I work in a prison, occasionally we have to go out at night looking for people in the dark. I've looked around, figured I'd ask here as a lot of folks seem to love lights.
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
Online
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! :-)
100-300, over 300 if needed for a charger/batteries/accessories etc.
3) Format:
Flashlight
4) Flashlight-specific format/size:
Holster size, 5in is good, 7 is absolute max
5) Emitter/Light source:
____LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
____Incandescent (known for superior color rendition)
____HID (known for max output, but often at the expense of size)
Don't know
6) Manufacturer:
Ready from the box
7) What battery type do you want to use?
____I intend to use rechargeable nickel chemistry (NiCad, NiMH, NiZn)
____I intend to use lithium primary batteries (CR123, CR2, Energizer Advanced/Ultimate Lithium AA/AAA)
____I intend to use rechargeable lithium (li-ion) chemistry. Feel free to specify a size if you know which size you want (14500, RCR123/16340, 17500, 17670, 18650, etc.)
____I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery. (Note: these choices may be very limited unless you are looking at spotlights)
Don't know, rechargeable? The cheapest route to save on batteries in the long run.
8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).
I want ridiculous amounts of lumens (800+ lumens).
(I believe)
9) Throw vs. Flood: At what distance will you be most likely to use this light? Select all that apply.
150+ yards (I want maximum throw possible)
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum output).
Up to 30 minutes (I want the brightest light for brief periods)
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase “you get what you pay for” is very accurate for flashlights.
Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
12) Switch Type and location (choose all that apply):
____I want a forward clicky (Helpful for momentary activation and signaling).
____I want a reverse clicky (For use with multi-mode/level lights).
____I want a momentary switch (Predominantly for use with signaling and short bursts of momentary light only).
____I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
____I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today’s high end lights).
At the end(tail?) is what I've used in the past
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
____I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.) (Possibly helpful)
____I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.) (Possibly helpful?)
____I want a programmable light. (?)
____I want a selector ring. (?)
Multi levels would work well, 2 would be fine, on/off if...that's all there is
14)Material/Finish/Coating
____Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today’s flashlights).
____Titanium (durable and nearly as lightweight as aluminum, but can be moderately to significantly more expensive).
15) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any below.
____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________).
____Dedicated R/G/B secondary LEDs.
____“Hybrid” light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
____Pocket/belt clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Crenulated bezel
Don't know
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
Online
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! :-)
100-300, over 300 if needed for a charger/batteries/accessories etc.
3) Format:
Flashlight
4) Flashlight-specific format/size:
Holster size, 5in is good, 7 is absolute max
5) Emitter/Light source:
____LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
____Incandescent (known for superior color rendition)
____HID (known for max output, but often at the expense of size)
Don't know
6) Manufacturer:
Ready from the box
7) What battery type do you want to use?
____I intend to use rechargeable nickel chemistry (NiCad, NiMH, NiZn)
____I intend to use lithium primary batteries (CR123, CR2, Energizer Advanced/Ultimate Lithium AA/AAA)
____I intend to use rechargeable lithium (li-ion) chemistry. Feel free to specify a size if you know which size you want (14500, RCR123/16340, 17500, 17670, 18650, etc.)
____I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery. (Note: these choices may be very limited unless you are looking at spotlights)
Don't know, rechargeable? The cheapest route to save on batteries in the long run.
8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).
I want ridiculous amounts of lumens (800+ lumens).
(I believe)
9) Throw vs. Flood: At what distance will you be most likely to use this light? Select all that apply.
150+ yards (I want maximum throw possible)
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum output).
Up to 30 minutes (I want the brightest light for brief periods)
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase “you get what you pay for” is very accurate for flashlights.
Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
12) Switch Type and location (choose all that apply):
____I want a forward clicky (Helpful for momentary activation and signaling).
____I want a reverse clicky (For use with multi-mode/level lights).
____I want a momentary switch (Predominantly for use with signaling and short bursts of momentary light only).
____I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
____I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today’s high end lights).
At the end(tail?) is what I've used in the past
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
____I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.) (Possibly helpful)
____I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.) (Possibly helpful?)
____I want a programmable light. (?)
____I want a selector ring. (?)
Multi levels would work well, 2 would be fine, on/off if...that's all there is
14)Material/Finish/Coating
____Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today’s flashlights).
____Titanium (durable and nearly as lightweight as aluminum, but can be moderately to significantly more expensive).
15) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any below.
____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________).
____Dedicated R/G/B secondary LEDs.
____“Hybrid” light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
____Pocket/belt clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Crenulated bezel
Don't know
