Another "please help me choose" thread

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NickDanger

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
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Hi all, short-time lurker, although I think I'm already on the slippery slope to light addiction.....

Here's what I'm looking for: LED, with variable modes, would also like the ability to have a momentary on feature...nice and bright, something that could be used to illuminate at distance, but primary uses would be for walking at night, and general home use.

Thanks for your help. :thumbsup:
 
Please clarify what you mean by wanting multiple modes. If you want to have two different brightness levels, then there are lots of lights that we can recommend.

If you want multiple brightness levels, strobes, locater beacons, SOS, etc., then the list gets very very short, and you will still have to make compromises.
 
Momentary on requirement limits you somewhat. Fenix T1 or TK10? My VB16 variable light has a momemtary clickie, and I think the newer Seoul versions at DX and Kai still do.

If you can stand a reverse clickie, then any of the Fenixes will do you just fine.
 
"Please clarify what you mean by wanting multiple modes."

Sorry, on the four levels of competence, I am obviously at "unconsciously incompetent" !

What I meant was a light whereby I could choose different levels of illumination, so that with a lower level of lumens runtime would be longer, etc. I like the lights that offer the choice of 3 or 4 brightness settings.

Hope I got it this time.
Thanks again for your advice.
 
Nick,

:welcome:

to better help you find your light, you'll need to provide us with more information, such as:

(1) budget - what's the max you're willing to spend.
(2) battery types - AAA, AA, C, D, 123a, Li-Ions?
(3) Size - do you want something like 3D maglite or Mini Maglite?
(4) construction - polymer or aluminum?

that's all i could think of, i'm sure others will chime in.
 
Budget: up to around $60
Battery: 123a okay
Size: compact, for EDC (Olight, Fenix, etc)
Construction: prefer Polymer

Thanks yet again!
 
Does illuminating things at a distance take priority over walking at night and general home use? For the most part, lights that are good at long distance illumination (throwers) do not have the most practical beam for what most of us consider general use. If you want the light to do both well, it requires a focusing system or a diffuser and further narrows the list.
 
I think the hardest part might be the momentary on. Polymer is also hard to get on high power LED lights this size. They don't provide the heat sinking the LED needs.

If polymer and momentary on is not necessary, then you have a lot of options.

The Fenix Current gen LED lights, Olights, Jetbeams, and Lumapowers are within your price range and so are many DX and KD lights.

I'd say start off with the Olight T10, T15, or the Fenix L1D-CE Q5, P2D-CE Q5. I recommend those because of their smaller size.

8% off coupon at Fenix Store is "CPF8".

If you don't mind the larger size and slow shipping time, the VB-16 kit from DX should be great. Momentary on and simple to use modes. I'd ask them to swap the unprotected batteries for these protected ones though.

:welcome:
 
I believe the Novatac 120P fits yer' requirements. PERFECT beam pattern, momuntary on, strobe, 22 levels of brightness.. (You can pre-set 4 levels.), super-rugged(Was tested by 100 hits against a concrete wall, no damage.), 120 lumen max, etc.. it can be dialed down to as low as 0.03 lumens, or up to 120 lumens. (And that's very bright. A maglite is like 60 lumens?), and more.
150ish, though. I reccommend getting it from Lighthound.com. I EDC one everywhere I go.
 
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maxa beam: I've been reading a lot on this forum, and all of a sudden "150ish" doesn't seem so bad, since I've been trying to talk myself into the new Surefire UA2 Optimus @ $279!
I'll check out the Novatac, thanks!
 
I wonder if the Lumapower IncenDio would work. It's a forward clickie so you should be able to use it for momentary function. Signaling with it might be a different story. I don't know if it would go to different levels or not if you tried using it for signaling. Batteryjunction.com sells it for about $53. If it didn't have to fit in your pocket for EDC and you had more money, I would suggest the 2008 Inova T5. It uses 3 123As, is around $90, is 200 lumens, you can signal with it, and it has high and low settings.
 
an update:
I just ordered a Fenix P3D Q5 with the 3x123 body(ies?).
All in all, I think it'll be fine for my needs.
Thanks again for your suggestions.
 
NickDanger said:
maxa beam: I've been reading a lot on this forum, and all of a sudden "150ish" doesn't seem so bad, since I've been trying to talk myself into the new Surefire UA2 Optimus @ $279!
I'll check out the Novatac, thanks!
Click to expand...
Good call. But I'm not so sure about the Surefire. While they're good lights, that one might not be as versatile as you'd like and it's a bit pricey for performance.

As for the pricing, a light that is as bright as these high end ones are can serve you for decades, as opposed to a 2$ eveready 10 lumen would serve you for a few.. weeks.
You can see how the pay for themselves.

Be sure to get rechargeable batteries for guilt-free lumens(The batteries are very expensive if not rechargeable.). Here's some links, videos of the Novatac, and the actual light/batts/charger.

http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1155 = Batteries. Extremely high-quality and safe.

http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3463 = The flashlight. (Read some reviews on this thing sometime, or look under my profile and posts by this user. It outperformed an iron-sized flashlight drastically.) It's revered for it's awesome beam pattern, seeming to be just as good a thrower as a flooder. A hotspot slowly fades like cotton-candy into a fluffy corona. No artifacts or donut holes. Maybe only a flashoholic can see a light's beam pattern as beautiful, but I do.

http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2515 = Charger for batteries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlR-JjQPs38 - The video (Some perspective of it's brightness, and it is BRIGHT. Atleast twice as bright as as a M/\G.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzJ0gTZ3WbQ&feature=related = Video. Good perspective of that beautifull, fluffy beam, and shows that crazy bright strobe.
 
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G2 + Wolf Eyes R2 WC 2-Mode High & Low (or Wolf-Eyes R2 WC 4-Mode) is the recommendation you should go with.
 
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