What’s Your Go-To Flashlight and Why?

[williamftack47623]

Hey everyone,

Let's talk flashlights! Whether you're into EDC (Everyday Carry), camping, or just keeping one handy for emergencies, we all have our favorites.

For me, it's the Fenix PD36R—compact, rechargeable, and crazy bright (1600 lumens!). It's perfect for outdoor adventures and small enough to fit in a pocket. The USB-C charging is a huge plus too.

What about you? Are you a fan of tactical flashlights, keychain lights, or maybe something vintage? Share your favorite flashlight, why you love it, and any cool features or tips for using it!

Looking forward to hearing about your setups and recommendations. 😊

Stay bright! 🔦

 

[PaladinNO]

As far as favourite flashlight goes, it depends on the situation. Got my list here:

My collection

I was requested by Sir @Ocelot808 to post some images of my lights once my new acquisitions arrived... https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/incoming-what-do-you-have-coming-in-the-mail.319054/post-5574500 Not everything has arrived yet - I am still missing Sofirn SF15, IF22A, IF23, and...

www.candlepowerforums.com

If I need one light that will see extended use, I will go for my Fenix TK76, with 12x 18650 cells. Only 2800 Lumen max for such a huge light, but if I keep it at ~400 Lumen, I got runtime for days.

Kudos on a Fenix light from the PD-series! I had a 2014 PD35 (960 Lumen) on my work belt for years. And unlike the vast majority of my lights, it is one that I trust.

 

[jz6342]

The light that finds it's way into my pocket more lately has been my Thrunite Saber. With two brightness levels and ease of use and carry, it has supplanted my 1L-1AA for most days.

 

[IMA SOL MAN]

I have mixed feelings about naming a favorite, because like mentioned above, it kind of depends.

When it works, correctly, I favor my SureFire Fury DFT, but I have had so many LED failures, and had to have it returned to the company so many times, it frustrates me. I have to return it again, as it recently developed a low lumens output problem.

That said, I love my Maglites! It seems that they just keep on working, brilliantly! Ha! In my pocket, I normally carry my old Mini Maglite Pro+. Next to the bed, I keep a multi-mode LED Mini Maglite and the 3C ML50LX. Waiting duty in the storm shelter is the 4D cell ML300L. In the upstairs bathroom is a venerable 2D incandescent Maglite wearing red. Wearing a magnet and stuck on to the door of my breaker box, is an old incandescent Mini Maglite that I put a Nite Ize 3 LED conversion in. Yeah, I kind of have a thing for Maglites, but not nearly to the extent as some other people on this website who have collections of them.

My go to light for hands on work is my Princeton Tec Apex headlamp. Sometimes you just need both arms free, and there just isn't anything that works as good for that as a headlamp. It looks where you look, automatically.

 

[TimeOnTarget]

I break it down into two categories, EDC and work lights. I need something pretty bright with some throw for work, but I still want it to be relatively small. I have found that the 18650 size battery is sufficient for my needs.

The Nitecore EDC 29 is my primary work light right now, and I pocket carry the 23. I use the TS10 for the bedside and while on the airplane for low/moonlight modes to navigate without waking up any sleeping crew members.

The Emisar D4v2 has a warm emitter that I set with the count down shutoff timer for mood lighting. I also use a diffuser with this light to enhance the experience.

I just got two Zebra Lights and a D3AA so, I think I am fairly covered. There are so many great lights these days!

 

[3_gun]

No "go to" light as that depends on the job at hand. My most common EDC is an Emisar dual channel D4k w/W2 & LH351 LEDs. Good throw + flood w/hiCRI & run times from the 21700 & being able to use just 2 outa 4 LED. It's not my work light, that's an Acebeam L17 & so it goes

 

[iacchus]

I have three go-tos, one of which will be in the pocket of my jeans on any given day.
A Malkoff MDC 14500 w/519 ~4500 if I remember correctly
An HDS Rotary or
A DMC Malihini Slim in aluminum.

Lately it has been the latter, because that particular light is both bombproof and light as a feather. The nicely spaced modes are a nice plus.

If I am in hot weather shorts, or around the house in joggers, it is usually a DMC Hoku.

 

[RWT1405]

I have many "go to" lights, depending on what I'm doing or going

Around the house (average/everyday sort of things) I'd say my (2) "go to" lights would be any of my M61LL's and any one of my MagLite ML50LX's

 

[sween1911]

Lately, the Nightreaper Estrela I picked up has been my around-the-house light. It's nice and bright and runs on a single 18650, but it's HEAVY. No where near as balanced and handy as a Blackhawk Gladius. As always, my EDC Surefire L1 is usually the first on the scene as long as I'm wearing pants.

 

[Sabrewulf]

Reylight lanapple.
It's a great size for the pocket, it's bright (triple 519a 5000 dd), high CRI, and i love Ti.

 

[Monocrom]

Used to be the Klarus XT2CR Pro.
Until one night when the thermal regulation failed so miserably, the LED burned out, and the 18650 battery got WAY too hot, and started acting up. Both disposed of. Currently, my Go-To main light is whatever light I'm carrying for evaluation and review purposes for my main YouTube channel.

 

[Rossymeister]

Right now, rotating between the Surefire Aviator and an HDS Clicky 219b 4k. I like the 10 minute auto off on the older hds lights.

 

[Rossymeister]

Reylight lanapple.
It's a great size for the pocket, it's bright (triple 519a 5000 dd), high CRI, and i love Ti

What pen do ya got there?

 

[ABTOMAT]

Should be my HDS Rotary but I usually use a Streamlight Protac 90X for work these days. Biggest pleasant surprise in a flashlight I've had in years.

 

[bykfixer]

Whichever flashlight is near to where I am mostly.
I have various lights at vsrious places throughout my home and vehicles. I carry flashlights too. But it's just too many to name and the list is pretty boring anyway.

 

[gurdygurds]

This guy. Handheld or headlamp, easily pocketable, sub lumen outputs are great while still having higher outputs that are plenty for my needs, and takes AA or AAA.

 

[Sabrewulf]

What pen do ya got there?

It's a Ti tactileTurn.

 

[xxo]

I like the ML25, ML50 and ML300 Led Mags, specifically the 2C ML25LT, the 2 and 3C ML50LX's, the 3D ML300LX and the 4D ML300L (they don't make a grenade gripped Lx version of the 4D - if they did, it would probably be my favorite). I run all of these on Li-ion cells.

I also have 3D printed diffusers to turn all of these into lanterns.

 

[tech25]

My go-to would generally be my EDC; HDS NLT rotary with DC-fix- imo the best UI available, good general use beam pattern.

At hand would usually be a Zebralight headlamp either an H51fw or H600fc.

I also keep either a quark AA or a PK-PR1 as backup to my EDC

Malkoff M91BN running on 2x 18500 for a bright longer “Hi” mode with a nice long running low mode.

Various other lights for flood, throw or both are nearby.

 

[knfmkr]

Oh man that’s a loaded question. I’d narrow it down to two with very specific roles. They would be the McGizmo Sapphire and the Malkoff MDC E2HT. The Sapphire is around my neck basically 2/47 and the Malkoff is in my pocket with little rotation except for possibly the Elzetta Alpha gen 3.