Daughter is deploying to Afghanistan very soon Need Help ASAP

[Maker102]

My daughter is leaving in less than two weeks and really need help fast. I am looking for a handheld with a red filter or led and a dimmable white light very bright and very dim. I prefer to stay away from rechargables I will make sure she has the batteries she needs. Any help would be very much appreciated along with any recommendations of where to buy from. Also any ideas on holsters or other accessories which would be needed. Thanks in advance.

 

[Gunner12]

Would AA powered lights work? I'm don't have enough experience with how durable lights are so I'm not sure what best to suggest. Not many of the high power LED lights have a red filter but some of them do go to sub lumen low. Many stores also have next day shipping so you can get the lights quickly if you want to.

Best of luck to you daughter.

 

[SoCalDep]

A pretty versatile light is the Photon Proton Pro... It runs as high as 100+ lumens (not super bright but bright enough for most tasks) and once clicked on, click and hold and the brightness ramps down to whatever level you want, down to very dim. If you press and hold from the beginning, a small red LED will turn on...Very very dim at first, and ramp up to what I perceive as maybe 10-15 lumens. It takes a single AA battery, which shouldn't be too hard to aquire, and comes with a pocket clip. Make sure she turns off the demo mode or has the instructions...Otherwise she'll get frustrated.

 

[DanM]

When my son went to Iraq I sent with him two lights. The Fenix E11 AA and the E05 AAA and a bunch of batteries. You can find AA and AAA's most any place. As part of his required equipment the Army provided the angled GI light and batteries, with all the colored filters.
These were his "patrol lights" he was to use on duty. The Fenix were just the right size to carry as back up and reading after lights out.

 

[CamoNinja]

What is her MOS ? Is she going to use it for work, leisure or both ?

 

[Maker102]

She is a 68K Medical Lab Tech however she will be working in a blood unit (which means she could be called upon to work in aid stations and high casuality situations). I am getting the light for both leisure and work. Having said that I believe a hand held would work better than a helmet light however some sort of a clip would come in handy. I should also state that cost is not a big factor but would like to keep it below $200.00. The Photon Proton Pro and Sidewinder are both in the running.

 

[Bicycleflyer]

The Streamlight Sidewinder is a good choice that I use myself. The white LED is only about 55 lm. May not be the brightest out there, but it is plenty bright enough to pre-flight a 747.

Another interesting option to look at is the Energizer Night Strike. I have no experience with it, but seems decent enough.

 

[LedTed]

Did you specifically ask your daughter about her flashlight: preferences, needs and / or wants?
After all, if you don't get her a light she will use, it will be of no use to her.

 

[CamoNinja]

My son inlaw has been over there 3 times now and he and his squad used Zebra Lights. I forget the model number but some used AA and the others used cr123. They had an endless supply of cr123's. He was able to stretch the headband over his helmet, that kept his hands free.

Check GoingGear.com with her, watch the videos and let her pick if possible.

PS Hope she returns safe and sound and tell her I said thank you.

 

[sgt253]

Spot on LedTed. I would also offer that a headlamp can be invaluable to a service member who needs to keep their hands free to work. Simple things like laundry runs to and from one's hooch to laundry hooch with an armful of laundry, etc.. If she is forward there are light restrictions at some FOB's. Red filter would be needed. They only sell a limited variety and amount at the PX through AAFES.

Regards.

 

[rambo180]

zebralight make AA lights that can also be used as a headlamp. try goinggear.com

 

[Kilted]

Have you looked at the Surefire Kroma? Considering where she is going this maybe a better choice.

=D~~ Kilted

 

[nailbender]

Hi

As was mentioned a light that takes CR123's are very good since the gov usually has boxes of CR123 primaries. I have sent many modules to service persons and have been told as mentioned earlier in this thread that CR123 primaries are usually readily available where as other sizes may not be.
A solarforce or surefire host with 2 modules may work as well. A red for use when needed and a more defensive XML white module. If wanting to keep to just one light source surefire makes a red filter just for this.

 

[lightfooted]

Not that I am trying to get you to spend all of it...but you could take a look at the Surefire Aviator A2L...it has low power red, green, blue or white leds in addition to a single white led for primary lighting. Most places (like goinggear) have it for $189 for the green version...which is better if you have to read maps, the red version is just a bit over $200.

Also, I have a Sunwayman V11R that has a low mode of about one lumen and operates on a single CR123A. The magnetic control ring allows variable brightness up to full power of about 190 lumens on a 123A. I'm not sure if it's lowest level would be allowed under light restricted circumstances without a filter...but I know that turned all the way down it emits less light than the common key-fob style led lights such as those given out by Lighthound and Batteryjunction for orders over a certain dollar amount. It also includes a lanyard, clip and pouch.

 

[redaudi]

As someone with deployment experience, I would highly recommend sending a headlamp with her. They are extremely useful.

Also, to be quite honest I'm a huge fan of the Energizer HardCase Tactical lights. Multi Function inc. blue LED for blood, red LED for night vision preservation, and white. Also have IR, and IR strobe. I used the 1st gen of this light almost exclusively, and it stood up to whatever abuse I could figure out how to subject it to.


Other than those recommendations, there is some good advice in this thread already.

Tell her good luck from SSG Marko. 🙂

 

[otis]

Many Surefire 6P's show up on ebay in the $40 to $60 price range. These are fantastic performing lights with great tailcap switches. Momentary on by pressing the clicky on the end, constant on by twisting the end cap. Add to this a Malkoff Devices M61W ($59+shipping) drop-in, you will have an excellent tactical flashlight! 200 lumens out the front light. The brightness of the center spot is very similar to the incandescent bulb that comes with the 6P, but the spill of the light is substantially brighter. I really like this set up for personal use, can't recommend it too highly for tactical applications. And the LED bulb helps the batteries last a lot longer. Something you know will ALWAYS work as expected when you need it!

Red filters and holsters are readily available for this light, also.

Best wishes to her and give her my thanks for serving our country!

 

[srfreddy]

I'd say a headlamp (Surefire Vision, Zebralight H31 series), that uses CR123s, and a surefire A2L with Red leds if you can afford it.

 

[Ezeriel]

You must buy her a Fenix E01. It's, possibly, the most dependable light ever made.

or maybe a E05


after that, a Fenix LD12 with a red filter accessory would work pretty well

 

[Xacto]

Fenix E01 or E05 for the keychain/ID-Card lanyard for short, low-light uses (AAA). Some sort of headlamp with a good UI for hands-free use. Yesterday I bought a Black Diamond Spot - great long range white spotlight, great white wide area flood beam up-close and you can switch the red LED on without going through the white lights (AAA). Some Surefire light with +/- 200 lumen and possibly a simple Z41 twisty, preferable one mode / high first. Surefire 6PX/G2X Tactical or a Surefire E2DL (High first, click switch, clip). If you find something using AA batteries and still be within your budget, you could give your daughter a wide array of lights using every common battery type.

Cheers
Thorsten

 

[CarpentryHero]

Zebralight H51FR uses a red led, great headlamp and awesome user interface.
Or
Streamlight TwinTask with red LED's for the low modes, comes in multiple battery configurations (different models) there under $100 usually and lots of american and Canadian dealers carry them