Tough Durable Lights

[sweetlight]

Who makes the most reliable lights for hard every day use? I'm mostly interested in the single cell AA and AAA lights.

How does Fenix and Streamlight compare in toughness?

I'm not talking about getting a lil scratch here or there from it being in your pocket, I'm talking about it getting dropped and banged around. Whats built to work?

 

[Zeruel]

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=181049

 

[carrot]

Surefire, Ra, Inova, McGizmo, Novatac.

 

[kramer5150]

Fenix L1T (leatherman LGX-200) is my toughest light thus far. So far it has endured hard drops that killed my Inova and dented the bezel on my 6P and cracked its pyrex. The anodize scratches somewhat easily, although I EDC it along side my keys so few type II finishes would survive that. Once I dropped it squarely on the tail clicky, expecting the worst I picked it up and it works fine.

 

[madi05]

i would also put jetbeam in the tough category along with surefire but i dont really hardcore my lights, lol

madi05

 

[Marduke]

Sorry, I gotta put in a plug for myself here :naughty:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WvhJWE3_Oc

 

[sol-leks]

hah, great vid. wow it took a full ton, not bad.

 

[JasonH]

it took 10 full tons, not 1

 

[Strauss]

Surefire, Ra, Inova, McGizmo, Novatac.

Agreed 100%. Just want to add the Fenix T1, TK10, and TK11 as they seem to take quite a beating too.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Surefire, Ra, Inova, McGizmo, Novatac.

+1

I'd also add Muyshondt lights and the Bitz to your list.

 

[nerdgineer]

Fenix 1AAA lights have the the hallmarks of a highly reliable light: spring loaded twisty (most reliable type switch), small size (less mass = less boundary stress in drops), good o ring fit, and good machine work. Also very efficient (bright/long lasting) doesn't hurt.

I've never done it but I would guess that if you did a repeated drop test (e.g. statistics on how many randomly oriented drops - say 2 m onto concrete - it took to break a light), the Fenix E0 would be best, followed by the rest of the Fenix 1xAAAs in a pack, followed by everything else. Don't know, though...

 

[Gunner12]

How much dropping and banging around?

Most of the better lights talked about here should have no problem with normal and harsher use.

 

[Marduke]

hah, great vid. wow it took a full ton, not bad.

20,500 lbs
Over ten tons, not one. That's the approximate weight of an F-16 fighter jet.

 

[saabgoblin]

Marduke,

I guess that you would also smash a perfectly good guitar as well, all in the name of science of course.:nana:

 

[WadeF]

For the price it seems hard to beat the Fenix lights for toughness. It's not because they have the heaviest construction, it seems to be the balance between strength of construction, and weight. A lighter light will take drops better than a heavy light. Drop an ant 20 feet, it will most likely be fine when it hits the ground. Drop a car from 20 feet, it's done for. Fenix is like an Ant, some other lights are like a car.

I couldn't believe how much abuse that one P3D took and was still going, and the TK1.

If you manage to have one fail from a drop, etc, 4sevens.com will stand behind it as well if you get it from him.

 

[metlarules]

I'd put my money on Inova. They are bomb proof.

 

[kts]

I'd put my money on Inova. They are bomb proof.

Ok..Send me ur Inova and lets find out if its bomb proof :devil:

Fenix gets my vote too

 

[richardcpf]

This is pretty much the only light that has been officially tortured in many ways, freezing, burning, dropping, crushing, etc:

Fenix T1

 

[idiotekniQues]

how is eagletac build quality

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

how is eagletac build quality

Mine is rock solid, no complaints.