which surefire L1 to get?

[hogger1]

My local cop shop has a few of the L1's prior to the current cree version for slightly over 100 dollars. I am very interested in the L1, my useage of this light would be edc, camping, neighborhood walks etc. I know the new one is only 35 bucks more. What is the CPFer's opinion of this senerio?

Thanks
Rosser

 

[Valpo Hawkeye]

The Cree (new) model has useful sidespill, whereas the previous generation L1's are VERY tight, throw only. This makes the Cree L1 worth the extra $$, IMO.

 

[darkpeak]

Both are great lights. The L1 Luxeon is slightly larger and has a bright square hotspot with some spill and a couple of outer brighter halo rings, whilst the L1 cree has a slightly smaller but brighter round hotspot and nice amount of spill. The low on the luxeon is dimmer than the Cree and the runtime is quite a bit longer. I think I'd plump for the Cree version because of it's smaller size, brighter high and still very useable low. Add the F04 beamshaper and you get the option of throw for illuminating distant objects or spill when working up close.

 

[ja10]

I think you should default to the Cree. The older one has really good runtime, but at much less output. I really can't see many advantages unless having a very tight beam is important, or you don't ever want more than 20 lumens. The new one is smaller and more efficient.

 

[Bort]

I don't have any experience with the old version, but the L1 cree is the one to get. The low level is bright enough as an excellent general purpose utility light, with a generous 16 hour runtime. The high level is impressively bright- much brighter than my Fenix L2d.

 

[mossyoak]

get the older one for the longer runtime. its alot more useful. worse comes to worse sent it to milkyspit and have him throw in a cree or seoul. but to be honest the old l1 is an amazingly useful tool.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Get the old L1 if you want a really low mode and long runtime, or get the new L1 Cree in case you want much more power/efficience in an smaller form factor. Runtime on low is still superb. Send either one to Milky if you want even more performance. You can't go wrong with either model. It's a SureFire, 'nuff said.

 

[Schuey2002]

You can get the new Cree version for the price of the older version if you know where to look.... :naughty: