need a reasonable priced BRIGHT cheap to run light

[TrevorNasko]

end of this week i will go camping- for a week . i will not be backpacking so weight dont matter. i dont have much $$$ but i know my surefires wont cut it - to expencive. here is what the light needs to do without makeing me broke.

-be really bright as it will need to light a fairly large and very dark area.
-long burn
-cheap to feed
-not a big light like a spotlight
-not overpriced light surefire
- MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS LIGHT MUST ME AN ENJOYABLE ONE- i must feel as if it and i were old freinds and the weeks end.

i know what some of you will say but NO MAGLITES!!!!

urgant reply is necicary

 

[rycen]

surge,sl4 or sl6

 

[d'mo]

Stick to your Arc-LS,... unless you've already sold it.

 

[Roy]

Lightwave 3000 or 4000! Should last you all week on one set of batteries.

 

[TrevorNasko]

no arc ls any more

 

[this_is_nascar]

Surge.

 

[TrevorNasko]

the bulb droped out of the surge and the switch broke- i wont get another.
where can i get a cheap sl6?

 

[Joe Talmadge]

For something that is cheap to run and can brightly light up a large area, I think you're looking in the wrong direction when you look at flashlights. I feel the camping lamps that run off propane and have those cloth mantles are the only reasonable camping solution for this type of thing. I don't know of any flashlights that can really take its place.

That siad, if you find something that works well for you, let us know!

Joe

 

[BuddTX]

Oh boy, giving advice to someone who has 888 posts!

My first choice would have been the Surge, but you said you don't want that one. Very bright, long run time, and the batteries are not too expensive if you get them on sale. Sam's club has a 24 pack of AA's on sale for 11.98, and that would be 3.99 to feed the surge (8 batteries).

Second choice would be the Brinkmann Legend LX, IF you buy your lithium 123a batteries on the internet at a good price.

I don't have these lights, but check out the Underwater Kinetics Sunlight SL6 or SL4, or the 4AA.

Here is the page on www.Brightguy.com: http://www.brightguy.com/detail.tpl?cart=102373894321356&sku=UND18014
http://www.brightguy.com/detail.tpl?cart=102373894321356&sku=UND80009

Uses 4 or 6 C batteries, has a 4-5 hour run time.

Th 4aa uses, of course 4 AA batteries, and has a 4-5 hour run time.

It's a personal decision as to what light you like, and it is not my place to tell you what you should or should not like, but I would re-consider the Surge. It meets your paramaters of inexpensive, cheap to run, very bright, and long run time.

 

[FluffyGrunt]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>i know what some of you will say but NO MAGLITES!!!! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Mind if I ask why no Mag-Lites? Too heavy? It was the first light I thought of when reading your list of criteria. Maybe one of those 10 dollar 6-volt lanterns would work, not fancy but bright and should have reasonable burn time and if it breaks no big loss. I've seen a few with faceted or semi-faceted reflectors in local hardware and thrift stores so they might have a half decent beam if that's important to you. Maybe a Tec40 or similar 4 AA light.

 

[Coop57]

Surge. If it has broke, Princeton Tech has a great Customer Service. No questions asked, immediate replacement. $$ vs. Lumens; the Surge is the winner.

 

[ToddM]

IMO the only light that fits that bill for me would be a surge. Can't say for the switch but I do think the bulb connection could be more secure.

The SL4&6 have really tight beams that would light up things a long ways away but not a large area. If your not concerned with close up work or large area lighting then either one would be great.

A tec40 with a upgraded 3 cell bulb and both reflectors could do a reasonable job, be compact and cheap to run. The vor tec headlamp would be okay as well, keeps your hands free and is basically the same light as a headlamp.

If you are car camping and using your own car I'd suggest a rechargeable ac/dc light like the ultrastinger or stinger HP XT. However those may be too expensive or at least not cheap. However very cheap to run.

Otherwise I think you get into larger lights, like the 4c/4d dive light size stuff or lantern lights. 8-10 watt bulbs and 5-6 hours runtime on 4 D's. These are probably the best car light IMO, they are usually shock resistant, waterproof, cheap to run, give good light and good beam quality. About $40-50.

I did get a 4D energizer "fabric light" at walmart for about $15, put a 3 cell krypton bulb in it and it's definatly bright. Should run a long time, not waterproof but rain/splashproof it's your basic car lantern size. The beam is not surefire quality that's for sure but it has a nice wide beam and a tight reflected spot as well. The wide beam is very smooth but the reflected spot has some lines in it.

 

[pec50]

One of my favorites for backpacking is the Attitude. The bluish cast to the leds seems to help preserve night vision. I also carry an interchangable Rage lamp should I really need significant light. Fairly low cost should it be lost or otherwise damaged. Backup is an ARC LE also using AAAs.

 

[Brock]

I wouldn't be good as an area light, but the UKE 2L will run about 2.5 to 3 hours on one set of 123's and is very waterproof. If you already have 123's I wold go that route. Otherwise I would look at the UKE 4AA, same lamp and longer runtime, but a bit larger.

 

[rlhess]

Hi, I thought I posted this before but didn't see it.

The SL6 has a very narrow and penetrating beam.

I've just bought the D8 from UKE and we'll see. From the beam shots (I don't have the URL handy) it's up there with the bright guys like the high-end SF stuff. Not a LSI LC3800 but...

I've also bought the 30W lamp for it which is supposed to be used only underwater, but I thought I'd give it a try--I bought a second bezel/lens just in case I melt the first one!

It should give a lot of light from the 14W standard lamp for 10 hours or so. The D cells are rated at 18AH.

Big and heavy, though.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[txwest]

My 1st choice would be the Surge. 2nd, Tec40. TX
(and they both have really good personalities, so they should very easy to make friends with

)

 

[PJD]

Buy a Dorcy Boss...load it up with a Radio Shack 6V halogen bulb and 4 lithium AA's. You'll have a good, cheap light that is element proof, VERY bright, good beam quality because of the Boss' nicely faceted reflector, and 2-3 hour run time

PJD

...there is nothing in the world more frustrating than a lousy beam...

 

[kalengkong]

SURGE.

(anyway, if you want a cheeeaapp one, just buy that 6volt lantern, its bright, cheap, and should be long burning time.)

 

[SCOTT THE BADGER]

One would nave a hard time beating a UK4AA. It is a nice, bright light, and has a very nice 4 hour run time on 4AAs, which are inexpensive everywhere. I got mine at brightguy, and am very pleased with it. That and a MaxaBeam is all you need for a weekend campout.

 

[brightnorm]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SCOTT THE BADGER:
One would nave a hard time beating a UK4AA. It is a nice, bright light, and has a very nice 4 hour run time on 4AAs, which are inexpensive everywhere. I got mine at brightguy, and am very pleased with it. That and a MaxaBeam is all you need for a weekend campout.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree. It would be hard to find a better light for Aragorn's requirements than the 4AA/Mini Q40.

Brightnorm