Best Outdoor Small Floodlight with Long Runtime?

[Liquidspaceman]

It seems to me that most of these premium lights are of the spotlight variety. They don't seem to spread the beam out too much and are very focused and concentrated in one area. I've seen a lot of outdoor shots that don't seem to offer a big spread.

Are there any lights that have a very wide area that just sort of "illuminates" your entire path in front of you? Something like a "dark path" light, where you'd be able to see what's up ahead to 50 or 100 yards, evenly spread out over a wide area and not just in one concentrated spot?

After searching the forum I found mentions of an MTE SSC 7, but that seems to use one of those weird big batteries that I don't like at all. Prefer standard AA or CR123A. In addition that flashlight lasts only an hour. Who wants to be on a dark, forest path with only an hour of light and an extra spare battery? Not me. So the ideal light would have at least 2 to 3 hours of run time and easy to carry, not some big behemoth that's going to make your arm tired.

I know I keep asking outdoorsy questions but sometimes it gets kind of rough narrowing down specific needs. I already ordered a Fenix but now having second thoughts as to if it's going to be able to fit my needs when it gets here. I have a bad feeling that it's going to be too much of a "cop" blind anybody in front of you spotlight for my outdoor hiking needs.

Hiking at night, sometimes bright can be rough on the eyes. It should be a balance of not too bright, but bright enough to spill out and light your path up pretty well. Thanks in advance.

Oh yeah, I hope this would be small enough to fit in my pocket. Doesn't have to fit comfortably. Just something I could slip into my pocket while taking off my backpack. So it can be bigger than a mini mag, but much smaller than a c maglite.

 

[Liquidspaceman]

By the way, maybe the Fenix will meet my needs. But if not, I am not disappointed in ordering it. After all, I am sure it will make a great home light or every day carry.

What I really want is a LIGHT UP THE FOREST light. Some of those trails get pretty spooky. I'd like to not just see what's in front of me, but to the sides as well, so it's just got to spill out everywhere and last a long time.

And run on standard batteries, not some rechargeable crap. I never mind buying extra batteries, that's my hobby. What I don't like is depending on some non-standard battery and having it run out on me because I can't find spares.

 

[DesertFox]

I like the Surefire L2 outdoors for just the reasons you mention. It floods the area with light, giving plenty of spill to see to the sides of the trail.

It is "old" technology by today's fast changing standards and may need updating (Luxeon LED if I remember right). Runtime on low (15 lumen?) is good at probably 15 hours, but on high you only get one hour, and it gets hot. An updated version could probably get twice the runtime. Its probably a little bigger than a mag AA but not by much.

 

[bobli17]

I would have to suggest the stock Surefire G2L.

It's not super blinding (80 Lumens).
Good run time (3-4 hr)
2 cr123
fits easily in your pocket
light weight
The reflector isn't very deep so you get a good flood.

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

Once again, the 2008 Inova T1. 100 lumens of balanced flood and spot light. It's bright enough to see everything in front of you and around you and the large spot isn't bright enough to blind you. Runs 4+ hours regulated on 2 123A batteries. The Fenix light you ordered won't disappoint for a lightweight, multilevel, backpacking light, but the T1 makes a great hiking light. The T1 has about the best fit in the hand of any other light, so you're unlikely to drop it. Fenix lights are slick and small in the hand which makes them easier to drop. It makes them good for fitting in pockets for edc use, and the best for backpacking, but not when you want to avoid droping them when hiking. The T1 is also a beefier chunk of metal, so I imagine if you dropped it a lot, it would survive longer.

 

[kramer5150]

50-100 yards is pretty far, its going to need some kind of reflector or optic to focus the output. So pure flooders like the Zebralights are out.

By limiting yourself to AA / CR123 you are eliminating P7 and MC-E designs all together. Those kinds of designs will get you a nice light wall out to 50+ yards.

So it sounds like you want something with moderate beam concentration, rather than a "wall of light". The smaller Fenix lights I have played with have very good beam quality, tight to about 25 yards, big spot from 25-35 that disperses out to a wall beyond ~35-40 yards.

I have an L1T-2.0 (LGX-200) and its very nice for that kind of application, if you only need 90 Lumens.

A malkoff M60LF paired with a 2xCR123 host would be superb IMHO. I recently borrowed another members M60LLF and was absolutely FLOORED just how bright 80 Lumens (put to good use) can really be.

 

[elumen8]

I just got back from Tahoe National Forest. I was able to play with several of my lights with and without snow on the ground. I too like the idea of having a floody light in front of me, but want to see those far off things that go bump in the woods also. I have come to the conclusion that I will never go out night hiking without diffusers on my lights. Having the ability to allow for throw and flood in one light is perfect for all my night woods adventures. Here are my top three combinations:

Surefire E2DL, Surefire F04 diffuser, 2xcr123
5 lumen low, 120 lumen high
*Diffuser off- Amazing optic throw, relativiely tight beam at distance. Cuts threw the darkness like a knife. I liked shining it between trees at far off objects just for fun. Used low level more often than high.
*Diffuser on- Wonderful wall of almost ambient light on both low and high levels. Used diffused low for most of my trail, more than enough to guide myself along while still being able to see between trees around me. Can't say enough about having a nice low level with long runtime.

Surefire G2, aluminum bezel, Malkoff M60 and M60LL, Surefire FM34 diffuser, 2xcr123 (my everyday go-to light back home)
M60 lots of lumen, M60LL not so lots of lumen (I can never quote the correct numbers LOL)
*Diffuser off- Throws like a mad-dog in the woods. Light can only go so far when you got a gajillion trees all around you. Anything going bump in the night there will know you are coming. For the record, the M60 to me was way to bright to be used comfortably in the dark woods...gotta love the M60LL.
*Diffuser on- Large volume of light flooding the area well in front of me and off to either side. If you want to be somewhat surrounded by glowing light, this is a great way to go. I found myself pointing it upwards as if doing a ceiling bounce off the tree-cover and got great light all around. Being able to switch it to throw at the flick of a finger is very convenient.

Surefire E2D, Surefire F04 diffuser, 2xcr123 (forgot my E2E at home)
60 lumen
*Diffuser off- Throws very well with a warm comforting candle-like hue. More than enough light to distinguish objects afar. In the woods, "I" prefer an incan in terms of color rendering and warm cozy 'sitting by a campfire' feel.
*Diffuser on- A warm glow of incan light a good distance in front and to the sides. To my eye, it seemed to travel more to the sides than the E2DL with the very same diffuser. I might be recognizing the incan bouncing off the trees more so than the LED. Not the greatest runtime but the most soothing light to my eyes in the woods.

In my opinion, none of these lights is the perfect all around night hiker on its own...but with the diffusers on...they became perfect lights. Best of both worlds. Quite honestly, any good throwing light you already own can be made floody with a good diffuser. A little added weight or size is such a small compromise for toting along a great all around outdoorsy light. If you try it once, you'll understand the merits of such a combination.

I hope this diffuser suggestion didn't sound too off topic.

-JB

 

[Penguin]

I definitely have to agree with hooked on fenix. The best light on a budget would be the Inova 2008 T1. They come with a warm vanilla like tint, and offer a spot that's similar to the LuxV L4/L2. Best of all it runs in regulation for ~5 hours, which is great for outdoor use as you won't have to lug a bunch of batteries around.

50 yards should be ok, but 100 might be a bit out of range for the 2008 T1. If you want a large spot at 100yards you might have to look at something a lot more pricey (SF M6)

 

[sORe-EyEz]

hi Liquidspaceman,

if i get you right, a Fenix (which model?) is coming your way? if you have a backpack, would you consider a dim flooder strapped to the pack & another handheld thrower be an option?

i do occasionally go for walks in the woods, having a dim flooder strapped to a pack makes for a more enjoyable walk. i do not need to constantly hold a light, if i need to run from "something" i would prefer to run with both hands free.

1) dim flooder on the pack, with long runtime- constant on
2) thrower holstered on belt or other side of pack for seeing further away, intermittent use only (shorter runtime)
both with enough spare batteries till daybreak.

 

[Mdinana]

I just got back from Tahoe National Forest. I was able to play with several of my lights with and without snow on the ground. I too like the idea of having a floody light in front of me, but want to see those far off things that go bump in the woods also. I have come to the conclusion that I will never go out night hiking without diffusers on my lights. Having the ability to allow for throw and flood in one light is perfect for all my night woods adventures. Here are my top three combinations:

Surefire E2DL, Surefire F04 diffuser, 2xcr123

Surefire G2, aluminum bezel, Malkoff M60 and M60LL, Surefire FM34 diffuser, 2xcr123

Surefire E2D, Surefire F04 diffuser, 2xcr123 (forgot my E2E at home)
60 lumen

I hope this diffuser suggestion didn't sound too off topic.

-JB

Plus one on all of this! I just got an E2L with the F04 diffuser, and I absolutely adore it. While a Fenix with a diffuser would work (I assume), I was astounded how well the diffuser made the light work. Like stadium lights almost: no shadows in the flood zone of light.

 

[PetaBread]