If you could only have 5 flashlights - what would they be?

Hi everyone,

New to the flashlight world and starting to get the bug, but i can see how this can turn into a serious hobby.

There are way too many companys/models/technologies so if I may be so bold to ask, if you were somehow limited to only 5 flashlights, what would they be? Not a wishlist but 5 that are realistically in your budget and that would fit your personal/work needs.

I ask this because, I really don't know where to start as I'm buying purely on the advice/reviews of members' posts.

I know this is a led section, but please include HID, ROP and other bulb types if necessary.

Thanks.

:welcome:

My choices......for now that is.
1. Mini EDC or keychain - Modamag's Draco or Raw Wee Ti
2. EDC - Lummi Raw AL or Nitecore Ti EX10
3. Backup - Nitecore D10 or NDI
4. Outdoor - Surefire E2D Led or Fenix LD20
5. Thrower - Dereelight DBS V3 or Eagletac's Nano (waiting)

In no particular order.....

Surefire 6P with Malkoff M60W
Surefire G2, stock P60 lamp
Surefire E1B with E2DL tailcap or Z68 tailcap
Fenix TK20
Fenix P1D Q5

1. McLux Sundrop 1-speed, I just love this light
2. McLux Sundrop 1-speed, in case something happens to the first one
3. McLux LS20 or Cool Fall Spy 007, for when some throw is needed
4. Photon Fanatic La Petite Killer preferably in splash ano, sweet little keychain light
5. Zebralight H50, there's got to be a long running AA light and a headlamp in the list somewhere.

Fenix LOD for the keychain
Fenix LD20 for General all around use
Fenix P2D with L1D & L2D bodies/tailcaps , 3 lights in 1 combo
Fenix TK40 high output multilevel AA beast / replaces my "D" lights if it does 100-200+lms for hours & hours


still looking for the 5th , maybe some sort of Fenix Aspherical if they ever make one


short on the $$$ so i gotta make my buys practical so i favor lights with good output with good runtimes & multilevel ....and Fenix does just that

I already answered in such threads for 1 light and for 3 lights, but here you go, as it is fun :

1) Surefire U2 Ultra with diffuser - Always number one, even if rarely used
2) Fenix P1D-Q5 - The pocket rocket
3) Fenix TK20 - Thrower on AA, natural color LED
4) Fenix TK10 - Smooth beam, high output
5) Ra Clicky 140C - A kind of magic

I own all these lights and they are the most used ones, except the U2, which is a class of its own and could serve as one and only light.

1 headlamp
1 small edc pocket light
1 keychain light
1 massive thrower
1 weapon light.

That's 5 lights.
One of them cost me .50 cents.

Surefire E1B Backup
Surefire LX1
Fenix TK20
EagleTac P100A2

... and done!

There are so many combinations and different types of flashlights you can make with different batteries, lamp assemblies and accessories that you can easily have ten or more different flashlights with just one body.

1. MJP Extreme III R2 Cree (ultimate EDC, tiny, bright, works with many different cell types)

2. SPY 007 (Pure, Ti Bling. Best UI, a clicky knob)

3. LED Zeppelin M-Zep M6 (still being built, but my ultimate big guns multi emitter light)

4. LensLight Mini CR123 (don't have it yet, but I love the concept of a pocket sized Aspheric, focusable thower and floodlight.)

5. Zebralight H30 (Best handsfree pure flood "mule" light I've ever used.)

That's my top five for now. Of course, I have alot more than five.

-Ed

Sometimes I think this forum should be called 'Listaholics Repetitive'!!

But here goes...( Love lists of my favourite things):

1: Ra Twisty 85Tr
2: Fenix L1T V 2.0
3: ARC +4
4: ORB RAW Lux III Red led
5: Maglite 2D with KD Cree Drop in, Aspherical lens and nanomiser SS bezel run on 3 C cells.

Nothing too flashy ( no pun intended ) and I would really, really miss all the others! The list would be subject to change apart from the ARC and the ORB, they are not only fantastic lights that seem to tick all the boxes as far as I'm concerned, but they are also sentimentally important to me, so there they are and there they stay.

I also reserve the right to keep on searching for the ultimate light.

Long live the new list!
:thumbsup:

5 flashlights. And I thought you were trying to make it hard on us.

1. McGizmo Lunasol 20
2. McGizmo Haiku
3. McGizmo Ti PD-S
4. Petzl Tikka XP
5. Fenix SS LD01

Come on dude! Only 5 flashlights?? You must be kidding me!!

Every CPF'ler knows you need MORE than 5 flashlights to survive :twothumbs

1-Princeton Tec Eos tactical for my headlamp
2-Freebe keychain light from Battery Junction or Lighthound
3-Olight T-10 with spare T-15 battery tube. Multi purpose EDC
with AA or cr123 capability.
4-Magled 4d for general purpose household/emergency light
5-Coleman 8d led lantern for camping and emergency lighting.

I have only 5 flashlights.
Well, if I am honest, I have a few more, but some are shelf queens and should I consider a key chain led a flashlight? I think not.

So, what I have:

U2
U2A (EDC)
Mag85 AW driver - 3 stages
Mag5761 AW driver - 3 stages
MC1160 + FM ceramic socket

What I would like is longer runtimes for the Mags and a modded U2 or a UA2 (if it ever comes out).
In addition: a small led dive light (U2 size).
added: a polarion hid

3D Mag Conversion [ from KD ] [ Dont Have ] [ Have 3D Maglite + Terralux ]
Solarforce 2xCR123A - 18650 5 mode [ On order ]
UltraFire UF007 Multi mode [ Dont have ]
2xAA Mini Maglite [ Have ]
Ultrafire 502B 5 mode [ On order ]

+ The rest . 5 :thumbsdow

Fortunately I already own the 5 lights I would pick:

1. McGizmo McLux III PD-S (Favourite all around light)
2. McGizmo Al EN Mule (Pure flood)
3. Ra Twisty (Robust and Durable)
4. Bitz Ti (Small pocket carry)
5. Liteflux LF2X (Small pocket carry or keychain back up light)

I didn't list a headlamp only because the OP asks what 5 flashlights but if I had to include a Headlamp I would take out the Mule and replace it with a Zebralight H30 or H50.

If cost was no issue:

1. Stenlight or Lupine headlamp with accessories
2. EDC: McGizmo Ti PD
3. Keychain: Draco in Ti with all the extras
4. Mid sized: 2 stage C2 with Malkoff M30W or UB2 Optimus
5. Polarion HID

Cost is unfortunately an issue at times:shakehead

Still I'm pretty close to being a satisfied flashaholic..

Sverre

Based only on the lights that I currently have and like:
Fenix L0DQ4
Photon Proton Pro
LiteFlux LF3XT
Surefire L1
Zebralight H50

These seem to cover the bases for battery types and use needs. I hate to leave off the Photon Rex, since it will charge from any common battery, and has probably been seeing more use than any of my lights recently.

Geoff

Okay- here goes:

1:Fenix eo1 for the crazy runtime
2:Sabrewolf modded Jetbeam P7- lots of output and a low low low capability
3:Lunasol 20 for the versatility. (and the Ti bling factor, plus built like tank)
47 sub 2d mag for throw
5hoton freedom micro just to play with!

I suppose from a purely practical SHTF standpoint, I would try to put together a list that encompassed a bunch of needs and all used the same battery...