Moving into the world of real flashlights

[Ralph]

Hi all,

Besides the numerous Maglites I have, I think I have 5 real flashlights. I want to share my option with you about them.

Streamlight ProPolymer 4AA: model is about 2 years old. Light output and beam quality is (fairly) good. What I don't like is the switch on/off with the head. After half a year or so, the 4AA made contact very poorly. When switched off, if I shook the light, it flashes.

UK2L: nice allround light, beam quality not so good, long runtime. Don't like the head switch though, but that's very personal. Nice and small.

Surefire M2: built like a tank, but too big for everyday use*. Light output good, beam quality very good. I prefer the P60 over the P61. P61 is not so much brighter but runs much shorter.

Scorpion: to be honest my favorite. Small, well built, normal on/off switch (!). Focussable. Light output and beam quality on par with M2/P60 IMHO. Cheaper.

Inova X5T: my only LED light. Small, built quality very good, shines for hours. No long throw. Will test it properly my next camping vacation.

Currently I'm looking for a next purchase. What would you recommend? Does it make sense to buy a SF G2? (like my M2 but smaller) I'm also looking at a M6, although there is absolutely no realworld justification to buy one for me /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

* I don't use flashlights on a day to day basis, it's mainly recreational for me (vacation/camping/walking at night).

 

[Charles Bradshaw]

You might like the Princeton Tec Impact (4AA) or Impact 2 (4AAA). They are single LED with a focusing lens. I love my Impact: Good throw, long runtime, bright, and waterproof to 500 feet.

If you have a MiniMag 2AA, you can get a Luxeon Star LED dropin that will bring it to a very usable status. There are LS dropins for the C and D Mags as well.

 

[FalconFX]

Welcome to CPF!

With your numerous maglites, you probably have a minimag or two floating around...

It's time to buy yourself a MadMax or BadBoy LS module and drop it into your minimag. You can also look into an Inretech dropin module as well. You won't be disappointed with how much more "refreshed" your minimags will look, feel and function.

In the real world of a flashaholic (well, okay, it's just me), an M6 is considered not that bright...
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[kev1-1]

Perhaps a SureFire E2e or some type of drop in for your mag, like an Opalec Newbeam.

 

[JohnK]

Streamlight ProPolymer 4AA: model is about 2 years old. Light output and beam quality is (fairly) good. What I don't like is the switch on/off with the head. After half a year or so, the 4AA made contact very poorly. When switched off, if I shook the light, it flashes>>>>>>>>>>>>

If shipping is not too horrible from your home, I'd return it to SL. They should promptly replace it. An E-mail to Streamlight might get you a shipping label.

 

[4x4Dragon]

[ QUOTE ]
Ralph said:
Hi all,

Besides the numerous Maglites I have, I think I have 5 real flashlights. I want to share my option with you about them.

Streamlight ProPolymer 4AA: model is about 2 years old. Light output and beam quality is (fairly) good. What I don't like is the switch on/off with the head. After half a year or so, the 4AA made contact very poorly. When switched off, if I shook the light, it flashes.



[/ QUOTE ]

Since it seems like you like this light you could get the new LED version along with a replacement xenon lamp, so you could swich the heads back and forth. strictly a tailcap switch on the new propolymers, no more twisting. ~$35

or you could get the 2L Twin Task Light(3 led's/Xenon), ~$30

 

[paulr]

I think an SF G2 would be redundant with your Scorpion.

For the purposes you suggest, your next light should be either a CMG Infinity Ultra or an Arc AAA. These are one-cell LED lights of about equal brightness. The CMG runs on an AA for 12 hours or so. It's the same thickness as the narrow part of a 2AA Minimag and about half the length. The Arc runs on an AAA for 5 or 6 hours and is the size of a Mag Solitaire (actually a little shorter). It goes very nicely on a keychain or on a lanyard under your shirt (you'll hardly notice it's there).

Another alternative might be the regular CMG Infinity (non-Ultra), which is dimmer than the Ultra or Arc, but runs around 40 hours on a single alkaline AA. It's bright enough for walking around, reading in a tent, stuff like that. With the Infinity, you'll want a more powerful light (like your Scorpion) if you want to see something further away than immediately in front of you. The Ultra and Arc AAA are bright enough to see a fair distance.

The suggestion of a BB/MM drop-in for a Minimag is also very good, you'll get high brightness and not-so-great runtime. Or you could get an Arc LS, a very nice LED light that runs on a single 123. Either of these will be about as bright as a 2D Mag, maybe half as bright as your UKE 2L. Quite a bit brighter and more focused than your Inova X5. That's a bit much for walking around dark-adapted or use in a tent, in my opinion, hence the recommendation of the 1AA or AAA lights mentioned above.

 

[paulr]

Oh yes, if you like small bright lights and were thinking of a G2, maybe what you really want is an E2e. It's smaller and it's beautiful, and you'll even be able to put a KL4 head on it once those come out. It makes your Streamlight look huge by comparison.

 

[Kanai]

I would also recommend the ARC AAA and the Surefire E2e. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[Ralph]

Thanks all for the great recommodations.

paulr:

I like the ARC AAA and is well available here. Regarding the E2e, I see different types with difference heads. Some have 'teardrop' ones http://www.ajvg.com/klk/SF7003.GIF , other have one like my M2 http://www.ajvg.com/klk/SF7006KL.GIF . And there's even the SG: https://www.toolshop.de/db/big/sf-e2e-sg.jpg

What is the E2(2) to have? Looks to me as if the teardrop-ones are the smallest?

FalconFX: thanks for the insight on the M6. Are there any other - brighter - flashlights within the M6-size-range?

 

[FalconFX]

Ralph, you can find similarly bright lights within that size, but the M6 is much better made. It's equivalent in general is the Tigerlight and quite possibly the UltraStinger. But that's assuming the M6 is running off of its Low Output lamp. With its high bulb, it's 500 lumens, and has very little equal, except its rechargeable brother, the 10X Dominator...

For its size, it doesn't have much challengers.

You would have to go the spotlight route to oust the M6 in brightness or throw...

 

[kalengkong]

yep. i agree to falcon.
i just got M6 few days ago, i love this light so much. especially the 500 lumens, it shines all through the alley when im going to my apt.

compact size, very2 rugged n also built like tank. :P

you wont dissapointed.
(only the battery cost you will). :P

 

[B@rt]

Hi Ralph,

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Nice to see another Dutchman around... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

btw, Falcon is one of our "brighter" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif members,
if you are looking for something with a little /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif more "oomph", ask him about HID...

Have fun!