mtbr
Newly Enlightened
Hello, I hope you are well. I am looking for a new flashlight to keep in my truck. I will mount it inside of my center console where I can quickly grab it and activate it with one hand (tail mounted switch). I want the light to have the ability to turn on in a very bright setting and stay in the setting for a reasonable amount of time. So at least 2,000 lumens for a few minutes. It looks like there are plenty out there in my price range that can well exceed that.
Light will be used for spotting wildlife, finding our escaped cat, locating street addresses, and general lighting needs not covered by my EDC Streamlight Macrostream.
I have open ears. THANK YOU.
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
____This will be mail-order or Online (location doesn't matter).
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
____Up to $300.
3) Format:
____I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
4) Size:
____MEDIUM - Holster/belt ring carry. (>7 inches)
____LARGE - Big enough to need its own travel case.
(under 12", mounting in center console)
5) Emitter/Light source:
____LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
____HID (known for max output, but often at the expense of size)
6) Manufacturer:
____I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
____I would like a light from a specialty manufacturer (Possibly limited run/Custom).
7) What power source do you want to use?
____I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery pack.
(I want a flashlight that I can plug in to charge without taking battery/batteries out)
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
____I don't care (as long as I can plug in to charge without taking battery/batteries out)
8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is not a happy experience).
____I want search and rescue type illumination (800+ lumens).
____SPECIAL NOTE: Burst/Turbo mode Category - There are several lights that will run at a super bright maximum for a very limited period (usually 5-10 minutes) and then will "step-down" to a lower level for thermal control. Check here if this is acceptable.
either yes or no is fine
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
____Narrow Flood: I want a sharply defined flood area that will project some distance for tasks like trail walking.
____Wide Throw: I want a beam with a noticeable hot-center for distance throw and a significant amount of "side-spill". Good for rough trail hiking, search and rescue, and general distance work.
(This is where I am a little undecided/unexperienced. Will be for looking at wildlife, looking for our cat, finding street addresses from the truck, etc. I generally have my EDC Streamlight Macrolight on me that will cover short distance flood.)
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
____50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum continuous output).
____30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood)
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
____I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today's high end lights).
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
The only UI features I require are the tail mounted switch and the ability to instantly turn on in a very bright mode that lasts at least a few minutes over 2,000 lumens.
My goal is to be able to very quickly grab and turn on the flashlight in a super bright mode to quickly illuminate what I need to see.
14)Material/Finish/Coating
____I don't care.
15) Water resistance
____IPX4 (Splash resistant) or better
16) Storage conditions
____Automobile glove-box (wide temperature swings, long standby periods, critical reliability)
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
visual battery level is a plus but not required
Light will be used for spotting wildlife, finding our escaped cat, locating street addresses, and general lighting needs not covered by my EDC Streamlight Macrostream.
I have open ears. THANK YOU.
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
____This will be mail-order or Online (location doesn't matter).
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
____Up to $300.
3) Format:
____I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
4) Size:
____MEDIUM - Holster/belt ring carry. (>7 inches)
____LARGE - Big enough to need its own travel case.
(under 12", mounting in center console)
5) Emitter/Light source:
____LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
____HID (known for max output, but often at the expense of size)
6) Manufacturer:
____I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
____I would like a light from a specialty manufacturer (Possibly limited run/Custom).
7) What power source do you want to use?
____I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery pack.
(I want a flashlight that I can plug in to charge without taking battery/batteries out)
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
____I don't care (as long as I can plug in to charge without taking battery/batteries out)
8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is not a happy experience).
____I want search and rescue type illumination (800+ lumens).
____SPECIAL NOTE: Burst/Turbo mode Category - There are several lights that will run at a super bright maximum for a very limited period (usually 5-10 minutes) and then will "step-down" to a lower level for thermal control. Check here if this is acceptable.
either yes or no is fine
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
____Narrow Flood: I want a sharply defined flood area that will project some distance for tasks like trail walking.
____Wide Throw: I want a beam with a noticeable hot-center for distance throw and a significant amount of "side-spill". Good for rough trail hiking, search and rescue, and general distance work.
(This is where I am a little undecided/unexperienced. Will be for looking at wildlife, looking for our cat, finding street addresses from the truck, etc. I generally have my EDC Streamlight Macrolight on me that will cover short distance flood.)
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
____50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum continuous output).
____30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood)
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
____I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today's high end lights).
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
The only UI features I require are the tail mounted switch and the ability to instantly turn on in a very bright mode that lasts at least a few minutes over 2,000 lumens.
My goal is to be able to very quickly grab and turn on the flashlight in a super bright mode to quickly illuminate what I need to see.
14)Material/Finish/Coating
____I don't care.
15) Water resistance
____IPX4 (Splash resistant) or better
16) Storage conditions
____Automobile glove-box (wide temperature swings, long standby periods, critical reliability)
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
visual battery level is a plus but not required
