diogenes009
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2007
- Messages
- 16
I come here for advice and guidance from the community of Light Which Can Be Carried.
I am shortly to leave for a combat theater. I have been given two pieces of advice by others which make great sense to me:
1) Get a good flashlight. Something you can hook to your IBA and know it will work when called upon. It should be bright enough to dazzle someone but last long enough to get something done. And it should not use anything too exotic for a battery.
2) Get a good knife. You will need it for everything from unscrewing a battery cover or stripping wires to eliminating threats to yourself and your mates. It will be a working tool, not a showpiece; Pretty $400 knives can fail you faster than a $2 carnival vendor's knife when put to real work. Find a good WORKING knife.
I think I have the knife angle covered. (Though, I will take suggestions.) But, bugger all, I have limited experience with flashlights.
I started out my LEO career using a 5 C cell Maglight. I thought that was the cats whisker's. Until I saw a Streamlight SL-20; I got me one of those quick. It was too fat to fit in my nightstick ring, but it put out some portable daylight. Then I came across the Streamlight Stinger XT; A powerful light that I didn't need to remember to bring with me when I got out of the car. I snatched that up right quick and stuck it in an ASP carrier on my duty belt and my SL-20 now languishes in my locker, sad to say. (Lesson Learned – Breaking a car window with the Stinger XT IS possible, just use the small end and lots of motivation.)
Off duty, I carry a cheep ($8 w/ shipping) yum cha 3 AAA LED light in my jeans pocket at all times. (I only have to hit it once or twice to get it to work at full output.)
I figured there would be someone here who might advise me as to flashlights.
What I want is to identify two lights, both of which need to be single hand operable (I LIKE tail switches…A LOT.):
1) One to go in my pants pocket so I will have it handy at all times. That means:
a) No longer than 5 inches (Small is good.).
b) Dim enough for near work but bright enough to see across a room.
c) A common battery (AA, AAA, 123.)
d) Runtime long enough to make it useful over a number of uses (4-8 or more hours of on time.)
2) One to carry on my IBA:
a) No longer than 8 inches.
b) Bright enough to dazzle a subject or see across a compound (+/- 200').
c) A common battery (AA, AAA, 123.)
d) Runtime long enough to last a mission (1-2 hours of on time.)
The only other limitation is money; I am not made of it. I am willing to budget $150 toward light, but I want to buy reliable, portable, sunlight.
If you can include hyperlinks to vendors or reviews with your suggestions, that would help immensely.
I thank you for your time and attention to my need.
I am shortly to leave for a combat theater. I have been given two pieces of advice by others which make great sense to me:
1) Get a good flashlight. Something you can hook to your IBA and know it will work when called upon. It should be bright enough to dazzle someone but last long enough to get something done. And it should not use anything too exotic for a battery.
2) Get a good knife. You will need it for everything from unscrewing a battery cover or stripping wires to eliminating threats to yourself and your mates. It will be a working tool, not a showpiece; Pretty $400 knives can fail you faster than a $2 carnival vendor's knife when put to real work. Find a good WORKING knife.
I think I have the knife angle covered. (Though, I will take suggestions.) But, bugger all, I have limited experience with flashlights.
I started out my LEO career using a 5 C cell Maglight. I thought that was the cats whisker's. Until I saw a Streamlight SL-20; I got me one of those quick. It was too fat to fit in my nightstick ring, but it put out some portable daylight. Then I came across the Streamlight Stinger XT; A powerful light that I didn't need to remember to bring with me when I got out of the car. I snatched that up right quick and stuck it in an ASP carrier on my duty belt and my SL-20 now languishes in my locker, sad to say. (Lesson Learned – Breaking a car window with the Stinger XT IS possible, just use the small end and lots of motivation.)
Off duty, I carry a cheep ($8 w/ shipping) yum cha 3 AAA LED light in my jeans pocket at all times. (I only have to hit it once or twice to get it to work at full output.)
I figured there would be someone here who might advise me as to flashlights.
What I want is to identify two lights, both of which need to be single hand operable (I LIKE tail switches…A LOT.):
1) One to go in my pants pocket so I will have it handy at all times. That means:
a) No longer than 5 inches (Small is good.).
b) Dim enough for near work but bright enough to see across a room.
c) A common battery (AA, AAA, 123.)
d) Runtime long enough to make it useful over a number of uses (4-8 or more hours of on time.)
2) One to carry on my IBA:
a) No longer than 8 inches.
b) Bright enough to dazzle a subject or see across a compound (+/- 200').
c) A common battery (AA, AAA, 123.)
d) Runtime long enough to last a mission (1-2 hours of on time.)
The only other limitation is money; I am not made of it. I am willing to budget $150 toward light, but I want to buy reliable, portable, sunlight.
If you can include hyperlinks to vendors or reviews with your suggestions, that would help immensely.
I thank you for your time and attention to my need.
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