LEO need light! Suggestions?

[heztai]

Hey guys,

I am a LEO and I've been using my wolf eyes Q5 2 modes for my duty use. But I would like to get a new one to replace that and not sure what to get. I am thinking of either the EagleTac T10C2 or the Fenix TK11 R2. Which one is better? Also, if I get the EagleTac, would that be an improvement from my Wolf Eyes or is it similar? Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[B'hamFAL]

I'm assuming you have the WE d2ax-II q5. Why do you want to replace it? Neither of your choices are really that much smaller and only the eagletac is brighter. Spend your money on some 18650's and a charger if you are using 123's and wait for the next gen to come out.

I do admit to really liking my T10l but I don't think I woulda bought it if I had a q5 like yours on my belt already. It is a nice improvement on my old dx led drop in powered 9P though.

Where you work?

 

[RaymondMillbrae]

I have the Fenix TK11, and that thing is a torch.

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and on a hazy night, I can turn on the light and watch the throw go out to eternity.

It is a cold, sharp, and crisp, light. I like it very much.

If you keep it on your nightstand (in Turbo Mode) near your home defense pistol, in a midnight emergency situation, it will definitely blind/daze an intruder if shined in their face. (Excellent companion to have with your pistol in hand). As a home defense weapon, if directed at any ceiling, it will light up the room nicely.

And if you need to "spotlight search" your yard for something...it's great!

As for the "R2" model...I'm not sure. They say it's light is "warmer" than the original TK11.

Myself, I am also in the market for another light. I am looking at the EagleTac T10L, or the JETBeam Jet-III M. Some folks say the JETBeam has a better flood light for close-quarter indoor use, and also has a warmer light - which is better for outdoor clarity. But they also say that the EagleTac T10L has a better throw (spotlight beam), and is on the colder/bluer side of the light spectrum - like my Fenix TK11.

I'm sidetracking now. But to answer your question, from experience, the Fenix TK11 is really nice!

In Christ: Raymond

 

[Kid9P]

+1 on the Fenix TK 11.

I got it 3 weeks ago and haven't put it down.
Not only is it built like a tank, you get GREAT runtimes from
the 18650's. It definetly is a thrower with a nice tight spot.

I was not fond of the tactical ring used for the cigar style grip.
It can be easily removed and a smooth ring can be purchased from
Fenix to cover the gap.

Now it's a more compact when compared to a Surefire 6P.
I love it :thumbsup:

Get it, you won't regret it. As far as the R2 goes, I don't know about that one.

 

[gilly]

Look at the Olight M-20 and the Jetbeam Jet III - M. Both have great output and throw but also have very low modes (that you will use often) which the TK11 and Eagletac do not have (their low modes are still very bright).

Both also take all battery types (123, R123, 18650)

Good luck - stay safe

--a fellow LEO:thumbsup:

 

[heztai]

argh, now which one...

1. EagleTac T10C2
2. Fenix TK11 R2
3. JetBeam Jet-III M

I mainly use it for car searching, and outdoor evidence search, as well as rooms clearing.

Any good holster for those light and where can I buy them from?

 

[B'hamFAL]

The eagletac comes with a black nylon holster that will fit a duty belt. My T10l also fits nicely heads up in one of the standard size mace carriers if you must use leather. Baton holders often do a good job too, my 9p rode around in one for a couple years.

For the jobs you've got listed you want a lot of spill/flood and not so much throw which makes me think you dont want the tk11.

Unless your dept buys battery's for you you'll be much happier down the line with something that takes 18650's....

For a duty light I prefer something 6p size - easier to hold onto and pocket carry isn't a prob thanks to sam brown.

 

[heztai]

The eagletac comes with a black nylon holster that will fit a duty belt. My T10l also fits nicely heads up in one of the standard size mace carriers if you must use leather. Baton holders often do a good job too, my 9p rode around in one for a couple years.

For the jobs you've got listed you want a lot of spill/flood and not so much throw which makes me think you dont want the tk11.

Unless your dept buys battery's for you you'll be much happier down the line with something that takes 18650's....

For a duty light I prefer something 6p size - easier to hold onto and pocket carry isn't a prob thanks to sam brown.

I thought they all have pretty much similar size?
So which one are you suggesting then? Thanks.

 

[Magnus1959]

Another vote for the throw on the TK11. I love this light. It is built like a tank for sure.

 

[heztai]

Damn...I am leaning more towards to EagleTac...argh, so hard!

 

[RaymondMillbrae]

Heztai,

if you want real nice spotlight power, hands down, go with the Fenix TK11. It is a powerful little beast. It is also super simple (high and low mode) and will take the 18650's rechargable batteries.

I know that folks say that it is nice to have a torch that will also take primaries if you do not have the chance to recharge them. But the fact is, how many times are you in the bush, or are away from a 7-11 or something.

If you are in the PD, just get three sets of rechargeable 18650's. One for your flashlight, one as a carry spare, and place the 3rd one on the charger. This way you will always have a fully charged battery somewhere.

I use mine all the time, and sometimes I drain it while at work. (No problemo...I just pop in the spare I always carry).

And if you are chasing someone at night while he is emptying out his pockets while running, then the spotlight function is nice to help find the contraband afterwards. But don't think it is "just" a spotlight torch...it also has great flood potential. (It will light up a yard very nicely).

As for the EagleTac T10L. If you choose to go that way, get it from the EagleTac Guys.

I just purchased mine a few hours ago, and I had the option to pay with PayPal. On top of that, type in the promo code "CPF8" and get an extra $5.48 cents off your order. The torch was selling for something like $68.50. But after the discount code, I paid $63.02 for the torch, shipped via Priority Mail to my door. Not bad. (This was the lowest price I found).

Either way, you will not go wrong. Both the Fenix TK11 and the EagleTac T10L are cold blue lights that work well, have awesome lumens, and are highly regarded.

Best wishes.

In Christ: Raymond

 

[gilly]

Heztai

I would recommend the Jet III - M out of the three you mentioned. It is just as bright as the other two (close enough - your eye can't perceive the difference of 30-40 lumens) but it has the user-set mode which you can set where you want from only a few lumens all the way up to max. I think it is a mistake to think you won't need a substantially low mode. I find if I need to look at documents on the side of the road at night, I need a very low mode (maybe 5 lumens or less). The 60 lumen "low" setting on both the Eagletac and Fenix is too bright in my opinion.

The Jetbeam also offers a nicely balanced orange peel reflector which gives very good throw but also good spill. I think the Fenix TK11 is lacking on spill with its smooth reflector. T10L reflector sounds good also.

Also, while the TK11 and Jetbeam can use EITHER the 18650 or 123, the T10L can't. It is always useful to be able to keep a couple of sets of 123 primaries in your patrol bag for that emergency situation when your 18650 runs out and you forgot to bring a spare!

So, in summary:

TK-11 weaknesses: poor spill, no low-low mode.

T-10L weaknesses: no 123s, no low-low mode.

I think the Jetbeam is superior to both of these as it does not suffer from any of these weaknesses!


If you haven't seen it, check out Selfbuilt's excellent review on the Jet III-M:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=211631


Good luck with your choice.

 

[heztai]

Any other input?

 

[rockz4532]

+1 to the jet III

 

[MrGman]

EagleTac T10C2 or the Fenix TK10 not the 11. For what you mentioned you want this style beam. You don't want something with too many modes and ways to go wrong. The low is low enough for most uses and won't run the batteries down real quick. The high is great and can definitely clear a room. They light up the entire shooting range that I work at all by themselves. 25 feet across 50 foot deep shooting bay.

Both are solid.

 

[Magnus1959]

How does the Olight M-20 compare to the others?

 

[heztai]

Any suggestions?

 

[B'hamFAL]

Listen to MrGman. You want a flood light with an easy UI....much like the wolfeyes you're already carrying. The last thing you need in a stress filled situation is to worry about cycling through useless modes on your light...which is why I haven't recomended one of the p7 snipers - they just don't have a simple full bright on/off mode.


I'll add I've never had a need for a low (5-20lumen) mode on a duty light. Any document I am gonna examine that closely is gonna be done in the car. Same goes for writing tickets - do that in the car. You'll have plenty of ambient light from the cruiser (remember they have headlights and takedown lights) for any quick look at an ID while at the drivers door. If things are at all fishy the driver is gonna get a full bright blast in the face if he hasn't already gotten one anyway.

Really I'd keep the wolfeyes on my belt and spend my hard earned money on some sort of p7, a mag85, a HID, whatever big high lumen light you can afford for the duty bag. You can always pull it out on the scene when you need some real light for a search or whatever.

Note: While I say I have no NEED for a low mode it still is pretty nifty and I admit to having a few multimode lights anyway. If the situation was surviving somewhere for an unknown amount of time then the low/high mode thing would be an entirely different story. On the street I find it to be detrimental.

 

[lightcacher]

Another vote for the EagleTac T10C2. It's the light I reach for in almost every situation.

 

[waddup]

Hey guys,

I am a LEO and I've been using my wolf eyes Q5 2 modes for my duty use. But I would like to get a new one to replace that and not sure what to get. I am thinking of either the EagleTac T10C2 or the Fenix TK11 R2. Which one is better? Also, if I get the EagleTac, would that be an improvement from my Wolf Eyes or is it similar? Any suggestions?

Thanks!

looks like you already have a great light, id suggest you look for a second light and carry both. 1 goes flat, reach for the other.