Looking for a good Flashlight that won't break the bank.

New member here.. I have been reading tons of articles on this website and a lot of them go way over my head so I figured I would post here for a newb flashlight recommendation. I have seen other similar posts but I believe my requirements may differ a bit from those. I am a volunteer firefighter and I believe I would prefer to have some sort of rechargeable to keep in my truck that I can grab to take with me on a call or use it when I am out and about in my truck. We have occasions when we need to scan large fields for objects that would require it to reach out quite a distance. I know I haven't provided much information but maybe someone can help with some recommendations that won't break the bank... I know very little about flashlights but I have heard such differing opinions by others about streamlights and some of the other 'common' (readily available) flashlights. The longer the runtime the better but I understand incan's are usually in the 1 hour range, led's sometimes longer but I believe there are sacrifices there. Anyway I am sure someone here can help me outshine all the other members with their typcial lights (although being a noob one of those off the shelf standard lights may be your recommendation). I would love to blow everyone's socks off.

what price range is not "breaking the bank" for about $50 you can get a wf-600 that will throw about 200meters, for about $130 you can get a DBS V2 that will throw about 250-300 meters.....and if you really want to go crazy talk to saabluster and get a DEFT, that will run you about 200 bucks

hope that helps some

Pelican 7060 ($110) or 8060

It's probably the only light recommended to you that has a dock to recharge the battery in the light.

Thanks for the info. I was hoping to spend $150 or less.

I saw that as a recommendation in one of the other threads. Looks like a good light. I would like to be able to recharge the light by slipping it into a charger in my truck.

I know it doesn't fit my needs of having a recharger in the truck and it is a bit above my price range but how do these stand up? Look like small lights comparatively but I guess sometimes good things come in small packages.. Any more recommendations??

https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/211355

Milkyspit light are good, but if they send out lots of light, then will empty the battery fast.
Sometimes a multi level light is the solutions for this, your can use it at low power most of the time (with a very long runtime) and supplement with occasional flashes of very high power.

One high power multi level flashlight is the Lunapower MVP, your can read about it here: https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/205174

The Lunapower MVP looks like a great light and with those power options I may not need a recharger in the truck. Unfortunately it looks to be well out of my price range. Maybe I can find something else with good distance range and multiple power levels vs. looking for something with a dock for recharging.

Another good thrower, but not as powerfull, is the dbs from Dereelight, with a 3SD pill it uses the same batteries (18650) as the MVP and also has 3 levels. For outdoor use the 5A Q3 version may be best.

A review can be found here:
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/188039

Here your can see some other throwers and your can also see the color of 5A and WC, if it is Q2, Q3, Q5 or R2 does not matter, that is just different amount of light:
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/211519

I forgot to mention the Vector Power On Board It can be gotten for under $60, has terrific throw, can be charged in a car or at home, has one hour runtime, and wait for it......over 3000 lumens

I agree with Nemo about the Vector Power On Board Rechargeable HID Spotlight being the right choice. It can light up objects from 1000 yards to 1 mile away, and runs over 1 hour at full brightness. It is so powerful that it can light up low lying clouds.

I also recommend the Coleman 530 lumen LED Spotlight, as it is rechargeable and runs for 2.5 hours on a full charge. It lights up objects 500 yards/meters away, and has a tight circular beam with extremely bright spill. It can be run directly with its 12V Car adaptor AND by its AC charger. It is considerably smaller and lighter weight than the Power On Board HID, but doesn't throw nearly as far. The Coleman can be bought at Sears for $60.

IMO the Coleman is a much more practical searchlight than the Power On Board HID as it is lightweight and easy to hold. The Power On Board weighs 9 pounds, and the Coleman feels half as heavy.

Welcome to CPF!

Start with a Surefire 6P then get a LED drop-in module. Now you have both incan and LED options for under $150. You can do lots of things with a 6P. Cell extenders, turboheads, etc., etc., etc.

Thanks for all the information and links. I should have mentioned that I prefer a flashlight and am not really interested in lanterns or spotlights for portability reason. We also have lanterns on apparatus. If anyone has other recommendations I am open.... There is great information here!!

The DBS v2 looks like the type of thing I am looking for. I see the post for saablaster selling the DEFT lights and some options. Honestly the DBS is more within my price range. I like the idea of what he is doing though just by his title: "The longest throwing LED flashlight in the world"


Seems most of the recommendations are for LED's. Is incan not preferred much lately or did I rule it out from people recommending it because of the shorter runtimes? I was thinking incans were going to be the recommendation for long reach.

bentley said:

The DBS v2 looks like the type of thing I am looking for. I see the post for saablaster selling the DEFT lights and some options. Honestly the DBS is more within my price range. I like the idea of what he is doing though just by his title: "The longest throwing LED flashlight in the world"

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As I wrote, look at the colors in the photos, some lights have white (WC) light and some are more yellow/red (5A). Your can get the DBC with either of the two colors.

bentley said:

All the recommendations seem to be LED based. Did I rule out incans from the recommendations by the concern for runtime or does everyone prefer LED's or what?

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Incan uses 3 time the power of leds and most incan are not regulated, i.e. your have lot of light with fresh batteries, but the brightness goes down together with the batteries. Most leds are regulated, they will maintain nearly constant brightness, until the battery is empty.

Thanks. I figured that is why the LEDs were recommended. Can you explain this to me? "if it is Q2, Q3, Q5 or R2 does not matter, that is just different amount of light:" I see on dereelight.com they have several different options. BTW still open to other options but the DBS v2 is something that interests me if someone has other options to it or even similar custom flashlights.

bentley said:

Thanks. I figured that is why the LEDs were recommended. Can you explain this to me? "if it is Q2, Q3, Q5 or R2 does not matter, that is just different amount of light:" I see on dereelight.com they have several different options. BTW still open to other options but the DBS v2 is something that interests me if someone has other options to it or even similar custom flashlights.

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The process that is used to make leds, does not make all leds equal, that means they are measured and sorter after the production and given some bin codes.
One code for how much light the give out and another code for what color they have.

Your can find all the codes in this thread https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/156772


The WC is a Cree XLamp cool white http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=creexlampcwfulloe4.jpg

The 5A is a Cree XLamp warm white http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=creexlampnwwfullix9.jpg


And the output is listed in this table: http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fluxxb0.jpg

The warm colors can not give as much light as the cool colors, that is the reason that 5A is only a Q2 or Q3 and WC is a Q5 or R2. The difference between two steps, is so small, that it is just about impossible to see with the eye.

HKJ said:

The process that is used to make leds, does not make all leds equal, that means they are measured and sorter after the production and given some bin codes.
One code for how much light the give out and another code for what color they have.

Your can find all the codes in this thread https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/156772


The WC is a Cree XLamp cool white http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=creexlampcwfulloe4.jpg

The 5A is a Cree XLamp warm white http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=creexlampnwwfullix9.jpg


And the output is listed in this table: http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fluxxb0.jpg

The warm colors can not give as much light as the cool colors, that is the reason that 5A is only a Q2 or Q3 and WC is a Q5 or R2. The difference between two steps, is so small, that it is just about impossible to see with the eye.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the explanation.. I am reading more and more good things about the DBS. Seems that is probably the way to go for good throw when you need it and then slim down to med or low to save battery.

I see a DBS v2 w/1SM-2 module in the for sale forum. I assume I need the 3SD or 3SM to be able to scroll through power outputs such as low, med, hi?

EDIT: Looks like I found my answer here: http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=184794

Guess I need to hook up with them there. Thanks for all the info.

OK, all the different battery options are confusing me. I just need something rechargeable, can someone explain the difference to me?

bentley said:

Guess I need to hook up with them there. Thanks for all the info.

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If your are based in US, then FlashCrazy is the right place, outside US your can buy from Dereelight directly.

I will suggest your get the 3SD pill, 2 * 18650 AW batteries and a WF139 charger, that way your have very good rechargeable batteries and a spare battery.

HKJ said:

If your are based in US, then FlashCrazy is the right place, outside US your can buy from Dereelight directly.

I will suggest your get the 3SD pill, 2 * 18650 AW batteries and a WF139 charger, that way your have very good rechargeable batteries and a spare battery.

Click to expand...

Yep I am in the US. Thanks for the suggestion on the batteries. I have always been clueless in the world of batteries.


Found the charger... I am guessing not all batteries were created equal, do you have an recommendations?

Does cpfmarketplace.com use different account information? My login doesn't seem to work there. Do I have to register for an account there also?