Talk me down - Surefire

[jurisprudence]

Hello, first let me say, great site. I've been searching for a new light and found this forum to be very informative and helpful.



After reading a number of general recommendation threads, I thought I would do some research and take a different approach. This is a "talk me down" thread. I am considering buying a Surefire LX2 and asking for you to talk me out of it or point me in another direction.


My criteria for a light are: at least two settings (one low lumens and one with a fairly good flood and throw), the low setting should have a good battery life, size is important but not the be all end all (neither is a pocket clip, but nice to have), and the light should be a quality product. The light will be a general use light, for use around home, camping, travel, etc.



Regarding price, I see a light as a tool. With respect to tools, I agree with Snap-on Tools sales slogan, that buy once and cry once if you get quality. With that said, if there are better alternatives out there for less $$, I would certainly consider it. Also, I considered buying a Fenix TK40 and smaller Fenix for EDC, and I could get both for the same cash as the Surefire.


Lastly, I am a neophyte with regard to lights and batteries, so any information you may share is appreciated.

 

[Search]

Get the LX2.

If you want a product that is going to work when you need it, backed by a customer service that half the time just replaces stuff for the hell of it, get the LX2.

 

[DaFABRICATA]

If you enjoy Snap-On tools...buy a Surefire.

Thier customer service is excellent, should you ever need it.

 

[angelofwar]

Buy a surefire...whoops...:devil:

 

[Size15's]

Based on my experience it would be worth considering getting a headlamp for camping, even general use around home there are plenty of occasions that benefit from having both hands free to achieve the task requiring illumination.

I agree with the tool investment strategy 'buy right; buy once'.

The LX2 has a strong powerful beam and a special user interface. Personally, I find the two-stage push button pressure switch user interface used by the LX2 to be one of the most important features that dictates my purchasing and usage habits. The strong powerful beam really benefits from the F04 Beam Diffuser for up-close illumination tasks so I consider the LX2 more of an outdoor tool.

You could get an ICON Rogue 2 and a good quality headlamp. Investing in a SF123A-powered flashlight implies (to me) that it will be used all the time.
If 'general use' is 'occasional use' then unless you see yourself becoming a fully-signed up Flashaholic you would arguably be better off with a high-quality AA-powered flashlight such as the ICON Rogue 2.

If you're not intending to carrying the LX2 every day (EDC) then perhaps you don't need it...

Al

 

[Owen]

The light will be a general use light, for use around home, camping, travel, etc.

The LX2 has a great user interface, and being a Surefire with a proven heritage, it's doubtless a very high quality light. Combined with the F04 diffuser(you DO want this), you've got a very versatile package that should handle just about any common use you have.
Unless you're looking for Li-ion compatibility, the only thing really left to improve on is the tint, and you could have it modded with a neutral emitter for that.

 

[Badbeams3]

Well I`ll try...but you should know this thread will likely get closed at some point.

You could, for example, buy a Quark 123x2 light and a 17670 batt and charger. Be set up for the future with the charger (able to charge diff batts like 14500 or 18650). And have $$ left over to put towards a MC-E light (and already have a charger) For example 47`s co. is coming out with a 500+ lumen 1 x18650 powered light with thermal management...might be nice. These lights have a 10 year PERFOMANCE warranty. I take that to mean if the light looses half it`s brightness from the led fading...it would be replaced or repaired...but I could be wrong.

Anyway...for the money you could look at some of the MC-E lights already on the market...like the TK-40 you mention. Or some of the other smaller ones...perhaps the WE Sniper for example.

 

[Meganoggin]

Sorry to be boring, but another vote for Surefire..... They just work - everytime :thumbsup:

 

[mossyoak]

get an lx2

 

[jurisprudence]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

Well I`ll try...but you should know this thread will likely get closed at some point.

Why closed, did I already run afoul of forum rules? If so, sorry, it was unintentional.

 

[Illum]

Surefires in some regards are either or a combination of

• Often too expensive for essentials, rarely too cheap for commodity
• Too bright for most applications
• Doesn't break often which limits your freedom to buy replacements for them. This eliminates much of those excuses that I could make up to buy more lights.
• Warranty doesn't ask questions, which I thought was odd. I don't know who to yell at now when something does break, because they will just send in a new part without me even asking it
• Batteries can be expensive
• Unlike Alkalines, lithium Batteries does not leak if the flashlight is stored on the car, eliminating my chances of trying out their warranty more often
• The LED's tint isn't always ill-tinted, sometimes its neutral white, which bumps other lights off of my EDC table. Unlike PK, my lights are used and honored by seniority
• The serial number doesn't really mean the light is more expensive if its lower
• Surefire family are closely bonded. Once you acquire one you'll notice in short time its invited a couple other family members at the expense of your wallet and the emotional bond with your better half.
• Multi-mode light's user interface is too easily remembered, which reduces my need to refer back to the manuals. Too bad, I keep my manuals for a reason!

One or more combinations above made me stop buying surefire lights altogether, glad you saw it coming early
Remember, the light at the end of the tunnel is the headlamp of an oncoming train.

 

[M@elstrom]

Lastly, I am a neophyte with regard to lights and batteries, so any information you may share is appreciated.

I enjoy using Surefire lights but by the same token I love using my Jetbeam too (primarily the Jet III M) I guess what you'll require depends on what range of task you'll be needing illumination for, also worth checking out is EagleTAC they make great (made in USA) flashlights that wont hemorrhage the budget 45Lm ~ 800Lm ($45.00 ~ $155.00) :thumbsup:


Buy the LX2... you know you want to! :devil:


Oh BTW :welcome:

 

[mossyoak]

Eagletac is not made in the USA...

 

[M@elstrom]

Eagletac is not made in the USA...

Interesting...

EagleTac is an Arizona U.S. based company that designs and produces precision tactical flashlights commonly used by professional, law enforcement, search and rescue teams and military fields.

Designs & produces implies local product does it not? :thinking:

 

[Mjolnir]

The company is US based (or so they claim), but the lights are actually manufactured in China.

If you do not want to spend $200 on a surefire LX2, there are PLENTY of other lights out there that will give you everything you want, and more. In fact, you could get 2 or 3 quality lights for the price of 1 LX2. You could get a small EDC with good flood, as well as a good LED throw, or 2 "in between" type lights, such as the fenix TK11 or Eagletac T100C2 (actually, you could get nearly 4 of those).
You might want to look at the Eagletac T20C2, which has a high an medium mode, as well as a "low low" for extended runtime. If you buy the whole package, you get 3 colored filters, a diffuser, and a weapon mount and pressure switch, all for just over $100. Or, you can get the base light for about $80 (with the filters for $10 more). It can also use 18650s, which surefires can't physically fit.
I suggest you start looking at reviews of lights and find what you need; chances are that you needs can be met without having to pay close to $200. There are plenty of other companies with no questions asked customer service.
You might also want to check out Gene Malkoff's selection of dropins, as well as the MD2 host, which fits his M60 and M30 dropins. For about the price of an LX2, you could get a hard anodized MD2 host with the 2 mode ring (which gives you an additional low low mode for extended runtime), as well as 2 M60 dropins (such as one normal M60 and one M60 flood module, or one M60 and an M60 low or M60 low low for extended runtime).

Though many here like surefire, there are a lot of other options available.
You should also head over to the welcome mat and learn about the battery types, and the benefits of rechargeable lithium ion batteries over CR123s, as surefires cannot use rechargeables.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Buy the LX2, period! :thumbsup:

 

[Big_Ed]

Buy the LX2. I just recieved mine about 15 minutes ago. It's a bit brighter than my E2DL (not by much, but it's perceptible), and the tint is just a shade whiter (slightly cooler) than my E2DL. Awesome light! I can't wait for it to get dark!

Shop around if you're going to buy the LX2. I bought mine from Battery Junction and they included 12 free 123 batteries (Titanium brand) in addition to the batteries included with the light from the factory. That was what sealed the deal for me. They also threw in a free coin cell keychain light! Woo Hoo!

Just beware, it won't be your last Surefire. This one is my ninth in less than 2 years.

When you buy 123 batteries, it's best to buy online. They are a fraction of what you'd pay in stores. I bet many non-CPF'ers don't know that.

 

[Badbeams3]

I don`t think you really want to be talked out of the Surefire...do you?

You didn`t say "talk me out of it" or "talk me up into a XYZ". No...you said "talk me down" suggesting that anything else would be inferior

So my advise is to follow your heart...there nothing wrong with going with the Surefire...they do hold their value well.

So you can always sell it in the marketplace...if you ever want to upgrade to a Quark :thumbsup: :nana: LOL

Welcome to our CPF forum! Keep a sense of humour and enjoy!

 

[Owen]

Though many here like surefire, there are a lot of other options available.

Of course! The problem I have recommending other options sometimes is that most of these newer lights aren't proven, at least to my way of thinking.

I just ordered a "tactical" Quark with neutral emitter from 4Sevens earlier today. It's not going to throw like a LX2, but overall it will have a better beam, the tint will be a lot better, and the brightness levels are adjustable so I can set it how I like it. It sounds great. Ordered a diffuser that supposedly fits it, too, and with shipping and insurance it came to something like $70 total.
I don't suffer from any delusion that it's going to replace the $200+ light in my pocket when it gets here, but I'll check it out. Maybe even buy a couple of other bodies for it for other battery configurations.
It might be all that and a bag of chips, but I can't just recommend it to someone else because the features sound good, or it looks good when I shine it on the wall. Maybe in a few months I'll be able to offer meaningful feedback, and recommend it. Or not.


Plus, I think when a new person comes here and is immediately interested in buying quality, rather than the cheapest thing available, we shouldn't dissuade them. It's a good way to be. I know I'm a lot happier with half a dozen or so lights that average $200 or more than I would be with ten times that many $20 or even $50 lights. I never worry that I'm missing out on something "better". Because I'm not.

 

[Mjolnir]

I don`t think you really want to be talked out of the Surefire...do you?

You didn`t say "talk me out of it" or "talk me up into a XYZ". No...you said "talk me down" suggesting that anything else would be inferior

So my advise is to follow your heart...there nothing wrong with going with the Surefire...they do hold their value well.

So you can always sell it in the marketplace...if you ever want to upgrade to a Quark :thumbsup: :nana: LOL

Welcome to our CPF forum! Keep a sense of humour and enjoy!

In this case, I believe that the OP meant "talk me down" as in "talk me down from my current stance," which would be "considering a surefire." I don't think he was implying that all of the other lights are inferior; he seemed to want some input from more knowledgeable people (about the topic).

That said, you for no reason feel that you NEED to get a surefire in order to get a quality light. The "buy once and cry once" is not applicable, since you CAN get a high quality light for well under 100 dollars, including a fully American made Malkoff Devices dropin and host. IF you WANT to spend 200 dollars on the LX2 you will get a good quality light, but it is my opinion that you will be over paying for what you get, since you can get just as good elsewhere, unless you NEED the particular UI that the LX2 offers.

You asked to be informed of reasons why not to buy the LX2, but it doesn't seem like many have done that so far... all they have done is support your current position of getting an LX2. These forums are very pro-surefire, and many people swear by their lights. I have never owned a surefire, but I have seen and handled them. They are good lights, but I believe that they are overpriced, and that you could make your money go a lot farther by getting a non surefire, especially since virtually ALL surefires use CR123 batteries, and not rechargeable lithium ion cells.

If you want a surefire then that is fine, but know that a lot of what you are paying for is the brand name. Sure, that doesn't include good customer service, but many other manufacturers have good customer service as well.

Owen, I am not suggesting that the OP go out and buy a light from DX. I know that he will no doubt enjoy an LX2 and be satisfied with it, but it is my belief that something much cheaper would also satisfy him, and be more practical (since he could literally buy 2 or 3 lights for the same price).