Hello,
Short Essay Question: What do you intend to use this light for?
I have worked in the law enforcement/corporate security field for 2 decades now.. I have worn out 2 4d-maglites in the last 20 years and I am looking for another good 'noggin klobber' to replace the poor beat up model I'm carrying now. In this time I have had a few too many "happy dances" where I ended up using the tool that was in my hand (flashlight) to stop a person's actions.
At 6 foot 2 and 260 pounds I'm not too worried about the weight of the light, in fact I would love a little more mass and "stopping power" than the 4d maglite.
0) What Region/Country/State will the light be purchased in?
____I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.
____I am in North America. More precisely I am in ____Utah___________.
____I am in South America. More precisely I am in _______________.
1) Price Range: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
____I only want to pay $1-10.
____I can spend $15-30.
__XX__I could spend $40-60.
____I am willing to spend $80-$120.
____I have no limit!
2) Format:
__XX__I want a flashlight.
____I want a headlamp.
____I want a lantern.
____I want a portable spotlight.
3) Length:
____I don't care.
____1-2 inches. (Keychain sized)
____2-4 inches. (Pocket carry)
____24-29 inches. (Worn tucked into belt sort of sideways)
4) Width:
Not sure, I do have pretty stubby fingers. But length is a good thing.
5) What batteries do you want to use? Alkaline batteries are easier to find and less expensive but don't pack as much stored energy and are don't work well in cold temperatures. Lithium batteries have long shelf life (10+ years, great for stored emergency lights) and are not as affected by cold but must be kept dry and are more expensive. Rechargeable start expensive, but if used frequently pay off quickly.
___XX_I want common Alkaline batteries. (AA, AAA, C, D)
6) How much light do you want? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).
__XX__I want to do Caving or Search & Rescue operations. (60+ lumens)
7) Throw vs Flood: Which do you prefer, lights that flood an area with a wide beam, or lights that "throw" with a tightly focused beam? Place an "X" on the line below.
Throw (distance)---------XX--------|-------------------Flood/close-up
8) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims (like some LED lights). but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries.
____20 min. (I want the brightest light for brief periods)
____60-240 min. (1-2 hours)
__XX__240-360 min. (4-6 hours) This is negotiable
____360+ min. (More than 6 hours)
9) Durability: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
____Not Important (A "night-stand" light.)
____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood.)
____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box.)
___XXX_Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Self-defense, Survival.)
8) Switch Type:
I'm used to the clickie switch
9) Switch Location:
Once again, I'm used to a push switch on the side near the head.
____I don't care.
10) Operational Modes: Check all that apply.
__XX__A simple on-off is fine for me.
____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 a tactical strobe. (Flashes rapidly to disorient an opponent.)
11) Is it important whether the body is metal or plastic/composite?
Metal is nice and durable, and it hits harder.
____I don't care.
__XX__I want a metal-bodied light.
____I want a plastic/composite light.
12) Special Needs: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Circle any below or write in your own comment(s).
Well, if someone invented one with a "normal on" mode and it also had a "stunning brilliance" 'on only when pushed button' it would be cool.
Thank you all very much. I have literally almost no knowledge of all the new technologies being offered.:twothumbs
Short Essay Question: What do you intend to use this light for?
I have worked in the law enforcement/corporate security field for 2 decades now.. I have worn out 2 4d-maglites in the last 20 years and I am looking for another good 'noggin klobber' to replace the poor beat up model I'm carrying now. In this time I have had a few too many "happy dances" where I ended up using the tool that was in my hand (flashlight) to stop a person's actions.
At 6 foot 2 and 260 pounds I'm not too worried about the weight of the light, in fact I would love a little more mass and "stopping power" than the 4d maglite.
0) What Region/Country/State will the light be purchased in?
____I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.
____I am in North America. More precisely I am in ____Utah___________.
____I am in South America. More precisely I am in _______________.
1) Price Range: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
____I only want to pay $1-10.
____I can spend $15-30.
__XX__I could spend $40-60.
____I am willing to spend $80-$120.
____I have no limit!
2) Format:
__XX__I want a flashlight.
____I want a headlamp.
____I want a lantern.
____I want a portable spotlight.
3) Length:
____I don't care.
____1-2 inches. (Keychain sized)
____2-4 inches. (Pocket carry)
____24-29 inches. (Worn tucked into belt sort of sideways)
4) Width:
Not sure, I do have pretty stubby fingers. But length is a good thing.
5) What batteries do you want to use? Alkaline batteries are easier to find and less expensive but don't pack as much stored energy and are don't work well in cold temperatures. Lithium batteries have long shelf life (10+ years, great for stored emergency lights) and are not as affected by cold but must be kept dry and are more expensive. Rechargeable start expensive, but if used frequently pay off quickly.
___XX_I want common Alkaline batteries. (AA, AAA, C, D)
6) How much light do you want? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).
__XX__I want to do Caving or Search & Rescue operations. (60+ lumens)
7) Throw vs Flood: Which do you prefer, lights that flood an area with a wide beam, or lights that "throw" with a tightly focused beam? Place an "X" on the line below.
Throw (distance)---------XX--------|-------------------Flood/close-up
8) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims (like some LED lights). but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries.
____20 min. (I want the brightest light for brief periods)
____60-240 min. (1-2 hours)
__XX__240-360 min. (4-6 hours) This is negotiable
____360+ min. (More than 6 hours)
9) Durability: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
____Not Important (A "night-stand" light.)
____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood.)
____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box.)
___XXX_Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Self-defense, Survival.)
8) Switch Type:
I'm used to the clickie switch
9) Switch Location:
Once again, I'm used to a push switch on the side near the head.
____I don't care.
10) Operational Modes: Check all that apply.
__XX__A simple on-off is fine for me.
____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 a tactical strobe. (Flashes rapidly to disorient an opponent.)
11) Is it important whether the body is metal or plastic/composite?
Metal is nice and durable, and it hits harder.
____I don't care.
__XX__I want a metal-bodied light.
____I want a plastic/composite light.
12) Special Needs: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Circle any below or write in your own comment(s).
Well, if someone invented one with a "normal on" mode and it also had a "stunning brilliance" 'on only when pushed button' it would be cool.
Thank you all very much. I have literally almost no knowledge of all the new technologies being offered.:twothumbs
, and then one to clobber them 
. I might just order one of those 6D maglites and upgrade it as I go along. My last 2 maglites each lasted at least 10 years of good, tough service.
