Need suggestions for my next one

[GForGeep]

I just started getting into my childhood obsession of flashlights and i Have a PC10, RRT-0 XML, ZL SC80, a few Microstreams, and an ITP A3 EOS among others small lights. I'm curious to hear what everyone thinks my next light should be. Like if I should move to 2xCR123, 18650, a Quark 1232, a ZL SC600, BC40 etc. I have no real need for a certain type of flashlight so no special requirements beside not being a twisty (I hate twisty lights with a passion, even my A3 eos), but I want them all so I would like some help with my next purchase.

 

[Chicken Drumstick]

If it's not for any real purpose, then I'd look for something interesting or fun. Personally I'm keen to use a broad range of different battery types as in the case of an emergency I'm likely to have something that'll work. It also means if one runs out of power, it'll likely force me to use something else for a bit.


My current hit list is as follows (although in no particular order):

-MagLite XL200. Not the brightest nor the most powerful. But good throw and usable light output. But I like 2 things about it. One: the colour choices, it's nice to get a choice of blue or red and adds a bit of colour. Two: the user interface, which currently is 100% unique and very original.


-Klarus NT20. A 2 x CR123A powered flashlight, but again it's the UI that attracts me. From all the lights I've looked I think this light has for me at least the best (by a country mile) user interface, combining a tail clicky for power on/off, side clicky for modes and adjustable head for 'hidden' modes. The flashlight itself looks fab too and has good overall performance.


-JetBEAM PA10/PC10. The PA10 looks like a fab light visually. I also like the wow factor of 650 lumens from such a small light when run on a 14500 battery. The big downer is, when using a 14500 instead of an AA battery you lose all other modes. So it really is just a WOW light and not all that useful/usable. The PC10 is essentially the same light but runs on 1 x CR123A or 1 x RCR123. It can only manage 550 lumens (with the RCR123), but I'm lead to believe that the other modes still work. If this is true then I'd get the PC10 over the PA10 as it'd be a far more usable light with almost as good wow factor. If not..... the I'd probably go PA10.


-Klarus.. and yes a twisty. But I think the little Mi X6 (and the AAAA powered Mi X5) look simple fab. Available in SS, titanium or even gold plating, they look awesome little lights. High output too for such tiny flashlights and I think worthy of any collection. Their size makes them great portable pocket lights too.



However you might well be bettered served buying some sort of lumen/throw monster just for the shear fun/laugh of it. Although such lights are often more pricey..... personally I think I'm going to stick to my old Mags with LED drop in's for the big stuff and much prefer the smaller size pocket lights.

That said the new G25C2 from EagleTac looks pretty darn impressive and you can buy extension tubes to run up to 4 CR123A's in it.

:)

 

[archimedes]

Providing a price point might be very helpful information for this kind of open-ended type question :devil:

 

[GForGeep]

@Chicken Drumsticks

Which LED drop in do you use for your maglites? I've seen quite a few and I'm not sure which one to get. I do kinda want my next light to be a monster thrower.

I wanted to get a quark 1232 turbo x but I'm not sure how well it throws compared to other 2xCR123s and if that G25C2 can throw, that might be my next one. Although I've only heard/read good things about the ZL SC600. Too bad I can't find anywhere I can get it right now.

And what are your thoughts about the Quark AA regular? I want a tactical cap for it (won't count as my "next light" cuz to me, that light has to automatically be in my collection)

 

[GForGeep]

Providing a price point might be very helpful information for this kind of open-ended type question :devil:

Lol true... I would like to stay at about $100 since I may have to invest in another battery type as well.

 

[Chicken Drumstick]

@Chicken Drumsticks

Which LED drop in do you use for your maglites? I've seen quite a few and I'm not sure which one to get. I do kinda want my next light to be a monster thrower.

I wanted to get a quark 1232 turbo x but I'm not sure how well it throws compared to other 2xCR123s and if that G25C2 can throw, that might be my next one. Although I've only heard/read good things about the ZL SC600. Too bad I can't find anywhere I can get it right now.

And what are your thoughts about the Quark AA regular? I want a tactical cap for it (won't count as my "next light" cuz to me, that light has to automatically be in my collection)

I'm still pretty new to this, so not sure I can really answer.

My Mag upgrades at present consist of budget drop-ins sold by thetorchsite.co.uk they do a 180 lumen XPE one and a 200 lumen XPG-R5 one. You can certainly buy better performing new lights, but I quite like to make use of what I've got.

At the end of the month I'll be getting the new TerraLUX 310MR-Ex MiniStar31 drop in. I think this was new out in December last year. It's rated at a 1000 lumens and is probably one of the best drop ins you can get: http://www.terraluxportable.com/product/tle-310-m-ex/

I hear people like Malkoff stuff too, but I don't know anything about it.

 

[Brasso]

I ho hummed around for a while but finally dropped the greenback for an SC600.

It is really nice! I can't see myself carrying anything else at the moment.

 

[archimedes]

Lol true... I would like to stay at about $100 since I may have to invest in another battery type as well.

.... I do kinda want my next light to be a monster thrower....

How about Armytek Predator?

 

[GForGeep]

How about Armytek Predator?

After looking at it, I'm interested. How does it compare to the Quark 1232 turbo x? I see the predator is rated as a 250m thrower, how far can the quark go?

 

[GForGeep]

I ho hummed around for a while but finally dropped the greenback for an SC600.

It is really nice! I can't see myself carrying anything else at the moment.

Besides the quark aa regular, I plan to buy the SC600 for sure (so it doesn't count as my "next light" either. It's also an automatic purchase just as soon as I can find one)

 

[GForGeep]

@Chicken Drumstick

Thanks for the link, good suggestion for an upgrade, I think I'll upgrade my minimag and 2d first, then maybe my 4d after I try them out

 

[mcnair55]

How about a nice bright light from a bricks and mortar store,as a true flashaholic you are giving shelf room to the Good the Bad and the Ugly.

 

[GForGeep]

How about a nice bright light from a bricks and mortar store,as a true flashaholic you are giving shelf room to the Good the Bad and the Ugly.

Lol, I don't think I can bring myself to buy a light from a brick and mortar store. Maybe if I find a maglite XL200, then maybe. But the rest I buy online

 

[LGT]

While I enjoy using both my armytek lights, HIGH cri and XP-G R5. They are not,IMO, monster throwers. For about $25 more, you could get a ThruNite catapult, an excellent thrower, but it only has two modes. Something like 700 and 200 lumens. But it's beam stretches quite a bit further then the armytek. It could be worth your while to look into them.

 

[archimedes]

While I enjoy using both my armytek lights, HIGH cri and XP-G R5. They are not,IMO, monster throwers. For about $25 more, you could get a ThruNite catapult, an excellent thrower, but it only has two modes. Something like 700 and 200 lumens. But it's beam stretches quite a bit further then the armytek. It could be worth your while to look into them.

I probably should have clarified in my post that the ArmyTek Predator is a thrower, but not necessarily a "monster" thrower .... The price point of around $100 is somewhat challenging for the latter, in a production light - maybe a Dereelight aspherical thrower ???

I was also thinking of the JETBeam M1X (price about $150 I think, when it was in production, and manufacturer claims 500+ yards of throw), but the newer M2S is over $200 .... I am not personally that familiar with ThruNite torches, but I think that the latest Catapult list price is also nearly $200 (though there are discount retailers, coupons, and so forth, of course).

 

[TEEJ]

I like the Klarus XT11, its less than $100, is built like a tank, and has pretty nice performance for its size. I just ordered one to use for work :D