Hi, everyone--
I'm a long time lurker, first time poster. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!
My beloved FourSevens Paladin is starting to fail (the tailcap switch has something loose moving around inside that sometimes interferes with function, often turning on the light in my pocket). I am looking for a replacement that is fairly similar in UI and convenience.
1) How ... purchase?
Online preferred but in-person okay too.
2) Budget?
Up to $150 (like the Paladin)
3) Format?
Flashlight
4) Size?
Tiny (EDC, 2-3 inches)
Smaller is better, but not too short to actually hold on to while operating the button with one hand
Lighter weight is better
Can be unusual form factor like Surefire Sidekick or Guardian or parallel AAA like the Frelux Synergy1
5) Emitter?
LED
6) Mfg?
No preference, so long as it has a good warranty and ready availability of parts.
7) Power source?
Accepts ONE CR123, AA, AAA cell OR TWO AAA cells in parallel
Can accept either rechargeable or non-rechargeable chemistries
7a) Rechargeable how?
No preference
8) OTF light?
Low (1-10 lumens), Medium (75 to 100 lumens), Burst (200+ lumens) modes
9) Flood vs. Throw?
Wide Throw preferred, Narrow Flood or Narrow Throw acceptable
9a) Distance?
5 to 50 yards
10) Runtime?
30 to 60 minutes
11) Durability?
Very Important (camping/backpacking/fishing)
If AA or AAA, can be disassembled at both ends for cleaning out leaks and prefer plastic battery liner or tube.
If CR123, disassembly at both ends is preferred but not required.
12) Switch?
Forward clicky button--recessed if no lockout feature, can be exposed if there is lockout
Button can be in any ergonomic location (don't have to contort fingers or use two hands to operate button)
Bigger switch is preferred, but obviously AAA can't have too big a switch.
13) UI?
At least the 3 light levels above (Low, Medium, Burst) within immediate reach. More is okay if the other modes are hidden somehow.
If the button is not recessed, must have lock-out feature (can be twist-operated lock-out, just like the Paladin).
Prefer to have twist-lock-on if button is momentary-only OR a button that is both momentary with light press and stays on once pushed past the click.
Prefer NOT to have selector ring.
Prefer strobe and beacon modes.
Prefer programmable.
14) Material
No preference, but if it's Aluminum, it should be Type III Hard Anodized. Plastic/polymer is fine so long as it is tough.
15) Water resistance
between IPX7 and IPX8. Specifically, can drop in water up to 10ft deep for 1 hour (I will attempt to retrieve the light by then)
16) Storage conditions
In house or in pocket, carried daily
17) Special needs
NO MAGNETS!
Has removable S-shaped forward and reverse pocket clip with ability to be worn on a hat brim (like on the Paladin)
Prefer tailcap stand (if a split ring is installed, it does not interfere with the tailcap stand)
Prefer that it has simple knurling, no ribbed appearance
In spite of the above list, I'm actually pretty flexible about the flashlight. In the end, the only hard requirements are the size (about 2 to 3 inches), forward-clicky button, momentary and lock-on, lock-out if button is not recessed, the immediate access to Low, Medium, and Burst modes (other modes hidden), durable enough to last for years of EDC, waterproof past IPX7, no magnets, and a removable S-shaped pocket clip.
Back in the day, I had a Quark 123 that met almost all these requirements (pocket clip was not removable, nor was it S-shaped). I think I had to pay extra for the forward-clicky button (was it called the "Tactical tailcap" or something like that?
Thanks again!
I'm a long time lurker, first time poster. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!
My beloved FourSevens Paladin is starting to fail (the tailcap switch has something loose moving around inside that sometimes interferes with function, often turning on the light in my pocket). I am looking for a replacement that is fairly similar in UI and convenience.
1) How ... purchase?
Online preferred but in-person okay too.
2) Budget?
Up to $150 (like the Paladin)
3) Format?
Flashlight
4) Size?
Tiny (EDC, 2-3 inches)
Smaller is better, but not too short to actually hold on to while operating the button with one hand
Lighter weight is better
Can be unusual form factor like Surefire Sidekick or Guardian or parallel AAA like the Frelux Synergy1
5) Emitter?
LED
6) Mfg?
No preference, so long as it has a good warranty and ready availability of parts.
7) Power source?
Accepts ONE CR123, AA, AAA cell OR TWO AAA cells in parallel
Can accept either rechargeable or non-rechargeable chemistries
7a) Rechargeable how?
No preference
8) OTF light?
Low (1-10 lumens), Medium (75 to 100 lumens), Burst (200+ lumens) modes
9) Flood vs. Throw?
Wide Throw preferred, Narrow Flood or Narrow Throw acceptable
9a) Distance?
5 to 50 yards
10) Runtime?
30 to 60 minutes
11) Durability?
Very Important (camping/backpacking/fishing)
If AA or AAA, can be disassembled at both ends for cleaning out leaks and prefer plastic battery liner or tube.
If CR123, disassembly at both ends is preferred but not required.
12) Switch?
Forward clicky button--recessed if no lockout feature, can be exposed if there is lockout
Button can be in any ergonomic location (don't have to contort fingers or use two hands to operate button)
Bigger switch is preferred, but obviously AAA can't have too big a switch.
13) UI?
At least the 3 light levels above (Low, Medium, Burst) within immediate reach. More is okay if the other modes are hidden somehow.
If the button is not recessed, must have lock-out feature (can be twist-operated lock-out, just like the Paladin).
Prefer to have twist-lock-on if button is momentary-only OR a button that is both momentary with light press and stays on once pushed past the click.
Prefer NOT to have selector ring.
Prefer strobe and beacon modes.
Prefer programmable.
14) Material
No preference, but if it's Aluminum, it should be Type III Hard Anodized. Plastic/polymer is fine so long as it is tough.
15) Water resistance
between IPX7 and IPX8. Specifically, can drop in water up to 10ft deep for 1 hour (I will attempt to retrieve the light by then)
16) Storage conditions
In house or in pocket, carried daily
17) Special needs
NO MAGNETS!
Has removable S-shaped forward and reverse pocket clip with ability to be worn on a hat brim (like on the Paladin)
Prefer tailcap stand (if a split ring is installed, it does not interfere with the tailcap stand)
Prefer that it has simple knurling, no ribbed appearance
In spite of the above list, I'm actually pretty flexible about the flashlight. In the end, the only hard requirements are the size (about 2 to 3 inches), forward-clicky button, momentary and lock-on, lock-out if button is not recessed, the immediate access to Low, Medium, and Burst modes (other modes hidden), durable enough to last for years of EDC, waterproof past IPX7, no magnets, and a removable S-shaped pocket clip.
Back in the day, I had a Quark 123 that met almost all these requirements (pocket clip was not removable, nor was it S-shaped). I think I had to pay extra for the forward-clicky button (was it called the "Tactical tailcap" or something like that?
Thanks again!
