Which lights do you find yourself using the most?

[Kaban]

I want to get a discussion going and get people's opinion on which lights you find yourself using the most for daily tasks.

I came to the realization that alot of the lights I have only have a cool factor, or a "WOW" factor, but are not really usable around the house or for simple tasks such as using it in the garage when working on the car, etc. because they are too bright, too focused, and so forth.

So that brings me to the question, which lights can you honestly say you enjoy using for typical every day tasks (which for most people do not include shining a beam 200 meters away)?

For me, right now, my most versatile light is my SF UB3T Invictus with the 2.5" SF Diffuser cap. It has alot of output modes, and it's so easy to switch between a good usable floody beam to a very direct beam for longer distance.

 

[socom1970]

My two favorite and most useable lights are my SF KROMA non-milspec first, and my lego of a Vital Gear FB2+Malkoff VME head+Malkoff M61WLL. The bulk of household tasks go to these excellent lights.

 

[yearnslow]

I have to be honest and say I use my Gerber recon the most! Spectacularly underpowered and not waterproof, but in the pitch black it's fine for stopping me bumping into trees etc.

 

[ericjohn]

I edc an incandescent Mini Maglite, a Mini Maglite Pro and then a third flashlight, which is usually an industrial model. Currently my third go to flashlight is a Bright Star 2217 LED and I hope it will be for a good while. I really like the Nite Ize S-biner that came with it. The one I use the most is my Mini Maglite incandescent. I only use the Pro when I want to show off, such as going to the movies or walking outside along the street.

 

[markr6]

Zebralight H51w diffused with d-c-fix. Small, lightweight, nice tint and even the simplest tasks can sometimes require heads-free use. It doesn't give a lot of throw, so next in line is my PD32UE.

 

[Cataract]

The ones on my belt or the one in my pocket. Or maybe I should say my EDC to be a little less vague. I tend to carry single RCR123 flashlights on a rotation or anything smaller that can put out 200+ lumens. For work, that would be a Quark 123 tactical and PD20 and weekends, I mostly swing between my MBI HF or Mr. Elfin neutral. All of my weekend EDC lights are neutral or high CRI and I use the same lights to get into bed at night. I have plenty of big lights and throwers, but I basically never use those unless I'm going for a night walk in the woods and the only purpose for doing that is playing with flashlights... kind of a looped self-created need.

 

[flashy bazook]

I use two similar types of light the most. Either a 2xAA or a 3xAA with the P60 style drop-in, a M31LL and a M60LL Malkoff respectively.

The latter is a throwy light with an optic, so it is matched to a Surefire diffuser that can be opened one-handed (it has a spring) to expose the throwy beam, or stay closed for flood.

Typical output is about 60 lumens, whose intensity is effectively modulated via the diffuser so there is no need for multi-level flashlights.

Both are extremely efficient and can go on for many hours on eneloop rechargeable batteries.

I even have a similar version in a 2xC battery configuration, this goes on regulated for 12 hours, together with a wand-type diffuser it provides a 60 lumen "candle" type of beam.

The bigger "room lighters" are typically only needed and used during blackouts, so the answer to your question for most frequent use is clearly the long running, diffuser sporting, 60 lumen single level lights.

 

[GunnarGG]

At work a Preon 2 hcri.
When not at work my 1xAAA in my jeanspocket - usually Fenix LD01 but today Preon ReVo SS nw.
My ZL SC30W also get used pretty much.
Fenix LD25 got some use today also.
Very seldom do I find lights around 200 lumens insufficient.

 

[mcnair55]

I tend to use my Itp A3 the most in the day for work, at night i rotate a few but Fenix pd 32 suits as i like the.ui.

 

[dusty99]

One of my small 1xAA lights. They fit almost unnoticed in dress pants or the watch pocket on a pair of Levis. Right now it's my L10 w/nichia: great tint.

 

[PapaLumen]

Thrunite Ti 1xAAA gets used the most.

 

[gravelmonkey]

L3 Illumination's L10 - 4mode with the Nichia 219. Pocketable, useful brightness levels, 'mouth holdable'. Winning combo IMO.

 

[PeteR 337]

4sevens Peron 1 Ti

 

[EscapeVelocity]

The one closest by at any given moment of need.

 

[gradio]

I'll carry 2, once in awhile 3 edc lights (to figure what I use most) and I find myself mostly going for the Jetbeam RTT-01.
Its easy carry, fits the hand easy (not to big, not to small), and easy one-hand operation. Single CR123A battery and ramp up/down to the brightness (no steps).

 

[whiteoakjoe]

1. Neutral white Quark AA XML, that I lego'ed. Running a 14500 as an EDC
2. Neutral White Quark 123^2 at work, running a pair of 16340's
3. Zebra H51Fc headlamp, on a eneloop.
4. Jetbeam PA40 Neutral as a hunting and Pickup truck light, running on Eneloop or Lithium Energizers. (love the long runtimes)

 

[Foskey]

Daily tasks, the Surefire E1b. Nightly, the fury.

 

[enomosiki]

Either my C2 with vinhnguyen54's XM-L2 drop-in or TN12.

The C2 is the first thing that I grab when I need light. It's got a two-stage tailcap, so I get press it lightly to get a 15 lumen beam, adequate for most tasks. When I need an ungodly amount of light, I just put a deathgrip on it and unleash the beast, and it lights up everything in front of me. Out of all of my lights, it's got the fastest draw time and fastest access between low and high levels.

TN12, on the other hand, I use for a lower profile purposes, when I don't want to be seen holding a larger light, like the C2.

 

[JCD]

Over the past 2-3 years, it has been a couple 6Ps with various LED drop-ins. More recently, I've been using a 9P and a C3, each with a P90 and 2x 17500 cells most often.

When I need something bright, my go to light is a C2 with P91, running on 2x 16340 IMR cells.

When I need something not so bright, I use an app on my phone. Or the LED Lenser Coast David 15 Digitac (that name is far too long for a single mode, single AA light) that sits by my bedside.

 

[flashlight chronic]

Quark AA2 XPG R5 tactical (neutral tint)