Need light suggestion

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E

erik2929

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Mar 14, 2008
Messages
34
Ok, I'm a noob here but I've done my share of browsing. What I need is a "oh-crap-WTF-was-that???!!!" light for when I go to Iraq soon. I'll be walking around in a lot of dark so I want to be able to see anything coming my way from a pretty good distance if I need to. It won't be my primary light as I have other plans for that one. I just need something to keep nearby or maybe on my side in case I need emergency lumens. So far I'm looking at the EYJ, Wolf Eyes Storm, Lumapower Lumahunter MRV, T503, and Tiablo A9. Right now I'm leaning towards the Lumapower or Tiablo but I'd like to do my research a bit more before deciding. Any help would be much appreciated. TIA.
 
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If I were going into a hot LZ, my three choices would be Surefire, Surefire, & Surefire:D

Quite a few of their models would serve your purpose, but I'd limit the choice to LED lamps only, for reliability. IMO, the U2 would give you a wide lumen range & long runtimes at the lower levels. Quite a few have sold recently on BST, seems like new/near new ones are under $200. Here's one that just listed: http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=176530

Another possibility, if you want more lumens without the lower levels, is a 6P + Malkoff M60. This light will certainly get the "WTF was that" response:grin2:
 
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Although surefire is the traditional choice, you may want to look at a fenix TK11, though it won't be released for a few days (25th?). It won't weapon mount, but it should be great for the "oh crap!" moments where you need light. It also gives a slightly lower level for other tasks, and it'll more than take any punishment you wish to put it through. Take a look ;)
 
OK there are plenty of boys who have been there and come back. they stopped here first.
If you do a little reading you will find some of those threads.
There are a great deal of factors involved here.
recommending one light over another is tough with the very little information you have given us.

Do you have any preferences? size battery type. Are you working a deck job or are you going to be in the poop?
do you need a weapon light?
What about night vision?
Do you need to be able to track blood?
What is your budget?
$50.00 or $500.00
It is easy to spend $50.00. Buy a surefire G2L. get a holster appropriate to your style of carry. Do you have a style of carry? Somehow I doubt it . too early. Get a spares carrier. If you can afford it get a Malkoff P60 high output drop in.
OK those are basics.
Maybe you will be working with or inside aircraft. maybe you want a Surefire A2.
I don't know much.
Maybe a E1B or an L1 will do the trick.
You may need to top vehicle inspections. you will need a light which will penetrate the windows and give you good visual on the interior of the vehicle. A light with all hot-spot will serve well there.

OK you have a lot of options.
G2's are good if you are wearing gloves..better maybe than aluminum. Nitrolon is an extremely heavy duty glass impregnated polymer.

Look we don't know anything about what you will need until you tell us.
IMHO Stay away FAR away from inexpensive or cheap Asian flashlights.
Stick with the high quality products from SUREFIRE. They have multiple products designed specifically for YOUR needs. these are battle tested battle approved. MIL SPEC devices.
Yes you pay more. When you life and possibly the life of your buddy depends on it isn't a few bucks more worth it? IMHO you bet your *** it is.
Don't just buy a flashlight. Get a light (or two), get batteries, get a holster which will work for you not just because somebody says it is the best. Get them to back it up. Why is it the best? Do you carry the same way they do?
This is serious business.
Do not make these decisions based upon the opinions of others you don't know. You have 1.5 months. make sure that whatever "system" or flashlight you go with that you spend time TRAINING in it's use under different conditions. Again your life and the lives of those around you may depend on your ability to use a flashlight as a TOOL correctly.
Good luck.
Keep your head down.
Yaesumofo


erik2929 said:
Ok, I'm a noob here but I've done my share of browsing. What I need is a "oh-crap-WTF-was-that???!!!" light for when I go to Iraq soon. I'll be walking around in a lot of dark so I want to be able to see anything coming my way from a pretty good distance if I need to. It won't be my primary light as I have other plans for that one. I just need something to keep nearby or maybe on my side in case I need emergency lumens. So far I'm looking at the EYJ, Wolf Eyes Storm, Llamapower Homehunter MRV, T503, and Diablo A9. Right now I'm leaning towards the Llamapower or Tialia but I'd like to do my research a bit more before deciding. Any help would be much appreciated. TIA.
Click to expand...
 
I'd recommend either a Surefire 6P with a good LED drop-in(or two if you want one for backup/lower output) and a set of rechargeable batteries(plus charger) or the Dereelight CL1H with a similar setup.

Do you need lots of throw. Also, weaponlight? How much are you willing to spend?

Also have at least 1 backup light just in case.

:welcome:

And good luck over there.
 
+1 for Surefire 6P with drop in.

I suggest you get the Malkoff M60 drop in if you want the wow factor. Surefire's are tough as the M1A1, and if ever something went wrong with their lights you have a warranty. I sent a Surefire 6P with the M60 drop in to a friend in Iraq, he must have scratched the lens so he asked me to call Surefire for him if he can buy a new lens. What they did was sent him directly a new lens for free.
 
I recently got a Tiablo A9S. ("S" for smooth reflector).

Here are some Pros and Cons:

Pros:
~~~~~

1 - Able to take more than one battery type. (Since you'll be in Iraq, I doubt this will be a big advantage to you).

2 - Bright hotspot will incredible throw.

3 - It's an LED, no need to worry about replacing hard-to-find-bulbs.

4 - Overall, very good build-quality.

Cons:
~~~~~

1 - The tailcap switch: It's a reverse-clickie. While fine for most lighting chores, it's less than ideal for someone being deployed to Iraq. The switch is also recessed. While this allows the light to tailstand, it also makes the switch a bit difficult to hit if you're in a hurry.... I ordered an optional forward-clickie from Lighthound.com, for my A9S. I'm glad I did! This is one of the best designed forward-clickies I have ever used. You lose low-mode, the lanyard hole, and the ability to tailstand with the A9. But it's a small price to pay to make this light better.

2 - Dark rings around the hotspot. This is reduced with the use of a textured reflector. But you lose some throw. In real world use, the dark rings are generally a very minor issue.

3 - Small amount of checkering on the light, and it's very shallow at that.

4 - Anti-roll feature tends to get in the way. I took mine off. You could add friction tape to the area where it used to be. Or use about five O-rings for a better grip.

5 - No holster. I can carry the light in my coat-pocket. But an after-market holster would be a good investment.

Overall:
I'm happy with my A9S.... But only after I took off the anti-roll ring, and replaced the tailcap switch with a forward-clickie. Since this won't be your main light, you might be better off getting one with a textured reflector.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another idea - If I were in your shoes, I'd get a Surefire L1 Cree. That would make a better secondary light than the Tiablo A9. It's smaller, has a pocket-carry clip, and only uses one CR123 cell. It's also very bright. And the overall quality is better than an A9.
 
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erik2929 said:
Ok, I'm a noob here but I've done my share of browsing. What I need is a "oh-crap-WTF-was-that???!!!" light for when I go to Iraq soon. I'll be walking around in a lot of dark so I want to be able to see anything coming my way from a pretty good distance if I need to. It won't be my primary light as I have other plans for that one. I just need something to keep nearby or maybe on my side in case I need emergency lumens. So far I'm looking at the EYJ, Wolf Eyes Storm, Lumapower Lumahunter MRV, T503, and Tiablo A9. Right now I'm leaning towards the Lumapower or Tiablo but I'd like to do my research a bit more before deciding. Any help would be much appreciated. TIA.
Click to expand...

If you're accustomed to Surefire lithium battery lights, getting something that gives you that wow feeling might not be easy. The Streamlight 4AA Luxeon gave me the WOW feeling. After that, the only thing that made me say WOW is a 35W HID spotlight.
 
I already have the SF 6PL so I'll probably use that as my main light while there. I won't be "in the sh**" so to speak, but I will be trying to avoid unexploded ordinance at night while there. And since I'll be there in the middle of summer, coming across Iraqi wildlife at night might be something I can look forward to, and I'd rather not get caught off guard. So the lights I'm looking to get are going to be:

1. A very good headlight (Petzl MYO XP or Brunton L3)
2. My oh sh** light
3. A 1 AAA/1 AA/1 CR123A normal use light (Fenix L0D sized)

My budget isn't really a concern for me but I don't really want to spend over $300 for any single light. I'll have access to all battery types except most rechargeables. Is the SF 6P with Malkoff M60 really that great? Anyone have any beamshots?
 
Is the SF 6P with Malkoff M60 really that great?
Click to expand...
And then some:D

My first M60 was so impressive that a second M60 was purchased. That led to my third Malkoff, the M60LL, which gives long runtime - 80 lumens for 8 hours. Heat output is not an issue with either the L or the LL, and both can be used in the molded body lights, even with the molded head.

Warm color temp, nice hotspot which transitions gradually to a superb spillbeam. The best that you can buy today.
 
erik2929 said:
I already have the SF 6PL so I'll probably use that as my main light while there. I won't be "in the sh**" so to speak, but I will be trying to avoid unexploded ordinance at night while there. And since I'll be there in the middle of summer, coming across Iraqi wildlife at night might be something I can look forward to, and I'd rather not get caught off guard. So the lights I'm looking to get are going to be:

1. A very good headlight (Petzl MYO XP or Brunton L3)
2. My oh sh** light
3. A 1 AAA/1 AA/1 CR123A normal use light (Fenix L0D sized)

My budget isn't really a concern for me but I don't really want to spend over $300 for any single light. I'll have access to all battery types except most rechargeables. Is the SF 6P with Malkoff M60 really that great? Anyone have any beamshots?
Click to expand...

Anything from Malkoff is great.... The downside is that anything from Malkoff also tends to be very hard to get your hands on.

Can't help you with regards to a good headlamp. But you generally can't go wrong with Petzl.

I can't think of a better "Oh $#^%!" Light than a Surefire M6. It's more than $300, the Hight output lamp eats 6 CR123 cells in 20 minutes, and it's not an LED light; you'll have to replace the lamp eventually. But the combination of build-quality, output, and compact size; makes it the best "Oh $#^%" Light out there. I love mine.

I also own a Fenix L0D Rebel 80. Best AAA light that I own. But I recommend getting the Q4 version. The Fenix P1D is a good choice for a 1xCR123 light. Very compact, and it can tailstand.
 
Ok, my lights so far will be as follows (and please correct my mods if they're wrong):

-Fenix L0D with 10440
-2D mag with TerraLUX TLE-300M, Borofloat lens, and soon-to-acquire 6AA to 2D adapter, running ????? for batteries (all to perform the ROP mod but with the 300M instead)
-SF 6PL with BOG Q5 Super Premium and hopefully different tailcap
 
1. The L0D with a normal AAA battery should be enough and you won't have to worry about the unprotected Li-ion battery.
2. I'd suggest it with a Malkoffdevices drop-in. Cost around the same but I have a feeling the Malkoff would be more durable(and it definitely throws further, hard to get though).
3. This would be good, Malkoff also has a drop-in for P60 lights. Less throw but more spill. Up to you to decide.

If you have the money, maybe even a HID light for those long range or times when you need 1000+ lumen of light?
 
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