What flash light do you use for rainstorms?
- Thread starter Raven
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artar
Enlightened
Have a look on the SL Series (SL4 and SL6) of UKE.
Both are waterproof and very bright(5watts/8watts) for their size (15,5cm/22,5cm).
runtime should be around 3-4 hours on both lights.
Both are waterproof and very bright(5watts/8watts) for their size (15,5cm/22,5cm).
runtime should be around 3-4 hours on both lights.
jtivat
Flashlight Enthusiast
SL6 would be a great choice.
kubolaw
Enlightened
I guess I haven't been out in a really heavy rainstorm, but a little while back I had to check out some leaks during one of our larger northern CA storms. My surge did a pretty good job, but I would have liked even more beam "spread" for what I was trying to do. I tried my Tec40, and it just didn't compare, as the smaller and less powerful beam tended to get swallowed up by the drops. (I don't even know if that makes sense. When I look at the two beams under normal conditions, they look surprisingly similar (I overdrive a 3-cell lamp in the Tec40), so I was surprised at the rain-based difference.)
I don't have a SL6, but from what I've read here, it sounds like it would have been a good light source. I just wonder if I could have handled the extra weight as easily while climbing up and down ladders. Carrying both the Surge and Tec40 was no problem.
John
I don't have a SL6, but from what I've read here, it sounds like it would have been a good light source. I just wonder if I could have handled the extra weight as easily while climbing up and down ladders. Carrying both the Surge and Tec40 was no problem.
John
Roy
Farewell our Curmudgeon Administrator
And remember...the Surge is a DIVING light..good to 300-500 feet of water!
I'd say people pretty much hit it on the head. If your looking for long throw light in heavy rain the SL6 is probably tops. It has a good runtime and uses simple to find cheap C batteries. It's proven waterproof and able to take abuse.
If you need something with a wider beam the surge is a great light but 8 AA's is a lot of batteries it is however also waterproof and very bright and for close wide beam work should excel in low visability.
A surefire M6 would be in there too or even a M3 but waterproof and surefire lately don't seem to go together consistantly. If you did go this way I'd certainly want to pre-test the light for water resistance. Also for long distance work in heavy rain both the M3 and M6 probably have too wide of a beam compared to the super narrow SL6 beam. Which without a really tight beam can end up like bright headlights in a snowstorm you get so much beam washout and reflection you can see less with the light than without. For close up work this is not a big deal but for distance work it certainly would be.
Not to mention inital cost and cost of running a M6 or M3. Depending on budget and your expected runtime needs that may or may not be a factor. With the SL6 runtimes in the 4-5 hours instead of 20-60 minutes for the M6 or M3. For the cost of a M6 and some 123's you could buy 3 SL6's and 3 Surge's enough C and AA batteries to last several monsoon seasons
Todd
If you need something with a wider beam the surge is a great light but 8 AA's is a lot of batteries it is however also waterproof and very bright and for close wide beam work should excel in low visability.
A surefire M6 would be in there too or even a M3 but waterproof and surefire lately don't seem to go together consistantly. If you did go this way I'd certainly want to pre-test the light for water resistance. Also for long distance work in heavy rain both the M3 and M6 probably have too wide of a beam compared to the super narrow SL6 beam. Which without a really tight beam can end up like bright headlights in a snowstorm you get so much beam washout and reflection you can see less with the light than without. For close up work this is not a big deal but for distance work it certainly would be.
Not to mention inital cost and cost of running a M6 or M3. Depending on budget and your expected runtime needs that may or may not be a factor. With the SL6 runtimes in the 4-5 hours instead of 20-60 minutes for the M6 or M3. For the cost of a M6 and some 123's you could buy 3 SL6's and 3 Surge's enough C and AA batteries to last several monsoon seasons
Todd
Monsters_Inc
Banned
The Surge underwater in daylight is really underwhelming. Go for the SL6, no less.
jtivat
Flashlight Enthusiast
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Yup
Tombeis
Enlightened
The last big rainstorm we had here I used the Surefire 10X outside for about an hour and a half in hard rain. It fell in the creek once and I carried it around wet for the entire outing.
Dispite what some say about leaking, it showed no sign of water entry when I got inside and removed the head from the B20 battery.
I do have a slightly larger then stock O-Ring which makes the seal between the battery and the head. The larger O-Ring tightens the head so it a little harder to turn. I probably does a better job of sealing also.
The dual lamps are great! Used the 110 Lumen lamp most of the time. Having the 500 Lumen lamp available when you need it is very convenient.
Dispite what some say about leaking, it showed no sign of water entry when I got inside and removed the head from the B20 battery.
I do have a slightly larger then stock O-Ring which makes the seal between the battery and the head. The larger O-Ring tightens the head so it a little harder to turn. I probably does a better job of sealing also.
The dual lamps are great! Used the 110 Lumen lamp most of the time. Having the 500 Lumen lamp available when you need it is very convenient.
brightnorm
Flashaholic
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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Yes (and heavier)
BN
SCOTT THE BADGER
Newly Enlightened
I use my LiteBox
SilverFox
Flashaholic
Hello Raven,
I was looking for a penetating beam, but I also wanted a smaller package. We get a lot of rain here, most of it is a drizzle but some is heavy down pour. I have found that the wider the beam the more light is thrown back in your face during the heavy down pour. I wanted a narrow focused beam light. I ended up with a UK SL4. The beam is not perfect (a little lopsided) and when the bulb burnes out the replacement is a bulb/reflector assembly that costs about $9.00.
I did an informal test by sending my son down the block in a light colored jacket (non-reflective) at night. Street light and porch lights from the neighbors were on. I was able to make him out on the sidewalk at a little over 300 yards. It was not raining.
I was impressed. If weight is no problem and the UK SL6 has the same type of narrow beam, I would go with that.
Tom
I was looking for a penetating beam, but I also wanted a smaller package. We get a lot of rain here, most of it is a drizzle but some is heavy down pour. I have found that the wider the beam the more light is thrown back in your face during the heavy down pour. I wanted a narrow focused beam light. I ended up with a UK SL4. The beam is not perfect (a little lopsided) and when the bulb burnes out the replacement is a bulb/reflector assembly that costs about $9.00.
I did an informal test by sending my son down the block in a light colored jacket (non-reflective) at night. Street light and porch lights from the neighbors were on. I was able to make him out on the sidewalk at a little over 300 yards. It was not raining.
I was impressed. If weight is no problem and the UK SL6 has the same type of narrow beam, I would go with that.
Tom
