What flashlight do you keep in your vehicle?
- Thread starter IMA SOL MAN
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dc38
Flashlight Enthusiast
A sheet of GITD resin.
GMT2330
Enlightened
You like floody sub lumen output? 🤣
I recently got a Convoy T4 to keep in our car. I put Eneloops in it, with spares. I recently got a company car so will probably get another T4, or maybe a T5.
I know li-ion batteries would be fine to keep in the car, but Eneloops have always served me well. The T4 puts out nearly 300 lumens, nicely regulated for a solid hour on 2 regular Eneloops, That’s perfect for my useage.
What does surprise me though, is how most people (not on here, obviously) don’t even consider keeping a flashlight in their car. They think the light on their phones will be fine in an emergency…
I know li-ion batteries would be fine to keep in the car, but Eneloops have always served me well. The T4 puts out nearly 300 lumens, nicely regulated for a solid hour on 2 regular Eneloops, That’s perfect for my useage.
What does surprise me though, is how most people (not on here, obviously) don’t even consider keeping a flashlight in their car. They think the light on their phones will be fine in an emergency…
IMA SOL MAN
Flashlight Enthusiast
Yes, I'm amazed by the cellphone apathy thing, too.
Cell phones were a great invention/infrastructure development, but even with all the benefits, it has its dark side. Prior to the cell phone, the CB dominated mobile communications, and rich or poor, working class or professional, the majority of folks had fun communicating with each other. It was like a party line with a true party spirit. It seemed like everyone and their dog had CB and talked on it. I know in my small town of about 22,000, there was a real friendly atmosphere, for the most part. Oh yeah, there were some jerks who wanted to act stupid, but that is just part of the human spectrum. Then came cell phones, and folks just got rid of the CBs. Then the accidents started from people looking at their phones instead of paying attention to their surroundings. We've all lost that feeling of community that we used to have on CB. But, the good thing is a lot of CBers moved on into ham radio, and basically saved the hobby as the older hams were dying off. Now I understand the FCC has approved FM for CB. Go figure. Must have been lobbied to do it by the CB radio manufacturers to sell more radios. Oh well, I'm rambling on now. Tired, it is so late, I need to get some sleep. Later. zzzzzzz
dc38
Flashlight Enthusiast
I like something that wont blind me, and stays lit through the night. I can also shove under the seats, hang it outside, that kinda thing. Best part is no batteries required, but I do keep a UV light on me to top it off if necessary.
For most other lighting needs, I'm a walking lumen warehouse, lol.
When I said I had a Convoy T4 in the car, I wasn’t quite being honest. It WAS in the car, and did even get used on a weekend away, a couple weeks ago.
However when we came back, I brought light the light indoors to recharge the batteries, and I stilll haven’t got round to putting it back in the car.
I like the flashlight, and it seems a bit of a waste to have it just sat I the glove compartment not doing anything. This happened before with an Olight S2A, it ended up being promoted to general duties around the house.
So now I’m thinking I need a couple more lights for both our cars, but ones that can STAY in the cars.
Any suggestions for a could of cheap, ‘not so nice’ lights that are just as useful as a T4?
However when we came back, I brought light the light indoors to recharge the batteries, and I stilll haven’t got round to putting it back in the car.
I like the flashlight, and it seems a bit of a waste to have it just sat I the glove compartment not doing anything. This happened before with an Olight S2A, it ended up being promoted to general duties around the house.
So now I’m thinking I need a couple more lights for both our cars, but ones that can STAY in the cars.
Any suggestions for a could of cheap, ‘not so nice’ lights that are just as useful as a T4?
Nothing fancy, just a Surefire 6P.
Yes, they're cheap, but the issue is that they are nice, so they run the risk of being taken out of the car and used elsewhere. This means they won't be in the car when needed.
I’m now thinking I need a couple of single AA lights, maybe T5’s?
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Jean-Luc Descarte
Flashlight Enthusiast
T5 if you want a wall of uniform light. For car duty I prefer having the hotspot of a reflector for both range at night and looking into the car's many crevices (especially during the day), so the T3 is worth a look. That or the T2, which is just a downsized S2+ and about as pedestrian as a Convoy AA gets.
‘Pedestrian’: yes, I like the sound of that!
I used to ask people if they thought it was a good idea to use their phone as a flashlight in an emergency. They would usually say yes. Then I would ask them "When the light finally dies how are you going to call for help?" It might be fine for a inconvenient event but for not for a real emergency.
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dc38
Flashlight Enthusiast
Murphy's law dictates that preparation is pointless given the grand scope of eventuality, and therefore Batman is easily an existential threat because he can overcome such eternal odds.
Thankfully, because humans generally do not have immortality in our collective resumés, we don't have to worry as much about eventual failure of our flashlights.
Get an older elzetta bravo, make sure the gaskets and seals are properly lubed, get a Malkoff LL, LLL, or LLLL, and pop a couple cr123's in there. The cells can last untouched for up to 10 years, they have some of the higher temperature ratings for disposable batteries, and even if you need the light for extended periods of usage, it'll last way longer than many commercially available lights out there, and be much tougher.
Also, the Malkoff dropins are recoil rated and potted for heavy use. That's about as "tool light" as you can get...
IMA SOL MAN
Flashlight Enthusiast
Well, for an all-around car light, I think you can't beat a headlamp loaded with lithium primary cells (Ultimates) and Eneloops for economy use. My Princeton Tec Apex has both spot and flood settings, and now they come, I think with 500 Lumens, variable lumens, so you can adjust the brightness to the situation. For handheld carry, try an Underwater Kinetics Lighthouse. It doubles as an angle-head work light. Same battery setup, Eneloops and Ultimates.
This is just a cool light.
This is just a cool light.
Wuthrich10
Newly Enlightened
Picked up a new Maglite ML50LX. With the powerbank 18650 battery kit (which in my opinion is a must have on this model) its become one of my most used lights. I now have 2 of these in the house and 1 in the truck.
I keep these in my truck:
An older Nightstick with cool white front and side emitters. It is nice for a utility "beater" and one I used at a plant where I used to work. I run lithium primaries in it now.
In my medical bag I keep a Zebralight or Milwaukee Head Lamp, Dr. K3 Penlight, and Lumintop 2AAA Penlight (all high CRI).
I also always have at least two lights on me.
An older Nightstick with cool white front and side emitters. It is nice for a utility "beater" and one I used at a plant where I used to work. I run lithium primaries in it now.
In my medical bag I keep a Zebralight or Milwaukee Head Lamp, Dr. K3 Penlight, and Lumintop 2AAA Penlight (all high CRI).
I also always have at least two lights on me.
