What’s Your Go-To Flashlight and Why?
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YayILikePie
Newly Enlightened
Sofirn C01. It just works. I don't have to worry if I somehow drop it whether it'll come on, and it takes readily available AAA batteries if I don't have an NiMH or primary lithium on hand. It's not the brightest, but it gets the job done, and lasts ages on a single battery.
I am a very poor example of a flashlight enthusiast. Ask me about my knife collection, instead.
No, maybe don't.....
When it comes to lights, I'm interested in simplicity, durability, and a good pocket clip. As long as the light isn't too blue, too dim, or too bright, it's good enough for me.
When I worked in aggregates processing, I went through a couple lights. My final go-to was a Streamlight Pro-Tac. 250/500, the model with the beam pattern that was biased toward a central hot spot. Buildings that were coated in a layer of coal and dust for eighty years meant I really needed that 500 Lumens setting.
I left that job for something cleaner, and better illuminated. They provide us with lights, along with the rest of our tools, which meant I didn't need to bring my own, anymore.
Tried Coast, didn't like the floppy-feeling tail switches or the beam pattern. Went back to Streamlight, got a Macrostream, called it good.
It's worth mentioning that I kept the Coast Polysteel 1000 for lending out, and the Acebeam L17 to back up the Macrostream. A Maratac LEP made it's way onto my shelf too, but that's just so I can say I have one.
No, maybe don't.....
When it comes to lights, I'm interested in simplicity, durability, and a good pocket clip. As long as the light isn't too blue, too dim, or too bright, it's good enough for me.
When I worked in aggregates processing, I went through a couple lights. My final go-to was a Streamlight Pro-Tac. 250/500, the model with the beam pattern that was biased toward a central hot spot. Buildings that were coated in a layer of coal and dust for eighty years meant I really needed that 500 Lumens setting.
I left that job for something cleaner, and better illuminated. They provide us with lights, along with the rest of our tools, which meant I didn't need to bring my own, anymore.
Tried Coast, didn't like the floppy-feeling tail switches or the beam pattern. Went back to Streamlight, got a Macrostream, called it good.
It's worth mentioning that I kept the Coast Polysteel 1000 for lending out, and the Acebeam L17 to back up the Macrostream. A Maratac LEP made it's way onto my shelf too, but that's just so I can say I have one.
Fuzzywuzzies
Enlightened
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2019
- Messages
- 268
tech25
Flashlight Enthusiast
Your shelf queen looks a bit beat up. Lol
That’s really awesome!
That’s really awesome!
AMD64Brunette
Enlightened
Any idea where you can buy this light?
The Sofirn C01 is discontinued now. The closest thing to it that I can think of is the McGizmo Sapphire. You might also consider a Peak Eiger Mule ordered with low lumen output.
YayILikePie
Newly Enlightened
Pretty much. Been on the hunt for other 5mm dead simple lights, but they’re just not very popular these days. There’s also the Sunwayman R01A, original Fenix E01, and then the Sofirn C01 that are your classic AAA old school keychain lights, barring the Photon-style lights. I like them because I don’t need a lot of light, and they almost always just work, so long as they’re not damaged by water or the battery isn’t out of juice.
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2016
- Messages
- 378
Unrelated but sort of related -- what are you using the DC fix for? Is it to adjust the beam or to adjust the tint (or...)? I keep looking at the NLT but the greenish/yellowish cast puts me off. If DC fix compensates for that without significantly affecting throw, then I may finally pull the trigger. TIA.
DC Fix is a diffusion film. Lee filters will adjust tint. A light amber will get rid of greenish tint and make the beam neutral. I use amber on a couple of older Surefire lights.
krypton king
Newly Enlightened
Streamlight Protac 2LX rechargeable. 500 lumens, plenty of light and good throw. I keep it in my jacket in the winter and car during warmer months.
tech25
Flashlight Enthusiast
I find the DC-fix blends the beam a bit.
My NLT has what seems like 3 zones; a hotspot, small corona around it and a larger corona around that. So really close up it isn’t the prettiest. The DC-fix takes the hotspot and corona and makes it into a bigger hotspot.
More than say, 15 feet indoors, I prefer without the DC-fix as none of it is noticeable to me but most of my usage is closer up.
Outdoors is where this LED really shines (excuse the pun) it has punch with good spill and the tint works just fine even though it’s a big cooler and lower CRI than I prefer.
My NLT has what seems like 3 zones; a hotspot, small corona around it and a larger corona around that. So really close up it isn’t the prettiest. The DC-fix takes the hotspot and corona and makes it into a bigger hotspot.
More than say, 15 feet indoors, I prefer without the DC-fix as none of it is noticeable to me but most of my usage is closer up.
Outdoors is where this LED really shines (excuse the pun) it has punch with good spill and the tint works just fine even though it’s a big cooler and lower CRI than I prefer.
No one specific light. I have many staged around the house, vehicles, and pocket. Whichever one is closest that will do the job at hand is my go to.
MrAl
Flashlight Enthusiast
Hi,
I do not have a single go to flashlight because I have different purposes depending on what I am doing.
For going outside at night I use a very high power LED light.
For indoors, depending on where I am, I use a smaller one that is rechargeable or a single AA.
For travel, I use a double AA light on my belt. I take that everywhere. I will probably switch to a smaller one though because the double AA light is a little too long to carry on my belt.
I also have a super long-term light that runs off of a Lead Acid 12v battery. It has two small 5mm white LEDs that draw very little current. It's made for running for at least a month non stop in case we get another really bad hurricane that knocks out the electric for more than a couple days. That's very rare but it has happened in the past.
For super high reliability I keep a couple of LED lights around that DO NOT use any internal circuit, just series resistor(s). The ones with a circuit inside can go out suddenly although they may turn back on after a few seconds after you turn them off.
So, my "go to" lights are varied depending on what I have to do at the moment and where I happen to be. I do have to recommend that everyone considers the same scenarios for choosing their lights.
I do not have a single go to flashlight because I have different purposes depending on what I am doing.
For going outside at night I use a very high power LED light.
For indoors, depending on where I am, I use a smaller one that is rechargeable or a single AA.
For travel, I use a double AA light on my belt. I take that everywhere. I will probably switch to a smaller one though because the double AA light is a little too long to carry on my belt.
I also have a super long-term light that runs off of a Lead Acid 12v battery. It has two small 5mm white LEDs that draw very little current. It's made for running for at least a month non stop in case we get another really bad hurricane that knocks out the electric for more than a couple days. That's very rare but it has happened in the past.
For super high reliability I keep a couple of LED lights around that DO NOT use any internal circuit, just series resistor(s). The ones with a circuit inside can go out suddenly although they may turn back on after a few seconds after you turn them off.
So, my "go to" lights are varied depending on what I have to do at the moment and where I happen to be. I do have to recommend that everyone considers the same scenarios for choosing their lights.
Pellidon
Flashlight Enthusiast
Thrunite T10 clone and a Nitecore Tube.
MrAl
Flashlight Enthusiast
Hi,
I had forgotten to mention why I use such a high power LED light when I go out at night like to take out the garbage. It's because animal migration has changed a lot over the past years. They move a little more north of where they were once comfortable in search of food. With a higher power light I can see over a wider area before I venture into that area.
We've seen several different types of wild animals over the past 10 years or so around here that we never had seen before. There's no telling what might turn up next. I don't want to be the one to discover a new animal type around here by surprising it by my presence one late night, and I also do not want to be surprised by it either 🙂
I had forgotten to mention why I use such a high power LED light when I go out at night like to take out the garbage. It's because animal migration has changed a lot over the past years. They move a little more north of where they were once comfortable in search of food. With a higher power light I can see over a wider area before I venture into that area.
We've seen several different types of wild animals over the past 10 years or so around here that we never had seen before. There's no telling what might turn up next. I don't want to be the one to discover a new animal type around here by surprising it by my presence one late night, and I also do not want to be surprised by it either 🙂
