Looking for light that does EVERYTHING for $130 or less

[tubed]

I’m new quality flashlights but learning fast. So bear with me a bit.
I’m looking for one “house” light that does Everything for about $130 or less – how’s that sound.
1. I have a large back yard with a small boat docked about 300 yards away. So I need a good thrower that can light it up if I suspect trouble (human or nautical).
2. When I let my dog out at night, I need to scan for coyotes, foxes, etc or sometimes look for lost items, track down kindling, etc. So I need something with some flood qualities.
3. I’d like a low-ish setting (around the 20 lumen mark) so I can turn on in house at night and not wake the family.
4. I’m not knowledgeable about batteries (nor do I like complexity) and as I’m only going to be using it occasionally for short bursts, I think I favor just buying batteries (like CR123s) for now. Would like if could use alkalines too in a pinch (perhaps not realistic).
5. I would prefer a side button and simple UI option for changing settings quickly but less important.
I’ve come up with some likely contenders and very much welcome opinions.
Sunwayman T40cs (seems to have good balance of throw and spill according to reviews)
Olight SR51 (more light but takes A LOT of batteries)
Thrunite Catapault V3 (gets a lot of good reviews but expensive and low setting is quite high)
Crelant 7Gv2 – (love this light but almost too few settings, low is too high - price is amazing)
Fenix TK41 – (nice features, takes lots of batteries)

Am I missing any others? PS- this forum is amazing!

 

[AnAppleSnail]

I strongly suggest you get two lights. A thrower to keep by the door, and a general-use light for other things. You probably won't use the thrower inside. The tasks (Near flood and far throw) require the geometry of the emitter and optics changing, which is challenging to do nicely. That said...

Underpass photos of interest

It looks like you'd see coyotes out to 250m, and their eye shine rather farther than that, with the Sunwayman T40CS. My Sunwayman light was a freebie from their SunwayLED days, but the build quality is nice and the interface quite usable. I think that one will do nicely, BUT do follow Li-Ion basics:

1. Buy good cells. Spend $10/cell on protected AW cells and avoid most trouble.
2. Use the light smartly. Don't run the cells dead.
3. Check their voltage before and after charge. If the voltage is wrong, look out.
4. Charge in a garage away from flammables.

 

[madecov]

With the exception of the battery issue, the Klarus XT-20.
Super bright with enough horse power to provide the reach you need but enough flood to light up almost an entire back yard. Get two decent 18650 batteries and a dual bay charger and your ready to rock.
I think it's about as close as your going to get to fit your needs in a single light.
It might be a little more money than you want to go but in the end you will find it to be very versatile.

 

[TEEJ]

Yeah, there's too much compromise between flood and throw for any light to do both well...unless its more than your budget allows.

Its like wanting one vehicle that will both haul your livestock and feed, and be used for autocrossing on weekends, etc.

Its better to get a truck for hauling large cargo, and a Miata or something to autocross.

:D

So, consider what your budget would encompass to get two lights, vs, one more expensive light that might do double duty.

A Zebralight SC600 for example is extremely handy for close range work, with a 750 lumen flood of light that covers you out to ~ 50 yards just fine, and has ~ 1/2 dozen brightnesses to choose from, and then you can get that Crelant 7G5 V2 for the long range spotting duties.

If they both take 18650 cells, you can simplify your charging situation...and save a lot on batteries.

Carry the SC600 in your pocket (Its ~ 4" long"), and leave the Crelant 7G5 V2 by the door where you describe needing to grab it from, etc...or holster/belt loop it, etc.

Or consider something like the Xtar S1, that has a range of low to high settings, a floody beam with throw that might work close and far...but that you would have to leave at the door or holster, as its NOT a pocket carry light.

The Klarus XT20 and the 4sevens S18 can be close too, to doing what you need...but 300 yards is borderline far for their range depending on how crappy the air is where you are....if there's a too much crap in the air, the light might be too dispered to make out the details at 300 yards you might need...as in, yeah, I see the dock, but is that someone sitting there, or one of the pilings? (If you said 250 yards, I'd have gone to them quickly as options...300 yards is more of a maybe as far as truly resolving what's out there.




Plan C (D?) - Talk to Vingnyguyen54 on the forum about a custom thrower with moonlight settings...he makes some pretty amazing pocket rockets that might be able to do what you need....and he'll custom make you a killer light out of whatever spare parts he has laying around plus drivers, etc, he buys and modifies, etc.

Good Luck!

 

[CarpentryHero]

Fenix TK60 if it's in your price range ;)

 

[tubed]

Thank you all. This is great stuff.
I know this sounds wimpy but i'd like to avoid batteries that need much attention - too many things in my life requiring attention these days. Hoping not to add batteries to that list.
What about using CR123s as throwaways (recycling of course)? was hoping not to deal with chargers, worrying about charge levels etc
IF you think that is very important -ill jump in. If that means i cannot get a good light -ill go the charger route.

I figured folks might recommend an indoor and outdoor light and that actually makes very good sense --i.e a smaller EDC type light for indoor and a thrower/flood for out door.

 

[Somnophore]

Just my two cents, a small pocket EDC light, either single AAA like a maratac with 80 lumens max is fine for in house and taking out the garbage etc, I even use mine for dog walking sometimes, or something that runs of single cr123 at around 200 lumens like a 4 sevens quark, and then a decent thrower. 18650s aren't a hassle, mine charge quick and last ages.

 

[BLUE LED]

I think the Sunwayman T40CS would best suit your needs. Using CR123A is fine. However if you are going to use it a lot, then you could buy a charger and some good quality 18650 cells.

 

[TEEJ]

Thank you all. This is great stuff.
I know this sounds wimpy but i'd like to avoid batteries that need much attention - too many things in my life requiring attention these days. Hoping not to add batteries to that list.
What about using CR123s as throwaways (recycling of course)? was hoping not to deal with chargers, worrying about charge levels etc
IF you think that is very important -ill jump in. If that means i cannot get a good light -ill go the charger route.

I figured folks might recommend an indoor and outdoor light and that actually makes very good sense --i.e a smaller EDC type light for indoor and a thrower/flood for out door.

Ironically, you have to worry about those things for primary cells too.

For example, if you use 123's, etc...and they are 3/4 discharged, but you are going to be going out...the 1/4 charge left is not going to cut it, so you take them out, and pop in a set of freshies...

But, now, you have a set of 1/4 charged cells...so you don't want to ditch them, because they're not DEAD, but, when will you find a time to work them into the rotation?

You also can't mix a 1/4 charge 123 in with a 1/2 charged 123, etc...because they can explode/get too hot, etc...so you need to organize the used but not dead cells by charge range....so, you need to MEASURE the charges to know what that means...or, just chuck'm when partly worn and not worry about it, etc.

High powered lights GET the high power from Lithium Ion Cells, so, to get the most bang for your buck...use of a rechargeable cell makes a given light potentially twice as bright, if not simply less expensive to operate.

I typically get a few extra cells, and just rotate the cells for a given light...so all the cells are given the same history. Its easy really...if you have two lights for example, and one takes a single 18650, and one takes 3 18650s, mark 2 cells "1", and mark 6 cells "2".

Rotate the two cells for light "1", and the 6 cells for light "2", to use 1 or 3 at a time for each, and always have a charged set waiting while the other is in use.

If your use is less frequent, and the down time is not a big deal, the total cell count can be just what the light takes, and you recharge during the day to use the next night, etc. Most run for HOURS on a charge, on HIGH, so, if you only shine the lights for a few minutes at a time, a few times a night....you might not have to charge more than once a week or so. (I use mine daily, for work...so I run lights for many hours at a time, as many as 16 hrs/day, etc..)

The trick is to get GOOD protected cells, and a GOOD charger...and have some confidence that you won't suffer the fate of the people running the infamous "Sure to Catch Fire" stuff.

:wave:

 

[Daekar]

If you want some batteries with slightly less danger involved that also have applications outside of flashlights, you might get the TK41 and some Eneloops. They will power the Fenix light with authority, and also be useful in your other AA-powered devices. I say the TK41, because with the addition of a $5.00 diffuser from Fenix, it CAN do everything, and for a good long time even on high, which is 800 lumens. It's very very throwy, so catching your coyotes and checking your boat will be easier. The diffuser will spread things out a lot, making it more useful for close up stuff. good As a bonus, it can run on alkalines or energizer lithium AAs if necessary, although it would get expensive quickly if you ran those on high very frequently. I have a similar situation in that our new property is sizeable and requires some supervision.

 

[fishndad]

if you dont want to recharge then i would go with AA. there are plenty of high lumen AA out there.
im waiting on a quark AA2x on sale under $50.i got the Link removed. See red banner at top of page. and it seems to be
hassle free.more hassle free than going to store becouse my light needs batteries.

 

[tubed]

If you want some batteries with slightly less danger involved that also have applications outside of flashlights, you might get the TK41 and some Eneloops. They will power the Fenix light with authority, and also be useful in your other AA-powered devices. I say the TK41, ........

Just checked out the TK41 - I like it a lot. I really like the UI. I like the AA battery thing. still thinking

 

[tubed]

Teej
thanks for this explanation. Very helpful and makes sense. Quick question: if I recharge partially (not fully) discharged 18650s will that reduce their abilities? i've heard about other batteries (i.e laptop computer) that prefer full discharges prior to recharge.
Other question: Fishndad recommended the nitecore intellicharger in another post - looks good to me. what do you think?
Last question: Where do you all prefer to buy you lights? Does anyone use International Outdoors? seems to be much less expensive than all the US companies which makes me nervous.