Best light for walking dog at night

[davemchine]

I like to take my dog for a walk after dinner so for christmas I asked for a Dorcy 41-4750 180 Lumen High Flux LED Cyber Light Flashlight with Batteries
It fits well in the hand, puts out 180 lumens, and takes AA rechargeable batteries. So for now it is working for me. As I read the forum I see that there are many many favorite flashlights to choose from though and I don't see Dorcy's name in the mix. So I'm here to ask what your favorite flashlight is for walking the dog.

 

[Unicorn]

Usually a Surefire R1. The medium and sometimes low settings are enough for most of my dog walking needs. I used to use my Ledlenser P5R, but I somehow misplaced it.

 

[tjswarbrick]

Best: Lumintop P2C or EagleTac P20C2MKII - both with neutral emitters and light orange peel reflectors. 2 batteries and great low modes with superlong runtimes for ambling about; nice powerful, throwy high for when you want/need to see what's out there; disappear in the hand. Quite reasonably priced for the features, performance, and quality.

Usual: EagleTac Ti D25C Clicky that lives in my LFP, and one or another SureFire with Malkoff M61 for those light-'em-up moments. Tonight it'll be a C2 with M61W. Good stuff!

 

[EscapeVelocity]

2 D Mag LED with Red GLO-TOOB Flash Cap.

Dorcy makes many good but somewhat pedestrian lights....but there are many flashlight snobs on this site.

 

[mcnair55]

You will get a list of members favorites,nothing wrong with your Dorcy as they are in many good stores and are well and truly aimed at Joe Public.

Any multi mode light will do for dog walking and then you can adjust output to your own liking.

 

[ffemt6263]

Ok....I'll be that guy. The guy that suggests the biggest overkill in terms of budget you can. But since you asked "what do you like for walking the dogs?" I'll say it. The SPY 007. Haha. What actually made me stop and post this here while breezing through the new posts was i really do use this light to walk the dogs, and thats about the only time i find myself using it. Its an incredible light but unlike the majority on this forum i use my lights in high mode. But while walking the dogs i always pull out the spy because of its many levels of brightness and the ergonomics are perfect for when im holding the leash. The majority of the time im using a light in a more tactical manner and it doesnt work so well for that. But for this sort of task i can say it is as perfect as ive seen. Anyway, i know its probably way out of what you are looking at but since you asked the question theres my answer. Thanks for the space in your thread to ramble!

 

[DTF]

Two can go down that road. My dog light is a McGizmo Haiku 6V XML with 2x123A clickly pak. However, it's not the flashlight (one of the best ever made) so much as the clip which includes a 1/4"-20 mount. With this clip, it's easy to attach the flashlight to a McGizmo coiled tether. This setup, allowing the firm attachment of the flashlight to my arm, frees my hands for those "doggy duties" that require both hands. This is especially important when taking Jaqi out for a big night run (she's a Gordon Setter and is a BIG runner) With the cold, heavy coat and gloves are essential and even holding a flashlight, any flashlight, can be difficult. With the coiled tether, the flashlight is always there, ready to work without having to be in-hand.

 

[BenChiew]

The Makai in 6v. Generous flood with the ability to throw way out there.

 

[Lou Minescence]

I carry 2 lights. A low lumen floody light for up close and a blinding spot 800 + lumen for locating my dog when it is off leash. I also shine at drivers with high beams on going fast by me on the road.
I vary the brands of lights I use on my walks. There all good.

 

[DTF]

The Makai in 6v. Generous flood with the ability to throw way out there.

Superb light, of course, but not currently available.

 

[yearnslow]

I use a TK60, and a stick for snakes. ;)

 

[diesel79]

I would have to say a Malkoff Wildcat.

 

[jamesmtl514]

I'd use the Malkoff Houndog if i had one. It seems appropriate :p

I use pretty much whatever I'm carrying. From my 119 mule to my MD60 M6.

 

[davemchine]

A lot of good suggestions here but no common theme which surprises me. I suppose it depends on wether a person is walking the dog in the city or in the country side as the later may require a more capable flashlight. I'll throw in two more bits. I walk my dog in the city but I have no sidewalks so I do prefer a light that will make me fairly visible. I feel like the Dorcy is "ok" at 180 lumens for doing this job but not great. Also, the Dorcy provides a really bright pinpoint of light and then not very much light to the periphery. I think I would prefer a light that gave additional priority to the periphery as it would make me appear as a big bright area to motorists. Given these two additional bits of information does that narrow the field of flashlights or perhaps indicate a type of flashlight I should be looking at? Thank you for all the good suggestions so far.

 

[Samy]

I like my Sunwayman V10a because i like to use a low level but if i hear a sound in the bush i like to twist the magnetic ring for 500lumen high. This can all be done with one hand. Generally anything with a very low level that can quickly go to a very high output if needed fast.

cheers

 

[BenChiew]

Superb light, of course, but not currently available.

:)

 

[VidPro]

I walk the dog more often with the headlight, than a hand light. I am often using the small computer too, to watch movies, so being hands free works good. not brand specific , usually modded. Suburban with some street lighting, and then very dark paved trails.

I walk my dog in the city but I have no sidewalks so I do prefer a light that will make me fairly visible. .

Bright red strobe :-) they have bike lights that have a bright led strobing in them. Crossing from walking to driving, causes me to realise that people driving Cant see me very well at all. If i was in the country, or city with no sidewalks, I would want the crasy noxious flashing junk, which might keep me from being hit by a crasy noxious drunk.

 

[BiggDaddy485]

How about a headlamp? Frees up your hands for poop scooping. I've been checking out the zebralight lineup lately. The H51 I believe.

 

[ScottsBad]

My first post.

I use a Fenix TK21. I like the ease of mode changes and the ability to put it into strobe mode as defense if necessary. I run on medium, then if a car comes I raise the level so the car can see me. To me the interface is perfect. cr123 or 18650 bats.

Another cheaper choice is the Fenix E25 which has easy mode changes and uses AA, use Eneloop or whatever bats.

 

[davemchine]

Thanks for the continued posts. I have a headlamp but during the winter I wear a hat. The red flasher is a good idea also. I have several of them and I put one on my daughters coat when we go for walks. My coat doesn't have a good way to attach the red flasher but I'm trying to figure a way. I want to be as visible as possible. I only draw the line at those reflective coats. :-)