Aardvark Spleen
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2014
- Messages
- 4
I hate joining a forum and immediately asking for help, but here it goes anyway. I hope I'll be able to give back to the community here at some point, but for now I've got nothing.
I'm a maintenance mechanic at a rail car repair facility. Most of what I'll be using the flashlight for will be closer work, not looking for massive throw. But I do want it to be bright, with different modes.
As far as size goes, the StreamLight Stinger I have is on the small side. I have the older, non LED one. The biggest I'd be willing to go to would be a 2d Maglite, but that'd be a little uncomfortable, so it'd have to be an amazing light for me to be happy. There's guys who I work with who have the Dorcy 41-4299, and it's size is nice. I've been looking at something like the Olight M22, but from review videos it looks like it'd be so short it'd get lost in my coverall pocket. There's a deeper, narrow pocket in our company's coveralls on the leg that I carry my light in.
So here's the questionnaire:
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
This will be mail-order or Online (location doesn't matter).
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
__x__Up to $200 - that will be including batteries and charger.
3) Format:
__x__I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
4) Size:
Medium/Large
5) Emitter/Light source:
__x__I don't know.
6) Manufacturer:
__x__I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
__x__I would like a light from a specialty manufacturer (Possibly limited run/Custom).
__X__I am interested in assembling my own components. (for example a "host" or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a "drop-in" emitter from another source).
Any of the above - Assembling my own sounds very interesting. I did not even know that was an option.
7) What power source do you want to use?
__x__I don't know/I need more information on power sources.
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
__x__I don't care
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 not a happy experience).
__x__I want search and rescue type illumination (800+ lumens). - I don't need that much, but want it, with the ability to dim.
__x__SPECIAL NOTE: Burst/Turbo mode Category - There are several lights that will run at a super bright maximum for a very limited period (usually 5-10 minutes) and then will "step-down" to a lower level for thermal control. Check here if this is acceptable.
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
__x__Narrow Flood: I want a sharply defined flood area that will project some distance for tasks like trail walking.
__x__Wide Throw: I want a beam with a noticeable hot-center for distance throw and a significant amount of "side-spill". Good for rough trail hiking, search and rescue, and general distance work.
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
__x__Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
_____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)
__x__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)
__x__150+ yards (I am searching from a helicopter)
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum continuous output).
__x__90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
__x__Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival). - Nobody's going to die or anything, but I don't want to have to replace it constantly. My Streamlight has been awesome.
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
__x__Any size switch will do.
__x__I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today's high end lights).
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
__x__I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
__x__I want a strobe mode. (Oscillating pattern to confuse/blind aka "Police Mode")
14)Material/Finish/Coating
__x__I don't care.
15) Water resistance
__x__IPX4 (Splash resistant)
16) Storage conditions
__x__In house (temperature/climate controlled environment) - Shop environment, will be sheltered from rain, but not temperature controlled. Some dust.
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
None
Well there you have it. Any and all comments/suggestions appreciated. Thank you.
-James
I'm a maintenance mechanic at a rail car repair facility. Most of what I'll be using the flashlight for will be closer work, not looking for massive throw. But I do want it to be bright, with different modes.
As far as size goes, the StreamLight Stinger I have is on the small side. I have the older, non LED one. The biggest I'd be willing to go to would be a 2d Maglite, but that'd be a little uncomfortable, so it'd have to be an amazing light for me to be happy. There's guys who I work with who have the Dorcy 41-4299, and it's size is nice. I've been looking at something like the Olight M22, but from review videos it looks like it'd be so short it'd get lost in my coverall pocket. There's a deeper, narrow pocket in our company's coveralls on the leg that I carry my light in.
So here's the questionnaire:
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
This will be mail-order or Online (location doesn't matter).
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
__x__Up to $200 - that will be including batteries and charger.
3) Format:
__x__I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
4) Size:
Medium/Large
5) Emitter/Light source:
__x__I don't know.
6) Manufacturer:
__x__I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
__x__I would like a light from a specialty manufacturer (Possibly limited run/Custom).
__X__I am interested in assembling my own components. (for example a "host" or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a "drop-in" emitter from another source).
Any of the above - Assembling my own sounds very interesting. I did not even know that was an option.
7) What power source do you want to use?
__x__I don't know/I need more information on power sources.
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
__x__I don't care
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 not a happy experience).
__x__I want search and rescue type illumination (800+ lumens). - I don't need that much, but want it, with the ability to dim.
__x__SPECIAL NOTE: Burst/Turbo mode Category - There are several lights that will run at a super bright maximum for a very limited period (usually 5-10 minutes) and then will "step-down" to a lower level for thermal control. Check here if this is acceptable.
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
__x__Narrow Flood: I want a sharply defined flood area that will project some distance for tasks like trail walking.
__x__Wide Throw: I want a beam with a noticeable hot-center for distance throw and a significant amount of "side-spill". Good for rough trail hiking, search and rescue, and general distance work.
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
__x__Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
_____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)
__x__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)
__x__150+ yards (I am searching from a helicopter)
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum continuous output).
__x__90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
__x__Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival). - Nobody's going to die or anything, but I don't want to have to replace it constantly. My Streamlight has been awesome.
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
__x__Any size switch will do.
__x__I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today's high end lights).
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
__x__I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
__x__I want a strobe mode. (Oscillating pattern to confuse/blind aka "Police Mode")
14)Material/Finish/Coating
__x__I don't care.
15) Water resistance
__x__IPX4 (Splash resistant)
16) Storage conditions
__x__In house (temperature/climate controlled environment) - Shop environment, will be sheltered from rain, but not temperature controlled. Some dust.
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
None
Well there you have it. Any and all comments/suggestions appreciated. Thank you.
-James
