manfred.n.1976
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2010
- Messages
- 4
hello everybody!
i've been reading the forum for quite a while, trying to figure out which manufacturer sells top notch stuff, and what UI and features i'd like to have on my first real EDC/hunting flashlight.
so here's my feature guide:
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
____I would like to purchase the light from a brick and mortar store. I am located in ______________.
XXX_I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
____Less than $25.
____Less than $50.
____Less than $100.
____Less than $150.
____Less than $300.
XXX_I have no limit.
____I'm flexible, tell we what you gotJ.
____Other, please specify ________
since i only want ONE flashlight for now (i know, blasphemy on CPF) i don't mind if it's a little more expensive.
3) Format:
XXX_I want a flashlight.
____I want a headlamp.
____I want a lantern.
____I want a dive light.
____I want a portable spotlight.
4) Flashlight-specific format/size:
____Keychain size.
____Every day carry small (2-4 inches).
XXX_Every day carry medium (4-7 inches).
XXX_Holster carry.
____Big enough to need its own travel caseJ.
____I don't care.
____I don't know.
____N/A
what size approximately does holster carry mean? 20 inches?
5) Emitter/Light source:
XXX_LED
____Incandescent
____HID
no-brainer i guess?
6) Manufacturer:
XXX_I want to buy a light from a traditional mass producing manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
____I would consider getting a light that is pieced together (for example a "host" or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a "drop-in" emitter from another source). Under the right circumstances, this option can provide more options to the consumer to meet specific needs.
i would indeed consider a custom made flashlight, if it has the reliability and quality control of a bigger company.
7) What battery type do you want to use?
____I intend to use alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D) (disclaimer, while it does not preclude all choices, these are not recommended for many of today's most powerful lights)
____I intend to use rechargeable nickel chemistry (NiCad, NiMH, NiZn)
XXX_I intend to use lithium primary batteries (CR123, CR2, Energizer Advanced/Ultimate Lithium AA/AAA)
XXX_I intend to use rechargeable lithium (li-ion) chemistry. Feel free to specify a size if you know which size you want (14500, RCR123/16340, 17500, 17670, 18650, etc.)
____I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery. (Note: these choices may be very limited unless you are looking at spotlights)
originally i only wanted CR123, but since the R17670 offer significantly better runtimes, i might consider going the recharging way.
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 impossible).
XXX_I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (0-10 lumens).
XXX_I want to walk around an unlit rural area (50-150 lumens).
XXX_I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
____I want to illuminate an entire field, the neighbor's front yard several houses down, impress my friends and neighbors, etc. (300-700 lumens).
____I walk ridiculous amounts of lumens (800+ lumens).
i'd prefer multiple options between 0 and something around 300 lumens if possible.
9) Throw vs. Flood: At what distance will you be most likely to use this light? Select all that apply.
____Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
____Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
____5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
____30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
____50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
____150+ yards (I want maximum throw possible)
all distances apply here, f.e. when i'm out hunting there are large fields with distances up to 200 meters, but for EDC and every day use much smaller distances have to work 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 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)
____90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
XXX_3 hours + (I critically need this light to run for extended periods in between battery changes/charges).
when hunting in the woods at night, i'd really prefer the batteries not to wear out on me, as the hogs tend to be rather dangerous sometimes.
11) Durability/Usage: 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, Caving, Survival).
____I don't care.
____I don't know.
same as above, i need to see what's going on around me, to not get surprised by some pigs.
12) Switch Type and location (choose all that apply):
____I want a forward clicky (Helpful for momentary activation and signaling).
____I want a reverse clicky (For use with multi-mode/level lights).
____I want a momentary switch (Predominantly for use with signaling and short bursts of momentary light only).
____I want a twisty switch (twist head to tighten, and the light will stay on until head is loosened).
____I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
____I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today's high end lights).
____I don't care.
XXX_I don't know.
____Other, please specify____________________.
well it should easily be operated under stress, on the other hand multiple modes will require some sort of advanced mechanism i guess to be easily accessible?
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
____A simple on-off is fine for me.
____I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
XXX_I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a programmable light.
____I want a selector ring.
XXX_I want a strobe mode. (Blinks to show location.)
____I want SOS mode.
____I want a beacon mode.
____I don't care.
____I don't know.
14)Material/Finish/Coating
____Plastic/composite body (this may limit your choices significantly).
____Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (hard anodized) (this is the most common for today's flashlights).
____Stainless steel (durable, but much heavier than aluminum)
____Titanium (durable and nearly as lightweight as aluminum, but can be moderately to significantly more expensive).
____I don't care.
XXX_I don't know.
____Other, please specify____________.
the light will be roughly handled, so it better withstand some abuse, waterproof is necessary as well. is titanium really that much better than aluminium?
15) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any below.
____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________).
____Dedicated R/G/B secondary LEDs.
____"Hybrid" light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
XXX_Pocket/belt clip
XXX_Holster
XXX_Wrist/Neck Lanyard
XXX_Crenulated bezel
____Non-sparking Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments
wow, pretty long list!
i'm really interested to see what you guys will come up with, if there even is a light that would fit my preferences.
thanks for sharing your thoughts with me!
i've been reading the forum for quite a while, trying to figure out which manufacturer sells top notch stuff, and what UI and features i'd like to have on my first real EDC/hunting flashlight.
so here's my feature guide:
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
____I would like to purchase the light from a brick and mortar store. I am located in ______________.
XXX_I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
____Less than $25.
____Less than $50.
____Less than $100.
____Less than $150.
____Less than $300.
XXX_I have no limit.
____I'm flexible, tell we what you gotJ.
____Other, please specify ________
since i only want ONE flashlight for now (i know, blasphemy on CPF
) i don't mind if it's a little more expensive.3) Format:
XXX_I want a flashlight.
____I want a headlamp.
____I want a lantern.
____I want a dive light.
____I want a portable spotlight.
4) Flashlight-specific format/size:
____Keychain size.
____Every day carry small (2-4 inches).
XXX_Every day carry medium (4-7 inches).
XXX_Holster carry.
____Big enough to need its own travel caseJ.
____I don't care.
____I don't know.
____N/A
what size approximately does holster carry mean? 20 inches?
5) Emitter/Light source:
XXX_LED
____Incandescent
____HID
no-brainer i guess?
6) Manufacturer:
XXX_I want to buy a light from a traditional mass producing manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
____I would consider getting a light that is pieced together (for example a "host" or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a "drop-in" emitter from another source). Under the right circumstances, this option can provide more options to the consumer to meet specific needs.
i would indeed consider a custom made flashlight, if it has the reliability and quality control of a bigger company.
7) What battery type do you want to use?
____I intend to use alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D) (disclaimer, while it does not preclude all choices, these are not recommended for many of today's most powerful lights)
____I intend to use rechargeable nickel chemistry (NiCad, NiMH, NiZn)
XXX_I intend to use lithium primary batteries (CR123, CR2, Energizer Advanced/Ultimate Lithium AA/AAA)
XXX_I intend to use rechargeable lithium (li-ion) chemistry. Feel free to specify a size if you know which size you want (14500, RCR123/16340, 17500, 17670, 18650, etc.)
____I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery. (Note: these choices may be very limited unless you are looking at spotlights)
originally i only wanted CR123, but since the R17670 offer significantly better runtimes, i might consider going the recharging way.
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 impossible).
XXX_I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (0-10 lumens).
XXX_I want to walk around an unlit rural area (50-150 lumens).
XXX_I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
____I want to illuminate an entire field, the neighbor's front yard several houses down, impress my friends and neighbors, etc. (300-700 lumens).
____I walk ridiculous amounts of lumens (800+ lumens).
i'd prefer multiple options between 0 and something around 300 lumens if possible.
9) Throw vs. Flood: At what distance will you be most likely to use this light? Select all that apply.
____Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
____Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
____5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
____30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
____50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
____150+ yards (I want maximum throw possible)
all distances apply here, f.e. when i'm out hunting there are large fields with distances up to 200 meters, but for EDC and every day use much smaller distances have to work 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 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)
____90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
XXX_3 hours + (I critically need this light to run for extended periods in between battery changes/charges).
when hunting in the woods at night, i'd really prefer the batteries not to wear out on me, as the hogs tend to be rather dangerous sometimes.
11) Durability/Usage: 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, Caving, Survival).
____I don't care.
____I don't know.
same as above, i need to see what's going on around me, to not get surprised by some pigs.
12) Switch Type and location (choose all that apply):
____I want a forward clicky (Helpful for momentary activation and signaling).
____I want a reverse clicky (For use with multi-mode/level lights).
____I want a momentary switch (Predominantly for use with signaling and short bursts of momentary light only).
____I want a twisty switch (twist head to tighten, and the light will stay on until head is loosened).
____I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
____I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today's high end lights).
____I don't care.
XXX_I don't know.
____Other, please specify____________________.
well it should easily be operated under stress, on the other hand multiple modes will require some sort of advanced mechanism i guess to be easily accessible?
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
____A simple on-off is fine for me.
____I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
XXX_I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a programmable light.
____I want a selector ring.
XXX_I want a strobe mode. (Blinks to show location.)
____I want SOS mode.
____I want a beacon mode.
____I don't care.
____I don't know.
14)Material/Finish/Coating
____Plastic/composite body (this may limit your choices significantly).
____Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (hard anodized) (this is the most common for today's flashlights).
____Stainless steel (durable, but much heavier than aluminum)
____Titanium (durable and nearly as lightweight as aluminum, but can be moderately to significantly more expensive).
____I don't care.
XXX_I don't know.
____Other, please specify____________.
the light will be roughly handled, so it better withstand some abuse, waterproof is necessary as well. is titanium really that much better than aluminium?
15) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any below.
____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________).
____Dedicated R/G/B secondary LEDs.
____"Hybrid" light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
XXX_Pocket/belt clip
XXX_Holster
XXX_Wrist/Neck Lanyard
XXX_Crenulated bezel
____Non-sparking Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments
wow, pretty long list!
i'm really interested to see what you guys will come up with, if there even is a light that would fit my preferences.
thanks for sharing your thoughts with me!
