What size flashlight do you use most?

[HighlanderNorth]

I dont work in a job that I need to carry a larger flashlight around in a holster attached to my belt at night. In fact, my job is almost entirely a day job, and you usually dont need a flashlight in daytime, unless you live above the Arctic circle at certain times of year, and I dont live there.

I own 3 LED lights now, and my most powerful is my iTp A6, which is 12-160-700 Lumens on 6 AA batteries. It came with a nice nylon holster for your belt. I like that light, but to be honest, I have not used it for about 2 months! If I worked as a security guard, a cop, or in some other night time profession, I would probably choose it, but since I dont, it would look silly for me to walk around wherever wearing a large flashlight holster on my belt. Plus that light's too big to be a pocket light.

However, I always have my Jetbeam BC-10 with me. It fits right into my pocket, without weighing my pocket down too much, and without sticking out too much. I end up using it during the day, almost every day for something, then I use it after dark at home or out for something almost every night. Its great when I need to find something in dark places. I never previously carried a flashlight with me before I bought this light, and it comes in handy far more often than a pocket knife would, which I dont carry, cause these days cops can charge you with a felony for having a concealed weapon! These are different times folks......

The BC-10 is a great light too. It's anodizing has hardly scratched at all, even though it shares my pocket with my keys. It's plenty powerful, and I dont hardly ever need to turn it up to high(270 lumens) because the 30 lumen setting is perfect for just about every task. I can walk through the woods and see well in front of me with only 30 lumens, and the batteries last about 18 hours on 30L. I've had it since September of last year, and I've replaced the CR123 battery twice, even though the 2nd time probably was done way early. I've never had a problem with the BC-10 either.

So, even though the larger, higher lumen flashlights look cool, and seem like a cool new toy to buy, the truth is, I'll probably keep using the BC-10 98% of the time regardless of whatever light I buy in the near future. I want a 2 -Cr123, 1-18650 size light, but I dont know if it will be convenient to carry it regularly, like the BC-10 is. I also dont know that I will need more than the 270L the BC-10 offers, which I hardly need now.

Which light size/style do you find that you use the most, or is most convenient for your activities, and how do you carry it?

 

[AnAppleSnail]

1xAAA-sized pocket rockets mostly. And if you only need additional lighting at night, you must work in an uncommonly-well-lit place. Heck, some of the machines here are bigger than my apartment, and all the important bits are underneath...

Edit: Further, why don't industrial designers work LED light strips into their machines these days?

 

[jonesy]

AAA for me everyday, but it's an office job. I break out a 1 cr123 in the evenings.

 

[LightWalker]

I carry a Quark 2x123 in my pocket at all times. It is only a little longer than the AA Quark and with a 17670 battery it has better runtime than the 2xAA Quark. I have a Quark 123 mini and a Fenix E01 on my keychain for backup.

 

[JohnnyBravo]

For EDC use, I usually like a single 14500/AA. On my bicycle, I use a pair of single 18650 lights (1800 lumens) for my night rides home...

 

[RGB_LED]

Hmm... same as others, my day job doesn't require lights but, I carry a AAA light on my keychain (which, surprisingly, gets very little use) and a JB RRT-O in my jacket pocket.

At home, I rotate between an RRT-O, SF E2e, SF 6P and SF C2 just shuffling around house because I can't be bothered to turn on lights. I also use a JB Jet1 v3 on evening bike rides since it has a slow strobe mode. For longer distance rides in the evenings, I have a dedicated bike light that has 3xSSC P4's.

 

[mbw_151]

Most what? Most frequent use is my pocket EDC a Photon Freedom (2 x 2016 coin cell) EDC, usually seconds at a time but usually a few times a day. Most hours of use per week, my HDS EDC HCRI or Surefire Minimus Vision (both 1 x CR123). The HDS is still pocketable, but usually a jacket pocket. I carry it for evening walks. The Vision is carried in a pack, bag or tool box. This is the light that gets used hours at a time.

 

[Fireclaw18]

I use 1xAA or 1xCR123 sized pocket EDC lights the most.

I rarely even use my Zebralight SC600.... it's just too big for EDC pocket carry.

 

[SDM44]

I usually have my iTP A3 upgraded w/10440 on me at all times (on my keychain).

I also have my V10R w/V11R AA extender and 14500 in that, but that stays in my EDC work bag as an emergency go-to light when I'm not at home.

 

[skyfire]

for EDC and most things a single CR123 light, usually one or two of my surefire L1s.
for work, or if theres work to be done, one or two of my surefire p60 hosts with malkoff drop-in.

 

[Labrador72]

At home: 1xAA flashlights
Outside: 2xAA and 2xCR123/1x18650

 

[FlatlandBusa]

Had carried a 2xAAA stylus pro for years.

Currently a 2xAA PA20 is my EDC. I put on about 4-5 hours run-time per week on this light, more time than the rest of my lights combined.

 

[Evltcat]

I work on technology stuff. A LOT of times that means server rooms and network closets that can be very dark, especially if you got to get into a device in the middle of a rack! I EDC my Fenix PD-32 in a belt holster, and my Sunwayman V10R Ti in my pocket as a backup/low lumen option. I also carry 4 spare 16340's in a Storeacell.

 

[Yamabushi]

2xCR123 always in my jacket or coat pocket
2xAAA when I don't have my jacket handy
1xAA headlamp when I know I'll need both hands free

 

[parnass]

My most often used flashlights these days are 2xAAA form factor penlights. I have a bunch of them.
Runner up is a 1xAA powered flashlight.

I always carry a 1xAAA light as a backup.

Outdoors at night, I use a 2xCR123A flashlight or an Inova T4 flashlight powered by its stock lithium ion rechargeable battery.

 

[koolranch]

Cr123 is my favorite form.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cratz2]

Each of my three keychains has a 1xAAA Fenix of some sort and over the last year, those are absolutely the lights that have seen the most actual use.

I have 1x18650/2x123-sized lights on the bikes and that what I tend to prefer in my hand for 'serious' light use.

Around the house, I have a 2 stage 1xAA light that was sort a Luma Power many years ago... right when the SSC lights first came out. I thought I got it used for ~$25 or 30 shipped about 5 years ago. They were kinda big for a 1xAA light and kinda clunky. The switch is extremely positive which a lot of people didn't like but it had a wider than average hotspot which I liked then maybe 4 years ago, I put on some diffuser material on it so it got even bigger. The Low setting is just about perfect with an NiMH cell and High is convenient to have right there though I don't use it very often. 1xAAA lights have come and gone and 2x123 lights have come and gone but that 301 is still running strong and gets use almost every day though usually for just a couple minutes a day, if that. Over the last 5 years, that has probably been the single light that has seen the most use.

 

[orbital]

+

Single 18650, multi-mode lights (the smaller the better)

..for a long time now.

 

[Sgt. LED]

EDC in pocket is usually a single cell 123 of some sort.
However I usually have my Rush 12 with me and in there are several lights and backup cells.

Around the house and when I have a specific job to do, I just reach for a Surefire C3 or 9P or G3 by instinct. That's where my history and trust is.
Yeah they all have Malkoff modules in them now. I've at least advanced that much lol

 

[Burgess]

AA x 2

4Sevens Quark, with Sanyo Eneloops

Carried in a belt holster (RipOffs model # 153)

Superb !