Highly Recomended EDC buyers guide

[gsxrac]

Hey everybody, Im going to start this list as a reference for new members and old to vote for their favorite EDC light. Because alot of new members start out wanting a light that cost $120- (usually way less) lets use that as our max price mark (and I dont mean MSRP if you know of a $150 light that is readily available at an online store for $115 then just add the link for where it can be found for the lower price, moderators im not sure if this is allowed but if its not please just let me know and I will remove this info)

These categories will be sorted out by battery type and the # of cells. For now just to keep it simple we are only going to list battery types available in retail stores.

When you want to add a light to the list just state the manufacturer, model, battery type (and number of cells), wether it comes with a pocket clip or holster or both, lumen output, emitter type, and price EX:
Novatac... EDC 120T ... 1XCR123A ... yes/no ... 120/10/.3 ... LED ...$95.99

Please also only vote for one light in each category

Also note this is NOT a manufacturer or LED vs. Incan battle so these will be sorted by # of votes. You can also change your votes if you wish just be sure to let me know what your previous vote was for so this stays fairly accurate!

Votes...Manufacturer/Model...Clip/Holster....Lumens......emmiter...price
AA 1 cell:
5 Nitecore D10 Q5...................Yes/no.........100/3......LED $70
2 Photon Proton Pro.................................................LED
1 Nitecore EZ AA.....................................................LED
1 Nitecore SmartPD D10 R2.......................................LED
1 Lumapower Connexion 2.........................................LED
1 Fenix LD10...........................................................LED
AA 2 cell:
3 Fenix L2D............................................................LED
1 Fenix LD20...........................................................LED
AAA 1 cell:
3 Fenix LOD............................................................LED
3 Fenix E01............................................................LED
2 Fenix LD01 Q5......................................................LED
1 Peak Matterhorn................no/no............15...........3 LED ... $35
1 Leatherman Serac S2.............................................LED
AAA 2 cell:
1 River Rock............................................................LED
CR123A 1 cell:
2 LiteFlux LF3XT......................................................LED
1 Novatac/EDC 120T .......Yes/no......120/10/.3 ...........LED.....$95.99~
1 Ra Twisty.....................Yes/No..............................LED
1 Nitecore Extreme...................................................LED.......£54.95
1 Surefire L1...................Yes/no...............................LED
1 Fenix P2D Q5........................................................LED
1 Ra EDC Executive..........Yes/no...............................LED
1 Nitecore EX10.......................................................LED
CR123A 2 cell:
3 Surefire/ E2DL..............Yes/no.........120/5...............LED...$ CPF20
1 Surefire 6P ..................No/No............80.................LED...$85~
1 Surefire 6P MALKOFF M60... No/No......235+...............LED
1 Surefire E1L....................Yes/no.............................LED
1 Fenix P3D Q5.........................................................LED
1 Solarforce L2.........................................................LED
OTHER/RECHARGEABLE
1 Photon Rex.....................Keychain...coin/rechargeable...LED...$30~
1 Fauxton.........................Keychain..........coin..............LED...$0.50
1 Photon Freedom..............Keychain...........coin.............LED
1 Neoseikan Spartanian II.....................AW RCR123A.......LED


Red writing indicates an aftermarket drop-in

 

[ToeMoss]

Ok, here goes:

AA 1 cell: Photon Proton Pro
AAA 1 cell: Fenix LOD
CR123 1 cell: RA Twisty

I won't vote for a 2 cell EDC. For my purposes, if they have 2 cells they'll never make it into my pocket as an EDC.

 

[flashfan]

Sorry, I don't mean to be a pain, but for me, EDC would include keychain lights--one of the easiest and most unobtrusive ways to carry a light every day.

My contender doesn't use "retail" batteries since it's rechargeable, but I do use a 1AA battery for recharging. It's the Photon ReX LED (MSRP about $30).

 

[Flying Turtle]

I'll add some votes based on my personal favorites at this time. Always subject to sudden changes.

AA 1 cell: Photon Proton Pro
AA 2 cell: Fenix L2D
AAA 1 cell: Fenix L0D
AAA 2 cell: River Rock
CR123 1 cell: LiteFlux LF3XT

Geoff

 

[gsxrac]

Sorry, I don't mean to be a pain, but for me, EDC would include keychain lights--one of the easiest and most unobtrusive ways to carry a light every day.

My contender doesn't use "retail" batteries since it's rechargeable, but I do use a 1AA battery for recharging. It's the Photon ReX LED (MSRP about $30).

That makes sense, well how bout an "Other" category?

 

[StandardBattery]

AA 1 cell: Fenix L1D

AA 2 cell: Fenix L2D

AAA 1 cell: Fenix LD01

CR123 1 cell: NovaTac 120P

CR123 2 cell: cannot choose just one

18650 1 cell: JetBeam III-M-w

CR2 1 cell: Aeon

Other: CR2016 button-cell - LRI Photon Freedom

 

[Moonshadow]

Here's my current EDC setup:

AA 1 cell: Photon Proton Pro..................£38.12
AA 1 cell: Nitecore D10.......................£39.95

CR123 1 cell: Nitecore Extreme................£54.95

No votes for 2-cell lights as these are usually a bit too big for EDC duty.

 

[Ossa1970]

Here's what I have or had:

1 X AAA: Fenix LD01 Q5

1 X AA: Nitecore D10 Q5

1 X CR123A : Nitecore EX10 Q5
1 X CR123A: Nitecore Extreme Q5
1 X CR123A: Ra Twisty
1 X CR123A: Surefire E1L
1 X CR123A: Surefire E1B

2 X CR123A: Surefire E2DL
2 X CR123A: Surefire E2L
2 X CR123A: Surefire Z2L

1 X AW RCR123A: Neoseikan Spartanian II,
1 X 17670: Ra Twisty 85r W 18670-T Battery Tube

 

[PetaBread]

CR123 1 cell: LiteFlux LF3XT
CR123 2 cell: SureFire E2DL

 

[gsxrac]

Hey everybody, for this thread I only want people to cast one vote in each battery category so ONLY vote for your FAVORITE light in each battery category. That way we will get an accurate count of the best lights not just a list of a ton of lights with no deffinant "winner"

 

[PetaBread]

Hey everybody, for this thread I only want people to cast one vote in each battery category so ONLY vote for your FAVORITE light in each battery category. That way we will get an accurate count of the best lights not just a list of a ton of lights with no deffinant "winner"

Thank you, I was wondering about that before I posted.

 

[BlueBeam22]

2xCR123A cell: SureFire 6P LED (around $85-$89). IMO its reliability and quality can't be beat. It comes with batteries included. It puts out 80 lumens in a perfect beam that has both excellent throw and a good amount of flood.

I currently don't have recommendations for the other battery catagories.

 

[fixitman]

Coin cell keychain, fauxton from DealExtreme, 50 cents.
AAA: Fenix LD01 for no stobe, or LOD if you want strobe, $47 or so
AAA on a budget, Fenix E01. I guess purple light is better than no light. $15
AA: Nitecore EZ AA

too many single CR123 lights to choose from, and 2x anything is too much for EDC if you ask me.

 

[crocodilo]

Olny one per category? Well, here are my votes:


AA 1 cell:
Nitecore SmartPD D10 R2 - great all-rounder

AA 2 cell:
none

AAA 1 cell:
Fenix E01 - best runtime and value

AAA 2 cell:
none

CR123A 1 cell:
Surefire L1 - best UI ever

CR123A 2 cell:
Surefire 6P with Malkoff M60 - can't go wrong with this one

OTHER/RECHARGEABLE
Photon Freedom - keychain perfection

 

[vali]

1 AA

Cheap: Akoray K-106
Good: Nitecore D10

2 AA

Cheap: Romisen RC-N3
Good: Fenix LD20

1 AAA

Cheap&Good: Fenix E01

BTW I dont think a 2xAA flashlight is an EDC one.

 

[ronin21]

Here are my votes:


AAA one cell: Fenix LD01 Q5

AA one cell: Fenix LD10 Q5

AA two cell: Fenix L2D Q5

CR123A one cell: Fenix P2D Q5

CR123A two cell: Fenix P3D Q5

 

[Liquidspaceman]

AA 1 Cell - Lumapower Connexion 2 (despite my previous problems, this is a great little light)

AA 2 Cell - Fenix L2D-CE

AAA 1 Cell - Fenix E01

CR123 2 Cell - Solarforce L2


Don't own any of the other types of flashlights so I can't comment on those.

 

[drmaxx]

Here are my absolute EDC favorits:
Peak... Matterhorn 3LED ... 1XAAA ... no/no ... 15 ... LED ... $35
Nightcore ... D10 ... 1xAA ...yes/no ... 100 - 3 ... LED ... $70
Zebralight ... D50 ... 1xAA ... yes/no ... 66/13/3 ... LED ... $65

(I am not clear on the lumens...)

 

[Zatoichi]

1 x AA Nitecore D10

2 x AA Fenix L2D / LD20

1 x CR123 Surefire E1L
Fenix P2D / PD20

1 x AAA Fenix E01 (or any other Fenix AAA light)

 

[gsxrac]

FYI since people dont like only choosing 1 light per category I am choosing the first one you list...
And where are the incan fans! I know theres some die-hard incan guys out there but nobody's suggested one yet?