Suggestions needed!

[ctbrew]

Hello folks I'm a pizza delivery driver needing a good flashlight. I will be using two R123a's in the light, its gotta be compact enough to slip into my pocket, and around $80 or so (I already have rechargeable batteries) I need a decent flood to spot numbers on the houses from my car, some of the houses are set back from the street as much as 60 yards or so. Basically enought flood to spotlight to 75 yards, then spill, if that makes sense. I would also like a lower level setting to use while deer hunting and walking out to my stand. Runtime is not that important since I just use it for brief flashes to illuminate houses, brightness is most important.

Right now I'm considering a Jet III military, an EagleTac T100C2, and Fenix TK11 R2, or at least those are the ones I've started to look at. I had a Surefire E2E which would get to hot to touch if I forgot to turn it off, I'm trying to avoid that. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Toaster]

All of those are a bit larger than I'd want to be carrying around in a pocket all night. I suggest you go with the Quark 123² instead. It's much smaller and has a reversible clip for pocket carry while still maintaing a quite throwy beam. You'd probably prefer the tactical model which has a forward clicky allowing for momentary activation.

 

[JBorneu]

IMO the Fenix or Eagletac are your best options. From what I read you'll be using momentary a lot, so you won't like a light that cycles modes every time you touch the switch and you want a forward clicky switch. Which one you get is your personal choice. The Fenix has been around longer and is proven to be reliable in all sorts of crazy abuse, but the Eagletac is a solid light also.

About the heath: Any powerful LED light which is left on high and not heatsinked by holding it in your hands or putting it on a metal object will get very hot, which is bad for the LED. Nothing that can be done about that, except running it on a lower setting.

BTW: A throwing beam is a far reaching beam, spill is the part of the beam outside the central hotspot which won't reach as far and a floody beam is a wide beam for close use. From what I understand, you want throw.

 

[GPB]

For the application you describe you might want to consider a cheap spotlight that plugs into your car, and get a different light for hunting. Sometimes trying to get one light for 2 applications means you end up with 1 light that doesn't do either very well.

 

[JeffInChi]

IMO the Fenix or Eagletac are your best options From what I understand, you want throw.

+1 for the eagletac

I suggest the t10lc2 or the newer t100c2.

They have great throw
Both under 80.00 U.S.C.
Both can fit in the pocket (unless you wear tight pants)

I'm not too familiar with quarks - do they really throw enough lumens to effectively light up an address at 75 yrds Toaster?

Good luck!

 

[Patriot]

Of the lights you're considering, I like the T100C2. It doesn't have a clip so take that into consideration if it matters to you.

Personally, I would carry something smaller like the quark but I respect your preference to the larger 2 x 123 lights if that's the case. The 100C2 will likely have more throw than you'll be using but it's nice to have extra sometimes.

 

[ctbrew]

Yes I definitely want throw. I was using a plug-in flood for awhile but it freaked people out when their whole house would be lit up, and if I got the wrong house people would think I was up to something sinister. I was looking for something a little more discreet, that I could also carry up with me. The size factor is not as big of a deal, since I typically don't carry the flashlight around in my pocket but keep it in the center cubby of the car, carry it up with me to the house, and put it back in the cubby when done. So basically it has to be small enough to slip into a pocket momentarily, but big enough that I can grab it from the cubby or my pocket very quickly. A longer light may actually work a little better to fish quickly out of my pocket.

I think the Eagletac is cheaper too, I haven't checked out the Qark.

 

[ZMZ67]

I don't think the Quark is going to provide the throw you need,it is a fantastic pocket light though.I don't have the other lights mentioned but 75 yards is pretty far and I wonder how effective those lights will be at that distance.A cheap solution for in the car is a Mag 2C X 3 CR123 mod.Downsides are that it is too big for pocketing and won't be able to use your RCRs.Runtime is short but the way you intend to use it that shouldn't be a problem and the cost is considerably less than the other lights as long as you buy the batteries online.The Mag definately has the throw you need and will not bother the nieghbors that much like a spotlight.If you go this route you could still get a decent pocket light like a Fenix or Quark too meet the rest of your needs and not be too much over your budget.
Not trying to ignore your original ideas just putting this out there as an alternative since you are looking for throw.