stylus is great and slim with a nice aluminum barrel. The AAAA batteries are a little hard to find. There is also a version made out of fiberglass with a slightly bigger head and a reflector called the PolyStylus.

The Stylus Pro takes AAA batteries and is considerably brighter than the Stylus, which makes it just about perfect.

All of these are simple on/off lights, which along with commonly available batteries, is a feature I look for in gift lights :thumbsup:

I have noticed that gun shops tend to carry Streamlight products and there are three near me that keep both of the above mentioned lights in stock. Call your local gun shops/ranges or go to www.streamlight.com and look up listed dealers in your area.

+1 you can usually find Streamlights for sale in a local hardware or sporting goods store, or gun shop.

 

[cityevader]

+1 for on/off lights without multi mode.

 

[325addict]

What's wrong with the good old Mag 2AAA incan? For someone like this, it should be a real eye-opener :oops:

Timmo.

 

[lovenhim]

EDC flashlight for the visually impaired

The only complaint that i have is the light needs to be brighter. Here is what I am trying to get in a new light and my uses for it:

close up use from 6 inches to 3 feet
"ball of light" no hot spots or dark spots in the beam
nothing larger than a 2AA minimag
$20-ish price range
prefer AA or AAA batteries as I have rechargeables, but am ok with CR123
name brand, looks, standing out, etc do not matter to me
function over form

 

[Vortus]

Re: EDC flashlight for the visually impaired

Probably at the top of your range being sub $40. With green packaging and cpf discount, prob close to under $35 would be the some of the Quark mini's and the Preon1.

http://www.4sevens.com/


Likely find some nice used ones in that range too in the market place.