Good morning folks,
I'm a long time lurker, first time poster, in the early stages of flashoholism. I've learned a little bit from lurking on these forums. Enough to get myself a few carry flashlights. I have a Fenix PD32 that I carry clipped to my pocket while on duty and a Sunwayman V10r that I pocket carry while off duty. My current issue is with the Fenix. While responding on EMS calls it's amazing. The 4 levels of brightness really come in handy, particularly while evaluating wounds in the dark. However, while responding to a fire the other night, I dropped my department issue light and reached under my gear to grab my fenix out of my pocket. Problem was, in all 4 levels of brightness it lit up the smoke but didn't really penetrate the smoke. So I guess essentially what I'd like is a small pocket flashlight that I can use in a bind in a very smokey environment. I completed the worksheet below:
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! :-)
I’m flexible, tell me what you gotJ.
3) Format:
I want a flashlight.
4) Flashlight-specific format/size:
Every day carry small (2-4 inches).
Every day carry medium (4-7 inches).
Holster carry.
5) Emitter/Light source:
____LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
____Incandescent (known for superior color rendition)
____HID (known for max output, but often at the expense of size)
_X__I don't know.
6) Manufacturer:
I want to buy a light from a traditional mass producing manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
I would consider getting a light that is pieced together (for example a “host” or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a “drop-in” emitter from another source). Under the right circumstances, this path can provide more options to the consumer to meet specific needs, and can often be easily upgradeable as technology improves.
7) What battery type do you want to use?
____I intend to use alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D) (disclaimer, while it does not preclude all choices, these are not recommended for many of today’s most powerful lights)
____I intend to use rechargeable nickel chemistry (NiCad, NiMH, NiZn)
____I intend to use lithium primary batteries (CR123, CR2, Energizer Advanced/Ultimate Lithium AA/AAA)
____I intend to use rechargeable lithium (li-ion) chemistry. Feel free to specify a size if you know which size you want (14500, RCR123/16340, 17500, 17670, 18650, etc.)
8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).
I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
I want to illuminate an entire field, the neighbor's front yard several houses down, impress my friends and neighbors, etc. (300-700 lumens).
Please see above comments
9) Throw vs. Flood: At what distance will you be most likely to use this light? Select all that apply.
Not sure, I'm thinking Throw?
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum output).
30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed) seems reasonable
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase “you get what you pay for” is very accurate for flashlights.
Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
12) Switch Type and location (choose all that apply):
____I don't care.
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
____I don’t care.
14)Material/Finish/Coating
____I don’t care.
15) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any below.
____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________).
____Dedicated R/G/B secondary LEDs.
____“Hybrid” light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
____Pocket/belt clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Crenulated bezel
____Non-sparking Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments
Thanks for taking a look at this and I look forward to your suggestions.
I'm a long time lurker, first time poster, in the early stages of flashoholism. I've learned a little bit from lurking on these forums. Enough to get myself a few carry flashlights. I have a Fenix PD32 that I carry clipped to my pocket while on duty and a Sunwayman V10r that I pocket carry while off duty. My current issue is with the Fenix. While responding on EMS calls it's amazing. The 4 levels of brightness really come in handy, particularly while evaluating wounds in the dark. However, while responding to a fire the other night, I dropped my department issue light and reached under my gear to grab my fenix out of my pocket. Problem was, in all 4 levels of brightness it lit up the smoke but didn't really penetrate the smoke. So I guess essentially what I'd like is a small pocket flashlight that I can use in a bind in a very smokey environment. I completed the worksheet below:
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! :-)
I’m flexible, tell me what you gotJ.
3) Format:
I want a flashlight.
4) Flashlight-specific format/size:
Every day carry small (2-4 inches).
Every day carry medium (4-7 inches).
Holster carry.
5) Emitter/Light source:
____LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
____Incandescent (known for superior color rendition)
____HID (known for max output, but often at the expense of size)
_X__I don't know.
6) Manufacturer:
I want to buy a light from a traditional mass producing manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
I would consider getting a light that is pieced together (for example a “host” or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a “drop-in” emitter from another source). Under the right circumstances, this path can provide more options to the consumer to meet specific needs, and can often be easily upgradeable as technology improves.
7) What battery type do you want to use?
____I intend to use alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D) (disclaimer, while it does not preclude all choices, these are not recommended for many of today’s most powerful lights)
____I intend to use rechargeable nickel chemistry (NiCad, NiMH, NiZn)
____I intend to use lithium primary batteries (CR123, CR2, Energizer Advanced/Ultimate Lithium AA/AAA)
____I intend to use rechargeable lithium (li-ion) chemistry. Feel free to specify a size if you know which size you want (14500, RCR123/16340, 17500, 17670, 18650, etc.)
8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).
I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
I want to illuminate an entire field, the neighbor's front yard several houses down, impress my friends and neighbors, etc. (300-700 lumens).
Please see above comments
9) Throw vs. Flood: At what distance will you be most likely to use this light? Select all that apply.
Not sure, I'm thinking Throw?
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum output).
30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed) seems reasonable
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase “you get what you pay for” is very accurate for flashlights.
Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
12) Switch Type and location (choose all that apply):
____I don't care.
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
____I don’t care.
14)Material/Finish/Coating
____I don’t care.
15) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any below.
____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________).
____Dedicated R/G/B secondary LEDs.
____“Hybrid” light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
____Pocket/belt clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Crenulated bezel
____Non-sparking Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments
Thanks for taking a look at this and I look forward to your suggestions.
