Looking for recommendations...

[muddytaco]

I'll start by saying that this seems to be a place with a whole lot of useful information, but there are so many choices out there I'm kinda overwhelmed. I am a dealership mechanic and our shop is very dark, and I need a good (very bright) flashlight. I currently have an inova X5 that works very well, however it really just isn't bright enough for what I need. I'm not necessarily looking to light up a beer bottle on a fencepost a thousand yards away, but definitely looking or something witha little better throw than my X5. I really like the flood of it, but it just doesn't have the throw I'm looking for, nor is it bright enough. I really want something that's super bright.

Would like something possibly rechargeable, or at least run on a more common battery like a set of AA's or something. the 123 batteries I either have to order online or pay a fortune for them. I really only use it for a few minutes at a time, but constantly throughout the day. I have to replace the batteries at least once a week because it just gets too dim to be worth using.

I'm looking for any suggestions you may have becaues it appears that you guys have used/tried pretty much everything. I've been to flashlightreviews.com but there's just soooooooooooo many on there, again it's just kinda like looking into a bucket of various ball bearings and saying "which one is the shiniest".

Thanks in advance for your input

 

[sol-leks]

I also like light with good flood to them. I recommend checking out the romisen rc-29 via shiningbeam.com or the fenix E20.

 

[joshconsulting]

Again this is going to seem like tooting my own horn, but this is the 2nd thread in an hour with almost exactly the same requirements

A Nailbender SST-50 WJ bin with a L2P host and a flashlightlens.com UCL lens is the BRIGHTEST handheld flashlight. Yes, it starts off a little dimmer then the triple MC-E dropin, but it holds its brightness very well if it's properly insulated. Get a set of rechargible 18650s (either $30 for AWs or $12-16 for trustfires) and a $12 WF-139 charger for guilt free lumens. The SST-50 will light up anything within 120-150 feet, and is a mix of throw and flood. The parts together cost around $120.

[shameless plug]
I happen to be selling mine, as I'm going for a superthrower instead of a mixed light. You can buy it virtually brand-new (I've used it a few hours total, mostly inside my room testing it) at http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=211515. Just a thought if you want to save a little money and get it faster without the hassle of dealing with multiple sellers
[/shameless plug]

 

[muddytaco]

Thanks, but i'm not really looking for something modified or altered. I need something pretty much bulletproof because in the shop it's a pretty rough environment. It will be knocked around, and dropped just as part of it's duty. I don't have the ability to be gentle... it's just the nature of the job.

I was looking into a couple of the Fenix lights... the LD20 and the TK12. due to the tk12 being rechargeable, or the LD20 using easily available AA's. Also looking into the Sunlite Turbo rechargeable.

ANyone with experience in any of these, regarding what i'm looking for in a light?

Thanks

 

[jhc37013]

I think the LD20 would be a good choice you could use rechargeables and it comes with a holster. You may also want to consider the LD10 single cell AA it would be easier to pocket or be smaller in holster plus it may be easier to move around in tight spots while looking at the vehicle.

 

[muddytaco]

With AA's I'm honestly not really concerned with rechargeable batteries. I can get common batteries (AA's, AAA's, C's,D's, etc) from the parts dept for free as shop supplies. However, Ive learned they frown on paying $15+ for 2 batteries so i've been just buying them online. I really like the specs on the LD20, though after more research have kinda taken the tk12 out of the running. Though the sunlite costs almost twice as much as the LD20, it's rechargeable, comes with the battery and charger, and I know it's bright as hell... one of the guys at work used to have one before he lost it... Just curious how that would compare to the LD20. I know the sunlite is a little bit brighter, but at that level 40 or so lumens won't be a noticeable difference. How would the LD20 hold up to falling or being dropped onto concrete, maybe falling in a bucket of coolant or water, etc. Just trying to think of anything I can here... I know my x5 has survived innumerable drops and dips in liquid, and never even been phased in the slightest.

Thanks for the responses

 

[joshconsulting]

Thanks, but i'm not really looking for something modified or altered. I need something pretty much bulletproof because in the shop it's a pretty rough environment. It will be knocked around, and dropped just as part of it's duty. I don't have the ability to be gentle... it's just the nature of the job.

I was looking into a couple of the Fenix lights... the LD20 and the TK12. due to the tk12 being rechargeable, or the LD20 using easily available AA's. Also looking into the Sunlite Turbo rechargeable.

ANyone with experience in any of these, regarding what i'm looking for in a light?

Thanks

This doesn't really count as modified or altered - it's simply a LED dropin, meaning large, solid piece of aluminum with a LED soldered in the center jammed into a large, solid piece of aluminum (the body of the flashlight) with a big block of aluminum screwed on top of it to hold it down (the bezel). I would trust it with just about anything, it's waterproof and shockproof - it's at least as sturdy as a stock light, probably more. Dave uses threadlocker on his P60 slugs, so there's pretty much no chance for it to be loosened. You probably want a borofloat lens over UCL, though, as it may shatter if dropped from far enough. Easy to swap out for ~$5 from flashlightlens.com.

 

[jhc37013]

I have used many Fenix models for quite a while and dropped them several times and never had any problems from it other than a few dints. This does not mean you wont though just that I havn't had problems.

I have dunked the Fenix lights in kitchen sink and in bathtub with no problems. Even dropped one in the toilet once that sucked but no problems.

Truth is they are well made lights but like anything they can malfunction I think the chances are low with the Fenix though, atleast that has been my experience anyway.

 

[luke_DF]

LD20 is a pretty rugged light. the holster is crap but other than that - recommended. I think perhaps for the kind of work you do at the workshop the fenix diffuser could also be useful.

 

[skyfire]

i do aircraft maintenance, and use my quark 123x2 most the time.

i would highly recommend the quark AAx2 R5 over the fenix LD20. both lights similar in size, and uses 2 AA batteries.

its brighter, the spill is wider, the hot spot is wider, and can throw well enough. i find it has a very useful beam because it covers a big area.
the switch, knurling, clip, and weight balance i feel is better than fenix too. (im comparing the quark 123x2 to the fenix pd30, since those are the ones ive handled)

i would also recommend the tactical version, because i dont use strobe and such, i program it for max, and medium. and use max 95% of the time.

4sevens also has a 10 year warranty, and are based in the states, unlike fenix. i had to ship a defective light to the dealer, so they can ship it to china, i dont except to see my newly purchased pd30 for at least a month.

check out the quarks at 4sevens.com

 

[hyperloop]

If you're a mechanic, a headlamp may be useful so you have both hands free and dont have to put a flashlight in the mouth.

check out Zebralight for some nice headlamps.

 

[muddytaco]

I really don't want a headlamp just because usually if I'm using the flashlight it's for inspection purposes... checking over the car when it comes in, or looking for something dropped, etc. Headlamp wouldn't really do that much for me just because if I'm doing something that I need both hands, I've either got a droplight rigged where I need it, or a big underhood light like http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002WSDJG/?tag=cpf0b6-20

If I'm just doing a quick look over things to see what's leaking, where it's coming from, where the HELL did that BOLT go.... that kind of thing need a good flashlight.

I will look into the quark's.

Like you, I have no need for the fancy strobe functions, or the 5% function or any of that. I need something bright, period. I'm not going to be lighting up a room for hours on end with it, not going to be taking extended camping trips with it. It's for work.

This is one of the reasons i'm really considering the sunlite, simply because it really does everything i want it to. Just wondering if there's maybe something better. Just trying to do all my research before dropping $100 plus on a flashlight.

Thanks for the suggestions

 

[hyperloop]

If a neutral tinted light is okay with you, consider the Fenix TK20 from 4sevens, it runs off 2xAAs, has 2 levels changed by tightening or loosening the head and is darn near indestructible.

using the CPF6 discount code when checking out from 4sevens gets the price down even further, think i paid 48.90 for mine.

Get that, a set of 4 eneloops and you're good to go, AAs can be found nearly anywhere to if all your eneloops run out.

 

[muddytaco]

That TK20 looks really nice, and I really like its specs and seems to be really well built, however this really sways me against it.


Runtime:

Batteries
Mode
Runtime
Percentage




2x AA 2200mAh
Turbo
1 hrs 14 mins
50 %​

Appears to be really bright, however 1 1/2 hour runtime on a set of AA's... rechargeable or not really likin it. If the flashlight just plugged in like the sunlite, or had a base it charged on like a streamlight, runtime wouldn't really matter to me. But in the long run that just seems to be a lot of hassle to me.

Thanks for the suggestion though

Honestly at this point I'm really kinda leanin towards the sunlite, mainly because of ease of charge (you just plug the flashlight in) but still open to suggestions.

Thanks for all the help guys

 

[hyperloop]

trust me, you arent going to be using turbo very often. i have mine set on med (lo) all the time and that is good enough for most tasks, turbo is used only when you need to really 'punch' up the output and see really far.

that 1hr 14 minutes is till the light goes to 50% brightness which means its still pumping out light albeit at a lower level.

But, if you use it in med (lo) mode, it gives you 8hrs 59 minutes till 50%.

If i had a spare TK20, i'd send it to you to try out with a proviso that if you like it you buy it but i dont so i can't. But honestly, give it a shot, it isnt all that expensive and if you put it up for sale in the marketplace, someone will snap it up.

EDIT: i completely forgot that being the biggest, baddest and brightest was part of the requirements and was focusing on utility, my bad. Check out this Eagletac it comes in neutral white too, you just have to go look for an authorised dealer near you on that site.

But if you click on specifications, you will note that runtimes are about the same, 1.5 hours on max (and that is using higher powered cells, CR123s, RCR123s, 18650s vs 2xAAs) but of course output is double the TK20's 150 lumens and so is price

Good luck with your search man

 

[muddytaco]

Rock on man, thanks I'm really liking that eagletac. Short of being able to just plug it in by itself (needing an external charger) it looks like exactly what I'm looking for. Plus, Illuminationgear.com is literally 5 minutes from my house so if servicing is needed, the authorized dealer is right up the street Emailing them now to see if local pickup is possible...

 

[muddytaco]

Just thought I'd update... I ended up getting an EagleTac P20A2 from Tod at Illuminationgear.com . I gotta say, 6 thumbs up... First off, I really must say that he went well above and beyond what I had expected. I live in the same area as him and was originally just hoping to be able to pickup locally rather than dealing with shipping (though a lot of web based stores will refuse local dealings). First off, his communication is excellent! (+1) Much to my suprise through a handful of E-Mails we worked it out so that he would come by my work so I could see the light in the environment which it will be used daily... (+2) Not only that, but he brought a TON of different lights with him so I could see them all and decide for myself which would work the best for me. (+3) Out of all of the lights he brought, I got to see a bunch of different sizes, flavors, colors and decided on this one. After a little thought, realized I really liked the T20c2 but like he said it's got a lot of parts and pieces to it, and in my environment might not be a good thing. I liked his honesty (+4). The thing I also liked about the AA battery powered light is the fact that AA's are cheap (IE Free via shop supplies at work ) and when they die I don't have to charge the battery to use it again, or keep a battery on charge, or deal with any of it. swap 'em and go (+5) The T20c2 was a little bit brighter, but in all honesty this is plenty bright for what I need. Blows my little inova X5 away, and if need be I can buy a case of AA's for what a pair of those damned 123's cost. Plus this was $20 cheaper than the T20c2 as well (+6).

I've only had a better part of a day with it so far, but I gotta say I'm very happy with it. And props to Tod at illuminationgear very knowledgable, very helpful, and a great guy to deal with. I'd highly recommend him to anyone looking to buy a light.

Thanks Tod


Edit: The only thing I don't like about the light is the damned strobe mode... Which I've only accidently activated a couple times. I'll never use the strobe function, but I guess if i'm stranded on a deserted island and need to signal a passing ship or something..... After a little gettin used to won't be a big deal. I just have to leave the light off for a couple seconds before I turn it back on. Not a big deal, but other than that it's great

 

[hyperloop]

well, great to see that you found a good AA light and your seller was top notch man. So how are your co-workers reactions to your light?? Strobe them a bit and let them see the light (pun intended).

 

[muddytaco]

It goes over well As a side benefit when I let the dog out at night to do her thing in the yard, I can certainly see where she is! Granted, she's HUGE and white (great pyrenees... if you don't know the breed, they're large and hard to miss!) but I can light up the furthest corner of the yard like it's daytime. me likes

 

[hyperloop]

It goes over well As a side benefit when I let the dog out at night to do her thing in the yard, I can certainly see where she is! Granted, she's HUGE and white (great pyrenees... if you don't know the breed, they're large and hard to miss!) but I can light up the furthest corner of the yard like it's daytime. me likes

lol

well, first light in, more to come just imagine what a TK40 would do.

oh, in case you havent seen this, check out this beamshot comparison page