Hello all! I have been reading through the threads, for a couple days, and am ready to spend some money.
First, the list:
0) What Region/Country/State will the light be purchased in?
____I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.
____I am in North America. More precisely I am in __DFW Area, TX__.
1) Price Range: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
_X___I only want to pay $1-10.
__X__I can spend $15-30.
__X_ I could spend $40-60.
__X__I am willing to spend $80-$120.
2) Format:
__X__I want a flashlight.
3) Length:
_X___I don't care.
4) Width:
_X___I don't care.
5) What batteries do you want to use? Alkaline batteries are easier to find and less expensive but don't pack as much stored energy and are don't work well in cold temperatures. Lithium batteries have long shelf life (10+ years, great for stored emergency lights) and are not as affected by cold but must be kept dry and are more expensive. Rechargeable start expensive, but if used frequently pay off quickly.
____I want common Alkaline batteries. (AA, AAA, C, D)
____I want lithium batteries. (coin cells, CR123, AAA, AA...)
____I want a rechargeable system. (an investment, but best for everyday use)
I am fine with any system, but this needs to be considered in the budget. I currently have a Surefire G2 (bought as a glove box light) that I use much more often than my other Mag lites (Mag LED in 3d and 4d inc. versions)
I have no problem spending the money on the CR123 batts, but would not mind the ability to run AA as well.
6) How much light do you want? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).
____I want to read a map, or find a light switch, in a dark room. (5-10 lumens)
____I want to walk around a generally paved area. (15-20 lumens)
__X__I want to walk unpaved trails. (40 lumens)
__X__I want to do Caving or Search & Rescue operations. (60+ lumens)
__X__I want to light an entire campground or dazzle an intruder. (100+ lumens)
General purpose, but I live in a rural area, and there are no street lights. Will be used in the neighborhood, as well as hiking/camping and around a 7 acre farm area on occasion. a multi mode is fine.
7) Throw vs Flood: Which do you prefer, lights that flood an area with a wide beam, or lights that "throw" with a tightly focused beam? Place an "X" on the line below.
Throw (distance)------------------X----|----------------------Flood/close-up
8) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims (like some LED lights). but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries.
__X__20 min. (I want the brightest light for brief periods)
__X__60-240 min. (1-2 hours)
____240-360 min. (4-6 hours)
____360+ min. (More than 6 hours)
9) Durability: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
____Not Important (A "night-stand" light.)
__X__Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood.)
__X__Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box.)
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Self-defense, Survival.)
8) Switch Type:
____I don't care.
____I want a sliding switch. (Stays on until slid back.)
__X__I want a "clickie" switch. (Stays on until pressed again.)
____I want a momentary switch. (Only stays on while held down.)
9) Switch Location:
__X__I don't care.
Prefer not a twisty, but not a deal breaker on any light.
10) Operational Modes: Check all that apply.
____A simple on-off is fine for me.
__X__I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
__X__I want multiple light levels. (some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a strobe mode. (blinks to show location.)
____I want a tactical strobe. (Flashes rapidly to disorient an opponent.)
11) Is it important whether the body is metal or plastic/composite?
__X__I don't care.
____I want a metal-bodied light.
____I want a plastic/composite light.
12) Special Needs: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Circle any below or write in your own comment(s).
____Red (night vision preserving) filter
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________)
____Waterproof – how deep: _____________
____Non-reflective/dark finish (stealthy/hard to find)
____Polished silver or brightly colored finish (for easy locating)
____Corrosion resistant or hard-anodized finish
____"Hybrid" light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
____Built-in second (or spare) lamp or filament
____Belt/Jacket clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Kobuton/self defense features
____Non-sparking Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments
I would consider buying multiples, so dont think I need to spend all my cash on a setup. I have 3 vehicles, a motorcycle, and around the house needs. At this time this is filled by a AA mini mag, 3D LED mag, 4D mag, SF G2, and a plug in recharge light in the hall. When walking or working outside I usually take the Surefire, but then I have to remember to take it back to the car...
I have been thinking of 1 or 2 ITP A03's, plus one or two others to start with.
I have been looking at:
ITP C series
Romisen RC29
Romisen RC-N3 (ability to take both types of batts)
First, the list:
0) What Region/Country/State will the light be purchased in?
____I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.
____I am in North America. More precisely I am in __DFW Area, TX__.
1) Price Range: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
_X___I only want to pay $1-10.
__X__I can spend $15-30.
__X_ I could spend $40-60.
__X__I am willing to spend $80-$120.
2) Format:
__X__I want a flashlight.
3) Length:
_X___I don't care.
4) Width:
_X___I don't care.
5) What batteries do you want to use? Alkaline batteries are easier to find and less expensive but don't pack as much stored energy and are don't work well in cold temperatures. Lithium batteries have long shelf life (10+ years, great for stored emergency lights) and are not as affected by cold but must be kept dry and are more expensive. Rechargeable start expensive, but if used frequently pay off quickly.
____I want common Alkaline batteries. (AA, AAA, C, D)
____I want lithium batteries. (coin cells, CR123, AAA, AA...)
____I want a rechargeable system. (an investment, but best for everyday use)
I am fine with any system, but this needs to be considered in the budget. I currently have a Surefire G2 (bought as a glove box light) that I use much more often than my other Mag lites (Mag LED in 3d and 4d inc. versions)
I have no problem spending the money on the CR123 batts, but would not mind the ability to run AA as well.
6) How much light do you want? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).
____I want to read a map, or find a light switch, in a dark room. (5-10 lumens)
____I want to walk around a generally paved area. (15-20 lumens)
__X__I want to walk unpaved trails. (40 lumens)
__X__I want to do Caving or Search & Rescue operations. (60+ lumens)
__X__I want to light an entire campground or dazzle an intruder. (100+ lumens)
General purpose, but I live in a rural area, and there are no street lights. Will be used in the neighborhood, as well as hiking/camping and around a 7 acre farm area on occasion. a multi mode is fine.
7) Throw vs Flood: Which do you prefer, lights that flood an area with a wide beam, or lights that "throw" with a tightly focused beam? Place an "X" on the line below.
Throw (distance)------------------X----|----------------------Flood/close-up
8) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims (like some LED lights). but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries.
__X__20 min. (I want the brightest light for brief periods)
__X__60-240 min. (1-2 hours)
____240-360 min. (4-6 hours)
____360+ min. (More than 6 hours)
9) Durability: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
____Not Important (A "night-stand" light.)
__X__Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood.)
__X__Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box.)
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Self-defense, Survival.)
8) Switch Type:
____I don't care.
____I want a sliding switch. (Stays on until slid back.)
__X__I want a "clickie" switch. (Stays on until pressed again.)
____I want a momentary switch. (Only stays on while held down.)
9) Switch Location:
__X__I don't care.
Prefer not a twisty, but not a deal breaker on any light.
10) Operational Modes: Check all that apply.
____A simple on-off is fine for me.
__X__I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
__X__I want multiple light levels. (some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a strobe mode. (blinks to show location.)
____I want a tactical strobe. (Flashes rapidly to disorient an opponent.)
11) Is it important whether the body is metal or plastic/composite?
__X__I don't care.
____I want a metal-bodied light.
____I want a plastic/composite light.
12) Special Needs: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Circle any below or write in your own comment(s).
____Red (night vision preserving) filter
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________)
____Waterproof – how deep: _____________
____Non-reflective/dark finish (stealthy/hard to find)
____Polished silver or brightly colored finish (for easy locating)
____Corrosion resistant or hard-anodized finish
____"Hybrid" light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
____Built-in second (or spare) lamp or filament
____Belt/Jacket clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Kobuton/self defense features
____Non-sparking Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments
I would consider buying multiples, so dont think I need to spend all my cash on a setup. I have 3 vehicles, a motorcycle, and around the house needs. At this time this is filled by a AA mini mag, 3D LED mag, 4D mag, SF G2, and a plug in recharge light in the hall. When walking or working outside I usually take the Surefire, but then I have to remember to take it back to the car...
I have been thinking of 1 or 2 ITP A03's, plus one or two others to start with.
I have been looking at:
ITP C series
Romisen RC29
Romisen RC-N3 (ability to take both types of batts)
