Need suggestions for practical light with GOOD run times

[rgc]

I use my lights for camping (some hunting but that is taken care of) and general preparedness as the last Hurricane that blew through here left the power off for two weeks. That said I am looking for a new light with useful (does not need to melt a face) brightness, decent throw on high and very long run times on low. Looking both new and used at Surefire U2, Surefire Stratum, Surefire E2L and the basic HDS elite clicky. I want a light with at least two levels of light with a low, low (my old style 1l with 1.1 lumens is great). With the two manufactures I am looking at are rock solid builds that will take a lot of abuse. Thoughts on these? Which one would you go with? Others to consider?

Thanks,
rgc

 

[RedForest UK]

I would definately make Neutral White tint a priority for outdoor use, and would seriously consider the new Fenix LD40 coming up, it runs on 4xAA cells and gives 250lumens on high for over 3 hours and gives a 4 lumen low for 245 hours use. All on 4 easily available AA cells and with a neutral white XP-G in a throwy reflector to boot.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

+1 for HDS. User adjustable levels so you can set levels for EXACTLY what you need goes a long way with me. And of course rock solid build. :devil:

 

[Imon]

I'm torn between the SF E2L and the Ra Clicky. While I think they are both excellent lights I'm going to have to go with the E2L on this one as a camping light. That's exactly what I use mine for (my Ra Clicky is my primary EDC ... not really a camping light although you can surely use it like that).
My E2L has been with me on every camping trip over the past year and a half and I absolutely love it! The output must be understated though because my E2L looks like it puts out, easily, over ~90 lumens (no surprises there...) The reason why I like my E2L is because it combines good runtime with good throw while maintaining good usable sidespill - a combination I consider rare in a flashlight as compact and lightweight as the E2L. My E2L is all scuffed up too, the bezel has taken a major beating and I've dropped it countless times and the light keeps on working. Anyways, just my thoughts...

 

[rgc]

Thanks for the replies so far guys much appreciated. That said the torch need not be edc sized as I don't mind carrying a camping light on my belt. And truth be told, if Ra Lights reintroduced the Twisty with three modes or two and the low red in a CR123 package I don't believe I would be asking this question. See, I am not slow,but, I do like very simple light UIs. Like my two stage Surefire L1 and the ever elusive Twisty. Hence why I lean toward the E2l and the U2 right now.

rgc

 

[fareast]

Easy poll for me: in my opinion, the surefire's can't go low enough. Only the HDS can. And when it does (go low low) it will last your entire trip... without turning it off.

:thumbsup:

 

[jhc37013]

For various outputs and long runtimes I always go to the Fenix PD30. I love my HDS 170 but I always seem to run down the battery fast. The Surefire E2L is another option but you only have two modes, it is two good modes I love that light for camping as well.

The PD30 R4 has a much lower low than previous PD30 models, I find it hard to beat that light as a utility light I'll definitely keep one in a disaster kit.

As previously mention the soon to be released Fenix LD40 sounds like a great light for this type of use as well.

 

[:)>]

The HDS Clicky is the finest light available at this time for me but I cannot recommend the Surefire U2A highly enough either. If I could grab only one light on the way out my house in the case of emergency, I would probably grab the U2A because it has 2 batteries in it... if I could grab a light some spare batteries, I would grab the HDS.

You cannot go wrong with either. One nice thing about the U2A is that it gets somewhere near 12 hours of runtime on level 5 which is around 50-60 lumens. Very nice. Also, it has a wonderful balance between throw and flood.