Recommend an EDC light to me please

[einsteinjon]

Hi everyone,

Stumbled upon this forum a couple days ago in trying to find a new EDC light. I'm not real knowledgeable about flashlights, but I will do my best. If you all could be kind enough to give me some recommendations for a LED flashlight, I'd appreciate it!

Here is what I am looking for in order of importance...these options are very important. Although I could be flexible on anything but the pocket clip, and I GREATLY prefer 1 AA over a CR123.

1. Pocket clip that works (this comment is aimed directly at NiteCore :sigh and uses 1 AA battery of varying kinds (alkaline, lithium, etc.)...clip and battery are a tie for #1
2. Have at least 3 modes ranging from "a couple" lumens min to 90+ lumens max (strobe and such aren't real important to me, but ok if they are there)
3. Flush tailswitch so it can stand upright on its own
4. 3" or a little over in length (no more than 4"), and 1" or less diameter
5. A little over $100 in price maximum, but quality/reliability may drive me a little higher

I thought the NiteCore D10 would fit the bill perfectly, but after spending no less than 6 hours trying to install the flippin' pocket clip, I decided under no circumstances was I willing to keep it. There's no reason a $60+ flashlight plus $8 clip can't work.

I have seen the 4Sevens Quark AA and was impressed by the features. I am not sold on the very low-riding pocket clip, however. Can anybody tell me how much body length there is above the clip?

I have seen the Fenix L1D and am quite impressed, but far as I know there is no pocket clip for it, making me not want it. Is one available?

I have seen the Novatac 120P and am quite impressed, but it uses a CR123 battery and I am not sure if it can stand on the tail. Can anybody tell me why some pics I've seen have a flush tail, and others have a protruding switch? And can that protruding switch by chance stand upright? Are both models available?

I looked into the RA Clicky, but it uses a CR123 battery. Seems like it may be a tossup with the Novatac 120P.

I am open to hearing ideas about custom clips, which I've briefly read about around here, but I don't know what's out there and where.

Any suggestions would be awesome! Thank you all for taking the time to read all this!!!

 

[NonSenCe]

hmm tough demand. pocket clip and tailstanding. (the clip is rare)

one to look at jetbeam pro1. (also its like quark. wont hang deep in pocket with the clip) jetbeam is programmable to your liking which is definate cool factor (just like novatac and ra)

i got the older jetbeam version and the quark. i like em both. as the Qwaat is the new kid on the block i use it more now. (also mine is warm tint, that i prefer) and both of these lights hang out of the pocket about the same, over an inch. (30mm or so)

(not sure of the v3 jetbeam but by pictures it looks the same amount)

hmm.. lumapower connexxion might fit the bill also?

hmm and the novatac and ra.. well they are said to be definate jump in quality. maybe use the rechargable rcr123 batteries in them if you are worried of the cost of cr123s.. ( i like the AA format alot too.. but these two lights just keep tempting me.. am glad that they are above my budget)

 

[gsxrac]

Well Welcome! And first things first, is the reason your going for AA over a 123 form factor just the cost of batterys? If so could I recommend expanding your search to include RCR123's? If you do that you open up your options much more! I can personally attest that the Ra Clicky is a great light! And if your trying to stay in the $100 Henry is offering his "EDC" line that puts out around 120lm I think. The only thing I DONT like about my Clicky is the huge ugly clip. If your going that route try and get you a custom clip if you can find one in the MP!

 

[SFG2Lman]

I would recommend taking another peak at the quark lights:

1. has a working pocket clip
2. 5 output levels and 3 strobe variations
3. tailstands
4. 3.8 inches long (CR123 version is 3.2)
5. $57 minus the CPF discount

It fits your bill perfectly in my opinion. I have the Cr123 version and love it. I carry it and my fenix P1D everywhere and never even notice them in my pockets. the P1D is only 2.8in long but does not come with a clip. The clip on my quark is 1/3 the way down from the "bright end" and if i were to put a clip on a light I think thats exactly where it would be for ergonomics. Although if you convert to CR123 lights we may hafta revamp a bit as the options/runtimes/sizes/brightness all get better.:naughty:

 

[einsteinjon]

Thanks for all the info so far everyone...

I'm very tempted with the 4Sevens b/c of price and features, just not sure if the extra inch or so of light sticking out of my front pocket will be right for me. Also looking to see if a step up in quality would be worth it.

To clarify, the reason I want AA over CR123 is availability; cost isn't the reason. I had recently been carrying my Leatherman Serac 3, and the battery happened to die while I was changing a flat tire at night. I had my digital camera with me at the time, which uses 2 Lithium AAs, so I could have snagged one from there and put it in the light. Instead, I had to push my car half a block (not bad luckily) so it'd be under a street lamp. I realized that the situation could have been much worse.

The Leatherman Serac 3 is nice, but I will probably get another light regardless and use that one at home.

As a follow up question, if I do choose something of a little more quality with a CR123 like Novatac or RA Clicky, I COULD take a spare battery along in my car I guess. I live in Wisconsin though, and my concern is how do they hold up in 100+ degrees with humidity, and -30 degrees winter weather, if I were to leave the battery in my car?

 

[gsxrac]

Well im sure everyone is going to tell you this but NEVER rely on one source of ANYTHING! Always have a backup! That being said you would be better off grabbing something that uses 123's because 123 primarys were intended for those days where it will be -30 or +110 i think they're actually rated way past any real limtations. There are people here that have used them in ice fields and that live near the equator and theyll almost all swear by 123's. And for an EDC light your best bet is to get a set of rechargeable li-ions and keep them topped off! Also like I said, have a backup light. Even if its a Fenix E01. Or if you have to, buy 2 $50 lights instead of 1 $100 light. 2=1 1=0

I will aslo recommend checking out the Quark lineup :twothumbs even though I dont personally own one ive never heard anything but good stuff about em. Even though I dont like that extra mass sticking up out of my pocket.

 

[Badbeams3]

Not sure what would be a step up in quality over a Quark.

If it was me I would order a neutral white 123x2 head (your pick...standard or tactical) a 14500 batt and a charger...your pick (as many don`t like the AW-139). You could later add other bodies and LI-ION batts as you please.

One down fall with my idea of the "best for LI-ION" head is it will not work with other batts 1x123, 1xAA or 2XAA. So...depends on how flexible you want your set-up to be.

 

[einsteinjon]

I actually do have a backup......now After that happened I got a Fenix L0D for my keychain. I love it, just looking for something more substantial as a primary carry.

Ok, so about these CR123s...maybe I can be sold on them just yet. If I were to leave a package of say two of them in my glove box for a whole Wisconsin winter, unused and untouched, they'd probably still work? They'd still work after all of August and September when it is 90+ degrees and 100% humidity? (Gotta love Wisconsin).

So to find out a little more about RA lights vs. Novatac...I saw another thread about this and someone posted a link here http://www.messerforum.net/showpost.php?p=598475&postcount=10 (sorry if I'm not allowed to do this with someone else's link). The Novatac seems to have a tail stand, but every dealer pic I've seen has a tactical button that doesn't allow this. Can anyone clarify?

Also, on RA's website, they have a RA Executive EDC and RA Clicky Executive. Are there any big differences other than price? I also noticed in the Clicky customization area, you can change to an LED that will throw the light 20% further, which sounds useful to me. Is this worth it for the $40 price increase above the Executive EDC?

Ok so I realize my questions are kinda specific and lengthy, but thank you for any help you can give!

 

[gsxrac]

Well Novatac Vs. Ra I will pick an RA every time. Ive had and heard of too many Novatacs failing. And the Tactical vs. executive is just the activation of the modes. Tactical starts on high mode whereas the executive model starts on a lower mode to conserve battery power. And Tailstanding is an option for the NT's and the RA's. Just have to order a specific model. If you really want your EXACT light you can go to the ralights website and build it from there. That way you get the color, mode setup, beam shape, tailcap, and lumens you want. Some options are included in the price and will not change your ending price but others that have a $ amount beside them will raise it for that particular option. both the RA and Novatac are programable to pretty much anything you want!

 

[Moonshadow]

Ok, so about these CR123s...maybe I can be sold on them just yet. If I were to leave a package of say two of them in my glove box for a whole Wisconsin winter, unused and untouched, they'd probably still work?

Yes, they would.

You can of course also get Lithium AAs which are the only kind that I would keep for glovebox duty. Anyway, a pack of six 123s will take up hardly any space and keep you prepared for any eventuality.

And don't give up on the D10 just yet: it's far and away the best AA format light you could get, so don't let a little thing like the clip get to you.

 

[einsteinjon]

I hear what you're saying Moonshadow...the NiteCore D10 is a nice light, I agree. But to have such a fatal problem IMO as a non working clip that I paid $8 for, and spent 6+ hours unsuccessfully trying to install, reeeeally soured my opinion of the light. I just don't want to see it anymore. If NiteCore redesigned the clip such that the retention was not screw-based, or the screws were foolproof to install, I would likely buy one again.

gsxrac, I've read the same things about Novatacs around here and around the web, and you seem to be confirming it. You may be able to throw it at a brick wall and the housing will be fine, but if the circuitry fails, so what, right? I don't mean to bash Novatac, I'm just stating an opinion based on what I've read.

Also, to clarify, I did notice that difference in use between the RA Clicky Tactical and RA Clicky Executive. I am wondering about the RA Clicky Executive vs. the RA EDC Executive...these two are $40 in price difference. The RA Clicky Executive allows you to customize to the "140 lumen, narrower beam pattern" free of charge. I do not see this customization option on the RA EDC Executive, and am wondering if anyone has experience with it.

Thanks again!

 

[NonSenCe]

cr123s will last too. (i live near polar circle myself and i keep cr123 light in glovebox with couple spares, they are lithiumbatteries too.)

(i do have others too.. and will put an AA light there too eventually ..just for that ease of finding them factor. which is why i carry aa flashlight on me pretty much all the time now)

i agree on the d10 beeing good option.

also it took me serious work (bending and drilling) to get the clip on my d10 (i still persist that i got the ex10 clip.. the holes were over 3mm off) took me 3rd try and 4th week i think that i decided that i will keep the light and will make the clip fit, what ever it takes. so i drilled the flashlight to get the holes lined up.

(also quarks have 10 year warranty.. and the lego system .. you can get 1AA 2aa and cr123 bodies and use them in one flashlight head and clicky. -maybe leave an 2AA body with 2 lithium AAs to glovebox and use cr123 as "normal" every day use?)

 

[flatline]

How come nobody has mentioned the LF5XT?

Does it fail the criteria somehow?

 

[einsteinjon]

Hmmm, the LF5XT is intriguing. It looks a lot like the NiteCore D10. I'd like to hear more information such as reliability and quality. The only thing I notice is a pocket clip isn't standard. There are holes in the tailcap, but I didn't see in a quick search a pocket clip option anywhere.

 

[Flying Turtle]

You might think about a Photon Proton Pro, too. About the only thing it won't do is tailstand. One of the best things about it is the clip. And, it can be found for under $50.

Geoff

 

[Moonshadow]

Good call, F_T: yes, the Proton Pro has a great clip (in fact it's about the only one of my lights that I've kept the clip on) - and tailstands quite well if you take the lanyard ring off. (which is presumably OK, as the OP is planning to use the clip rather than a lanyard).

Jon: The max. brightness on the Proton Pro is just a touch less than the Nitecore, but it has a similar ramping feature, so if you liked the D10 you will like the Pro. How are you planning to use the light, that the clip is so important ?

 

[angelofwar]

Not for starting an argument, but for the sake of helping the OP out, have you considered the advantge's of CR123's?

AA-Advantage:
1. Cost
2. Availabilty

123-Advantage:
1. Shelf life-90% power at 9 years
2. Won't corrode inside your light (there by ruining it)
3. higher temperatue operating ranges
(-40 to 140 deg. f.)(?)
4. Lighter weight
5. Better power to size/qty ratio (6V light=4ea. AA's/2ea. CR123's

Just some food for thought, once again, just to help the op out...this is with quality cells in mind as well.

Oh, and :welcome:

 

[Marduke]

Not for starting an argument, but for the sake of helping the OP out, have you considered the advantge's of CR123's?

AA-Advantage:
1. Cost
2. Availabilty

123-Advantage:
1. Shelf life-90% power at 9 years
2. Won't corrode inside your light (there by ruining it)
3. higher temperatue operating ranges
(-40 to 140 deg. f.)(?)
4. Lighter weight
5. Better power to size/qty ratio (6V light=4ea. AA's/2ea. CR123's

However, The AA format has the 123 advantages you list also, and more. L91 shelf life to 80% is 20 years (vs 10 of CR123), won't corrode, tolerate to temperature extremes, weigh less, and even store more power than a CR123.

Plus, 14500's give a longer runtime than RCR123's, and is a much better form factor IMO.

 

[MemphisMagD]

Ok, I'm honestly not trying to flame with this one. How about a few of the Chinese Surefire knock offs (Ultrafire, Solarforce...) in 1 or 2 123 cell sized. If you are like me, the EDC lights tend to disappear with use over time. Mine have been left on a bumper, lost down a drain, and flattened by a forklift. at $15-$20 each-delivered from ebay they can be hard to beat. They will not touch a Surefire, Fenix, Inova...etc in fit in finish, but they are not junk, just a little less refined, and many have some of the same raw components that the big guys use. I have an Ultarfire WF-501 in my pocket right now. It is a larger 3 cell model but it was $18 in my hand and puts out a LOT of light.

 

[apontes]

Since you never said anything about a lanyard, how about the Akoray A-106?

- About US$ 20 delivered;
- Takes any kind of AAs plus Li 14500;
- Pocket clip;
- Tailstands;
- 3 programmable modes, with memory;
- Fits you size requirement.

It may not be in the same league as the premium lights in terms of quality, but not shabby either, and for that price...