Fair enough, I'll try, although I've always bought cheapy flashlights, so I still have tons to learn.
I want to use this light for everyday use, as in, it will stay in my pocket. But it will also be used on our camping trips, as my main light for general stuff (I have BIG lights should I need them). I think I want a 2-CR123A light, but could sure use a rechargeable one if it fit the other criteria. I am hoping for good output, perhaps 90 lumens or more??? Run time I am flexible on, but obviously the more the better. I think I am leaning towards LED, but will consider any light. What does EDC stand for???
Hope that helps, and thanks to anyone for your advice.
If you're going to use this as a task light, as in, you're actually going to be DOING something for any period of time while using this light, then you should forget the Surefires. They're not designed for that kind of application, and the ones with decent runtime are out of your price range. I would suggest you consider the following: Do you need 90 lumens, really? That's a large amount of light. If you have night-adapted eyes, 90 lumens is nearly blinding if shined at something relatively close to you.
Secondly, I would suggest some kind of rechargable light - or one with rechargeable options.
If I were trying to stay within your budget and needed to buy stuff at BPS, I would actually just get a
2xAA minimag combo pack, a
Nite Ize Tailcap Switch, and an
inexpensive headlamp like this... you'll find that it's more useful for task lighting than a hand-light. As far as an LED dropin for the minimag, you don't want to get the one they have at BPS. Try
one of these over at Battery Junction. That should get you to your 90 lumen goal, but the lower settings on the Nite Ize tailcap should give you more options to save either your eyes or your batteries.
Oh yes - it will be worth your while to buy some NiMH batteries like
these Eneloops and
this charger to power this light if you're going to use it very often. Under demands like that of a 90 lumen light, alkaline batteries experience voltage sag and die much faster than usual, whereas these rechargables won't. Runtime and brightness curve should be improved. The headlamp doesn't produce as much light or draw as much current so rechargables wouldn't be quite as important in that. If you do want them,
these might be good for you to consider.
Sorry for all the links but I think that's the easiest way to show you what my suggestions are.
BB said:
Small bright lights that eat batteries like candy is not a great option (IMHO) for your money.
+1 to that, definitely. Remember that your small light needs to be useful, not a searchlight.
