Help finding a good light

[Optik49]

Hi all,



I have been reading a lot of about the Fenix, Jet Beam, Arc and HDC. I am looking for a lot of lumens, bright as possible with a clickey tail piece. (I think twistys aren't, one hand user friendly) I want to stay around the $100.00 dollar range. What would you recommend? From what I have read I don't know if I will find an Arc or HDC. I read a lot of good thing about the ARC. Can you still find the used? I think a lot of you are going to say Fenix, but the no clicky might be a deal killer.



Regards, :thanks:

 

[DM51]

Amilite have just released a new model - the Neo T5. Its predecessor the T3 is an excellent light, very bright, very well made.

The T5 will have a clicky tailcap. It will have a SSC P4 emitter, will run off a single CR123A battery and is 93mm (less than 4 inches) long. Pre-released photos indicate it will be brighter than the Fenix P1D-CE. It costs $80 plus $12 shipping. You can see more about it here:
http://www.amilite.co.kr

My advice would be for you to wait a few days until some of these T5s have arrived and there have been reports about them in this forum. The T5 will be compared with the HDS and the Fenix and others, so you will then have a good basis for making a choice.

 

[carrot]

Arc and HDS/Novatac have not released their new lights yet, nor have formally announced them. When they do come out, you may find they will suit your needs.

Right now, I might consider the Fenix L2D-CE. You'll get a LOT of lumens from 2xAA, a clickie tailcap and one-handed multi-mode operation, and you'll save money on not buying lithium batteries.

 

[tenfour]

Huntlight xr-e versions would work well

 

[flashy bazook]

yeah, why do you think the Fenix L2D CE is not a clicky? You click on it with one hand (your thumb, most likely). It is a reverse clicky, meaning that if you depress it again gently (not all the way) you change the modes.

There is a twisting action on the head which changes from one super-mode (for lack of a better term) to another.

So with head twisted all the way in, the clicky depression switches from the turbo (brightest high) to the SOS.

With the head twisted about 1/8 less than all the way, your depressing the clicky switches from Lo-Med-Hi-Strobe.

It works very well, and you get used to it pretty quickly. Depending on which modes you use most often, you'll be able to both avoid having to twist the head, and the strobe/SOS functions (which most folks tend to need very rarely).

 

[adirondackdestroyer]

Well if you want to spend less than $100 then HDS is pretty much out of the picture, but I wouldn't have suggested them anyway.

I wouldn't even consider the ARC AAAP, as it is no where near as bright as the other lights you are looking for. The ARC AAAP is a very VERY highly regarded light on these forums and for some reasons most newbies get the idea that it is still top of the line, and it is no where near.

If I were you I would look into the L2DCE. It uses a reverse clickie switch (is that what you want?) has 4 levels of output which are all fully regulated and has HUGE output on turbo and incredible runtime on low. In all aspects it is the most well rounded light on the market. If you want something a little smaller check out the Fenix L1DCE. It is basically the same thing as the L2DCE but is 1 AA cell shorter than the L2DCE and doesn't have quite as much output (but still is VERY bright!).

Both the Fenix L1DCE/L2DCE and Jetbeam MK-IIx use reverse click tailcaps.

Hi all,



I have been reading a lot of about the Fenix, Jet Beam, Arc and HDC. I am looking for a lot of lumens, bright as possible with a clickey tail piece. (I think twistys aren't, one hand user friendly) I want to stay around the $100.00 dollar range. What would you recommend? From what I have read I don't know if I will find an Arc or HDC. I read a lot of good thing about the ARC. Can you still find the used? I think a lot of you are going to say Fenix, but the no clicky might be a deal killer.



Regards, :thanks:

 

[mightysparrow]

If you have to buy something right away, with your preferences and limitations I would choose the JetBeam IIx Cree light, for its build quality, beam quality, output power per battery capacity, and the use of a readily available, inexpensive AA battery. For a less-expensive option, I'd also look at the Lumapower clicky-switch lights.

If you can wait, I think looking at the T5 is a good idea. You could also wait for the many more cree LED lights that will be forthcoming as more designers and manufacturers get their hands on Cree LEDs.

 

[Optik49]

Thank you for your help and suggestions.

 

[Optik49]

Who has the best prices on Fenix's?

 

[Derek Dean]

Howdy Optik49, and welcome to CPF,

It would help if you gave us a little better idea of what you wanted to use the light for. Will this be a pocket light, a briefcase light, a car light, a walking-the-dog light, or used as a work light? Does it need to light up things far away, or is closeup more important?

There are lots of options available, the key is to find something suitable to the task at hand. Maybe you are just looking for a good general purpose light.

If you already have a 3-6 cell Maglite, you might want to consider just adding the new TerraLux Cree drop-in LED. Between 100-150 lumens, for about $32 delivered. Of course no tail-cap clicky, but it IS one hand friendly, and with long run times. Only one level though.

Are you interested in going with re-chargeable batteries? Will this light be used everyday, only occasionally, or primarily for emergencies? Is this for you, or a friend or family memeber?

Give us a little more information, and I'll bet we can find you the right light.