Most Useful Lights - 2025

[russprechtl]

Most of us here have multiple lights we love for different reasons (size, tint, build material, sentimental value, collectability, etc.). I'm interested, however, in which one or two are MOST useful for you and why. It might also help our new members find some they can't live without. Share pics where you can! Mine are:

X-Small (AAA/ 10440)

Skilhunt E3A – High CRI, tiny (disappears on the keychain), great output for a single NiMH, affordable

Reylight Pineapple Mini – High CRI, great build quality, compact (disappears in the pocket), programmable, great output, multi fuel (runs any chemistry), affordable

Small (AA/ 14500)

Reylight Lanapple – High CRI, outstanding build quality, programmable, great output, multi fuel (runs any chemistry)

Zebralight SC5c II – High CRI, great build quality, highest output on AA NiMH, great sub-lumen output, great runtime, runs on readily-available cells for emergency or bugout-type use, affordable

Medium (16340/ CR123/ 18350)

Reylight Rook – High CRI, outstanding build quality, programmable, great output and runtime, stock battery comes with built-in USB-C charging

Large (18650/ 21700/ or bigger)

Lumintop FW3A - High CRI, great build quality, smooth ramping UI

What are yours?

 

[Monocrom]

Not even close.... 2AAA Powertac Sabre LED Penlight.
Ever since I bought it a few years back. Every year, THAT one.

 

[russprechtl]

Not even close.... 2AAA Powertac Sabre LED Penlight.
Ever since I bought it a few years back. Every year, THAT one.

Nice. What makes it the most useful for you?

 

[Monocrom]

Nice. What makes it the most useful for you?

Mainly form-factor. Love me a good 2AAA-based LED penlight. But also the fact that it'll run on alkies or rechargeable batteries (not all penlights do, ironically). It's a bit shorter than a typical penlight. So, easily fits in my back-pocket. Aggressive grooves all around the body. 2/3 are aluminum. 1/3 has a rubberized coating for better grip (thankfully NOT silicon-based, so no worries that the rubberized material will start to break down and feel sticky). Finally, it has a neat trick that it does that no other penlight can do. In an Emergency when you know you're going to need more runtime but don't have any spare AAAs at all.... you can unscrew the head, the mid-section, and the upper 1/3 of the light. Toss one battery and the mid-section into a pocket. Re-screw the head onto the top section with only one battery inside, and it'll work!

 

[russprechtl]

Mainly form-factor. Love me a good 2AAA-based LED penlight. But also the fact that it'll run on alkies or rechargeable batteries (not all penlights do, ironically). It's a bit shorter than a typical penlight. So, easily fits in my back-pocket. Aggressive grooves all around the body. 2/3 are aluminum. 1/3 has a rubberized coating for better grip (thankfully NOT silicon-based, so no worries that the rubberized material will start to break down and feel sticky). Finally, it has a neat trick that it does that no other penlight can do. In an Emergency when you know you're going to need more runtime but don't have any spare AAAs at all.... you can unscrew the head, the mid-section, and the upper 1/3 of the light. Toss one battery and the mid-section into a pocket. Re-screw the head onto the top section with only one battery inside, and it'll work!

That is really neat! I hadn't heard of the rubber coating on anything but a Milwaukee Penlight. The removable body section and single cell capability is genius. That is truly useful.

 

[gurdygurds]

This is my most useful light. Headlamp. Pocket light. Super low. Plenty bright. AA or AAA. Hi CRI.

 

[russprechtl]

This is my most useful light. Headlamp. Pocket light. Super low. Plenty bright. AA or AAA. Hi CRI.

Excellent choice! (That one almost made my list too - it was six of one and half a dozen of the other whether to choose the straight or headlamp version). How do you run it on an AAA? Do you wrap it in tape, or is there a converter you use?

 

[gurdygurds]

Dude.....AAA drops right in. Nothing needed. Try it.

 

[russprechtl]

Dude.....AAA drops right in. Nothing needed. Try it.

I will. I never thought of doing that before. Thanks!

 

[TIFisher]

Wurkkos TS10. I rotate through several samples, but always have one at arms length day or night. Aux LED's aid in locating it in the wee hours. I like the high CRI and great tints of those CSP emitters. The low moonlight levels afforded with Anduril FW are a huge bonus for trips to the loo at zero dark thirty.

 

[tech25]

Most carried, HDS Rotary 18500 NLT with DC-fix. Love the UI. The beam shape with the DC-fix is blended and good for indoor and outdoor ranges. The tint/CRI is not my favorite but it's a trade off for the higher lumens. Maybe when I put cash aside I would get the SDR 50.

Zebralight H600fc gets next on my list- high CRI headlamp with a choice of a nice high mode or longer runtimes.

Next is a Malkoff MD3 with M91BN. Great light with oomph and a very useful low mode.

I regularly carry and use other lights like my PK-PR1, Zebralight H51fw, mountain electronics Convoy C8 for throw. 4sevens quark AA and Lumintop FW3A.
Manker MK39 rangerVN for full power and a couple of Sofirn LT1 lanterns.
Incandescent; minimag, Surefire E2e, and Surefire 6p.
These lights cover my current needs and wants (with a hole just for a 21700 sized light for my jacket pocket) But the first 3 are my go to lights.

 

[AMD64Brunette]

For sheer durability.. I'd reach for my Fraz Labs QT-SS 18650.

Most carried.. my brass Peak Eiger or El Capitan.

Headlights: my Zebralight H600d or H54 FcN.

 

[russprechtl]

Most carried.. my brass Peak Eiger or El Capitan.

Nice! Do you use the QTC pills in yours, or are they single level?

 

[PaladinNO]

It depends on the circumstances, but as I have said in all of these threads, if I had to choose a single light, it would have to be my Fenix TK76, with 2x battery extenders for a total of 12x 18650.
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/my-collection.484404/#post-5575466

As a second light, it would have to be my newly aquired "Dream Light", aka my "midlife crisis light", an Emisar D4K Titanium Colourful 16x E21A 3500K + 4500K mix custom mule that I got for myself as a gift for my 4th decade. Easily taking the second spot from the previous holder, one of my three FireFlies PL47MU

Post in thread 'My collection'

Mar 6, 2025

Didn't expect so many others to post their collections here, but here are some pictures of my latest acquisitions.

Emisar D4K Titanium Colourful E21A 8x 3500K + 8x 4500K mule

Asked for an additional Raw Copper bezel and additional magnetic Raw Titanium tailcap.

This is my "dream light", and 40th birthday "midlife crisis" light - and Hank delivered it P.E.R.F.E.C.T.L.Y.!
...And as I promised Hank in my last email, if he got that light right, I got orders for another 350-400 USD coming his way - and I am a man of my word.

Emisar...

• PaladinNO

• 

Right, that is my top picks - as to I what I actually carry day-to-day, my choices is a Wurkkos FC11C 4000K and a Fenix LR35R.
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/my-collection.484404/page-3#post-5612765

Single 18650 high CRI and dual 21700 high power, respectively. The FC11C is carried in a tool pocket in my pants whenever I am leaving the house, and the Fenix in my backpack that I also always have with me.

EDIT:
GAH! Can I PLEASE NOT have the links embed automatically!?

 

[jabe1]

Not even close.... 2AAA Powertac Sabre LED Penlight.
Ever since I bought it a few years back. Every year, THAT one.

How's the tint?

 

[Monocrom]

How's the tint?

Cool White. Perfect for my needs.

 

[russprechtl]

As a second light, it would have to be my newly aquired "Dream Light", aka my "midlife crisis light", an Emisar D4K Titanium Colourful 16x E21A 3500K + 4500K mix custom mule that I got for myself as a gift for my 4th decade.

That D4K is beautiful!

Need one....must resist.........resistance is futile........nope, must resist.....resistance waning......Reaching for credit card......enabling mode on......Aaaaaaa!

 

[Monocrom]

Resistance is Futile.

 

[desert.snake]

All flashlights are useful. Tool AAA have upset me most with their behavior as the battery discharges. It doesn't say anything about it, but lights up at about the same constant level, and then after switching off it doesn't turn on again right away, and in the cold it may not turn on for about 10 minutes

Lately these 4. different beam types, different control, but all are good. Especially Fury after warranty repair of the head. new diode is less green. It is designed for 3*CR123 with 1000 lm, but is installed on a 2*123 tube, bored for 1*18650. On 1*18650 it produces about 500 lm. As the battery discharges (3.4-3.6V), it clearly shows this by not turning on the weak mode, but immediately turning on the strong mode. It is immediately clear that the battery needs to be recharged. The hotspot to spill ratio is optimal for most tasks, although when moving along a trail, I would like the hotspot angle to be 1.5 times wider

 

[russprechtl]

All flashlights are useful. Tool AAA have upset me most with their behavior as the battery discharges. It doesn't say anything about it, but lights up at about the same constant level, and then after switching off it doesn't turn on again right away, and in the cold it may not turn on for about 10 minutes

I'm glad you mentioned that about the Tool. I've never heard of that before. Is that the same with all types of emitters in the AAA Tool? (Specifically, the higher CRI ones)?