Inner Prop
Newly Enlightened
I have a Fenix E01. I don't like it much. It's too small in the hand, it's a little too big on the keychain, I don't like the bulb is exposed, I feel like it could be/should be brighter, no clip, don't like the twist-on control.
I'm thinking what will work best for me is two lights, one keychain and one pocket.
The keychain one should probably be smaller than the E01, but not a Photon Freedom style one (or the Inova Microlight). I have several of the Photon type flashlights (I got a big pile of them in a budget buy). They are fine as zipper pulls and absolutely completely very very last resort, or for the instant light when it's even too much trouble to reach into my pocket. They are far too dim and I just don't like the form factor. I also don't like button batteries.
The pocket one should go the other way. One idea is it could be a pen style so I can keep it with my pens, in a shirt or pant pocket. The other idea is a thicker one a little longer than the width of my palm. That seems like it would be most comfortable.
I'll fill out the questionaire with a K for the keychain light and a P for the pocket light:
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
KP____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!
KP____Up to $25.
[Total for both would be nice if I could keep it <$25, but $10 - $20 each would be okay]
3) Format:
KP____I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
4) Size:
K____MICRO - Keychain size.
P____SMALL - Every day carry (4-7 inches).
5) Emitter/Light source:
KP____LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
6) Manufacturer:
KP____I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
7) What power source do you want to use?
P____I intend to use Rechargeable cells (NiMH or NiCD) based on the usual AAA/AA/C/D sized cells common to most stores.
OR
K____I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery pack.
[NOTE: I don't want button batteries if I can help it. On the other hand I'm not against in-flashlight rechargable batteries (like the Surefire Sidekick (but much cheaper)). I would be okay with a very small AAA keychain.]
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
K____I want a light that has a recharging adapter (your typical "wall wart")
K____I want a light that snaps into a cradle (usually mounted on a wall)
K____I want a separate/stand-alone charger (this involves removing the batteries to charge)
[Any would be fine, but I don't want one with prongs to plug into a wall outlet]
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).
K____I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (1-10 lumens).
KP____I want an indoor "blackout" light (15-50 lumens)
P____I want to confidently walk around an unlit/unpaved rural area (60-150 lumens).
P____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.
KP____All Flood: I am doing "arms length" tasks like reading and campsite cooking.
P____Wide Flood: I want a defined flood area for semi-close tasks like after-dark campsite tasks or working on a car.
P____Narrow Flood: I want a sharply defined flood area that will project some distance for tasks like trail walking.
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
K____Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
KP____Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
P____5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
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).
KP____30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
P____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood).
K____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
[They'll be banging around on my person and I'm kind of clumsy]
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
KP____I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
KP____I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today's high end lights).
[Either would work fine for the pocket one. The keychain one should be able to turn on and stay on if I want]
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
K____A simple on-off with only one output level is fine for me.
P____I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
P____I want a selector ring.
P____I want a strobe mode. (Oscillating pattern to confuse/blind aka "Police Mode")
[A strobe would be nice for the self-defense aspect but isn't super critical, just a nice to have, but please, nothing too complicated]
14)Material/Finish/Coating
K____Plastic/composite body (this may limit your choices significantly).
P____Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today's higher end flashlights).
P____Stainless steel (durable, but much heavier than aluminum)
[No Ti, it's too expensive. I wouldn't mind a blue one, or silver colored or black]
15) Water resistance
KP____IPX4 (Splash resistant)
[A nice to have if $$ permits.]
16) Storage conditions
KP____In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
[In my pocket or on my tool keychain. I take my tool keychain with me in the colder months because it's too heavy for pants pockets and goes in my coat pocket. In warmer months it lives in my briefcase.]
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
KP____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
P____Pocket/belt clip
P____Non-sparking, Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments
[The keychain one needs to be able to be put on a keychain (I have a split ring attached to the E01 and that's attached to my tool keychain]
[I do volunteer firefighting. It would be extra special nice if I could keep my pocket flashlight in my pocket even while firefighting. This is also probably $$ dependant, so it's a nice to have if possible]
Thanks!!!
I'm thinking what will work best for me is two lights, one keychain and one pocket.
The keychain one should probably be smaller than the E01, but not a Photon Freedom style one (or the Inova Microlight). I have several of the Photon type flashlights (I got a big pile of them in a budget buy). They are fine as zipper pulls and absolutely completely very very last resort, or for the instant light when it's even too much trouble to reach into my pocket. They are far too dim and I just don't like the form factor. I also don't like button batteries.
The pocket one should go the other way. One idea is it could be a pen style so I can keep it with my pens, in a shirt or pant pocket. The other idea is a thicker one a little longer than the width of my palm. That seems like it would be most comfortable.
I'll fill out the questionaire with a K for the keychain light and a P for the pocket light:
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
KP____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!
KP____Up to $25.
[Total for both would be nice if I could keep it <$25, but $10 - $20 each would be okay]
3) Format:
KP____I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
4) Size:
K____MICRO - Keychain size.
P____SMALL - Every day carry (4-7 inches).
5) Emitter/Light source:
KP____LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
6) Manufacturer:
KP____I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
7) What power source do you want to use?
P____I intend to use Rechargeable cells (NiMH or NiCD) based on the usual AAA/AA/C/D sized cells common to most stores.
OR
K____I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery pack.
[NOTE: I don't want button batteries if I can help it. On the other hand I'm not against in-flashlight rechargable batteries (like the Surefire Sidekick (but much cheaper)). I would be okay with a very small AAA keychain.]
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
K____I want a light that has a recharging adapter (your typical "wall wart")
K____I want a light that snaps into a cradle (usually mounted on a wall)
K____I want a separate/stand-alone charger (this involves removing the batteries to charge)
[Any would be fine, but I don't want one with prongs to plug into a wall outlet]
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).
K____I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (1-10 lumens).
KP____I want an indoor "blackout" light (15-50 lumens)
P____I want to confidently walk around an unlit/unpaved rural area (60-150 lumens).
P____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.
KP____All Flood: I am doing "arms length" tasks like reading and campsite cooking.
P____Wide Flood: I want a defined flood area for semi-close tasks like after-dark campsite tasks or working on a car.
P____Narrow Flood: I want a sharply defined flood area that will project some distance for tasks like trail walking.
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
K____Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
KP____Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
P____5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
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).
KP____30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
P____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood).
K____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
[They'll be banging around on my person and I'm kind of clumsy]
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
KP____I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
KP____I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today's high end lights).
[Either would work fine for the pocket one. The keychain one should be able to turn on and stay on if I want]
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
K____A simple on-off with only one output level is fine for me.
P____I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
P____I want a selector ring.
P____I want a strobe mode. (Oscillating pattern to confuse/blind aka "Police Mode")
[A strobe would be nice for the self-defense aspect but isn't super critical, just a nice to have, but please, nothing too complicated]
14)Material/Finish/Coating
K____Plastic/composite body (this may limit your choices significantly).
P____Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today's higher end flashlights).
P____Stainless steel (durable, but much heavier than aluminum)
[No Ti, it's too expensive. I wouldn't mind a blue one, or silver colored or black]
15) Water resistance
KP____IPX4 (Splash resistant)
[A nice to have if $$ permits.]
16) Storage conditions
KP____In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
[In my pocket or on my tool keychain. I take my tool keychain with me in the colder months because it's too heavy for pants pockets and goes in my coat pocket. In warmer months it lives in my briefcase.]
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
KP____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
P____Pocket/belt clip
P____Non-sparking, Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments
[The keychain one needs to be able to be put on a keychain (I have a split ring attached to the E01 and that's attached to my tool keychain]
[I do volunteer firefighting. It would be extra special nice if I could keep my pocket flashlight in my pocket even while firefighting. This is also probably $$ dependant, so it's a nice to have if possible]
Thanks!!!
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