EDC work light chest pocket style.

cityevader

Enlightened
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
302
Location
San Jose, CA
Hello,
Biggest desire for a chest pocket everyday work light is ON/OFF ONLY. My co-worker is quite clear on that. Rest is all below.


1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?

____I would like to purchase the light from a brick and mortar store. I am located in ______________.
___x_I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.


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

____Less than $25.
____Less than $50.
__x__Less than $100.
__x__Less than $150.
____Less than $300.
____I have no limit.
____I'm flexible, tell me what you gotJ.
____Other, please specify ________


3) Format:

__x__I want a flashlight.
____I want a headlamp.
____I want a lantern.
____I want a dive light.
____I want a portable spotlight.


4) Flashlight-specific format/size:

____Keychain size.
____Every day carry small (2-4 inches).
__x__Every day carry medium (4-7 inches).
____Holster carry.
____Big enough to need its own travel caseJ.
____I don't care.
____I don't know.
____N/A


5) Emitter/Light source:

__x__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:

__x__I want to buy a light from a traditional mass producing manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
__x__I would consider getting a light that is pieced together (for example a "host" or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a "drop-in" emitter from another source). Under the right circumstances, this path can provide more options to the consumer to meet specific needs, and can often be easily upgradeable as technology improves.


7) What battery type do you want to use?

__x__I intend to use alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D) (disclaimer, while it does not preclude all choices, these are not recommended for many of today's most powerful lights)
__x__I intend to use rechargeable nickel chemistry (NiCad, NiMH, NiZn)
____I intend to use lithium primary batteries (CR123, CR2, Energizer Advanced/Ultimate Lithium AA/AAA)
__x__I intend to use rechargeable lithium (li-ion) chemistry. Feel free to specify a size if you know which size you want (14500, RCR123/16340, 17500, 17670, 18650, etc.)
____I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery. (Note: these choices may be very limited unless you are looking at spotlights)


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 impossible).

____I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (0-10 lumens).
__x__I want to walk around an unlit rural area (50-150 lumens).
__x__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 ridiculous amounts of lumens (800+ lumens).


9) Throw vs. Flood: At what distance will you be most likely to use this light? Select all that apply.

__x__Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
__x__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 want maximum throw possible)


10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum output).

____Up to 30 minutes (I want the brightest [and potentially smallest] light for brief periods)
__x__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).
__x__Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
____I don't care.
____I don't know.


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

__x__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 don't care.
____I don't know.
____Other, please specify____________________.


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

__x__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. (Blinks to show location.)
____I want SOS mode.
____I want a beacon mode.
____I don't care.
____I don't know.


14)Material/Finish/Coating

____Plastic/composite body (this may limit your choices significantly).
__x__Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today's flashlights).
__x__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) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any 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)
__x__Pocket/belt clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Crenulated bezel
____Non-sparking Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments
 

Gunner12

Flashaholic
Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
10,063
Location
Bay Area, CA
I'm assuming bezel mode change lights are not an option either? Keep the bezel tight and they'll act as a single mode light.

Surefire's 6PX defender could work, along with the G2 Tactical and Z2-S. I don't remember if they have forward clickies or not (I don't think so?). Also no pocket clip.

Not sure about runtime or how well it'll work at close range, but the Romisen RC-G2 III at Shiningbeam could be an option for cheap, but still no pocket clip.

Some of the AAA pen lights could work. Pelican has a nice one, along with Streamlight.
 

moozooh

Enlightened
Joined
Dec 11, 2011
Messages
496
By chest pocket style, does that mean you want to clip it to your chest pocket while it's lit up, like an angle light? If so, you might want to look into ZebraLight H502d:

— it can be used as a one-mode "click for on, click again for off" light, or you can use it as a three-mode light if you press and hold the button;
— it has a pocket clip, and the whole thing is light enough to sit tightly (and you can use it as a headlamp if you want);
— the beam is wide, and the tint is rich—perfect for close-up work and camping;
— does one hour off an eneloop on max brightness, and is perfectly regulated on all modes;
— has lots of other features you might find useful one day.

The thing about this light is that it wraps a huge area in front and to the sides in a cocoon of very soft neutral light. Basically, everything you're facing (in radius of 15–25 meters on max brightness) is lit up evenly, with very little color distortion.
 

cityevader

Enlightened
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
302
Location
San Jose, CA
I'd seen the Streamlight, but not the Pelican...thank you!!

Going with the Pelican for chest pocket and will start another thread for a regular pocket light which will open more options, as he doesn't mind a twisthead that's variable such as Sunwayman products.
 

cityevader

Enlightened
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
302
Location
San Jose, CA
saw the 2nd post after typing.
Yes, he's after a bezel-down pocket clip light.
I have an SC60 and love the beam. If only there were no modes for co-worker!
 

Gunner12

Flashaholic
Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
10,063
Location
Bay Area, CA
Personally, I think a 2 AAA pen light is a good size for a pocket light. 2 AA lights are too heavy. Terralux also has a 2 AAA battery light with a higher CRI (Color rendering index, higher = better and more accurate colors) LED.
 

cityevader

Enlightened
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
302
Location
San Jose, CA
chest pocket lights are certainly considered penlights (in my head). and I agree AAA vs AA.
The Pelican has a good combination of size, shape, and clip location. I may order one for myself to go against my own EDC Fenix LD05.
 
Top