I'm A Newbie Help Me Choose......

[REDAT9-AP1]

I have read up on many lights and have narrowed my options down to 2 lights. The Fenix TK-40 or the Jetbeam RRT-1 Raptor. Help me choose please i want votes.
Here are a few things i will use light for: night walks, camping, home use, car mechanic, and security. Your help would b much appreciated.. thanks... ps i do like throw as well thats y i'm leaning towards rrt-1...

 

[carrot]

Fenix TK-40. It will be way more impressive!

 

[tre]

I have read up on many lights and have narrowed my options down to 2 lights. The Fenix TK-40 or the Jetbeam RRT-1 Raptor. Help me choose please i want votes.
Here are a few things i will use light for: night walks, camping, home use, car mechanic, and security. Your help would b much appreciated.. thanks... ps i do like throw as well thats y i'm leaning towards rrt-1...

The RRT-1 will out-throw the TK40 by a lot but the TK40 is a lot brighter. I would say the RRT-1 is not that great for most of the things you want to use it for because it has such an intense hotspot. I sold mine because it was too intense for in the house and close up work and not bright enough for outside (but it does have impressive throw). I use 2x18650 lights instead for outside and 1xAA or cr123a lights inside. I also like the SC60 (1x18650) for inside. I think if you want only one light to do everything you may be better off with a TK40 though I would find it a bit big for "around the house" and working on the car. In reality, you are going to need a couple lights at least to do all those things. The fact that you are here readon means you are doomed to multiple lights anyway. Just give in now and get the proper light for each task.

 

[joe1512]

I would select either a TK40, the TK45, or an itp A6 Polestar.

All 3 work on AA batteries, instead of needing specialty batteries that are useless outside of the flashlight world. You also need specialty chargers too. They also have their own dangers and hazards to worry about.

Instead, get some Sanyo Eneloops rechargables if you expect to use the light reasonably often and you can recharge them.

If you only expect occasional use of the light, consider just buying L91 Energizer Advanced Lithium batteries. They are cheaper than the Ultimate by a good margin but won't leak like alkalines could.



The itp A6 Polestar can be had for 72 bucks shipped from goinggear. It is more floody so wont have a glaring hotspot when working up close.

People here love their 'throw' but it doesnt sound like you need to be able to see 300 feet off, right?

An itp A6 on High mode will definitely light up an area and you can see plenty far.



The TK40 is a very good light, but its also twice the price! The polestar gets you 90% of the performance and build quality for half the cost. If this is an issue.

The TK45 is even brighter and more efficient, but it has less throw, more like the Polestar. It looks really cool and provides a good amount of floody light.


I recommend looking up each one on Youtube and just see what they are capable of. Find videos with real world usage and see how they light up an area.

 

[Jash]

If you need any more convincing of the quality of the TK40, check this thread.

There aren't too many lights I would want more than the TK40. It's a keeper. Out of the 30 odd lights I own, there are three that I could not live without: TK40, Quark AA2 Tactical, Malkoff MD2 H/L.

 

[REDAT9-AP1]

Ok, wow guys thanks alot... mann...lol i know it's only 4 responses so far but there all the same tk-40 all the way... thanks alot guys.. Oh and i loved the thread on the torture test!!! that was the final straw in making my choice.. Looks like i'll be the proud owner of a Fenix TK40 soon thanks alot fellas...

Now as far as batteries to fire it up. I keep reading great things about the Sanyo Eneloops... what do you guys think??? Any info..... also chargers for the batteries..???what would b the best battery n' charger combo???

 

[sol-leks]

If you live near a costco they sell a sanyo eneloop power pack that comes with a charger that is a great set to start with. Most of the main batter brands are pretty good though if you see a deal. New duracell or rayovac nimh's are both respectable. If you want a fancier charger, check out the lacrosse bc-9009.

Hope you enjoy your tk-40.

 

[REDAT9-AP1]

If you live near a costco they sell a sanyo eneloop power pack that comes with a charger that is a great set to start with. Most of the main batter brands are pretty good though if you see a deal. New duracell or rayovac nimh's are both respectable. If you want a fancier charger, check out the lacrosse bc-9009.

Hope you enjoy your tk-40.

Hey thanks alot bro... i happen to have a Costco a couple miles down the road... i'll check them out.

 

[Jash]

To make your experience better, get a smart charger that has a discharge function. After a while one or more of the cells will get a bit funny and discharge quicker during use.

Using the discarge function on your charger flattens all the cells to the same level and then charges them all up to the same level so you get the most out of your cells, and therefore the most out of your TK40.

Also, dedicate just one or two sets of batteries to each light you own so you're not mixing batteries with different charge cycles.

 

[REDAT9-AP1]

To make your experience better, get a smart charger that has a discharge function. After a while one or more of the cells will get a bit funny and discharge quicker during use.

Using the discarge function on your charger flattens all the cells to the same level and then charges them all up to the same level so you get the most out of your cells, and therefore the most out of your TK40.

Also, dedicate just one or two sets of batteries to each light you own so you're not mixing batteries with different charge cycles.

cool sounds good thanks...but what is a decent or good charger with that fucntion??? sorry i'm new to rechargable batteries...:shrug:

 

[REDAT9-AP1]

Yesss! Alright looks like i'm set. I just ordered my Fenix TK40, Sanyo eneloops, and charger... I'm looking forward to their arrival on Thursday Oct. 28th. Thanks again for all the info fellas... i really appreciate it...lovecpf:thumbsup: good nite everyone :sleepy::thanks:

 

[joe1512]

Hope it works out for ya. Im sure it will.

The only comment I have left is that it is really nice to be able to charge ALL the batteries in 1 go. Hence a larger charger (lol?) is nice to have.

Probably too late now, but 2 packs of 4xAA eneloop with charger costs about 34 bucks on Amazon. Cheap crappy charger but you get 2 of them which can charge all 8 batteries at once. And it works.

I'd consider that better than the Starter Pack (which is what I did...) which has 8xAA, 2xAAA, and the 4 slot charger with worthless C/D battery shells.

 

[REDAT9-AP1]

Hope it works out for ya. Im sure it will.

The only comment I have left is that it is really nice to be able to charge ALL the batteries in 1 go. Hence a larger charger (lol?) is nice to have.

Probably too late now, but 2 packs of 4xAA eneloop with charger costs about 34 bucks on Amazon. Cheap crappy charger but you get 2 of them which can charge all 8 batteries at once. And it works.

I'd consider that better than the Starter Pack (which is what I did...) which has 8xAA, 2xAAA, and the 4 slot charger with worthless C/D battery shells.

Hey good lookin' out man... but thats actually what i did...lol i got an 8pack of 2000 mah sanyo eneloops on amazon for $19 and the tk40 was $134. i bought the M8800 titanium smart fast battery charger that charges all 8 at once. and it has the discharge function too. i read on one of the tk40 threads about chargers and reviews said it was an ok charger that worked well for the price u cant go wrong $27 on sale at batteryjunction.com:twothumbs

 

[Jash]

You're going to love your TK40. I was mucking around with mine last night and after having it all year it still makes me smile when I hit turbo.

 

[REDAT9-AP1]

OK SO I GOT THE LIGHT AND BATTERIES EARLIER THAN ORIGINAL DELIVERY DATE.... good job amazon... well i recieved the package today waited till it got dark went to a nice large field to test it out. all i have to say is wooowww!!!! defenitly the best light i've ever owned. i've only had 3 (1. 3-d cell Maglite 2. Surfire G2 65lumens 3. Inova XO3 143lumens) i love the different modes and crazy brightness... in my opinion the only light i need thanks to the different brightness levels already tried it on all the things i would use it for(except camping cuz i just got it today) and works great for each task. Over all extremely happy with my purchase. So thank you all who helped me out by taking the time to give me your 2cents on my post. greatly appreciated...:twothumbslovecpf Oh, p.s. I ALMOST FORGOT TO MENTION I RECIEVED THE NEW VERSION OF THE TK40, WITH NEW GRIP AND BATTERY HOLDER. HOWEVER THE PICS OF THE LIGHT I ORDERED WERE OF THE OLDER VERSION. WIERD. BUT I DO LIKE EVERYTHING SO FAR. and the new plastice battery holder looks to be made of hard durable plastic... incase you guys were wondering. (i remember that being a question on a thread i read about the new revisions to the light. People thought it was gonna be cheap plastic that would break easily.)

 

[REDAT9-AP1]

You're going to love your TK40. I was mucking around with mine last night and after having it all year it still makes me smile when I hit turbo.

hahaha...lol that's dope man...:twothumbs i'm sure thats gonna b me a year from now too...lol