Recommend me a light!

[calvinw]

Hi, all! I've been lurking around this forum for a while and able to find more than all the info I need (and drool over all the stuff I want). But now it's come time to recommend a flashlight for a friend of mine. The friend is an engineer on construction sites. Most of the construction projects are indoors or during the day, with other lighting around. But sometimes he has to look into dark corners, in between walls, etc. Basically, the flashlight will be light to medium duty. Nothing too critical, nothing really inclimate. A simple Maglite will work, but he wants something cool he can show off (on a High or Turbo setting). So far, I think a Nitecore EC25 would be great, but I'm wondering if there are other lights to consider.


Budget: Around $50-$75


Size: Pocket carry or small holster carry.


I want to keep it to one of the following manufacturers (I have a hookup for these brands): Inova, Klarus, Nitecore, Olight, Streamlight, Sunwayman, TerraLUX.


Power source: AA or CR123. Something you can pick up at the local Radio Shack or Office Depot if necessary.


Flood vs Throw: Preferably, more flood than throw, but not a deal-breaker.


All the other features/functions is not a big deal.

 

[Quality]

Normally I'd recommend an 18650 light here, but you probably don't want that due to battery availability?

Of course a lot of 18650 lights can be used with 2 CR123, but are generally better with 1x18650.

If you want AA, how about a Sunwayman D40A?

 

[dc38]

Jetbeam rrt0 XML. Runs on cr123 or aa

 

[calvinw]

The D40A might be too big. It doesn't look like a pocket carry light.

The Jetbeam looks awesome, but I don't have a hookup for Jetbeam lights.

 

[delus]

I work construction and last christmas decided to give myself a gift for pretty much the same reasons he wants a light. I wanted a very bright light for usage, but I also wanted to show off a little.
The thing about construction that some don't understand is that dirt and dust is everywhere. It's like sand at the beach, it works it's way into every crevice. Even if your friend doesn't get very dirty as an engineer, his light won't get a daily cleaning. Over time the dust works it's way inside to the electronics.
Well, I get pretty dirty every day, and I went thru three lights this year, two of brands you mention, and another. The Nitecore MH2C lasted the longest, 4-1/2 months.
After, those died, I decided to go whole-hog and get an Elzetta Bravo with the new high output head. The electronics are completely potted in epoxy. Look for the torture videos on youtube. They hammer nails, drop them out of helicopters, roll over them with trucks. The video that sold me was when they took it apart and put it back together while underwater. Try that with the others! For some reason pictures don't do it justice. Something about the machining make the head look bigger in pictures than it is in person. It's not the brightest, but it's got great throw and spill. The show-off factor goes beyond brightness, If he ever hands it to someone else, they will instantly know this light is a tool, not a toy. It just feels that solid. As soon as you get it in your hand, you just know it's not like the others.
Of course I've had it only a few weeks, we'll see if it lives up to it's reputation.... and it's very high-dollar

I have a second recommendation at the opposite end of the dollar spectrum. The HybridLight 120. It's a hermetically sealed unit, meaning dust will never penetrate it. Supposed to be waterproof to 300 feet, but it floats in water. In ABS plastic and polycarbonate with rubber end caps, it's tougher than it looks. I'm telling you these are very tough lights. IT NEVER NEEDS BATTERIES. Solar panels and batteries designed to last at least ten years. Just throw it on your dashboard once in awhile, and it will ALWAYS be READY. There's a guy on EBay that will sell you six of these lights for $100 and all the profits go to charity. They give these lights to people who don't have access to electricity. Get 'em for christmas presents. I did.

P.S. Get the CR123's online, they can be had at 10 percent of the retail price.

 

[Quality]

The D40A might be too big. It doesn't look like a pocket carry light.

The Jetbeam looks awesome, but I don't have a hookup for Jetbeam lights.

The D40A is probably a lot smaller than you think, but I understand what you mean. Since you want to sway more toward flood than throw, there's no reason this light can't be nice and small.

Do you think you can get your friend to use 18650? Being an engineer I'm sure he'll be able to handle using that battery type and you will get better performance/capacity over using 2 cr123s.
Get him 2 3400 mah Panasonic protected 18650s and a simple charger and he will not ever need to buy batteries for a long time.

Of course he will still be able to use 2 cr123s in a pinch if he needs them.

The EC25 you picked is not a bad choice at all, I would just look at all 1x18650 lights in the brands you mentioned and research each one that interests you.

 

[calvinw]

Thanks for all the info, delus! I don't think I can get him to shell out more than $75 for a light. But the MH2C looks like a good candidate. And it fits Quality's recommendation for a 18650/2xCR123 light. Since the light itself charges, it should be user friendly.

 

[dc38]

Thanks for all the info, delus! I don't think I can get him to shell out more than $75 for a light. But the MH2C looks like a good candidate. And it fits Quality's recommendation for a 18650/2xCR123 light. Since the light itself charges, it should be user friendly.

AHEM! PM'd you with something, but many XML lights are on sale on a certain website.

 

[Dr.444]

EagleTac GX25A3 (3xAA ~ XM-L2 ~ Neutral or Cool White ~ 915 Lumens)

Review for it > http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...xAA)-Review-RUNTIMES-VIDEO-BEAMSHOTS-and-more!

 

[calvinw]

AHEM! PM'd you with something, but many XML lights are on sale on a certain website.

You, sir, are awesome!

 

[TheVat26]

Could you forward me that site as well? Looking for something similar.