Brightest EDC flashlight

GuyWhoFlashes

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Dec 24, 2024
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2
Location
New York, USA
Looking for a very bright durable flashlight that I can carry in my pocket. I have the Goreit G1476. It has performed well until it quit working after about 6 months. I'd like something at least as bright, but more durable. It's quite large, I don't mind that size, but wouldn't want anything bigger.

1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?

____I would like to purchase the light in person from a brick and mortar store. I am located in ______________.
_*___This will be mail-order or Online (location doesn't matter).


2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! :)

____I don't know yet
____Up to $25.
____Up to $50.
____Up to $100.
__*__Up to $200.
____Up to $300.
____Essentially unlimited.


3) Format:

____I am not sure, please help me decide.
__*__I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
____I want a self-contained headlamp.
____I want a headlamp with an external pack/power source.
____I want a mounted light (typically for a bicycle or vehicle)
____I want a lantern/area light.
____I want a portable spotlight (it may have an external power source).
____Other ____________________________________________


4) Size:

____MICRO - Keychain size.
____TINY - Every day carry (2-4 inches).
__*__SMALL - Every day carry (4-7 inches).
____MEDIUM - Holster/belt ring carry. (>7 inches)
____LARGE - Big enough to need its own travel case.
____I don't know/I don't care.


5) Emitter/Light source:

____LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
____Incandescent (known for superior color rendition)
____HID (known for max output, but often at the expense of size)
__*__I don't know.


6) Manufacturer:

__*__I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
__*__I would like a light from a specialty manufacturer (Possibly limited run/Custom).
____I am interested in assembling my own components. (for example a "host" or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a "drop-in" emitter from another source).


7) What power source do you want to use?

____I intend to use "Primary"/Disposable Alkaline batteries based on the usual AAA/AA/C/D sized cells common to most stores.
____I intend to use "Primary"/Disposable Lithium batteries based on the usual AAA/AA/C/D and CR123 sized cells common to most stores (often a cold weather or long storage choice).
____I intend to use Rechargeable cells (NiMH or NiCD) based on the usual AAA/AA/C/D sized cells common to most stores.
__*__I intend to use Rechargeable cells based on less common formats (18500 or 18650 Li-Ion, RCR123, et-al).
__*__I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery pack.
____I don't know/I need more information on power sources.

7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
____I want a light that plugs directly into the wall (literally with prongs built into the light)
____I want a light that has a recharging adapter (your typical "wall wart")
____I want a light that snaps into a cradle (usually mounted on a wall)
____I want a separate/stand-alone charger (this involves removing the batteries to charge)
__*__I don't care


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 not a happy experience).

____I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (1-10 lumens).
____I want an indoor "blackout" light (15-50 lumens)
____I want to confidently walk around an unlit/unpaved rural area (60-150 lumens).
____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 want search and rescue type illumination (800+ lumens).

____SPECIAL NOTE: Burst/Turbo mode Category - There are several lights that will run at a super bright maximum for a very limited period (usually 5-10 minutes) and then will "step-down" to a lower level for thermal control. Check here if this is acceptable.


9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.

____All Flood: I am doing "arms length" tasks like reading and campsite cooking.
____Wide Flood: I want a defined flood area for semi-close tasks like after-dark campsite tasks or working on a car.
____Narrow Flood: I want a sharply defined flood area that will project some distance for tasks like trail walking.
____Wide Throw: I want a beam with a noticeable hot-center for distance throw and a significant amount of "side-spill". Good for rough trail hiking, search and rescue, and general distance work.
____Narrow Throw: I want a beam with a very tight "hot center" and minimal "side-spill". Good for distance viewing, fog, and looking through dense undergrowth.
____Turbohead: I want a far-distance projector with a sharply focused spot of light and minimal or zero side-spill. Good for extreme distance and impressing your friends.

9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check 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 am searching from a helicopter)

10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum continuous 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)
____3 hours + (I critically need this light to run on max for extended periods in between battery changes/charges).




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).
__*__Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
____I don't know.


12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):

__*__Any size switch will do.
____I need a BIG switch (I'll be using gloves or have very large hands or coordination issues).
____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 (Tighten the head/tailcap to activate, and the light will stay on until the head/tailcap 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 want a remote switch (usually found on high-end bicycle headlights)
____I don't care.
____I don't know.
____Other, please specify____________________.


13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.

____A simple on-off with only one output level 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 programmable light.
____I want a selector ring.
____I want a strobe mode. (Oscillating pattern to confuse/blind aka "Police Mode")
____I want SOS mode. (blinks in ...---... emergency pattern)
____I want a beacon mode. (Regular flashes at full power to show location.)
__*__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) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today's higher end 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.
____I don't know.
____Other, please specify____________.

15) Water resistance
__*__None needed
____IPX4 (Splash resistant)
____IPX7 (Waterproof to 1 meter/30min)
____IPX8 (Submersible to greater than 1 meter for 4 hours)

16) Storage conditions
_*___In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
____Emergency kit (long standby periods)
____Automobile glove-box (wide temperature swings, long standby periods, critical reliability)
____Other_____________________________________________


17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all 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)
____Pocket/belt clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Crenulated bezel
____Non-sparking, Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments
 
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Elzetta Bones

Solid, built like a tank, lifetime warranty, made in the USA.

Real sustained 800+ lumens, none of this nonsense advertised 10 seconds of burst of over 1000 lumens and then a sudden drop down to 300-500 within a minute like most other flashlight companies.

Flashlight finish colors include hard anodized grey, black, and a less durable blue.

Edit: You can also choose a standard or flood lens (or purchase a spare of each) to customize your beam pattern as shown on the sale page. These few weeks are also the rare, once a year, time that Elzetta offers a discount (15%).
 
Very close to your budget, but I want to recommend Fenix LR35R.

Dual-21700 (included), 10.000 Lumen max (1200-3000 Lumen sustained).

I love this particular light so much I have 3 of them. The CRI sucks on the LR35R, but it throws well with lots of spill (flood), and have no hotspots or shadows in the beam.
 
Elzetta Bones

Solid, built like a tank, lifetime warranty, made in the USA.

Real sustained 800+ lumens, none of this nonsense advertised 10 seconds of burst of over 1000 lumens and then a sudden drop down to 300-500 within a minute like most other flashlight companies.

Flashlight finish colors include hard anodized grey, black, and a less durable blue.

Edit: You can also choose a standard or flood lens (or purchase a spare of each) to customize your beam pattern as shown on the sale page. These few weeks are also the rare, once a year, time that Elzetta offers a discount (15%).
Malkoff M91 on an MD3 body (run on a pair of 18500 cells) or a Hound Dog 18650 are in the same class as the Bones, but make a slightly different set of tradeoffs. And may also push your budget a bit.
 

Looking at the Wuben X1. That one any good?
It has a lot of output but no where near as durable as the other lights mentioned above. You said pocketable as well so I'm going to suggest the Fenix PD36R Pro.
 
Pocketable and bright rules out just about everything but a Nitecore E4K. Not sure there are any shorter 21700 lights over 4000 lumens. 1050 lumens was bright enough to burn a hole through the hoslster and through by jacket pocket so lock it out when not in use. 320 lumens pasts near an 8 hour work shift and is plenty of light for most tasks. 50 lumens is great for hiking.
 
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Very close to your budget, but I want to recommend Fenix LR35R.

Dual-21700 (included), 10.000 Lumen max (1200-3000 Lumen sustained).

I love this particular light so much I have 3 of them. The CRI sucks on the LR35R, but it throws well with lots of spill (flood), and have no hotspots or shadows in the beam.
I just bought this light during the black friday sales, what a great light! Not too big, but has a big output.
 
I just bought this light during the black friday sales, what a great light! Not too big, but has a big output.
Congrats! (y)

It's a great light, eh? Definitely the highest output I have seen in a light of that size. Anything similar that I have seen has either been bigger, but with the same output (-ish, like the LR40R), or smaller (and single cell) and only a third of the Lumen output with much shorter runtime (Acebeam E75, PD36R etc.).

I keep looking at outlet LR35R's, just to have one just about everywhere. That dual-21700 design makes them great for emergencies too.
 
Congrats! (y)

It's a great light, eh? Definitely the highest output I have seen in a light of that size. Anything similar that I have seen has either been bigger, but with the same output (-ish, like the LR40R), or smaller (and single cell) and only a third of the Lumen output with much shorter runtime (Acebeam E75, PD36R etc.).

I keep looking at outlet LR35R's, just to have one just about everywhere. That dual-21700 design makes them great for emergencies too.
I have the Tk16v2 and it's bright for it's size. When I tried this I was really impressed! I also have an LR80R, and it's crazy bright. The LR35R is kinda that 'pound for pound' toughest fighter of them. On alot of the Fenix seller websites the 35 is a big seller, that speaks to how impressed people are with it too.
 
I have the Tk16v2 and it's bright for it's size. When I tried this I was really impressed! I also have an LR80R, and it's crazy bright. The LR35R is kinda that 'pound for pound' toughest fighter of them. On alot of the Fenix seller websites the 35 is a big seller, that speaks to how impressed people are with it too.
I bought an LR80R on behalf of a good friend of mine, so I know how crazy that one is. When he showed it to me, over a large field in darkness and on full power...the 'wow'-factor was off the scale. And I am not easily impressed.

My own pocketable high-output lights are my recently purchased Acebeam E75, a Fenix TK35UE v2, and a Sofirn Q8 Plus.
For sheer size, I got a Fenix TK75 2018 and a TK76, each with 12x 18650 cells. Only 5100 Lumen and 2800 Lumen respectively, but I got them for their fun factor and runtime.

But nothing I own (some pictures of my collection), in my view, can compare to the LR35R for power, pocketability, and runtime. It does everything way better than most people would need.
 
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I bought an LR80R on behalf of a good friend of mine, so I know how crazy that one is. When he showed it to me, over a large field in darkness and on full power...the 'wow'-factor was off the scale. And I am not easily impressed.

My own pocketable high-output lights are my recently purchased Acebeam E75, a Fenix TK35UE v2, and a Sofirn Q8 Plus.
For sheer size, I got a Fenix TK75 2018 and a TK76, each with 12x 18650 cells. Only 5100 Lumen and 2800 Lumen respectively, but I got them for their fun factor and runtime.

But nothing I own (some pictures of my collection), in my view, can compare to the LR35R for power, pocketability, and runtime. It does everything way better than most people would need.
It's funny, maybe I was expecting to be knocked on my tail (not literally, lol) from the light output from the 80, but I was impressed but also expected more... if that makes sense. I guess I worked myself up to it being like the sun before it arrived so thats why I was expecting more. Now realistically speaking it is crazy on output. But like I said, and you did, the 35 impressed more strictly because of the overall package. Pound for pound, it was smile inducing even more than the 80. Heck, I was impressed with the 16 for it's output to it's size.
 
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