Flashlight suggestion? Normal use AND airsoft (1 inch diameter) Read on!

[GeL]

Short Essay Question: What do you intend to use this light for?
I will be using this light for many purposes. I will use this around the home during blackouts, or even during the night. I will use this outdoors, occasional hiking trips, camping, and night airsofting. I have a 1 inch flashlight mount that fits 1 inch (~25/26mm) diameter flashlights, and I hope I'll be able to use the flashlight for airsoft purposes as well as normal use

0) What Region/Country/State will the light be purchased in?
New York, USA

1) Price Range: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! 🙂
Willing to spend up to $45. Hopefully looking in the $30s

2) Format:
I want a flashlight

3) Length:
Around 6 inches

4) Width:

I prefer a long narrow light, and I prefer a short wide light. This sounds crazy, but I will be using this outdoors and indoors. Maybe slightly more toward the wide light.

5) What batteries do you want to use?
2xAA or 2xCR123. I do prefer AAs, as they are so much easier to find and replace, but I happen to have a few CR123s lying around for my camera.

6) How much light do you want? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).
Looking for 2/3 modes. Max/turbo - 150+ lumen. Minimum - Less than 20.

7) Throw vs Flood: Which do you prefer, lights that flood an area with a wide beam, or lights that "throw" with a tightly focused beam? Place an "X" on the line below.

Throw (distance)----------------------------X----------------Flood/close-up
Again: I'm using both outdoors and indoors, but the outdoors isn't ridiculous ridculous distance(hikes, night airsoft games), so slightly more toward flood/closeup. Decent distance is necessary though.

8) Runtime:
Looking for 2/3 modes, so I know what I'm getting myself into. Hopefully 30+ hours running less than 10 lumens. But, if its 2xAA, batteries will be a lot easier to replace.

9) Durability:
Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood.)
Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box.) I won't be smashing my flashlight, but I do go on hikes, and play airsoft in the wilderness sometimes. I would classify this as in between "slightly important" and "very important". Just "important" 🙂

8) Switch Type:
I want a "clickie" switch. (Stays on until pressed again.)

9) Switch Location:
Rear of flashlight

10) Operational Modes: Check all that apply.
2/3 modes. An intense/bright mode, and a less intense mode (under 20 lumens). Not necessary, but a medium mode would be nice.

11) Is it important whether the body is metal or plastic/composite?
Doesn't matter, but I hope it is solid. There is solid,strong plastic/composite, and cheap,weak plastic/composite. Looking for the strong plastics, or metal.

12) Special Needs: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Circle any below or write in your own comment(s).
1 inch diameter (25/26mm), or slightly less is acceptable (24mm).
Mount: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DMKPYK/?tag=cpf0b6-20.
It holds a 1 inch (25/26 mm) diameter flashlight, which attaches to my 20mm rails.

Also, if you guys know a great flashlight that is 30mm in diameter (for example), and you also can recommend a 30mm mount, that would be fine as well.

I know this is a demanding request, but CandlePowerForums seems like an extremely legitimate place to seek help. I've done research on a lot of flashlights, but the 1 inch diameter just adds another layer of complication.
I almost bought the Fenix E20, before I remembered the flashlight I needed to buy could be used for airsoft as well.

Thanks!
Sincerely,
GeL

 

[TriChrome]

I'm an Airsofter myself, which is ironically what got me into Flashlights so hopefully I'll be able to help you.

Your best bet is to go on sites like DealExtreme.com. They're based in Hong Kong (as is most of our Airsoft guns/accessory companies), and the prices include shipping. Search their lights with CREE emitters; and I usually only look at lights which have at least three or four good reviews. I've owned Ultrafire and Solarforce before and both did me well.

Since you want multiple modes you have to go with LED. One with a strobe function (and memory to keep that strobe function activated when you initially turn on the light) will also help you defeat those money-bags who are running Gen 3 night vision (which they found out the hard way with my 600 lumen strobing light 😉

Your power source is most likely going to be CR123 cells, either regular or rechargeable (rechargeable will put you over your spending limit, but saves you money in the long run). You can go with AA's, which are easier to find and cheaper, but the flashlight will most likely be smaller than 1" which makes mounting it with a military type mount almost impossible. The output is also commonly less.

 

[nzgunnie]

I play paintball using APS Real Action Markers (a cross between paintball guns and airsoft you could say, it that they have the realism you get with airsoft but fire .43 cal painballs and eject cases).

Even for airsoft, you don't want a clickey switch, and you don't want multi mode.

For indoor work and shorter range outdoors, any single mode cree light will be fine, but a momentary switch is way better than a clicky, since you don't want to have to push it past the click and then have it stay on, short bursts of light are the key. The exception would be a forward clickey, ie a switch that brings the light on momentarily without the need to click all the way.

Also, you don't want to have to be cycling through modes, or not knowing which mode you'll get next time you enter a room. One mode is what you want, so you can turn it on and off quickly and get the same level of light each time.

Have you thought about a pressure pad tape switch?

Since the genuine surefire weapon lights are a bit out of your price range I would strongly suggest you look at the Solarforce L2 or L2P. These are Surefire 6P clones. You should get a single mode one, and look at one of the many multi mode drop ins that are available and simply swap the drop ins around when you want to take it hiking.

I think the Solarforce lights have a forward clicky.

These are good, solid lights. They are far better than most of the 'Ultrafire/Superfire/Spiderfire etc lights.

Solarforce also make a Tape switch if you decide you want to go down this path.

http://www.sbflashlights.com/Solarforce-Lights-c5/

 

[nzgunnie]

As for mount, those are scope mounts, why not get a proper flashlight mount:

http://www.lighthound.com/CAA-Command-Arms-BK2-Picitinny-Flashlight-Mount-Black-Color_p_201.html

http://www.ebairsoft.com/vltor-style-flashlight-mount-p-1316.html

http://www.ebairsoft.com/flashlight-mount-20mm-mount-system-black-p-886.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/Surefire-Flashl...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item33583f80e9