The original thread I posted shortly after receiving my Longbow ECO is here:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=72721
I have been using this flashlight for over two years. If memory serves, I paid about $90 for it at the time.
It has been in a pouch on my hip (along with a multi-tool) almost every day since I purchased it. The flashlight is used on a weekly basis at the very least. If I am using it often, I will switch out the batteries and put a freshly set of charged NIMH AA batteries into it about once every three days. Otherwise, I often swap out the batteries about every two weeks.
The ability to use rechargeable NIMH AA batteries is a big plus, especially if you are deployed. I kept two pairs of batteries with me in Iraq. I had a small Iraqi to US power converter and a little 4 AA charger. Before going to sleep I would swap out the batteries every night.
The beam is a good balance of spot and flood for general use and bright enough to be of use at night, even at a fair distance. It is not as bright as Surefires or other high output flashlights. The regulated runtime means that you can suddenly find yourself without juice. Something interesting I have found is that if you turn it off, then try to turn it back on and the batteries are low – just try turning it off and on a couple more times. Quite often, I will get the beam back and it will last another solid ten minutes.
The Longbow has been through a lot of abuse. In addition to all the normal whacks and smacks you might expect, I have struck it very hard against concrete after taking a tumble on a dark and rainy night when I was moving at a trot. When I fell, I slapped out with my left hand, the one holding the flashlight, to break the force of my fall. The Longbow hit the solid concrete with a lot of force. My hand, buffered from the concrete by the flashlight, was skinned raw in places and left tingling. The flashlight's finish was scratched and had small gouges, but otherwise it did not suffer any ill effects. I have done less to a mini Maglite and the internals were damaged.
There are a number of dings and scratches, most concentrated around the bezel. The outer lens (it has that and a thicker one that surrounds the LED) has a few nicks in it, but has survived without fracture.
It has been soaking wet, even submerged, a number of times, exposed to temperatures over 115 degrees and below zero and has not had any problems. The flashlight has also been exposed to fine and gritty sand for extended periods with no ill effects. As insurance, I did give it a good cleaning after returning from Iraq. The twisty cap still operates smoothly.
This is the first flashlight to survive two years with me, though my prior experience was entirely mini Maglites. Still, I believe that it is a well designed flashlight. To me, it is worth the price I paid.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=72721
I have been using this flashlight for over two years. If memory serves, I paid about $90 for it at the time.
It has been in a pouch on my hip (along with a multi-tool) almost every day since I purchased it. The flashlight is used on a weekly basis at the very least. If I am using it often, I will switch out the batteries and put a freshly set of charged NIMH AA batteries into it about once every three days. Otherwise, I often swap out the batteries about every two weeks.
The ability to use rechargeable NIMH AA batteries is a big plus, especially if you are deployed. I kept two pairs of batteries with me in Iraq. I had a small Iraqi to US power converter and a little 4 AA charger. Before going to sleep I would swap out the batteries every night.
The beam is a good balance of spot and flood for general use and bright enough to be of use at night, even at a fair distance. It is not as bright as Surefires or other high output flashlights. The regulated runtime means that you can suddenly find yourself without juice. Something interesting I have found is that if you turn it off, then try to turn it back on and the batteries are low – just try turning it off and on a couple more times. Quite often, I will get the beam back and it will last another solid ten minutes.
The Longbow has been through a lot of abuse. In addition to all the normal whacks and smacks you might expect, I have struck it very hard against concrete after taking a tumble on a dark and rainy night when I was moving at a trot. When I fell, I slapped out with my left hand, the one holding the flashlight, to break the force of my fall. The Longbow hit the solid concrete with a lot of force. My hand, buffered from the concrete by the flashlight, was skinned raw in places and left tingling. The flashlight's finish was scratched and had small gouges, but otherwise it did not suffer any ill effects. I have done less to a mini Maglite and the internals were damaged.
There are a number of dings and scratches, most concentrated around the bezel. The outer lens (it has that and a thicker one that surrounds the LED) has a few nicks in it, but has survived without fracture.
It has been soaking wet, even submerged, a number of times, exposed to temperatures over 115 degrees and below zero and has not had any problems. The flashlight has also been exposed to fine and gritty sand for extended periods with no ill effects. As insurance, I did give it a good cleaning after returning from Iraq. The twisty cap still operates smoothly.
This is the first flashlight to survive two years with me, though my prior experience was entirely mini Maglites. Still, I believe that it is a well designed flashlight. To me, it is worth the price I paid.
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