Flashlight for Navigating Woods at Night

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Gimpy

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Preamble: Just bought myself an H600 for camping... still waiting for it to arrive (it's been stuck for 3 days in the miami sorting facility *grrr*). I thought the TK35 would be the perfect camping flashlight, but after seeing some pics and vids of people actually using the thing in woods-like environments, I'm now scared that it might be completely useless. It just doesn't look anywhere near floody enough (which is kinda ironic, since my initial concern was that it wouldn't be anywhere near throwy enough).

As per the thread title, I'm looking for a flashlight for navigating the woods at night.
So, here are the criteria:

1. BEAM PROFILE: in the woods, you probably only need to see about 40 yards ahead. After that, odds are your view will be blocked by trees. But, we want a lot of light to penetrate to that distance in a wide beam. So we're either looking for a floody with awesome penetration, or a thrower with massive spill (not just carona, which tends to be unusably short range).

2. LUMENS--LIGHT UP THE NIGHT! Whatever it is has to be brighter than the zebralight h600 that's about to arrive; it needs to throw a flood father and brighter.

3. Reliability: must survive rain, snow, puddles; must not have driver issues.

4. RUNTIME: this can be accomplished with good efficiency (i.e., running on a smaller number of cells and swapping them out), but the flashlight needs to be able to perform its task for at least an hour without having to frig with it. This means thermal management is an issue. If the light can only do the job for 5 minutes before requiring a long cool-down, then it's not suitable (very short cool-downs might be ok).

5. Form factor: short, or short and stocky. Must fit in a pocket, pouch, or some kind of holster.

6. Power source: 18650's preferred

7. Emitter type: LED preferred (I doubt anything else could meet the other criteria, anyway.

8. Price <$150.00. I'll hear arguments on more expensive lights up to around 260, but I'm on the cheap side, and that's a tough sell.

NOTE: I think I love the tk35, and may end up buying one anyway. If there are tk35 owners out there who think the light still meets my needs, then please speak up. HOWEVER, I'd like some strong supporting evidence.
Here's one of the links that scared me off the tk35. Look at the short distance on that carona!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSYYz4TSjHw&feature=endscreen&NR=1
Look at the short distance on that carona! I'd like to have solid light extending to where he's shining the hotspot at the angle the carona extends.

Thanks in advance for the help! :D
 
Not white walls ;)

Seriously, though, not hunting anything. I think it's illegal to hunt after dusk around here, anyway. I'm just a yearh-round camper who occasionally needs to navigate a trail at night, or maybe hunt for firewood.
 
I think the H600 will serve you well. Mine works great in the woods. For a handheld light with about the same output as the H600 I would go with a Malkoff MD2 and a Malkoff M91. Bombproof design and can get the two stage bezel ring for some adaptability.
 
THanks for the recommendation, but as per the criteria listed, I'm looking for something that will shame my Zebralight :)
 
I know you've mentioned wanting something brighter than the Zebralight but from my experiences camping I found that the higher levels were a waste of light.

One of the best things to have at night while camping is your night vision.
Also a HCRI light can give you slightly better depth perception.

Its surprising how much better you can see everything with very little light.
Of course, with bright light outdoors in pitch darkness you will be able to see what you are lighting up but your peripheral will be blinded.

Then again we all have different needs so if you do still decide on something bright I'd still recommend a HCRI LED.:)

EDIT: after rereading your criteria, I'd second the Malkoff M91 for its wall of powerful flood or even better the M91w for a warmer beam to compliment the cool beam of you H600.

Great beamshots and tint comparison between the Malkoffs here:
http://www.thebrightsideforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=782
 
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THE_dAY said:
I know you've mentioned wanting something brighter than the Zebralight but from my experiences camping I found that the higher levels were a waste of light.

One of the best things to have at night while camping is your night vision.
Also a HCRI light can give you slightly better depth perception.

Its surprising how much better you can see everything with very little light.
Click to expand...

HERESY!!!:sssh:

JK

You make a good point there, but I just can't call to mind my own experiences. I know there have been times when I've been able to make good use of my night vision. But I also know there have been other times when I've been desperate for more lumens.

I don't typically think about it... just grab a flashlight when I think I need one. I'll have to try to make a mental note when I'm out the next time. Seems to me, though, that my most recent memories were of wishing for better lights while trying to scout out the area.

Now to research this flashlight that has been mentioned...
 
Hi Gimpy, the Malkoff M91 is actually a P60 like dropin for flashlights like the Surefire C2 and many other similar host lights.

Link Removed. See red banner at top of page.
 
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Yeah... kinda threw me for a loop for a sec, but after a few searches, figured out it was drop-in. It certainly seems to be one of best in a p60 host.
 
Having been a hunter, fisherman, and camper for a lot of years I never found the need for anything more than a minimag or a 3C Maglight. If I were going to follow a trail in the dark any single AAA light would provide enough light. But if you think you need a WOW light for camping go for it.
Jerry
 
JerryM said:
Having been a hunter, fisherman, and camper for a lot of years I never found the need for anything more than a minimag or a 3C Maglight. If I were going to follow a trail in the dark any single AAA light would provide enough light.
Jerry
Click to expand...

I think SAR pulls at least one hunter out of the woods each year who says something similar :devil:

Sorry... when I say "trail," I don't really mean a trail. They're nothing more than glorified game trails. Unfortunately, there are lots of actual game trails that are indistinguishable from the actual trails. They look to be going the same direction, but lead off in screwy directions and frequently lead to impassable dead-ends. Then you have to turn around and backtrack and hope you can find the point where you left off. A gps isn't even much help. You can make 50 detours going a few metres off the beaten path each time, and triple the time it should take you to cover the ground if you had gone the right way. That's a big problem if you're injured, in an emergency situation, exhausted, and/or low on supplies.

Is a big light a "need"? Probably not... you and I are both on our computers and having this conversation (as opposed to lying somewhere in the woods), after many years of experience. I've been camping since before I could walk. I camp year-round, now, and this'll be about my 30th trip out in the last 12 months. I think there's always a good case to make for more light. Can I get by with less? Probably. Is it as safe? Probably not.
 
I think it's going to be hard to get advice when you want something that's small but throws but that is actually also floody and has more output than the H600.

I guess what you want is something with a bigger head but not too big and that has multiple XM-L emitters rather than just one. Otherwise the H600 already is using the XM-L and is driven as hard as it can be within specs. For more throw you need a bigger head. To be small you need a small head. Looking for a light that throws flood is looking for throw but you say you want flood.

As you can see it's hard to actually meet your requirements.

Actually, I think what you're looking for is a XM-L thrower (reflector not aspheric) to be used with the H600 which would take care of seeing where you're walking and the thrower would take care of finding the right trail.
 
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gcbryan said:
I think it's going to be hard to get advice when you want something that's small but throws but that is actually also floody and has more output than the H600.

I guess what you want is something with a bigger head but not too big and that has multiple XM-L emitters rather than just one. Otherwise the H600 already is using the XM-L and is driven as hard as it can be within specs. For more throw you need a bigger head. To be small you need a small head. Looking for a light that throws flood is looking for throw but you say you want flood.

As you can see it's hard to actually meet your requirements.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Figured I'd post the question to ask people with more experience than I, but I guess I already have a decent idea. Here are some of the lights that I thought might be contenders:

1. Tiny Monster
2. Dry 3 xml
3. Eagletac 3 xml
4. Skyray King
5. Other budget lights?
6. Sunwayman v60
7. jetbeam something or other
and lord knows what else

I think you're probably right on the multi-xml choice.
A multi-xml would probably out-throw an h600, but in a stout form-factor, would probably provide better flood.
 
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If you haven't already, check out Goinggear's Youtube channel where they have videos of many lights.
I know they have videos of at least a couple from your list.

Here is a link to an intro of a flashlight comparison video which compares a ton of lights:
link removed see red banner at top of page

BTW, my favorite from the long list of lights is the Surefire M6LT.
 
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THE_dAY said:
If you haven't already, check out Goinggear's Youtube channel where they have videos of many lights.
I know they have videos of at least a couple from your list.

Here is a link to an intro of a flashlight comparison video which compares a ton of lights:

link removed

BTW, my favorite from the long list of lights is the Surefire M6LT.
Click to expand...

An excellent suggestion. :thumbsup: That guy puts so much effort into reviews, I'm actually ashamed not to buy a light from him. I had a look at the big "comparison 2" a few times, but I find it hard to judge. His setup is made for 100, 200, and 300 yard comparisons. There's nothing to really guage things at the 50 yard range, except the individual reviews where he lights up his house and that dead tree. But it's kindofa pain to scour the individual reviews and set em up side by side (but one could hardly ask him to do another roundup). The budget/quasi-customs are also not part of those tests, which further complicates things. But maybe they shouldn't even qualify on the reliability side of things.

*sigh*
Too many frickin variables! :banghead:
Was kinda hoping a flashaholic would have a rough and ready off-hand estimate. Or maybe a tk35 owner could tell me that it floods plenty, and that vid isn't what you'd actually see.
Better yet, how bout I win the lottery and just buy em all, find out for myself :twothumbs
 
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A multi-emitter will provide more output (flood). A larger head (larger reflector) will provide more throw. If you just wanted more throw the answer would be a single XM-L driven hard with a larger reflector (which collimates the beam and provides the throw).

If you only wanted more flood you would have multi-emitters without reflectors or with small shallow reflectors. For the most throw you would want a XR-E with a larger aspheric lens but the hotspot would be small with no flood.

You should probably check out the DRY. It puts out a lot of light and if it throws far enough for you it should have a wide beam that you're looking for.

There's a lot of lights in that category however. Maybe the lottery is your best option :)

I think the Ultrafire UF-T70 might even be a better choice than the DRY.
 
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I really hate to say this, but I suspect you'll need to buy and experiment with different lights to find the right combination that fits your specific criteria.

-Trevor
 
Gimpy said:
I think SAR pulls at least one hunter out of the woods each year who says something similar :devil:

Sorry... when I say "trail," I don't really mean a trail. They're nothing more than glorified game trails. Unfortunately, there are lots of actual game trails that are indistinguishable from the actual trails. They look to be going the same direction, but lead off in screwy directions and frequently lead to impassable dead-ends. Then you have to turn around and backtrack and hope you can find the point where you left off. A gps isn't even much help. You can make 50 detours going a few metres off the beaten path each time, and triple the time it should take you to cover the ground if you had gone the right way. That's a big problem if you're injured, in an emergency situation, exhausted, and/or low on supplies.

Is a big light a "need"? Probably not... you and I are both on our computers and having this conversation (as opposed to lying somewhere in the woods), after many years of experience. I've been camping since before I could walk. I camp year-round, now, and this'll be about my 30th trip out in the last 12 months. I think there's always a good case to make for more light. Can I get by with less? Probably. Is it as safe? Probably not.
Click to expand...

Doing backpack type hunting from Alaska to NM for almost half a century I never found it necessary to wander around in the dark in the forest, but i f you do then go for it.
Jerry
 
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