Entering the world of good lights

[AIA]

I was recently shown the difference between my $7.99 flashlight and a Surefire. Wow... Really.. Wow..

So since then I've been researching and following these forums (which seem to be the best source of info anywhere). I'm interested in getting new lights, and there are lots of toys here that excite me (HID flashlights, glow rings, etc), which are probably going to eat a few number of my paychecks, but before I do that I want start with the basics, getting good camping flashlights and a good lantern.

I was hoping people here could provide me with some guidance and suggestions.

Some questions:

From what I can tell LED is the best technology suited for this purpose. Is this true?

Waterproof flashlights are of interest to me, as I spend time on boats. Are there any gotchas I should be worried about? (such as certain verbage meaning only partially waterproof)

Are Surefire lights all they're cracked up to be?

Batteries. Some come with supercapacitors, some use traditional batteries.. some use crazy sizes.. is there anything I should avoid, or try to stick with?

For general outdoors camping, is 1 flashlight 'all purpose' enough or should I look at getting 1 smaller and 1 larger flashlight? (or some combination)

For reference here are some lights I've been looking at:
Black Diamond Orbit Lantern
Surefire Outdoorsman
5.11 Tactical Light For Life
ITP C9

 

[Chrontius]

Yeah, LEDs are probably the best at what you're looking for.

The current LED Surefire Outdoorsman I feel comfortable recommending on reputation alone (and my five other Surefires make me confident in doing so). I'd honestly recommend their old incandescent one too, if I wasn't looking to snag one cheap. The Light for Life looks like a really cool piece of technology, and I'm rather interested in owning one someday, but it's still a 1.0 release in my opinion. Also, I don't know how waterproof it is. All current Surefires are waterproof to 30 feet, if you're not swinging them wildly under water; something called 'static pressure' comes into play here.

If you're worried about having to rely on a light you should strongly consider a backup of some sort - even if it doesn't break, you could lose your main light in some rapids or something. Life's unpredictable.

 

[Bruce B]

I'd also reccomend Surefire. They are well built lights that have solid customer service behind them... minding you don't void the warranty.

 

[randomlugia]

For camping, I would reccomend a Nitecore. Sometime flashlights can be too bright, and Nitecores can ramp up and down to the perfect brightness. That would also fit into the "all-purpose" catagory.

 

[Oddjob]

LED's are the way to go IMO.

Most lights will survive wet environments as long as there are tight seals with O-rings at the points of potential entry such as under the lens or where two parts screw together. Although not dive rated many will survive dunking or shallow submersion. If you spend a lot of time in salt water you may want to ask for specific recommendations.

Surefires are great lights. They did just recently have a price increase but they are still very durable and reliable. I have an Outdoorsman and it is very useful. The low would be good for around camp and the high illuminates fairly far distances. It has an optic instead of a reflector so the beam had a tight hotspot. If you want to light up closer wider areas, a reflectored light may be better. Not to say the Outdoorsman can't do it but you have to move the light a bit more.

Many of the popular lights here use either CR123 lithium primaries or rechargeable lithium ion batteries. To avoid problems that can cause personal injury or damage to property do a search on the forums for proper use of rechargeable or if you use primaries use reputable brands.

One flashlight will do for the average person but people here often carry two or more and have even more at home. Two is one and one is none so always carry a back-up even if its only a one AAA single level light. Any light is bright when its pitch black.

Welcome and have fun!

 

[Gunner12]

Most of the good lights recommended here take water just fine, as in dunks and quick trips are fine (and semi long submergence, make sure the o-rings are in good condition and lubricated).

There are many other brands then Surefire. Not looking to start an arguement but there are many other brands like Fenix, Nitecore, Lumapower, Jetbeam, RA lights, iTP, Olight, Arc, Novatac, Wolfeye, Amilight, Liteflux, Eagletac, and a more I'm forgetting. And many of them have pretty bright AA powered lights (100+ lumen for the 2AA ones, normal 2D lights have 15 lumen). Some AAA lights are also pretty powerful, topping at around 60 lumen with a good rechargeable or lithium AAA battery (or the first few moments with an alkaline one).

I'd suggest listing what you need the light to do, like:
Runtime?
Output?
Size?
Preferred batteries?
Weight?
Multimode? (Low, high, strobe, etc.)
Beam pattern?
Throw?
Use of light?
and so on.

Also if you have maglites check here. The Welcome Mat, and Carrot's guide are also good sources of info if you haven't seen them yet.

:welcome:

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

Actually, I'd suggest 3 lights. One small everyday carry, one general purpose flashlight, and a headlight. A Fenix EO1 is only $12.50, takes 1AAA, and lasts 11 hours at 10 lumens regulated. An e.d.c. needs to be cheap enough to replace as it is small enough to easily lose. It has to have a long runtime as it will backup the general purpose light if it fails or the batteries go dead. The EO1 is adequate to find your way in the dark and lasts nearly an entire night. For the general purpose light, nothing beats a Fenix L2D Q5 or LD20. They take two alkaline, lithium, or rechargeable NiMH batteries. They have four brightness levels ranging from around 10 or 12 lumens to about 180 lumens. They are very efficient with among the best runtimes you can possibly get for their given brightness levels. With a P2D body tube and tailcap, and an L1D body tube, you can have the option of making it a 2AA, 1AA, or 1 123A powered light. For a headlight, the new Princeton Tec EOS is hard to beat. The squarish beam pattern is useful as it evenly lights up a trail, without floodlight getting farther to the sides where it isn't needed. Brightness settings are just right. Low is 5 lumens for in camp or reading, medium is 20 lumens for nighthiking with long runtime (about 10 hours regulated), and high is 50 lumens for routefinding, spotting dangers, or running. These three lights together will cost less than a Surefire Outdoorsman.

 

[tbhracing]

OP- I am a rechargable type of guy and not an expert like some in here. I like anything by Streamlight. They make more recharge units vs Surefire.

That just me.

As for a camping flashlight, I would consider the SL Stinger.

 

[AIA]

Hey everyone thanks for the feedback. It seems everytime I check out a new link or someone suggests a new flashlight, it ends up somewhere on my list of things to buy at some point. The McGizmo Sundrop from the carrot guide seems awesome..

I asked about Surefire initially because they seem to be whats in many of the stores in the area, but none of them really have dark rooms to test anything in which is a bit of a bummer.

Other brands I think I'd need to get online somewhere, can anyone suggest a good place?

I get the feeling I'm going to labor more over my first few purchases than the rest of them.

 

[AIA]

Talking more about my mention of waterproof. Flashlights that are properly waterproof will claim they are IPX-8 rated right?

 

[divine]

That would be so cool if a store had a dark section for you to try out lights in! :huh:

Welcome to the forum.


It has been said here that since Surefire sells non-rechargeable batteries, that they often make their lights not work with rechargeable batteries (or they recommend against using rechargeable batteries). This seems to be true a good portion of the time.

Practically all lights are sealed with O-rings and will stand up to dunking or sitting in shallow water. Unless you are diving with a light, this will usually cover what you are looking for.

 

[Mjolnir]

Talking more about my mention of waterproof. Flashlights that are properly waterproof will claim they are IPX-8 rated right?

Not necessarily. A light might be waterproof and not have the IPX-8 rating, but you are basically guessing if it doesn't.
If a light DOES have an IPx-8 rating it generally means that it can be immersed in one meter of water (possibly more) for a certain amount of time, which is specified by the manufacturer. For example, My eagletac T10L is supposedly dunkable at 2 feet for up to 10 hours (or so claims the manufacturer).
Lower IPX ratings mean that a light is less waterproof, or just water resistant. I don't know of any flashlights that are advertised of anything lower than IPX-7. Most lights are either IPX-8, or they don't have a rating. I think there might be some that are IPX-7.

 

[bluepilgrim]

Don't throw out that bread bag.

It depends on how you are using it and the likelyhood of the light light going over the side, so you have to decide that, but a handy tip is to seal up your lights, and maybe other gear, in plastic bags.

It will mess up the beam a bit (or give you more flood, which could be good), but there are advantages: it might make the light a little harder to handle (or maybe a little less if your hands are cold and slippery), but it also makes it easier to fish out you pocket; it keeps it dry, and may keep the water out or slow it getting at the light even if the bags leaks a bit; it also adds boyancy if it's oversize and has some air (or a bit of foam) in it, so it may not sink right to the bottom of the drink, and it makes it easier to fish it because there is plastic to grab on to. If you are canoeing, or sailing, or in a small boat in rough water, which could overturn, this is especially recommended.

Lastly, if you are salt water, if that gets into the light it might shut it down, but in a bag it will stay lit so you can see where the heck i the water it is -- and save you from having to wash everything out with distilled water, hoping the circuits haven't been blown.

I wouldn't rely on a bag for waterproofing, but it can add some safety and deny Father Neptune an unintended sacrifice. You might be able to get some specially made bags for this at a dive shop or camera shop.

 

[tbhracing]

Again- I am not an Expert here and dont want to give out bad advice. But if waterproof is a major factor, then I would seriously look at Pelican lights.

 

[Oddjob]

CPF member 4sevens site is one I and many other members always recommend. Excellent customer service, free shipping (with upgrades available) and a very good selection of brands and models. Should be something there for your needs and price range. Fenix and Nitecore are two popular brands here.

 

[Burgess]

to AIA --


Welcome to CandlePowerForums !


:welcome:



Good Luck in yer' quest for the perfect flashlight(s).



_

 

[HoopleHead]

For general outdoors camping, I'd suggest 2 lights:

Light using 2x CR123A primary batteries, dual modes, good high and good throw on high mode, long runtime on low mode.

Zebralight headlamp, the CR123A model. Best light there is while walking around and working within the campsite!