My Quest for the Perfect Pocket EDC:

[rangerxtrn]

Well guys/gals, my quest took an odd turn when a lightbulb clicked on in my head... I have had my hands on many flashlights in the past few years and especially the past few months. I went through almost all of the olights and liked them but none of them quite did it for me after being spoiled on the quark ui. I then tried out some of the new 7777's lights, and even many fenix lights. I am very fond of fenix and 7777's so I am alittle biased. I was like a lot of other people on here, I wanted a flashlight that was the size of my pinky that looked like a WWII aerial searchlight at night and runs forever on rechargables. Long story short, I hit a brick wall between the throw and size issues. I ended up buying a quark-mini-aa and a fenix-tk-30. It finally hit me that my search was futile and if I wanted the two extremes I needed two different lights. I know many of you are probably thinking duh rangerxtrn. I just had a wild hair that maybe such a light exists and by finally following my own philosophy and the philosophy of my fellow flashaholics I realized that I needed to specialize. So I got a compact edc and a thrower. I was blown away with the cree mc-e led. I guess its time to purchase some 18650's now since I got a whopping 21min31secs out of my two RCR123's I guess my flashlight search is over for now. Anyhow, my mind is finally at rest over the flashlight search. I own way too many flashlights according to my friends... you can never have too many :devil:
lovecpf

 

[AlphaZen]

I find the combo of a small, floody, single-cell light with a larger 18650-sized thrower to be perfect. It is hard to find every feature you want in one light, but many people try.

 

[Tripwik]

I agree with you both having two lights around is really the only way to be able to handle anything that could happen. Definately a small single cell light with maybe a few brightness settings or just a simple floody one. And your most prized SF mod riding shotgun for when you just want to scare the hell out of people. Or see what the hell that noise was on the other side of the field. Whatever your favorites are and I am sure everyone has thier own there is just no such thing as the Holy Grail of lights.:sigh:

But it is always fun to keep looking!!!!lovecpf

 

[cistallus]

... I wanted a flashlight that was the size of my pinky that looked like a WWII aerial searchlight at night ... I ended up buying a quark-mini-aa...

If you haven't already, get a 14500 and try it in your Mini - it will get you closer to your goal of a tiny light with monster output. Still won't throw like your TK30 does of course, but it will be better. Or look in the Custom & Mods forum for Sabrewolf's small lights with MC-E, SST-50, or even SST-90! :huh:

 

[Flying Turtle]

If you're not afraid of the programming and can find one, the LiteFlux LF2XT running on 10440's will probably make you smile. Works great on NiMH's, too, just not as bright.

Geoff

 

[jellydonut]

My perfect light for EDC except suit and tie/similar constraining events is the Malkoff Wildcat MD3. I usually end up carrying the almost-as-perfect Wildcat + MD4 body instead so I can use 18650s with it, but the MD3 is really the ideal size. It is only left home in favor of the M60/MD2 when I can't deal with the bulky 1.8" head. It's not a throwy light by any means but with 750 lumens it can reach out far enough. The 50-70lm low mode is also very useful.

 

[ma_sha1]

I was like a lot of other people on here, I wanted a flashlight that was the size of my pinky that looked like a WWII aerial searchlight at night and runs forever on rechargables.

If there was ever a light that comes close to that decription, it'd be this little crazy thrower: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb//showthread.php?p=3432214 :devil:

 

[rangerxtrn]

If you haven't already, get a 14500 and try it in your Mini - it will get you closer to your goal of a tiny light with monster output. Still won't throw like your TK30 does of course, but it will be better. Or look in the Custom & Mods forum for Sabrewolf's small lights with MC-E, SST-50, or even SST-90! :huh:

NO WAY? a quad die in a pocket light? hmmm.... my checking account is getting a little stale... lol

What about heat sinking with the mini??? :shrug: who cares lol ordering two 18650 A-dubs 2900mAh and a single 14500 and hope my mini aa doesn't go

Thanks!

 

[rangerxtrn]

If there was ever a light that comes close to that decription, it'd be this little crazy thrower: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb//showthread.php?p=3432214 :devil:

Dang IT! LOL everytime I get back on CPF I end up spending more money!!!
lovecpf
That is impressive, aspheric optic???

 

[rangerxtrn]

My perfect light for EDC except suit and tie/similar constraining events is the Malkoff Wildcat MD3. I usually end up carrying the almost-as-perfect Wildcat + MD4 body instead so I can use 18650s with it, but the MD3 is really the ideal size. It is only left home in favor of the M60/MD2 when I can't deal with the bulky 1.8" head. It's not a throwy light by any means but with 750 lumens it can reach out far enough. The 50-70lm low mode is also very useful.

WOW! Thanks for the input, I'm trying to open my mind to different brands and modding now that I have a good edc and barn burner. :devil:

 

[rangerxtrn]

If you're not afraid of the programming and can find one, the LiteFlux LF2XT running on 10440's will probably make you smile. Works great on NiMH's, too, just not as bright.

Geoff

Sounds like a good project for this winter... hmmm

 

[rangerxtrn]

I find the combo of a small, floody, single-cell light with a larger 18650-sized thrower to be perfect. It is hard to find every feature you want in one light, but many people try.

Well, after much tossing and turning, returning, research, amongst $... I figured, I need to have one of each... or put a pocket clip on my tk30 and walk around looking like a stud LOL :naughty:

 

[NCT1]

These are the flashlights I carry everyday.

-Download's Pocket Rocket HAIII
-Maratac AAA Aluminum.

 

[rangerxtrn]

These are the flashlights I carry everyday.

-Download's Pocket Rocket HAIII
-Maratac AAA Aluminum.

I have never owned a maratac light. You satisfied with it? Price?

 

[cistallus]

... What about heat sinking with the mini??? :shrug: who cares lol ordering two 18650 A-dubs 2900mAh and a single 14500 and hope my mini aa doesn't go ...

Like any light this small, it gets hot quick when driven so hard. A minute or so is fine. If you tightly heat sink it with your hand or otherwise cool it you can run it a lot longer.

 

[rangerxtrn]

Like any light this small, it gets hot quick when driven so hard. A minute or so is fine. If you tightly heat sink it with your hand or otherwise cool it you can run it a lot longer.

I see... has anyone put it in the lightbox and metered the output? 190-200 lumens-ish?

 

[cistallus]

Yes it's been measured, and it's way more than 190-200. I thought BigChelis had measured it but can't find it right now, it was over 300 lumens. Also light reviews shows it but measured slightly lower at 270 on the Ti sample and 262 on the regular aluminum one: http://www.light-reviews.com/4sevens_quark_mini_aa/