"Housewarming gift" spotlight

[Cyclops942]

All,

A buddy of mine who, thanks to my addiction, is becoming more and more of a flashoholic, has asked me to research hand-held spotlights for him. Since he just bought a new house where the property falls away to a creek flowing through a wooded area, he'd like to be able to find his kids in the dark if they're playing in the back yard.

Instead of just pointing him in a direction and letting him go, I've thought about purchasing one for him as a housewarming gift. I've done some browsing in this forum, and I've seen a lot of positive feeling towards AmondoTech's Illuminator (http://www.amondotech.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1156) and their N30 (http://www.amondotech.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1221). Do you have any other recommendations? From what I can tell from Google Earth (I haven't seen the place live), the beam would need to throw about 100yds max, but it would need to be useful at that distance.

I'm open to HID, incandescent, or LED, if the beam is good at that distance. I'm also price-conscious (something about being married to a non-flashoholic), so I could only take your advice if the price is in the $150-or-under range.

Any thoughts?

 

[daveman]

The N30 is the best (and only) choice for your criterion. It certainly falls within your budget, but price aside, the N30 is bright, compact, versatile (LED on top), and practical. Can't go wrong with it.

 

[Ra]

Lumens.. At least 300yrds throw.. Cheap.. Auxillary LED's.. (relatively) Light weight.. Can easily be made waterresistant..

Yep, daveman is right: N30 fills the bill !


I'm shure he will enjoy it !! (And become a member of these forums..?)


Regards,

Ra

 

[Cyclops942]

I'm shure he will enjoy it !! (And become a member of these forums..?)

Ra,

I don't know about that; he and his wife just had another baby, so I don't know how much time he'll have to spend online.

Thanks for the recommendations, and I'm still listening, in case anyone else would like to chime in. Like I said, I'm not insisting on HID; I was considering a Streamlight LiteBox (http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=17) like I already own, but with the spot bulb instead of the flood bulb I have, or perhaps a Pelican Bid D (http://www.pelicanproducts.us/detailaspx631.html) or M13 (http://www.pelicanproducts.us/detailaspx646.html), but, given the prices, it seems that the N30 wins... VERY similar pricing, VERY much more output.

Am I missing something?

 

[Lighthouse one]

If you want to stay with a smaller light try this:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6951 for him

and this for her: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3014

Two decent lights....buy batteries and some money left over!

 

[daveman]

Am I missing something?

I want to stress that the N30 really is very compact for its output, at less than 4 pounds, it's downright tiny, in my opinion.

 

[BVH]

N30. You will NOT be disappointed. Left mine out in the rain the other night by mistake and it fired right up after I took the battery out to be sure it was dry in there - it was. I'm talking .9 inches of rain in a couple of hours so fairly good downpour (for California).

 

[mtbkndad]

With the distances you are listing you really can't go smaller then the N30 in the price range you listed and fulfill your requirements.
Check the weight of a Streamlight lightbox verses and N30.
Also the non HID Lightbox that is in your price range will not illuminate the distances you are looking for.
The N30 even has a useable 7 LED light in the handle. i will often use it walking around at night and then I know I still have the HID aviable if I need it.

The Amondotech Illuminator will throw farther, but it is much bigger and heavier. AI 8lb 10oz vs N30 3lb 8oz. The lightbox is much closer to the AI in terms of weight.

I own lots of lights, but my N30's are the ones I use 90% the time these days.

If size is not a concern and throw is the main goal, check out this special.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93175

Take Care,
mtbkndad :wave:

 

[Cyclops942]

If you want to stay with a smaller light try this:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6951 for him

and this for her: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3014

Two decent lights....buy batteries and some money left over!

Yeah, but will either of these provide the throw he needs? I didn't see anything that would address that question.

 

[Cyclops942]

Update: I just talked to my buddy, and the distance is 150-200 yards. Are we still talking about the N30 here?

 

[mtbkndad]

Update: I just talked to my buddy, and the distance is 150-200 yards. Are we still talking about the N30 here?

Yes the N30 will do real well at that distance. I have used the N30 at 310 yards with good success, but that is toward the end of it's effective range in fairly low contrast natural settings. If you were talking 300 to 400 yards I would say the extra weight of the Amondotech Illuminator would be worthwhile. If you are talking over 400 yards then you would want a Costco/Harbor Freight HID.

Take Care,
mtbkndad :wave:

 

[Gunner12]

The N30 should be fine at those distances but if he doesn't mind the heavier weight the Sams Club HID will throw further.

 

[Cyclops942]

The N30 should be fine at those distances but if he doesn't mind the heavier weight the Sams Club HID will throw further.

Totally useless to me... I am not a Sam's Club member. Costco's search engine "corrected" the 'HID' I entered to 'his' instead, and showed me a bunch of jewelry.

 

[mtbkndad]

Totally useless to me... I am not a Sam's Club member. Costco's search engine "corrected" the 'HID' I entered to 'his' instead, and showed me a bunch of jewelry.

The Costco HID is now the HarborFreight 30 MCP Spotlight.

I do not know if you can actually get a Sam's from Sam's.
They do show up on eBay.

The Amondotech Illuminator is the Same light as the Sam's but with a much better performing 4200K bulb in it.

Take Care,
mtbkndad :wave:

 

[Cyclops942]

Going to samsclub.com and searching for 'HID' pulls up a picture-less entry that says it's available only in-store. Going to samsclub.com and clicking on Services > Auctions and then searching within Auctions for 'HID' pulls up several active auctions for the light being discussed, with picture included. Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, one must have a membership to bid in the auction, so I was foiled.

In any case, the allure of the N30 is that buying that one for my buddy would satisfy my "snob appeal" factor... his neighbor couldn't run down the road to Sam's Club (okay, down the road, get off at exit 17, then wander through the industrial park to Sam's Club) and get one just like it.

I hate to have to admit that, but it's true. If I were going to actually oo: do what he asked, and make a recommendation, I'd tell him to go to Sam's Club and get that one. If, instead, I choose to surprise him by actually GETTING him the light, I would want something more 'esoteric' in nature.

Is that so wrong? :sigh:

 

[mtbkndad]

I hate to have to admit that, but it's true. If I were going to actually oo: do what he asked, and make a recommendation, I'd tell him to go to Sam's Club and get that one. If, instead, I choose to surprise him by actually GETTING him the light, I would want something more 'esoteric' in nature.

Is that so wrong? :sigh:

That makes sense to me.
I like giving gifts that are both useable and unique.

If you go the recomending route, you could the tell him about Sam's, Harbor Freight, and Amondotech.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Take Care,
mtbkndad :wave:

 

[Cyclops942]

Before I make my mind up completely, are there any others I should consider, given the parameters involved?

 

[Cyclops942]

for the Amondotech N30.


Now I just have to wait several months to actually touch the thing myself.:mecry: Oh, well. At least he'll call me when it arrives and HE has a chance to play with-- err, test it.

 

[Cyclops942]

It's official! My buddy has his light now! (Too bad the invoice was included with the light, but what are you gonna do?)

Thanks to everyone for all the input. If I get any beamshots mailed to me, I'll post them. I'm not holding my breath, so I don't recommend any of you do, either.

 

[Cyclops942]

All,

I have heard, umm, glowing shakehead sorry, couldn't resist ) reports about the light; he's already used it to annoy/deter/scatter teenaged scalawags at the other end of his street, blind the squirrels in the tops of the trees at the far end of his lot, and make his neighbors jealous.

Oh, yeah... he's also managed to make this a "must-have" light for both of the two who bought him this light. Just have to save up the pennies and see how many are left after I get back from SHOT Show.

One more time, a hearty thanks to all who offered me advice on this purchase. It was a real winner!