Please recommend

[debbiez]

I am a union worker in a pharmaceutical plant, and as part of my duties, I check equipment, rooms, etc, for cleanliness. Most often I am looking for powder residue on either walls or stainless steel equipment mostly. I want a light that packs a punch, but that can easily be carried on a holster with a clip, as for example the fenix 20. I want a light that uses AA or AAA batteries. The fenix 20 seems ok, but the six modes is more than what I need, and as a matter of fact, having to cycle through modes every time I want to turn it on sounds like a pain, but the light itself sounds amazing. I will order it if nothing else comes to mind. I would like one that fits in a holster that I can put on a caribiner if possible, because I don't always wear a belt, but can clip to my belt loop.
If I am misunderstanding how the fenix 20 works, please enlighten me, but from the reviews I have read, that is a major drawback for me as I will be using the light, on average, 15 times a day, taking it in and out of the holster.

Thanks in advance for your advice. I would prefer to stay under the 55 dollar range.

Why, you may ask, doesn't the company provide lights, well they do but they are huge, cumbersome, and usually have low batteries. It is a pain, and I would rather just have my own.

 

[Ronin28]

4Sevens Quark AA^2 Tactical. You program the amount of light you want when the bezel/head is loose and then do the same when the bezel/head is tight and then you are good to go.

 

[LEDninja]

Fenix L1T v2.0 /L2T v2.0.
Loosen bezel for low, tighten bezel for high. Click switch for on-off/momentary.
Does not come with a clip, but the 1AA L1T can simply be dropped in a pocket.

EDIT
re:Quark AA tactical
It might be a good idea to get the limited run neutral version. There is less 'LED blue' tint.

 

[kaichu dento]

4Sevens Quark AA^2 Tactical. You program the amount of light you want when the bezel/head is loose and then do the same when the bezel/head is tight and then you are good to go.

+1

There's your perfect light. It's got a modern emitter and very decent reflector match for plenty of brightness in a nicely usable beam pattern.

 

[m3flies]

Cycling through modes is really simple. Just a press of the thumb. Either one of these lights would be a good buy. Look into both. The 4sevens comes with a clip, but carrying in the pocket is no big deal either. Whatever choice you make, it won't be wrong. Go to 4sevens.com. You can look at both fenix and Quark lights.

 

[debbiez]

Thanks for your quick responses! Ya'll are so nice.

 

[entoptics]

It depends on the distance your looking for crud, but I'm guessing you'll want about a 150 lumen, floody light for anything like what you describe unless you're trying to see gunk 50 feet away in brightly lit conditions.

Depending on required runtimes on the job, a single AA light may work. It will pump out lots of light for 1 hour straight. That should be good for a few shifts probably. This form factor would be very small and convenient, happy in a pocket or hanging from a loop or large keychain. Hanging a 2xAA light from your belt loop would be a bit much for extended periods.

1xAA recommendations (floody, bright, small)

• 4Sevens Quark AA tactical. Good UI for your preference.
• NiteCore D10 SP. Good UI and way bright for 1xAA
• Fenix LD10. Way bright for 1xAA, UI is easy to learn so you can speedily get the mode you want, but not as simple as D10 and QAA tactical.
• iTP EOS A2. Smallest, cheapest, not as bright as the above but still potent, good runtime, twisty UI, great beam characteristics.

Quark and Fenix have 2xAA formats identical to the above. You will gain a good bit of brightness and runtime, but size is getting up there near holster only size (depends on the person, attire, etc).

 

[Jash]

Got my Quark 2AA Tactical in my pocket right now, and you wouldn't even know it was there (bezel up).

Definately the light for your requirements and budget.

 

[Chevy-SS]

4Sevens Quark AA^2 Tactical. You program the amount of light you want when the bezel/head is loose and then do the same when the bezel/head is tight and then you are good to go.

Yeah, I gotta admit, this is a great little light. I have given away about 10 of them as gifts. People are always amazed at how much light can come out of two AA batteries.


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[OfficerCamp]

I'll go with the 4Sevens. Great quality light, customer service is top of the heap, and the parts are modular if you ever decide you want a 1xAA light or a 1x123 light (don't use 2x123 cells though).

 

[lctorana]

...as part of my duties, I check equipment, rooms, etc, for cleanliness. Most often I am looking for powder residue on either walls or stainless steel equipment...

Would a UV flashlight help do this?

 

[jhc37013]

I use my light many times during the day and night also and I got tired of the in and out of a holster or trying to clip it to a belt so now I just deep carry in my pocket with no clip. It's much easier and once you get use to carrying it like this you won't notice it as long as the light is not to big for you. Finding the right size is key of course smaller may be better for comfort but using it a lot grip can become a issue.

I'd also suggest you get a programmable light like the Quark AA tactical, the Zebralight SC50 literally disappears in the pocket its so small and the UI sounds like something you may like.

If you truly want the best and programmable and can basically do whatever you want go straight to the top and get a HDS Ra Clicky, if that is within your budget.