TERRALUX 300M vs HOME DEPOT 200LM HUSKY

[RaymondMillbrae]

OK, folks,

here's the surprise (and disappointment) of a lifetime.

A while back I saw the thread which mentioned the new 200 LUMEN LIGHT AT HOME DEPOT.

So I called up my buddy (who works at Home Depot) and told him about the light. He ended-up picking one up, and was really happy with it.

So I mention it to another friend, and he picks one up as well, and is really happy with it.

So Christmas Day I was at my mamasan's house with the family, and the topic of new toys comes up. So I pull out my belt-holstered EDC light (the Fenix TK11) and show them the power of this little beast.

Everyone is all "Oooooooo. Ahhhhhhhhhhh".

Then my buddy goes out and gets his $24.95 Home Depot 200 lm light.

So I go out to my vehicle and pull out my 4D mag-Lite with the Terralux 300M drop in.

Now let me set the scenario. It is a partially cloudy nite, with good visibility...and some juicy moisture in the air. (Moist air makes for EXCELLENT-looking light beams).

So he pulls out the Home Depot special, and I pull out my 4D Mag with the Terralux 300M drop-in...

...and I got smoked!!

We both realized that my light probably put out more lumens. But the fact was that his $24.95 Home Depot special threw waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better, and lit-up the section of tree 40 yards away like nothing else.

My mouth was open.

Don't get me wrong. The Terralux 300M worked great...but it was sloppy as heck. Whereas the Home Depot special had an excellent throw (which was seen beautifully in the moist air), and lit up the tree much better.

In my honest opinion, I would take the $24.95 Home Depot special over the Terralux 300M!!!

And to drive in the point, the Terralux 300M has a reported 30 to 40 minute burn time on a set of batteries. Whereas the $24.95 Home Depot special will run almost all night on 2D batteries.

Hands down, the Home Depot special kicked butt!!

So now what?

What am I to do?

I just spent (wasted?) $60.00 on a drop-in upgrade that I am disappointed with.

Oh well...I guess I'll chalk it up to experience. (And probably offer it up for sale later).

But in the meantime, I think I'm gonna go to Home Depot later today (I'm on a 2-week vacation) and pick up...well...you know what. :ironic:

Just thought you'd like to know.

Merry CHRIST mas, folks.

And don't forget to pray for our troops!!!

In Christ: Raymond

 

[Gunner12]

A multi LED light, optic or not, will not out throw a single LED light with the same sized head(presuming a decent reflector) because the single LED light will have a larger reflector to collect and project the light. The larger reflector also gives a narrower beam which will also help with throw. The multi LED drop-in will have more output because of the number of LEDs but each LED, because of the smaller reflector/optic, will have a wider hotspot which doesn't throw as much.

I'd say save up for a Malkoff drop-in.

Or check this thread and see what you can do.

Larger reflector = more throw

 

[mdocod]

Your $60 TerraLux really needs about $45 worth of D size NiMH cells to fix your runtime problem. Keep in mind that comparing flashlights size by side can be quite difficult when they have different beam patterns...

Also.. Always remember... that anyone can go down to the parts store and for ~$40 pick up a suit-case size spotlight that right out of the package will blow away most of the flashlights we routinely discuss on this forum... The point being.. Getting more Lumens per Dollar does not always make it better, the runtime on those things is usually less than 10-15 minutes and they weigh like 10lbs.

Eric

 

[defloyd77]

MattK from Battery Junction has described the 300M as "a Surefire L4 on crack" wall of light, so it comes to no suprise to me that it gets out thrown by the Husky.

 

[PhantomPhoton]

Yeah it happens. You have to use the right tool for the right job. If the job is pure throw then get a Dereelight DBS or an aspheric magmod, go back and smoke your buddy.
:thumbsup:

 

[jasonsmaglites]

a flashaholic got smoked? its a bad day for cpf'ers everywhere!

 

[Derek Dean]

Howdy Raymond,
Different lights excel at different things...... just like people. The thing to do is to appreciate your TerraLux 300M for what it does well ..... producing a massive wall of light. There may be times when you find that much more useful than being able to light up a tree at 40 yards.

If on the other hand you feel you would be better served by the Husky, then I'm sure sombody on the CPF Marketplace will be happy to take the 300M off your hands.

That's one of the joys of our hobby....... trying out different lights and finding the one that works best for us..... for now.

By the way, since you were the one who recommended that your buddy pick up the Husky in the first place I'd think you would be tickled pink that it works so well, it simply proves that you knew what you were talking about.

 

[RaymondMillbrae]

Derek Dean,

you hit the nail right on the head.

You are correct when you said that different folks need different light functions for different applications.

You were also correct when you said that I should not feel bad, as I was the one who knew about the newer Home Depot 200 lumen special. (Cutting edge forum, babee...cutting edge). :twothumbs Ha ha ha.

And in all truth, I really do not feel bad.

I realized (as well as my buddy), that my light was specifically made to cast a huge wall of light...so it was cool. But in my book, I was really impressed with the attributes of the Home Depot special. Especially since I purchased the Terralux 300M to be a trasher on my vehicle floor, and to be used to spot the street address plates on the front of houses from my vehicle. (The $24.95 HD special did it better).

Anyhoo...keep an eye out, as I will be posting the Terralux 300M for sale on CPF Marketplace, soon. (Someoene who's interested my get a good deal).

Thanks for the remarks. But in all honesty, I was just posting my personal opinions.

Happy New Year, yall.

In Christ: Raymond

PS: But on the bright side...I just ordered my new NIGHTHAWK PREDATOR, 2000 rounds of 200 grain .45ACP HP Rainier Ballistic bullets, and 300 rounds of .45 ACP 200 grain HP Hornady XTP bullets.

 

[M@elstrom]

When I saw the thread title I was hoping for the CPF specialty namely a 'beamshot shootout' but found you story quite entertaining too, I would hazard a guess that the Husky's single (large) reflector would also out throw the multi P7's that have been floating around so don't feel so bad eh?

FWIW the Husky while it may throw well... looks as ugly as sin IMHO (though nothing a little machining couldn't fix) :thumbsup:

 

[StarHalo]

FWIW the Husky while it may throw well... looks as ugly as sin IMHO

+1, they don't make Huskys that look like this:

 

[madi05]

neither does maglite, lol

 

[Monocrom]

Obviously the Husky light is going to have more throw than the TerraLux drop-in.... The 300M is specifically designed for flood. Beam pattern can best be described as a Surefire L4 on steroids.

Take your lights to a darkened warehouse, fire them up, and watch that Husky look about as powerful as a new-born puppy.

 

[M@elstrom]

Take your lights to a darkened warehouse, fire them up, and watch that Husky look about as powerful as a new-born puppy.

Interesting analogy... I wonder just how much punishment the Husky could sustain in comparison to the Maglite? :thinking:


If the OP would prefer a better throw/flood combination could I suggest a single P7 M@gmod? :devil:

 

[zs&tas]

haha found this very interesting, the right tool for the right job as phantomphoton said, just need to buy more torches
ive got two D Mags one has the 300m the other has the Kaidomain q5 and aspherical lens on the way.

now what would be cool is if someone remachined one D mag to have light at each end, then youd always have the tools

 

[StarHalo]

now what would be cool is if someone remachined one D mag to have light at each end, then youd always have the tools

One step ahead of ya