Hello! I have been lurking these boards for a little while and finally got around to getting an account set up. I am really new to all this, in fact until recently I didn't even know they had a word for people like us, let alone a place where they gathered! For my part I was just happy to know that contrary to what my wife had to say, I was in fact NOT crazy for being into flashlights (or at least I thought I was, after looking around here it is obvious that I am still very green!).
I have been trying to research a good EDC (every day carry, yeah?) light. I did not want to be one of those guys who pops in with his first post being 'help me help me I didn't bother to use the search feature!'. Not that there is anything intrinsically wrong with that, but it's not in my nature to ask for help when I can just do the leg work myself
Anyhow, enough of my rambling, let me get to what I'm here for. The wife has been pestering me about what I want for XMAS already. I know, good kind of problem to have, right? I am a FF/EMT, so a good light is always important in my line of work. In fact, I pretty much subscribe to the 'better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it' school of thought. In my turnout gear I carry a Streamlight Survivor LED (and I love it, it beats the heck outta anything else I've carried, plus it's the AA model so if the batteries go dead on scene I can swap them out), a Streamlight 3c Pro Polymer (which is on its way back to the mfg. for a warranty claim) and a very cheap Husky LED light (I think I got a 4 pack at Home Depot @ Christmas for like $15). The LED is a great throw away light, plus since it lasts a while on batteries I don't have to worry about my backup's backup being dead.
However, I am not always in turnouts. I am pretty good about grabbing that LED and dropping it in a pocket if we are making a call that doesn't necessitate turnouts, plus we have box lights and scene lighting, etc., but I really want a good EDC light that I can keep in a pocket both on duty and off.
I have been unable to find a good answer through searching (let me re-phrase that, there are a TON of great answers but I didn't see anything that fit me perfectly). I was going back and forth on asking for help, and then I found a thread with a Recommend a Flashlight Checklist attached to it. I figured what the heck, at least if I'm going to bore everyone with yet another 'help me pick an EDC light' I may as well try to be as concise as possible.
Heh, concise. I guess that part went out the window when I wrote those preceding 5 paragraphs, huh? Anyways, "help me help me I did bother to use the search feature but I just confused the heck out of myself!"
Recommend a Flashlight Checklist:
(Don't worry about all the questions, just the ones you feel strongly about!)
Short Essay Question: What do you intend to use this light for?
I am looking for a solid, reliable EDC light that is small enough to fit in a pocket, durable, and bright (I want it all, who doesn't!). I am not interested in anything that requires a holster, they tend to get in the way of turnout gear. An aesthetically pleasing light would be a plus, but I won't kid you, it will take a beating. Something that feels solid in your hands probably sums up what I'm looking for in that dept. (though a good WOW factor from my friends is cool too ). I don't want to break the bank if I don't have to, but I also want something that can take the abuse I am going to be dealing out and still keep on shining (don't get me wrong, I don't plan to abuse my light, but I am being realistic, I wind up taking a beating, so my equipment does too). Also, in my line of work, when you want a light, you want the brightest one you can get ASAP. I really am not looking for a custom light at this time, though I am open to it if ya'll want to talk me into it . Being able to use AA/AAA batteries would be a plus, but again, I am still fairly new to the game, so if you can talk me into something else, I'm open to listening. I really don't like recharable batteries, because I am not always able to recharge when the light goes dead.
0) What Region/Country/State will the light be purchased in?
__X__I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.
__X__I am in North America. More precisely I am in _Tennessee______.
____I am in South America. More precisely I am in _______________.
____I am in Europe. More precisely I am in _______________.
____I am in the Middle East. More precisely I am in _______________.
____I am in Africa. More precisely I am in _______________.
____I am in Asia, Japan or Micronesia. More precisely I am in _______________.
____I am in Australia. More precisely I am in _______________.
1) Price Range: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
____I only want to pay $1-10.
____I can spend $15-30.
____I could spend $40-60.
____I am willing to spend $80-$120.
____I have no limit!
For the sake of arguement here, let's keep it reasonable. I do have a gov't job afterall Let's say, top 2 or 3 lights, around $50-$100 (though less is acceptible too )
2) Format:
_X_I want a flashlight.
____I want a headlamp.
____I want a lantern.
____I want a portable spotlight.
3) Length:
____I don't care.
____1-2 inches. (Keychain sized)
__X__2-4 inches. (Pocket carry)
____4-9 inches. (Holster carry)
4) Width:
__X__I don't care.
____I prefer a long narrow light.
__X__I prefer a short wide light.
5) What batteries do you want to use? Alkaline batteries are easier to find and less expensive but don't pack as much stored energy and are don't work well in cold temperatures. Lithium batteries have long shelf life (10+ years, great for stored emergency lights) and are not as affected by cold but must be kept dry and are more expensive. Rechargeable start expensive, but if used frequently pay off quickly.
____I want common Alkaline batteries. (AA, AAA, C, D)
__I want lithium batteries. (coin cells, CR123, AAA, AA...)
____I want a rechargeable system. (an investment, but best for everyday use)
Please see the essay portion at the top of the checklist for my thoughts on this.
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). Select all that apply.
____I want to read a map, or find a light switch, in a dark room. (5-10 lumens)
____I want to walk around a generally paved area. (15-20 lumens)
__X__I want to walk unpaved trails. (40 lumens)
__X__I want to do Caving or Search & Rescue operations. (60+ lumens)
_ X_I want to light an entire campground or dazzle an intruder. (100+ lumens)
Probably something with at least 2 settings would be best for me. Generally brighter is better for me, but if we are in a dark room with a light sensitive patient, I don't want to be running people out if I don't have to. I also understand that the 100+ lumens is likely unreasonable for what I am looking for (size wise) but hey, it was an option and brighter is better .
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
Yeah, sorry, I know I'm not much help on this one, but I honestly haven't given it a whole lot of thought. Probably more emphasis on a flood than a throw though, but again, hadn't really thought about this one. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated!
8) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims (like some LED lights). but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries.
____20 min. (I want the brightest light for brief periods)
____60-240 min. (1-2 hours)
__X__240-360 min. (4-6 hours)
__X__360+ min. (More than 6 hours)
Again, it may be unrealistic, but hey, I want it all
9) Durability: 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.)
____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box.)
_XXXXXXX_Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Self-defense, Survival.)
Is bomb proof an acceptible answer?
8) Switch Type:
____I don't care.
____I want a sliding switch. (Stays on until slid back.)
__X__I want a "clickie" switch. (Stays on until pressed again.)
____I want a momentary switch. (Only stays on while held down.)
9) Switch Location:
____I don't care.
____I want a push or sliding switch on the body near the head.
__X_I want a push switch on the back end of the body.
____I want a rotating head switch.
__X_I want a rotating end-cap switch.
__I want a remote control.
If it's dark and I'm wearing gloves, I don't want to fumble for the switch.
10) Operational Modes: Check all that apply.
____A simple on-off is fine for me.
_XI want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
_X_I want multiple light levels. (some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a strobe mode. (blinks to show location.)
____I want a tactical strobe. (Flashes rapidly to disorient an opponent.)
11) Is it important whether the body is metal or plastic/composite?
____I don't care.
__X_I want a metal-bodied light.
____I want a plastic/composite light.
I'm not sure plastic would hold up, as it is very likely that at numerous times I will be laying with my entire body weight on this thing in my pocket.
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).
____Red (night vision preserving) filter
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________)
__XWaterproof – how deep: _Doesn't have to be real deep, but I work in a wet environment, plus it will be exposed to copious amounts of sweat.
____Non-reflective/dark finish (stealthy/hard to find)
__X__Polished silver or brightly colored finish (for easy locating) Would be nice but not a necessity.
_X_Corrosion resistant or hard-anodized finish See my sweat remark above
__X__"Hybrid" light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs) Again, good thought here, but I'm not married to a particular idea at this time.
____Built-in second (or spare) lamp or filament
__X__Belt/Jacket clip Hands free can be handy. Get it? Sorry, I'll stop that sorta thing right now
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Kobuton/self defense features
____Non-sparking Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments (I'm not worried about that, my main light (Streamlight Survivor) is designed for this.
Still wth me? Sorry for the book, I just wanted to make sure I covered it all and tried to be a conscientious first poster. (Oh yeah, sorry for the abundance of smilies as well, but I see enough serious stuff at work, so I tend to be relaxed and easy going at play, and I didn't want anyone to take some of my smart aleck remarks too seriously )
Anyways, thanks for the help, and if the answer is to just bugger off, well, back to lurking for me
I have been trying to research a good EDC (every day carry, yeah?) light. I did not want to be one of those guys who pops in with his first post being 'help me help me I didn't bother to use the search feature!'. Not that there is anything intrinsically wrong with that, but it's not in my nature to ask for help when I can just do the leg work myself
Anyhow, enough of my rambling, let me get to what I'm here for. The wife has been pestering me about what I want for XMAS already. I know, good kind of problem to have, right? I am a FF/EMT, so a good light is always important in my line of work. In fact, I pretty much subscribe to the 'better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it' school of thought. In my turnout gear I carry a Streamlight Survivor LED (and I love it, it beats the heck outta anything else I've carried, plus it's the AA model so if the batteries go dead on scene I can swap them out), a Streamlight 3c Pro Polymer (which is on its way back to the mfg. for a warranty claim) and a very cheap Husky LED light (I think I got a 4 pack at Home Depot @ Christmas for like $15). The LED is a great throw away light, plus since it lasts a while on batteries I don't have to worry about my backup's backup being dead.
However, I am not always in turnouts. I am pretty good about grabbing that LED and dropping it in a pocket if we are making a call that doesn't necessitate turnouts, plus we have box lights and scene lighting, etc., but I really want a good EDC light that I can keep in a pocket both on duty and off.
I have been unable to find a good answer through searching (let me re-phrase that, there are a TON of great answers but I didn't see anything that fit me perfectly). I was going back and forth on asking for help, and then I found a thread with a Recommend a Flashlight Checklist attached to it. I figured what the heck, at least if I'm going to bore everyone with yet another 'help me pick an EDC light' I may as well try to be as concise as possible.
Heh, concise. I guess that part went out the window when I wrote those preceding 5 paragraphs, huh? Anyways, "help me help me I did bother to use the search feature but I just confused the heck out of myself!"
Recommend a Flashlight Checklist:
(Don't worry about all the questions, just the ones you feel strongly about!)
Short Essay Question: What do you intend to use this light for?
I am looking for a solid, reliable EDC light that is small enough to fit in a pocket, durable, and bright (I want it all, who doesn't!). I am not interested in anything that requires a holster, they tend to get in the way of turnout gear. An aesthetically pleasing light would be a plus, but I won't kid you, it will take a beating. Something that feels solid in your hands probably sums up what I'm looking for in that dept. (though a good WOW factor from my friends is cool too ). I don't want to break the bank if I don't have to, but I also want something that can take the abuse I am going to be dealing out and still keep on shining (don't get me wrong, I don't plan to abuse my light, but I am being realistic, I wind up taking a beating, so my equipment does too). Also, in my line of work, when you want a light, you want the brightest one you can get ASAP. I really am not looking for a custom light at this time, though I am open to it if ya'll want to talk me into it . Being able to use AA/AAA batteries would be a plus, but again, I am still fairly new to the game, so if you can talk me into something else, I'm open to listening. I really don't like recharable batteries, because I am not always able to recharge when the light goes dead.
0) What Region/Country/State will the light be purchased in?
__X__I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.
__X__I am in North America. More precisely I am in _Tennessee______.
____I am in South America. More precisely I am in _______________.
____I am in Europe. More precisely I am in _______________.
____I am in the Middle East. More precisely I am in _______________.
____I am in Africa. More precisely I am in _______________.
____I am in Asia, Japan or Micronesia. More precisely I am in _______________.
____I am in Australia. More precisely I am in _______________.
1) Price Range: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
____I only want to pay $1-10.
____I can spend $15-30.
____I could spend $40-60.
____I am willing to spend $80-$120.
____I have no limit!
For the sake of arguement here, let's keep it reasonable. I do have a gov't job afterall Let's say, top 2 or 3 lights, around $50-$100 (though less is acceptible too )
2) Format:
_X_I want a flashlight.
____I want a headlamp.
____I want a lantern.
____I want a portable spotlight.
3) Length:
____I don't care.
____1-2 inches. (Keychain sized)
__X__2-4 inches. (Pocket carry)
____4-9 inches. (Holster carry)
4) Width:
__X__I don't care.
____I prefer a long narrow light.
__X__I prefer a short wide light.
5) What batteries do you want to use? Alkaline batteries are easier to find and less expensive but don't pack as much stored energy and are don't work well in cold temperatures. Lithium batteries have long shelf life (10+ years, great for stored emergency lights) and are not as affected by cold but must be kept dry and are more expensive. Rechargeable start expensive, but if used frequently pay off quickly.
____I want common Alkaline batteries. (AA, AAA, C, D)
__I want lithium batteries. (coin cells, CR123, AAA, AA...)
____I want a rechargeable system. (an investment, but best for everyday use)
Please see the essay portion at the top of the checklist for my thoughts on this.
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). Select all that apply.
____I want to read a map, or find a light switch, in a dark room. (5-10 lumens)
____I want to walk around a generally paved area. (15-20 lumens)
__X__I want to walk unpaved trails. (40 lumens)
__X__I want to do Caving or Search & Rescue operations. (60+ lumens)
_ X_I want to light an entire campground or dazzle an intruder. (100+ lumens)
Probably something with at least 2 settings would be best for me. Generally brighter is better for me, but if we are in a dark room with a light sensitive patient, I don't want to be running people out if I don't have to. I also understand that the 100+ lumens is likely unreasonable for what I am looking for (size wise) but hey, it was an option and brighter is better .
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
Yeah, sorry, I know I'm not much help on this one, but I honestly haven't given it a whole lot of thought. Probably more emphasis on a flood than a throw though, but again, hadn't really thought about this one. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated!
8) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims (like some LED lights). but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries.
____20 min. (I want the brightest light for brief periods)
____60-240 min. (1-2 hours)
__X__240-360 min. (4-6 hours)
__X__360+ min. (More than 6 hours)
Again, it may be unrealistic, but hey, I want it all
9) Durability: 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.)
____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box.)
_XXXXXXX_Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Self-defense, Survival.)
Is bomb proof an acceptible answer?
8) Switch Type:
____I don't care.
____I want a sliding switch. (Stays on until slid back.)
__X__I want a "clickie" switch. (Stays on until pressed again.)
____I want a momentary switch. (Only stays on while held down.)
9) Switch Location:
____I don't care.
____I want a push or sliding switch on the body near the head.
__X_I want a push switch on the back end of the body.
____I want a rotating head switch.
__X_I want a rotating end-cap switch.
__I want a remote control.
If it's dark and I'm wearing gloves, I don't want to fumble for the switch.
10) Operational Modes: Check all that apply.
____A simple on-off is fine for me.
_XI want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
_X_I want multiple light levels. (some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a strobe mode. (blinks to show location.)
____I want a tactical strobe. (Flashes rapidly to disorient an opponent.)
11) Is it important whether the body is metal or plastic/composite?
____I don't care.
__X_I want a metal-bodied light.
____I want a plastic/composite light.
I'm not sure plastic would hold up, as it is very likely that at numerous times I will be laying with my entire body weight on this thing in my pocket.
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).
____Red (night vision preserving) filter
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________)
__XWaterproof – how deep: _Doesn't have to be real deep, but I work in a wet environment, plus it will be exposed to copious amounts of sweat.
____Non-reflective/dark finish (stealthy/hard to find)
__X__Polished silver or brightly colored finish (for easy locating) Would be nice but not a necessity.
_X_Corrosion resistant or hard-anodized finish See my sweat remark above
__X__"Hybrid" light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs) Again, good thought here, but I'm not married to a particular idea at this time.
____Built-in second (or spare) lamp or filament
__X__Belt/Jacket clip Hands free can be handy. Get it? Sorry, I'll stop that sorta thing right now
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Kobuton/self defense features
____Non-sparking Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments (I'm not worried about that, my main light (Streamlight Survivor) is designed for this.
Still wth me? Sorry for the book, I just wanted to make sure I covered it all and tried to be a conscientious first poster. (Oh yeah, sorry for the abundance of smilies as well, but I see enough serious stuff at work, so I tend to be relaxed and easy going at play, and I didn't want anyone to take some of my smart aleck remarks too seriously )
Anyways, thanks for the help, and if the answer is to just bugger off, well, back to lurking for me