Need budget light suggestion

renegade_riot

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Jan 10, 2010
Messages
2
I'm looking for a light that is under $40, under $30 would be better, that i can use rabbit hunting on my farm. I don't know if i would need a projection light or not for this, i don't want the beam to be too narrow that i can't hold the light on them.

i was looking at dealextreme and bestofferbuy for cheap lights.

I ordered this one, but it was out of stock so looking for suggestions

1 x WF-800 3W Cree Q2 LED Flashlight (2x18650 4xCR123A 7.4V~17V) (E2267)

I already ordered two 18650 batteries so the light would need to run on one or two of those, and i'd prefer a clicky on the tail over twist.

i didn't know if lights like this were trustworthy or not

http://www.bestofferbuy.com/trustfi...led-flashlight-with-strap-118650-p-13159.html

http://www.bestofferbuy.com/spiderf...ashlight-with-clip-2cr123a118650-p-13191.html

so what would you guys suggest? thanks

0) What Region/Country/State will the light be purchased in?

____I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.
_xxx_I am in North America. More precisely I am in ___iowa____________.
____I am in South America. More precisely I am in _______________.
____I am in Europe. More precisely I am in _______________.
____I am in the Middle East. More precisely I am in _______________.
____I am in Africa. More precisely I am in _______________.
____I am in Asia, Japan or Micronesia. More precisely I am in _______________.
____I am in Australia. More precisely I am in _______________.


1) Price Range: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! :)

____I only want to pay $1-10.
__x__I can spend $15-30.
____I could spend $40-60.
____I am willing to spend $80-$120.
____I have no limit!

2) Format:

__x__I want a flashlight.
____I want a headlamp.
____I want a lantern.
____I want a portable spotlight.

3) Length:

____I don't care.
____1-2 inches. (Keychain sized)
__x__2-4 inches. (Pocket carry)
__x__4-9 inches. (Holster carry)

4) Width:

__x__I don't care.
____I prefer a long narrow light.
____I prefer a short wide light.

5) What batteries do you want to use? Alkaline batteries are easier to find and less expensive but don't pack as much stored energy and are don't work well in cold temperatures. Lithium batteries have long shelf life (10+ years, great for stored emergency lights) and are not as affected by cold but must be kept dry and are more expensive. Rechargeable start expensive, but if used frequently pay off quickly.

____I want common Alkaline batteries. (AA, AAA, C, D)
____I want lithium batteries. (coin cells, CR123, AAA, AA...)
__x_18650_I want a rechargeable system. (an investment, but best for everyday use)

6) How much light do you want? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).

____I want to read a map, or find a light switch, in a dark room. (5-10 lumens)
____I want to walk around a generally paved area. (15-20 lumens)
____I want to walk unpaved trails. (40 lumens)
__x__I want to do Caving or Search & Rescue operations. (60+ lumens)
__x__I want to light an entire campground or dazzle an intruder. (100+ lumens)

7) Throw vs Flood: Which do you prefer, lights that flood an area with a wide beam, or lights that "throw" with a tightly focused beam? Place an "X" on the line below.

Throw (distance)----------x------------|----------------------Flood/close-up

8) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims (like some LED lights). but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries.

____20 min. (I want the brightest light for brief periods)
__x__60-240 min. (1-2 hours)
__x__240-360 min. (4-6 hours)
____360+ min. (More than 6 hours)

9) Durability: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.

____Not Important (A "night-stand" light.)
__x__Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood.)
__x__Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box.)
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Self-defense, Survival.)

8) Switch Type:

____I don't care.
____I want a sliding switch. (Stays on until slid back.)
__x__I want a "clickie" switch. (Stays on until pressed again.)
____I want a momentary switch. (Only stays on while held down.)

9) Switch Location:

____I don't care.
____I want a push or sliding switch on the body near the head.
__x__I want a push switch on the back end of the body.
____I want a rotating head switch.
____I want a rotating end-cap switch.
____I want a remote control.

10) Operational Modes: Check all that apply.

__x__A simple on-off is fine for me.
____I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
____I want multiple light levels. (some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a strobe mode. (blinks to show location.)
____I want a tactical strobe. (Flashes rapidly to disorient an opponent.)

11) Is it important whether the body is metal or plastic/composite?

__x__I don't care.
____I want a metal-bodied light.
____I want a plastic/composite light.

12) Special Needs: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Circle any below or write in your own comment(s).

____Red (night vision preserving) filter
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________)
____Waterproof – how deep: _____________
____Non-reflective/dark finish (stealthy/hard to find)
____Polished silver or brightly colored finish (for easy locating)
____Corrosion resistant or hard-anodized finish
____"Hybrid" light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
____Built-in second (or spare) lamp or filament
____Belt/Jacket clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Kobuton/self defense features
____Non-sparking Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments
 
Last edited:

hyperloop

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 5, 2007
Messages
2,878
Location
$INGAPORE
Hi and :welcome:

i recommend that you fill out this checklist and edit your post #1 by copying and pasting your answers there.

Then sit back and let the recommendations roll in, if budget is a key consideration, make sure you highlight that. Based on the little information that you posted, take a look at Shiningbeam and look under lights by attery type and click on 18650.
 

TorchBoy

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 15, 2007
Messages
4,486
Location
New Zealand
The WF-008 recoil thrower could be fun. Sadly I don't have one so it's only a suggestion, not a recommendation. I don't think you'd have trouble holding anything other than a laser on a bunny, and even then only if it was quite a distance away.

And :welcome:
 

old4570

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 15, 2009
Messages
2,902
Location
Melbourne - Australia
This one throws nuts And should offer good runtime .

Range ? .22 Rimfire / 50 Meters , almost any Cree XR-E
100 Meters , a good R2 , Q5
100 - 200 Meters - A thrower ...

Just do a search on throwers + most of them have a tight beam , but not so tight you cant use them for small game .
 
Last edited:

LEDninja

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 15, 2005
Messages
4,896
Location
Hamilton Canada
If you are in America why are you looking at foreign websites carrying lights of unknown quality? If you get a dud doing an exchange can be very painful.

There are many dealers in the US carrying flashlights in the price range you mentioned. Unlike the foreign websites which carry anything offered to them, the US websites check the lights out before carrying them.
Look at Shining Beam, Lighthound, Battery Junction, BrightGuy etc.
Check
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=181841
for the CPF discount codes on and links to these websites.
 
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