Small package / bright light / easy batteries

[MustardMan]

So I'm pretty new to this high end flashlight thing, and I'm hoping ya'll can help me wade through the gazillion options out there.

What I'm looking for is a flashlight with a decent number of brightness modes, that can use rechargeable batteries (18650?), is relatively compact and lightweight, and can spit out a pretty bright light when I need it to.

I noticed fenixgear sells a tk-12 combo, with the light plus another body tube that can accept 18650's. With three modes, plus 2 brightness settings per mode, this seems to be a pretty versatile light.

http://www.fenixgear.com/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=90


However, I'm completely new at this, so what are my other options? Is that tk-12 combo a good choice? What other lights can spit out over 200 lumens, have a lot of options for brightness, carry fairly compactly, and won't be a PITA to find batteries for?

 

[MustardMan]

How about the ITP lights? If I can save a few bucks and still get something that fits my needs im all for it..

 

[Ajay]

Welcome to CPF MustardMan.:welcome:


Before you buy anything you should check out this post:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=96884

That will help you narrow things down a bit because you will start getting a flurry of suggestions.


Ajay

 

[MustardMan]

Thanks for the list to the checklist... here's my version, if it helps with the suggestions:







0) What Region/Country/State will the light be purchased in?

____I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.
____I am in North America. More precisely I am in __Georgia__.

1) Price Range: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!

I wouldn't mind staying in the 40-80 dollar range, but could be convinced to go higher or lower

2) Format:
____I want a flashlight.

3) Length:

____2-4 inches. (Pocket carry)

4) Width:

____I don't care.

5) What batteries do you want to use? Alkaline batteries are easier to find and less expensive but don't pack as much stored energy and are don't work well in cold temperatures. Lithium batteries have long shelf life (10+ years, great for stored emergency lights) and are not as affected by cold but must be kept dry and are more expensive. Rechargeable start expensive, but if used frequently pay off quickly.

____I want lithium batteries. (coin cells, CR123, AAA, AA...)
____I want a rechargeable system. (an investment, but best for everyday use)

6) How much light do you want? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).

____I want to walk around a generally paved area. (15-20 lumens)
____I want to walk unpaved trails. (40 lumens)
____I want to do Caving or Search & Rescue operations. (60+ lumens)
____I want to light an entire campground or dazzle an intruder. (100+ lumens)

I want all of these - multiple brightness settings please!

7) Throw vs Flood: Which do you prefer, lights that flood an area with a wide beam, or lights that "throw" with a tightly focused beam? Place an "X" on the line below.

Throw (distance)-----x-----------------|----------------------Flood/close-up

8) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims (like some LED lights). but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries.

not as important - I can change batteries, and if there are multiple brightness settings I can work around it.

9) Durability: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.

____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box.)

8) Switch Type:

____I want a "clickie" switch. (Stays on until pressed again.)

9) Switch Location:

____I don't care.

10) Operational Modes: Check all that apply.

____I want multiple light levels. (some lights have 5-16 light levels.)

strobes or tactical modes are unimportant but probably fun to play with - don't care either way honestly

11) Is it important whether the body is metal or plastic/composite?

____I don't care.



That ought to cover it!

 

[bondr006]

better check that the Jet III is the broad voltage one, mine is the model that can only take 18650s.

Thanks for pointing that out. :thumbsup: I have the BVM(broad voltage model), and the only one they sell at the link I provided is the BVM.

 

[flatline]

I think there are 2 battery formats that meet your requirements:
1. AA/14500
2. 2xCR123A/18650

Notable AA/14500 lights with good throw include:
Quark AA (in cool and neutral tints). 5 levels (moon mode, low, medium, high, max). Moon and Max are both accessible without clicking through a bunch of modes. Has a tactical version that has 2 programmable modes (I have the regular and love it. no experience with the tactical version).

Jetbeam Jet-I Pro: 3 programmable modes. Probably the brightest and best AA/14500 thrower. Slightly more expensive than the other AA/14500 wonder lights. Seems to have the best reputation for build quality and reliability of the AA/14500 lights listed here.

Nitecore D10: simple ramp up/ramp down interface with quick shortcuts to min/max. Has a piston drive instead of a clickie that receives rave reviews for feel, being completely quiet, and extremely reliable.

LiteFlux LF5XT: The poorest thrower of the lights listed here, but the most flexible programmable interface of all the AA/14500 lights. Has a beautiful floody beam for short and medium distances (can't compete at long distances). If you are serious about using Li-ion, this light has built in overdischarge protection for both NiMh and Li-ion (the Quark reduces output at 1v which is perfect for NiMh rechargeables, but way too low for Li-ions) and can report on demand the voltage of you battery (built in volt meter...don't have to remove the battery to measure it).

I don't think you can go wrong with any of these lights. I've got the Quark and love it, but just ordered a LF5XT for EDC based on my experience with my wife's LF2XT (the AAA version of the LF5XT). I'll probably carry both of them on my belt (LF5XT for general use, Quark for throw).

If you're interested in larger, brighter lights, the 2xCR123A/18650 format will be of interest. There are so many of these lights and I don't know much about them to really help. The MG L-mini II and the Jetbeam III (both pro and military versions) seem to get recommended the most, so I'd research them first since every other 18650 host is compared to them.

All of these lights fit in your $40-$80 range I think. Good luck and happy hunting!

--flatline

 

[kts]

Buy the Fenix, theyre the brand everything else is compared to...

While youre at it, buy the LD10, its the perfect EDC:twothumbs

 

[bondr006]

Buy the Fenix, theyre the brand everything else is compared to...

While that is not quite true....Fenix is a good brand....Just not THE standard. I have owned several Fenix lights(at least ten) over the years, and it is my opinion that JetBeam has equaled if not surpassed Fenix in quality and construction with what they offer today.

 

[MustardMan]

I'm learning a lot about various models on these forums - seems there are several INSANELY bright lights in the EDC-size, pocketable package. Can someone suggest one of these that also has a reasonable low?

Something that could go down to 5-10 lumens for normal use, and go 300+ for scaring the neighbors would be pretty sweet.

 

[carrot]

I'm learning a lot about various models on these forums - seems there are several INSANELY bright lights in the EDC-size, pocketable package. Can someone suggest one of these that also has a reasonable low?

Something that could go down to 5-10 lumens for normal use, and go 300+ for scaring the neighbors would be pretty sweet.

The easy choice for that is the Quark 123^2. It's not exactly 300+ lumens but believe me it is really quite bright (190 is nothing to sneeze at). Batteries are fairly cheap, but even cheaper is investing in a few rechargeables (17670s, also available from 4sevens.com) and a charger.