Evening all from the UK! Great forum you have here, glad I found you in time as it appears I could have made a very ill informed purchase. Please can you recommend me a torch I can use in my day, please see below completed checklist:
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
From a UK supplier (online or in person, not fussed provided they're an official distributor), most places sell the same brands you can get in the US
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! :-)
up to £100 / $160
3) Format:
I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
4) Size:
around 15.24cm / 6" in length (pref shorter)
body diameter cannot exceed 3.2cm / 1 17⁄64in due to fitting in my stab vest holder
no restriction on head or cap size
5) Emitter/Light source:
LED
6) Manufacturer:
I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box. Would like some sort of guarantee period.
7) What power source do you want to use?
I don't know/I need more information on power sources.
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
Not sure due to previous answer
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 need something that will do both the distance and the close up stuff, forgive me if I ask for too much.
Basically I need something that is dim enough to be able to write in a pocket notebook held at approx 38cm / 15" away from me so as not to burn mine or members of the publics eyes whilst at the same time having something that can reach a substantial distance to see if people are laying down in a field or running away into the distance, hence a Turbo mode may be needed for these short and not so frequent instances
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
All Flood: I am doing "arms length" tasks like reading and campsite cooking.
Narrow Throw: I want a beam with a very tight "hot center" and minimal "side-spill". Good for distance viewing, fog, and looking through dense undergrowth.
Turbohead: I want a far-distance projector with a sharply focused spot of light and minimal or zero side-spill. Good for extreme distance and impressing your friends.
Can I get something that might adequately cover all three?
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
Definitely looking for something that will do less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work) on a dim setting and can jump to 150m / 164yd ad beyond for the odd occasion of searching for people. There needs to be something in between for when searching buildings as well
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).
Up to 30 minutes (I want the brightest [and potentially smallest] light for brief periods)
30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
Either of the above two for the turbo type scenarios but for the low level stuff I'd expect to last a lot longer. I'll have replacement batteries in my duty bag in the car also
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase “you get what you pay for” is very accurate for flashlights.
Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
It's got to survive fighting and the splash of rain. It won't be exposed to underwater scenarios though, but it's a bonus if I drop it down the toilet.
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
I don’t know. However, I like the idea of multiple activation points that go to different modes, i.e twist end cap for defence and electronic switch for momentary and constant on mode
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
I want a programmable light
I want a selector ring.
I want a strobe mode. (Oscillating pattern to confuse/blind aka "Police Mode")
I want SOS mode. (blinks in ---...--- emergency pattern)
I want a beacon mode. (Regular flashes at full power to show location.)
A mixture of any of these is desirable, the low light mode, defence and turbo/spot light are essential though.
14)Material/Finish/Coating
I don’t care. But preferably black or dark coloured
15) Water resistance
IPX4 (Splash resistant)
IPX7 (Waterproof to 1 meter/30min)
Either of the above.
16) Storage conditions
In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
Emergency kit (long standby periods)
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
Other than my dimensions detailed above I can't think of any.
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
From a UK supplier (online or in person, not fussed provided they're an official distributor), most places sell the same brands you can get in the US
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! :-)
up to £100 / $160
3) Format:
I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
4) Size:
around 15.24cm / 6" in length (pref shorter)
body diameter cannot exceed 3.2cm / 1 17⁄64in due to fitting in my stab vest holder
no restriction on head or cap size
5) Emitter/Light source:
LED
6) Manufacturer:
I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box. Would like some sort of guarantee period.
7) What power source do you want to use?
I don't know/I need more information on power sources.
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
Not sure due to previous answer
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 need something that will do both the distance and the close up stuff, forgive me if I ask for too much.
Basically I need something that is dim enough to be able to write in a pocket notebook held at approx 38cm / 15" away from me so as not to burn mine or members of the publics eyes whilst at the same time having something that can reach a substantial distance to see if people are laying down in a field or running away into the distance, hence a Turbo mode may be needed for these short and not so frequent instances
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
All Flood: I am doing "arms length" tasks like reading and campsite cooking.
Narrow Throw: I want a beam with a very tight "hot center" and minimal "side-spill". Good for distance viewing, fog, and looking through dense undergrowth.
Turbohead: I want a far-distance projector with a sharply focused spot of light and minimal or zero side-spill. Good for extreme distance and impressing your friends.
Can I get something that might adequately cover all three?
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
Definitely looking for something that will do less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work) on a dim setting and can jump to 150m / 164yd ad beyond for the odd occasion of searching for people. There needs to be something in between for when searching buildings as well
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).
Up to 30 minutes (I want the brightest [and potentially smallest] light for brief periods)
30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
Either of the above two for the turbo type scenarios but for the low level stuff I'd expect to last a lot longer. I'll have replacement batteries in my duty bag in the car also
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase “you get what you pay for” is very accurate for flashlights.
Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
It's got to survive fighting and the splash of rain. It won't be exposed to underwater scenarios though, but it's a bonus if I drop it down the toilet.
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
I don’t know. However, I like the idea of multiple activation points that go to different modes, i.e twist end cap for defence and electronic switch for momentary and constant on mode
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
I want a programmable light
I want a selector ring.
I want a strobe mode. (Oscillating pattern to confuse/blind aka "Police Mode")
I want SOS mode. (blinks in ---...--- emergency pattern)
I want a beacon mode. (Regular flashes at full power to show location.)
A mixture of any of these is desirable, the low light mode, defence and turbo/spot light are essential though.
14)Material/Finish/Coating
I don’t care. But preferably black or dark coloured
15) Water resistance
IPX4 (Splash resistant)
IPX7 (Waterproof to 1 meter/30min)
Either of the above.
16) Storage conditions
In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
Emergency kit (long standby periods)
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
Other than my dimensions detailed above I can't think of any.
