Which first flashlight?

[MuZI]

Hi, I'm interested in purchasing my first flashlight for EDC. I'm trying to keep a budget of $35... looking for something LED that uses AAA or AA.

Any recommendations?

 

[Acid87]

What size light are you looking for? Rough brightness? Flood i.e. wide light or throwy i.e. arrow straight beam?

The preon 1 is a nice little 3 mode edc light. Worth a shout.

Good luck and :welcome:

 

[MuZI]

Size and form aren't a big issue for me. I'm looking for something with long life and durability.

I would be using it mostly for inside if the light ever went out or if I need to go check something outside at night... not sure how many lumens or what flood would be appropriate for that.

I'm sticking to AAA and AA because they are so widely available. I understand this limits me to how bright the light can be.

Would a Fenix E21 be good?

 

[stretch]

Muzi, if you can stretch your budget a little bit more, I would look at getting a zebralight SC51 for about $63.00.You will not be disappointed. Look at the reviews on the SC51 and you will see that this light is top notch.

 

[MuZI]

Muzi, if you can stretch your budget a little bit more, I would look at getting a zebralight SC51 for about $63.00.You will not be disappointed. Look at the reviews on the SC51 and you will see that this light is top notch.

Lol, I was warned my wallet would be lighter when a friend recommended this forum. Having numerous other hobbies (watches, aquarium, computers...etc) I know I have a lot more to learn and there is also a better alternative if I add more to my budget. I'd like to keep it at $35 right now and see how it goes.

 

[srfreddy]

I say Zebralight if you can afford it; otherwise, the Xeno E03 is a great deal, and in your budget.

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

I think the Fenix E21 would be a great starter light. As you read more and more on CPF and learn the ways of many modes and blinding strobes (or keep it bright with a simple light), you can buy something more advanced/expensive to complement the E21.

We all start somewhere. The E21 is a nice beginner's light to give you a feel for what is out there, but save you from spending days/weeks researching when you could be playing with your first "real" flashlight. :-)

 

[MuZI]

I think the Fenix E21 would be a great starter light. As you read more and more on CPF and learn the ways of many modes and blinding strobes (or keep it bright with a simple light), you can buy something more advanced/expensive to complement the E21.

We all start somewhere. The E21 is a nice beginner's light to give you a feel for what is out there, but save you from spending days/weeks researching when you could be playing with your first "real" flashlight. :-)

Thank you for the advise.

Where can I buy one? Is there a difference between E21 and E21 R2?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0041NE8TG/?tag=cpf0b6-20

^ That?

 

[srfreddy]

Thank you for the advise.

Where can I buy one? Is there a difference between E21 and E21 R2?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0041NE8TG/?tag=cpf0b6-20

^ That?

By R2 do you mean that bundle thing? No, they're the same thing.

 

[MuZI]

Sorry for all the questions... I just realized something. I bike 2-3 hours a day 3X a week on my road bike and my current bike light is very insufficient. If I can use the flashlight I'm about to get for that purpose I might actually raise my budget more... $55-$75

This is what I currently use:
http://store.trekbikes.com/jump.jsp...e=Google&utm_medium=upload&utm_campaign=GBASE

It says:

220+ candlepower cycling specific beam pattern focuses light where it’s needed most

I looked up the conversion unit... is this right? 220candlepower (1 lumen/12.57candlepower) = 17.5 lumens?

Would a flashlight be good for this use or would it overheat?

I'm looking at the sunwayman c10a and I figure I can put it on the 30 lumens setting as I bike...

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

Thank you for the advise.

Where can I buy one? Is there a difference between E21 and E21 R2?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0041NE8TG/?tag=cpf0b6-20

^ That?

The "R2" tells you how efficiently it turns electrical energy into light energy. A simple list of the most common efficiency bins looks like this, with the more efficient bins towards the bottom:

Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
R2
R3
R4
R5

So, an LED of the R2 efficiency bin will turn more electrical energy into light energy than an LED of the Q2 efficiency bin.

There are two versions of the E21, both with Cree XP-E emitter. One has an XP-E R2 (unknown tint bin) and one has an XP-E Q4 neutral. The neutral will make things in nature look more realistic. For more information on this light, I highly recommend you read through this thread here. It will answer many of your questions.

This picture compares the cool white (R2) to the neutral (Q4), both Cree XP-E emitters. The cool white will be marginally brighter. Different folks like different tints.

With respect to the bike light, you may want to read what others are using in the Bike forum. You could certainly use one flashlight for both, if you don't mind using the same light for general use and biking. But so this thread doesn't get too confusing, you may want to decide whether you want:

A) One light to cover general use *and* cycling

B) Two lights, one for general use, one for cycling

If the latter, then you may want to first settle on the general light, then pursue a biking light after perusing the Biking forum. People are always willing to help on this site, but it goes a long way if you show you did your homework and read in the appropriate forum first. :thumbsup:

 

[MuZI]

Is there a thread where I can read how the units of light are measured? I'm trying to compare watts/lumens/candlepower and that's a bit confusing.

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

Yes, I'll dig it up for you.

First read this thread here for help in answering that question.

Then read this thread here for more information.

...also here and here and for something in plain English with lots of helpful analogies, stop here.

Hopefully, those should help!

 

[Dr.Viper]

My choice for $35 budget would be the Cyclops CYC S6X Thor X 6.5 Million Candle Powers Rechargeable Halogen Spotlight.

Check it out. Cheap, handy, tough.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Moving this to the LED Flashlights forum.

Bill

 

[sawlight]

Another vote for the E21, rugged, solid, simple and cheap. I'd suggest you find a neutral or warm tint if you can find one. It wont be as bright, but sure shows things more realistically without the blue hue thrown on everything. But thats my .02. I have the regular one in my Bail out bag, I regret not hunting down a warm one.

 

[ps56k]

EDC - need a little help - like with you on a keychain, or in a toolbox, or on a belt holster ?

I really like the ITP EOS A3 - have one on each keychain in the house.... great light when you need it...

 

[rajalexi]

My recommendation for you is the ITP SA1! http://www.batteryjunction.com/itp-sa1-flashlight.html

The price is right at $35. The infinate brightness button on the head of the light is really cool and user friendly. 120 lumens doesn't seem like much on 1AA, but trust me, it is! And when you have a little more money and some time you can invest in rechargable 14500's. The 14500 can come from DX for about $3 a piece with free shipping or they are available in the US for $7-$10. Then you are talking over 200 lumens! I own about 30 flashlights right now and most of them were more than $35, but I still grab the ITP almost everytime I want a light. It is one of my VERY few lights that I wont let the kids play with.

Jamey

 

[MuZI]

Ended up getting the Sunwayman C10A. While I like the light it's A LOT smaller than I thought it would. For the price I'm satisfied and it's going to become my primary EDC. Does anyone know if I can somehow change the rubber thing on the tail to orange?

I'm now looking for something bigger for everyday home use or to keep in my BoB. Again, it must use AAA or AA batteries.

Yes, I'll dig it up for you.

Hopefully, those should help!

Thank you for all your help. I appreciate it!

 

[srfreddy]

Ended up getting the Sunwayman C10A. While I like the light it's A LOT smaller than I thought it would. For the price I'm satisfied and it's going to become my primary EDC. Does anyone know if I can somehow change the rubber thing on the tail to orange?

I'm now looking for something bigger for everyday home use or to keep in my BoB. Again, it must use AAA or AA batteries.



Thank you for all your help. I appreciate it!

Again, I'm going to say the Fenix E21.