Help choosing

[kambo]

Hello,
I am looking for my first ever flashlight. These are my details/requirements:
Region: USA.
Buying method: online shop.
Price: I would not like to exceed $300.
Format: flashlight.
Length: average length.
Batteries: either alkaline or lithium.
Light: I want to have a multi mode: 1) <= 30 lumens, 2) >= 100 lumens.
Runtime: I expect to be able to use flashlight more than 3 hours with >= 100 lumens. Very important.
Durability: I expect it to be both durable and scratches resistible. Very important.
Operational modes: I want multiple light levels. I do not need a strobe mode or a tactical strobe.
Special needs: waterproof, corrosion resistant, preferably made in USA or at least not in China, Taiwan etc.

So far I have found these flashlights: Leupold MX-331, JetBeam TCR3 (this one is probably made in China…), SureFire U2 Ultra.

Could share your opinions about which flashlight meets my needs best? Are you aware of any alternatives to my listed flashlights? I am quite new to flashlights, so any comments or suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[Barbarian]

I could be wrong, but asking for 3 hours runtime at 100 lumens will dictate that you buy a 2 cell (lithium) flashlight. I don't know what you consider "average" length.

If you want a one cell, multi mode light that is very pocketable, I would go with the Ra Clicky even though it doesn't give you 3 hours runtime on high, but it meets all of your other criteria. Otherwise, the Surefire U2 you mentioned is the way to go even though it is larger.

EDIT: Sorry for my rudeness. I did not notice that this was your first post. Welcome to CPF. Someone here will be able to answer all of your questions. Enjoy your stay here.

 

[Yucca Patrol]

Ra Twisty 100 with 18650 extension tube (but the extension tube will put you over $100). Very low low and nice runtime on high and MADE IN USA.

 

[Toaster]

Malkoff MD2 HAIII host + Malkoff Hi/Low Bezel Switch + Malkoff M60L Dropin

140/10 lumen dual output. 4.5 hr runtime on high. About $115 all together and made in the USA. Can order direct here.

 

[Ctrain]

You should check out the LX2! :)

 

[richardcpf]

I think you should lower your price limit for your fist flashlight. $100 max I guess, because most CPFers will recommend you a fancy, custom or expensive flashlight if you set the limit to $300. It is just a suggestion.

But if you are really into that price range then I must say the Jetbeam. You are buying a true performance flashlight, not a custom or collection item.

There is nothing wrong with flashlight that are made in china, in fact, sometimes the quality equals or even surpasses a made in usa. Bigger manufacturers like fenix, eagletac, jetbeam, nitecore, olight, etc have their products made in there and I must say the quality is top notch.

 

[kambo]

I don't know what you consider "average" length.

I consider it to be 2-3 lithium cells, but not 1 cell as it is too small for me.

u should check out the LX2! :)

According to SureFire, on high output it provides only 2 hours.

I think you should lower your price limit for your fist flashlight. $100 max I guess, because most CPFers will recommend you a fancy, custom or expensive flashlight if you set the limit to $300. It is just a suggestion.

I am not going to buy next flashlight soon, so I really want a good one. I expect it to be a bit extraordinary and I am prepared to pay a bit more.

There is nothing wrong with flashlight that are made in china...

Possibly. But I could not live with a fact that I have spent $300 on Chinese made flashlight :shakehead.

 

[gilly]

If you are going to restrict yourself to US-made flashlights, you may have to settle for less than you want. US manufacturers tend to be a bit behind their Chinese counterparts in getting the newest, most efficient technology out to the consumer. The Leupold looks good, but is not that efficient with only a 2-hour runtime on its max setting (especially running on 3 cells!). The U2 will run on max for 3 hours but is only 100 lumens. The LX2 is probably your best bet but you aren't happy with the runtime...

You are also giving up the ability to run your light with the most efficient, best battery out there: the 18650 lithium ion rechargeable cell (same batteries used in laptop battery packs, hybrid vehicles, etc.). 18650s won't fit in Surefires unless you get them bored out and Surefire will void your warranty if they found out you used rechargeables! This gets a lot of people on this forum all twisted in knots! If you are worried about quality, I can honestly say (owning both) that Jetbeam's lights are every bit as well-made as Surefires.


I'd say go with the JETBEAM RRT-2 Raptor or the TCR3 (same light as RRT-2 except crafted in titanium). Run it on 18650 lithium ion rechargeables and it will give you efficient, outstanding performance.

Look around your house/apartment and you'll be surprised how many things you ALREADY bought that were made in China!

http://blackforce.stores.yahoo.net/raptorrrt2.html

http://www.lighthound.com/AW-18650-...able-Lithium-Battery--New-Version_p_3125.html

http://www.lighthound.com/Ultrafire...3-37-volt-Lithium-Battery-Charger_p_2279.html

Good luck with your decision!:welcome:

 

[xenonk]

I consider it to be 2-3 lithium cells, but not 1 cell as it is too small for me.

I am not going to buy next flashlight soon, so I really want a good one. I expect it to be a bit extraordinary and I am prepared to pay a bit more.

Well in that case I think you won't be disappointed with Toaster's suggestion. The Malkoff MD2 solution looks fantastic. I'd prefer an M60WL over an M60L myself, but they're out of stock.

 

[ZMZ67]

Agree with Toaster-Malkoff MD2 + high/low switch and the M60L drop-in of choice should fit the bill if you want a US made light.

 

[kambo]

The Leupold looks good, but is not that efficient with only a 2-hour runtime on its max setting (especially running on 3 cells!).

Leupold MX-331 (3 cells): 175 lm - 3.2 h, 100 lm - 6 h, 10 lm - 64.5 h.
Leupold MX-321 (2 cells): 175 lm - 2 h, 100 lm - 3.7 h, 10 lm - 46.8 h.

So, 3 cells give max (175 lm) output for 3 hours. LX2 is very similar to MX-321, but 2 hours of max (200 lm) output is not good enough :thinking:.

18650s won't fit in Surefires...

That is sad. Will I be able to use 18650s with Leupold?

I'd say go with the JETBEAM RRT-2 Raptor or the TCR3 (same light as RRT-2 except crafted in titanium).

I am really thinking about TCR3. At least I will not worry about accidently dropping it, not like with Leupold, Surefire, Malkoff, etc. Do you know if there is any marking on the TCR3 flashlight that it is Made in China?

Look around your house/apartment and you'll be surprised how many things you ALREADY bought that were made in China!

But I do not want to have any more, if I have a choice...

The Malkoff MD2 solution looks fantastic.

:aaa: I do not like it at all. First, it looks very cheap, second, website does not give any credibility for this brand at all, and finally, resistor used for Hi/Low switch does not look sophisticated.

 

[xenonk]

I do not like it at all. First, it looks very cheap, second, website does not give any credibility for this brand at all, and finally, resistor used for Hi/Low switch does not look sophisticated.

The small lens opening looked odd to me at first, but it doesn't need a large one because it uses a TIR optic instead of a parabolic reflector. The light looks solid to me. I'm curious as to what looks cheap about it.

Not sure what you mean about the website. I doubt Gene spends all his revenue on web designers, though.

A resistor is not sophisticated at all, and I doubt that it's meant to be. A multi-level current regulator built right into the module instead of the tailcap would be more sophisticated, but complex things are less reliable.

Do you know if there is any marking on the TCR3 flashlight that it is Made in China?

Wait, are you against buying something made in China or just things that bear proof that they were? Jetbeam's in China and their manufacturing is done there, but I don't know if they stamp the light "made in China" in an obvious manner. Jetbeam makes good lights, regardless.

 

[old4570]

Almost any Cree R2 will meet those needs .. with a 18650 on low and medium .

In fact a $20 flashlight will meet or exceed the requirements set ..

Unfortunately , you may find that most lights are made in China , even the so called good ones . Its getting hard to avoid .

:D

 

[yellow]

I think these "3 hours on high" make the most problems.
--> programmable Jetbeam light


1*18650 any time, over 2-3 CR123s.
con: CR123 can be bought as primary cells, 18650 is rechargeable only. So I You are somewhere without power jack ...

 

[Henk_Lu]

I think these "3 hours on high" make the most problems.

Just wait a few months until the XP-G come out, then you need a light you can program, so that you can set the high to an output which largely exceeds 100 Lumen, but last for more than 3 hours.

Let's hope Jetbeam will make such a light and let's hope too they are built in USA, I never checked mine, I don't care where it is built, but HOW it is built. If I would limit myself to "made in Europe", I would use candles, which are even made in Luxembourg, 30 kilometers from my home. Hm, I could also make them myself, candles aren't that difficult to made, I would only need wax made in Europe... :crackup:

 

[matrixshaman]

Jetbeam is made in China. So it will probably have MIC on it somewhere but these are fairly high quality lights. I'd suggest a Novatac with an 18650 tube (these tubes used to fetch $300 alone but now are often less than $40 and I think I saw some for under $10 at Lighthound). The Novatac is very versatile, efficient and programmable with a great user interface and 4 levels very quickly accessible. They can be had for around $100 to $140 or so for the 120P model. (Also the lower priced EDC and Tactical models can now be reprogrammed to a P model thanks to a backdoor that was found). It's 120 Lumens on high. I would suggest the newer Ra flashlight but it has no 18650 tubes available AFAIK and thus I don't think it will get 3 hours at 100 Lumens although many of them were getting close to 1.5 hours at 140 Lumens so it could be close at 100. They are US made and high quality although the Ra seems to have had it's share of bugs since coming out. The Novatac and Ra are both some of the most rugged lights out there and have been thrown against concrete walls repeatedly for testing.

 

[gilly]

My bad - I missed the 3.2 hour runtime with the 3 cells....still not impressive when an efficient R2-equipped light will give you close to 3 hours on one 18650.

I doubt the Leupold models will be wide enough to accept 18650s.

I own 3 Jetbeams...and "Made in China" is not printed anywhere on them.

Check out some of Selfbuilt's reviews - he has great photos...

http://sliderule.ca/flashlight.htm