You are thrown on a barren island for 2 weeks, bring 3 lights of your choice

[highseas]

You are dispatched to a barren island for a survival game. Among other necessities, what 3 lights will you bring? You are limited to three lights, and you need to go on scouting missions (for at least 2-4 hours each night) at night as part of the game. You can include any type of light (HID, headlamp, big LED, finger-sized LED, etc.). You will be on the island for 2-3 weeks.

Only list three lights (or fewer), and please state the reasons. Ideally they should each perform a different function or should be complementary to one another, but that is up to you.

One other limiting factor: you have a $400 (give or take $50) budget. You can either buy more (or more expensive) lights or buy fewer (or less expensive) lights, and use the rest for batteries, etc.

You have to prioritize.

Ok, go!

 

[youreacrab]

 

[highseas]

You can discuss which types of lights are good for such a scenario--or not.

 

[Rossymeister]

Excellent Thread, highseas

I would choose the following:

Novatac 120P- Ultra Long Runtime,Low,Low Output,Draws Very Little Power On Standby.
RA Twisty 85Tr- Low Ouput RED Mode,Very Tough HAIII And Potted Electronics,Ultra Long Runtime.
Arc AAA- Extreme Long Runtime,Lightweight,Tough Finish,Designed For Emergency Situations.

Total Cost: Around 370 Dollars

The Rest Can Be Spent On SF123A Primaries.

 

[metlarules]

You are dispatched to a barren island for a survival game. Among other necessities, what 3 lights will you bring? You are limited to three lights, and you need to go on scouting missions (for at least 2-4 hours each night) at night as part of the game. You can include any type of light (HID, headlamp, big LED, finger-sized LED, etc.). You will be on the island for 2-3 weeks.

Only list three lights (or fewer), and please state the reasons. Ideally they should each perform a different function or should be complementary to one another, but that is up to you.

One other limiting factor: you have a $400 (give or take $50) budget. You can either buy more (or more expensive) lights or buy fewer (or less expensive) lights, and use the rest for batteries, etc.

You have to prioritize.

Ok, go!

1)Mag 4d with terralux tle 300 drop in for long range lighting.
2)Mag 4dled for long runtime light
3)Surefire 6p with long run time led drop in for walking around lighting

 

[highseas]

deicide:

thanks--that looks like an interesting list, just what I was hoping to see people's choices under constraint and given a situation.

I suppose I should discuss what I would bring too (in no particular order):

1. Fenix L2D ($60)--multi-mode, long runtime on low, high output if necessary
2. Solarforce L2 host with Malkoff drop in ($90)--high power beam.
3. A good water-resistant headlamp (don't know which yet, but need high-low modes) that can last 50 hours plus on low. (around $50-75) (Recommendations for such a headlamp? Also, does anyone know of a CR123 light that has similar characteristics as a Fenix L2D?)

The rest will be spent on tons of batteries 2AA and CR123s.

 

[BlueBeam22]

Coleman 530 lumen LED spotlight for extreme output/throw + very long runtime
Task Force 150 lumen CREE for standard flashlight use as it runs for over 5 hours on one set of batteries.
AmondoTech Titanium N30 just for use of the LED's as on a full charge they will stay on for days and days continuously.

 

[Marduke]

Also, does anyone know of a CR123 light that has similar characteristics as a Fenix L2D?)

P2D, P3D, PD30, PD20

They all function identically, using CR123's

 

[kramer5150]

Ooh fun thread:thumbsup:

Zebralight H30-Q5, dual function as an area flood-light and a headlamp. Multi-mode 4/20/80 Lumens. It'd probably never leave my forehead. I could even sleep and read with it on. I think this would probably cover 3/4 of my needs:thumbsup:

Surefire 6P and a Malkoff M60L. Bomb proof reliability. ~120 Lumens should be plenty and the long-ish run times would be very nice. I'd bring an extra module as backup.

*edit*
Oops I forgot to add the Surefire diffuser flip-cap for 100+ Lumens of flood.

Inova X1V2 (not the V3!!) would be my backup if all else fails, along with one of those nite-ize headband flashlight holders. 9 hour run times at ~10 Lumens, and ~8+ more hours in candle mode as the cell depletes. Bomb proof twist switch, submersible water resistance.

Price breakdown...
Zebralight = $55
6P + Malkoff + diffuser= $165
X1 = $20

The rest of the $$ would go towards primaries and eneloop AAs.

I honestly probably wouldn't use them all that much. Sometimes its more relaxing doing things by moonlight.

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

The lights I have and use already will work. Fenix P3D Q5 covers most of the bases (high turbo, low low, and good medium and high settings, as well as strobe for scaring off large animals, and SOS for signaling). Then I need a headlight. My P.T. EOS II will do with about 15 hours regulated on low (which is bright enough for night hiking). Then a Fenix EO1 for a long running backup. $65 for the P3D, $50 for the EOS II, and $12.50 for the EO1. $127.50 total. Plenty left for AAA and 123A batteries. All lights are waterproof enough and will last at least all night on low, individually. That's all the runtime I need (1 full night) if I can bring plenty of spare batteries.

 

[StarHalo]

My JetBeam Jet-II IBS alone would be enough. On minimum output, I could use it five hours a night for the full two weeks on just one 123. Max output would be plenty for cross-island spotting, removing the head/reflector I could scan broad areas for tracking/plantlife/etc, and there's a whole range of SOS and signal types available as/if needed, including an ultra-low locator that could be left on overnight. I would of course carry a spare battery, so flashlight + battery cost total is $68.95

 

[radu1976]

Here there are :
FENIX P1CE - 1 CR123 100 min runtime, perfect regulation

TIABLO A8 - 18650 , 100 min runtime perfect regulation

LUMAPOWER M1-R - 18650 , 3-4hrs runtime , decreasing regulation

+ a bunch of CR123s and 18650s , already loaded

Let the party start !

 

[highseas]

This is awesome. Wish we could throw an island light party like this!

Keep the posts coming.

 

[fieldops]

I would have the following needs:

1. Long throw light Tiablo A9

2. General purpose light with multi levels and for long run Fenix P3D Q5

3. Small area light Eveready 4AA 2 LED folding mini lantern

 

[HKJ]

I will go for one battery size:

Headlamp/arealight ZebraLight H30-Q5.

General purpose light Novatac 120P. This light has a very low low and I have programmed my light to turn on i low mode.

Thrower Tiablo A9. The Dereelight DBC V2 was also a (better) possibilty, but my current pill will not work with two CR123 batteries.

 

[brucec]

This proposition is too easy as there are so many good choices in the $400 total range. It is much harder for me to fathom no laptop for 2-3 weeks.

I think a good combination could be the following:

1. Ra-Twisty 120 for general use & long distance ($180)
2. Zebralight H30 for headlamp ($60)
3. Fenix P2D for backup ($60)

$300 for the lights, and $90 for 32pcs CR123A.

 

[cal..45]

nitecore D10 (probably with an attachment for headlamp use and fenix white diffuser cap)
dereelight DBS (smooth Q5)
dereelight CL1H (OP A5 Q2 )

those three lights cover up pretty much all situations, from lowest low to highest throw (nice rhyme )

4 eneloops and 6 AW18650's are enough for me


regards, holger

 

[sol-leks]

Rayovac Extreme Lantern or a Coleman Lantern-for general flood lighting
Zebralight headlamp for hands frees jobs
The New fenix L20D for everything else plus its long runtime

 

[Monocrom]

Interesting scenario. Here's my 3 choices....

1 ~ N30 HID -
Bright as Hell! And the LEDs in the handle could definitely be useful.

2 ~ Novatac 120P -
Small, plenty of lumens (and runtime) levels to pick from.

3 ~ Gerber Infinity Ultra Task Light -
An absolute battery vampire. Perfect for most tasks on an island that
has no ambient light.

 

[dmonay]

Ok here's my pick's: #1- the H30 Q5 Zebra light $49.00 80/20/4 lumens; 2.5 hrs / 21 hrs / 3.7 days on one battery. Headband for hands free use for night time cooking, close up 2 handed work, shelter building ect.
#2- Surefire EL2 LED $149.00 3/60 lumens- 100/11 hours on 2 batterys, bright with the longest throw (of the three) That would be my heavy duty, most reliable, if I lost the other two it would still serve me well for the duration of the time.
#3- an Inova X1 generation 2. 8+ hours on one AA battery. It would always be in my pocket for general purpose use around the camp at night or exploring looking in dark places in a dark forest or under rocks or caves. If I ever got caught away from camp at night it would provide enough light to get me back or give me emergency light for the night.
Yes two lights use 123A but it's an Island with no battery stores so there's no advantage using AA's over 123A's.
3 boxes of 12 Surefire 123A's $63.00 plus a 48 pack of alkiline batterys for 10.00 from costco.
TOTAL $291.00 That leaves enought for a couple of 1 pound bags of M&M's also from costco. Mmmmmmmmmmm