Recommendation for travel metallurgist

[bananafeller]

1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?

• This will be mail-order or Online (location doesn't matter).

2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!

• Up to $100, (prefer $50 range), plan on buying 5 - 10 of them

3) Format:

• I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
• Hardhat mounting option a big plus (non permanent, we frequently borrow hardhats from site)

4) Size:

• TINY - Every day carry (2-4 inches).
• SMALL - Every day carry (4-7 inches).

5) Emitter/Light source:

• LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)

6) Manufacturer:

• I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.

7) What power source do you want to use?

• Single 21700 (preferred) or 18650
• May consider a spare (don't consider this in budget)
• I am inclined to get batteries with integrated USB-C ports to reduce the number of items for travel, any reason to avoid these?

7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option

• I want a separate/stand-alone charger (this involves removing the batteries to charge)
  • I am inclined to get batteries with integrated USB-C ports to reduce the number of items for travel, any reason to avoid these?
• Also open to a recharging adapter (your typical "wall wart")

8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need?

• This will be used in an industrial environment poor lighting, think dust, sand, mud, wet, etc.
• I want to confidently walk around an unlit/unpaved rural area (60-150 lumens).
• I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).

9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.

• It will be used for inspections so good throw is important ( capable of punching through dust)
• Will also be used frequently to illuminate areas for pictures at a 1-10 m distance (Flood).

9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light

• 1 - 10 meters

10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum continuous output).

• 60 -90 minutes

11) Durability/Usage:

• This will be used in an industrial environment think dust, sand, mud, wet, etc.
• But failure is not critcal

12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):

• Any size switch will do.

13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.

• I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
• Click or selector ring.

14)Material/Finish/Coating

• I don't care.

15) Water resistance

• IPX5 to IPX8
• IPX4 is acceptable if price is significantly cheaper

16) Storage conditions

• In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)

17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.

• Pocket/belt clip
• Hardhat mounting option a big plus (non permanent, we frequently borrow hardhats from site)
• I've used a WowTac A2S for the last 5 years with reasonable success. I'd like something brighter and with better throw.

 

[bykfixer]

Parametrek Product Search

parametrek.com

A search engine. A dam fine one.

I'd search out an IP rating that has a number for dust intrusion as well. IPX4 for example is rated 4 for water intrusion but doesn't cover dust. IP44 would be better suited for your situation.

Click on environment first. I chose for example IP54 and got 86 possibles.

 

[bananafeller]

That is a sweet search engine thanks!!

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

If you want good, get a Nitecore MH12 Pro ($90). A two setting light like a Nitecore MT2C Pro ((USBC rechargeable 18650, 1800 lumens, $60) or a non tactical Nitecore MH10 V2 (1200 lumens, 21700 battery (accepts unprotected ones too), $65) will give you options in the middle pricing range. The Nitecore MC1C Pro is only $45, 1000 lumens high, 50 lumens low, and half the size of your other options taking a USB-C rechargeable 18350 battery or CR123A lithium battery. That would be more in your price range for buying multiple lights, and they'd be easier carried in the pocket to protect from dirt.

A few other options are the Acebeam E70-AL (21700, 4600 lumens, $65, you'll need a charger-no built in charger), or the Acebeam E70 Mini (usb-c rechargeable 18650 battery, 2000 high c.r.i. lumens, $70), Klarus G15 V2 ($80, 4200 lumens, 21700, usb-c rechargeable with powerbank function). Nitecore E4K is my go to light which is $90 and is USB-C rechargeable 21700 (no USB port on outside to get dirt or water in. User interface takes getting used to. Doesn't have much throw though. It's all 4400 lumens of flood.

 

[aznsx]

Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum continuous output).

Just a side note to keep in mind: You are most unlikely to find a manufacturer that actually rates runtime honestly who rates them to 50% of max output. You'll likely have to settle for ANSI FL-1 standard rating parameters (10%), or choose a manufacturer who provides an output / time graph (the ideal). For the latter, in lights from a U.S. company, Streamlight would be the first place to look for such specifications. For overseas brands, Fenix also provides such graphs for many of their models. For harsh industrial use (such as my own), I would (and do) also consider a good ANSI FL1 impact rating, which I would also check Streamlight for; particularly if you want something above the 'nominal minimum' average of 1 meter (such as 2 or more meters) - unless you don't plan to ever drop them;-) In FL-1 terms: 2>>1x2 due to more stringent testing requirements above 1 meter ratings (2+).

In the $50 range, you might want to look at the Streamlight Polytac X. Check the 'Fact Sheet' under 'Documentation' on the main product page for the details.