I'm wondering what everyone's opinion is on what makes the most practical and reliable flashlight. I only have about a dozen flashlights. Some leds some incandescent. led torches amaze me. you would still be on the same set of batteries in some lights while in a incandescent you already need to replace the bulb. Before visiting this forum I had 2 mini mags and a 3 cell. I didn't even know mags came with a spare bulb in the tailcap! Right now one of my favorites is the surge. its a great light for seeing things at a distance. the bulbs are expensive but it runs off cheap batteries. I was thinking of buying a surefire but the only thing in my price range would be an e2 and the surge is brighter anyway isnt it? I could afford more I just can't justify myself spending that much on a light. For around the house I think leds are the best. Even the infinity can light up a room good enough to see whats going on. if I wake up at 3am and turn on the surge to find my way around the house its just to bright. looks like its going to burn a hole in my wall and just blinds me. I really like the attitude or arc aaa as a household light. there not to dim and not to bright. which is the first light most of you would grab if the power were to go out or just digging through boxes?
best practical torch....led or incandescent?
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brightnorm
Flashaholic
- Joined
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Mrchri5,
You are about to be inundated with different opinions, so get ready!
My favorite, all 'round, always ready, tiny, light (2.5oz), cheap, not blindingly bright but bright enough (with admittedly variable beam quality), long-runtime, waterproof and tough as nails, takes 2 x 123a so you can always count on it..... the UnderwaterKinetics 2L. In a side by side comp with the Tec 40, for most of a 3+ hr runtime the 2L was brighter.
You are about to be inundated with different opinions, so get ready!
My favorite, all 'round, always ready, tiny, light (2.5oz), cheap, not blindingly bright but bright enough (with admittedly variable beam quality), long-runtime, waterproof and tough as nails, takes 2 x 123a so you can always count on it..... the UnderwaterKinetics 2L. In a side by side comp with the Tec 40, for most of a 3+ hr runtime the 2L was brighter.
geepondy
Flashlight Enthusiast
For reliability, LEDs can't be beat. I've had bulbs blow on my incandescents, even on one of my Surefires (explode is more accurate). For brightness of course incandescent's rule. I'm waiting for a hundred lumen LED light (that's not the size of a cannon), then I'll be truly happy.
D
**DONOTDELETE**
Guest
I have both incandescants and LEDs. Both serve well.
I find that I amost always have a Photon Micro Light III on a chain around my neck. FIrst choice for most situations to at least get me started. I even carry one on my work ID badge chain. Never without a light.
I usually have a 2 AAA Mini-Mag in my pocket.
I guess next would be my Princeton TEC Attitude and then my Surefire E2 if I need a lot of light. It has basically replaced my 2 D Mag-Lite for most uses. The big Mag stays in my vehicle most of the time.
I have others too but I guess those would be my first choices of mine.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mrchri5:
I'm wondering what everyone's opinion is on what makes the most practical and reliable flashlight. I only have about a dozen flashlights. Some leds some incandescent. led torches amaze me. you would still be on the same set of batteries in some lights while in a incandescent you already need to replace the bulb. Before visiting this forum I had 2 mini mags and a 3 cell. I didn't even know mags came with a spare bulb in the tailcap! Right now one of my favorites is the surge. its a great light for seeing things at a distance. the bulbs are expensive but it runs off cheap batteries. I was thinking of buying a surefire but the only thing in my price range would be an e2 and the surge is brighter anyway isnt it? I could afford more I just can't justify myself spending that much on a light. For around the house I think leds are the best. Even the infinity can light up a room good enough to see whats going on. if I wake up at 3am and turn on the surge to find my way around the house its just to bright. looks like its going to burn a hole in my wall and just blinds me. I really like the attitude or arc aaa as a household light. there not to dim and not to bright. which is the first light most of you would grab if the power were to go out or just digging through boxes?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I find that I amost always have a Photon Micro Light III on a chain around my neck. FIrst choice for most situations to at least get me started. I even carry one on my work ID badge chain. Never without a light.
I usually have a 2 AAA Mini-Mag in my pocket.
I guess next would be my Princeton TEC Attitude and then my Surefire E2 if I need a lot of light. It has basically replaced my 2 D Mag-Lite for most uses. The big Mag stays in my vehicle most of the time.
I have others too but I guess those would be my first choices of mine.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mrchri5:
I'm wondering what everyone's opinion is on what makes the most practical and reliable flashlight. I only have about a dozen flashlights. Some leds some incandescent. led torches amaze me. you would still be on the same set of batteries in some lights while in a incandescent you already need to replace the bulb. Before visiting this forum I had 2 mini mags and a 3 cell. I didn't even know mags came with a spare bulb in the tailcap! Right now one of my favorites is the surge. its a great light for seeing things at a distance. the bulbs are expensive but it runs off cheap batteries. I was thinking of buying a surefire but the only thing in my price range would be an e2 and the surge is brighter anyway isnt it? I could afford more I just can't justify myself spending that much on a light. For around the house I think leds are the best. Even the infinity can light up a room good enough to see whats going on. if I wake up at 3am and turn on the surge to find my way around the house its just to bright. looks like its going to burn a hole in my wall and just blinds me. I really like the attitude or arc aaa as a household light. there not to dim and not to bright. which is the first light most of you would grab if the power were to go out or just digging through boxes?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The_LED_Museum
*Retired*
This is an interesting question to ask of somebody who has over 200 flashlights to choose from, and more than 70% of them are in a place where they could be grabbed for & activated within five or six seconds.
Numerous other lights are peppered throughout every room of the house.
For a quick blast of relatively high intensity light, the Surefire E2 fills this role. I never leave home without it. Although the Brinkmann Legend LX would also fill this need, its switch is just too hard to activate.
A newly-received Surge is currently being tested, and at this time travels with me in a receptacle on my wheelchair.
As a "looking for Christmas light bulbs buried in a big dark box in an unlit closet" flashlight, I'll usually reach for a Lightwave 3000 or an Expedition 300. Both are 7-LED, 3-C flashlights. A Lightwave 2000 or Trek-4 can also fill this position if it is within easier reach than the aforementioned.
I've also been known to reach for my Bison 2-C sportlight for this usage, but it has dead batteries in it now and I've been too busy to change them. (I might as well take the time *now* to pull them before they leak and ruin the flashlight). I hardly ever have to worry about unusably weak batteries with an LED flashlight.
When I'm fixing or modifying my wheelchair, I'll strap on a multi-LED headlamp, like a Lightwave Illuminator or a FrontaLED Trekker.
I'll go looking for these before putting on an Avalanche, even if the Avalanche is out in the open and within easy reach.
As a headlamp on my wheelchair, I use a Trek 6000 incandescent. This is a 9 volt light stuffed full of "C" cells.
It may eventually be replaced by a UK Light Cannon HID, if the bulb is strong enough. Otherwise I'll have to buy special tires to go on the front wheels to soften the ride enough to baby the $80 HID bulb along.
By the bed: A red Infinity serves very well in this spot, as does a Princeton Tec Impact, and one of the 4-LED flashlights (this may be an Eternalight Classic, a Lightwave 2000, or a Trek-4). I tend to reach for the Eternalight because of the dimmer modes available on it.
A Koehler-Bright Star Division 2 Responder (halogen, 4 C cells, angle neck) sits on the plant shelf next to the bed. This light has some fairly decent glow material on its front, so I can see it for hours after going to bed. I rarely use it, but have it available in case of earthquake & subsequent destruction of the local power grid. It can then be used to find all of my other lights.
Daily carry: This varies considerably, and is often a collection of lights that are currently being tested. One way I test flashlights is to actually *use them* indoors and, when possible, out.
Permanent daily carry lights include the Surefire E2, the Arc-AAA in white, and when I get one, an Arc-LS in white. I'm using the prototype for this purpose now, but I'm kind of babying it so I don't totally wreck it before I get a production unit.
I also carry at least one Photon in a visible wavelength, and one of several violet LED lights just now becoming available.
Numerous other lights are peppered throughout every room of the house.
For a quick blast of relatively high intensity light, the Surefire E2 fills this role. I never leave home without it. Although the Brinkmann Legend LX would also fill this need, its switch is just too hard to activate.
A newly-received Surge is currently being tested, and at this time travels with me in a receptacle on my wheelchair.
As a "looking for Christmas light bulbs buried in a big dark box in an unlit closet" flashlight, I'll usually reach for a Lightwave 3000 or an Expedition 300. Both are 7-LED, 3-C flashlights. A Lightwave 2000 or Trek-4 can also fill this position if it is within easier reach than the aforementioned.
I've also been known to reach for my Bison 2-C sportlight for this usage, but it has dead batteries in it now and I've been too busy to change them. (I might as well take the time *now* to pull them before they leak and ruin the flashlight). I hardly ever have to worry about unusably weak batteries with an LED flashlight.
When I'm fixing or modifying my wheelchair, I'll strap on a multi-LED headlamp, like a Lightwave Illuminator or a FrontaLED Trekker.
I'll go looking for these before putting on an Avalanche, even if the Avalanche is out in the open and within easy reach.
As a headlamp on my wheelchair, I use a Trek 6000 incandescent. This is a 9 volt light stuffed full of "C" cells.
It may eventually be replaced by a UK Light Cannon HID, if the bulb is strong enough. Otherwise I'll have to buy special tires to go on the front wheels to soften the ride enough to baby the $80 HID bulb along.
By the bed: A red Infinity serves very well in this spot, as does a Princeton Tec Impact, and one of the 4-LED flashlights (this may be an Eternalight Classic, a Lightwave 2000, or a Trek-4). I tend to reach for the Eternalight because of the dimmer modes available on it.
A Koehler-Bright Star Division 2 Responder (halogen, 4 C cells, angle neck) sits on the plant shelf next to the bed. This light has some fairly decent glow material on its front, so I can see it for hours after going to bed. I rarely use it, but have it available in case of earthquake & subsequent destruction of the local power grid. It can then be used to find all of my other lights.
Daily carry: This varies considerably, and is often a collection of lights that are currently being tested. One way I test flashlights is to actually *use them* indoors and, when possible, out.
Permanent daily carry lights include the Surefire E2, the Arc-AAA in white, and when I get one, an Arc-LS in white. I'm using the prototype for this purpose now, but I'm kind of babying it so I don't totally wreck it before I get a production unit.
I also carry at least one Photon in a visible wavelength, and one of several violet LED lights just now becoming available.
vcal
Flashlight Enthusiast
If I'm dressed, it's either the UKE-2AAA, Pelican L-1(becos of instant pushbutton on), or the Arc-LE.
In the middle of the night, or for utility purposes, the LW-2000K or the Docter midi 125. For killer strength light, it's either the 8AA DB, or the cheap R.S. plastic (4" head) souped up with Mag.Star 4-C bulb-whichever is closer to me.
In the middle of the night, or for utility purposes, the LW-2000K or the Docter midi 125. For killer strength light, it's either the 8AA DB, or the cheap R.S. plastic (4" head) souped up with Mag.Star 4-C bulb-whichever is closer to me.
Tesla
Enlightened
If RELIABILITY is the criterion, I'd vote for an arc AAA in the LED category & (stone me all you SureFire lovers), a Maglite (Solitaire excluded) in the incandescent category. These are not necessarily the brightest, longest-running, etc., but you would be hard-put to find anything more reliable & well-designed.
lightlover
Flashlight Enthusiast
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by vcal:
... Pelican L-1(becos of instant pushbutton on) ... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
vcal, what do you mean by "instant" on ?
lightlover
Ps - Tesla, do you think that SureFires have reliability problems ?
... Pelican L-1(becos of instant pushbutton on) ... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
vcal, what do you mean by "instant" on ?
lightlover
Ps - Tesla, do you think that SureFires have reliability problems ?
vcal
Flashlight Enthusiast
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by *something ridiculous ?:
vcal, what do you mean by "instant" on ?
lightlover<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Because of the length of the light, -and the size of my hand, my thumb just naturally falls onto the just excellent pushbutton design/feel of it's switch, so it's super easy to activate.
(it's momentary-or crisp, click stay on)
BUT-the rubber cover for the pushbutton has worn away completely.
p.s.-the little light has also been souped up with magnifying lens for a "kick-butt"(!) spot, that rivals my Lightwave 2000
vcal, what do you mean by "instant" on ?
lightlover<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Because of the length of the light, -and the size of my hand, my thumb just naturally falls onto the just excellent pushbutton design/feel of it's switch, so it's super easy to activate.
BUT-the rubber cover for the pushbutton has worn away completely.
p.s.-the little light has also been souped up with magnifying lens for a "kick-butt"(!) spot, that rivals my Lightwave 2000
