... Christmas gift to staff with focus on protection/awareness

mayfly-1970

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Joined
Oct 11, 2019
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16
I would like help with recommendations for a solid flashlight to be given to staff this Christmas. I am president of a small college and have recently engaged a security company to help assess our campus and train our staff. Much of the training will come in the form of situation awareness, empowerment, personal accountability, and defense. We will be conducting mock drills and education sessions this Nov/Dec, again focusing on defense etc. I thought a good Christmas gift may be a quality flashlight (which I guess 80% of folks don't own a flashlight that costs over $10), mace, and maybe a whistle- with the theme being personal security/defense.

I would greatly appreciate any recommendations of a quality light that I can purchase for the staff to be included in a basket/bundle. My current thought is a Fenix EDC light in the 1,000 lumen range with a 18650 usb batter charging capability- something like the UC35 that they have listed online as a "pre-buy".

The budget is around $75/per person with battery and charging capability. btw, the Fenix with 20% off coupon comes to $72 per unit, release date Nov. 6, which would/could meet my timeframe- but failure to deliver would stink- so talk me into something better...
 

mayfly-1970

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Joined
Oct 11, 2019
Messages
16
The original post should give a general idea, but here is the form for those who like that format.

1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?

____I would like to purchase the light in person from a brick and mortar store. I am located in ______________.
__X__This will be mail-order or Online (location doesn't matter).


2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! :)

____I don't know yet
____Up to $25.
____Up to $50.
__X__Up to $100.
____Up to $200.
____Up to $300.
____Essentially unlimited.


3) Format:

____I am not sure, please help me decide.
__X__I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
____I want a self-contained headlamp.
____I want a headlamp with an external pack/power source.
____I want a mounted light (typically for a bicycle or vehicle)
____I want a lantern/area light.
____I want a portable spotlight (it may have an external power source).
____Other ____________________________________________


4) Size:

____MICRO - Keychain size.
____TINY - Every day carry (2-4 inches).
__X__SMALL - Every day carry (4-7 inches).
____MEDIUM - Holster/belt ring carry. (>7 inches)
____LARGE - Big enough to need its own travel case.
____I don't know/I don't care.


5) Emitter/Light source:

_X___LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
____Incandescent (known for superior color rendition)
____HID (known for max output, but often at the expense of size)
____I don't know.


6) Manufacturer:

__X__I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
____I would like a light from a specialty manufacturer (Possibly limited run/Custom).
____I am interested in assembling my own components. (for example a "host" or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a "drop-in" emitter from another source).


7) What power source do you want to use?

____I intend to use "Primary"/Disposable Alkaline batteries based on the usual AAA/AA/C/D sized cells common to most stores.
____I intend to use "Primary"/Disposable Lithium batteries based on the usual AAA/AA/C/D and CR123 sized cells common to most stores (often a cold weather or long storage choice).
____I intend to use Rechargeable cells (NiMH or NiCD) based on the usual AAA/AA/C/D sized cells common to most stores.
__X__I intend to use Rechargeable cells based on less common formats (18500 or 18650 Li-Ion, RCR123, et-al).
____I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery pack.
____I don't know/I need more information on power sources.

7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
____I want a light that plugs directly into the wall (literally with prongs built into the light)
***A REMOVABLE BATTERY WITH USB CHARGING IS ALSO ACCEPTABLE***
__X__I want a light that has a recharging adapter (your typical "wall wart")
____I want a light that snaps into a cradle (usually mounted on a wall)
____I want a separate/stand-alone charger (this involves removing the batteries to charge)
____I don't care



8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is not a happy experience).

____I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (1-10 lumens).
____I want an indoor "blackout" light (15-50 lumens)
____I want to confidently walk around an unlit/unpaved rural area (60-150 lumens).
_X___I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
_X___I want to illuminate an entire field, the neighbor's front yard several houses down, impress my friends and neighbors, etc. (300-700 lumens).
____I want search and rescue type illumination (800+ lumens).

__X__SPECIAL NOTE: Burst/Turbo mode Category - There are several lights that will run at a super bright maximum for a very limited period (usually 5-10 minutes) and then will "step-down" to a lower level for thermal control. Check here if this is acceptable.-


9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.

____All Flood: I am doing "arms length" tasks like reading and campsite cooking.
____Wide Flood: I want a defined flood area for semi-close tasks like after-dark campsite tasks or working on a car.
__X__Narrow Flood: I want a sharply defined flood area that will project some distance for tasks like trail walking.
__X__Wide Throw: I want a beam with a noticeable hot-center for distance throw and a significant amount of "side-spill". Good for rough trail hiking, search and rescue, and general distance work.
____Narrow Throw: I want a beam with a very tight "hot center" and minimal "side-spill". Good for distance viewing, fog, and looking through dense undergrowth.
____Turbohead: I want a far-distance projector with a sharply focused spot of light and minimal or zero side-spill. Good for extreme distance and impressing your friends.

9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
____Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
____Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
__X__5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard- (WALK TO CAR AFTER DARK)
____30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
____50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
____150+ yards (I am searching from a helicopter)

10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum continuous output).

____Up to 30 minutes (I want the brightest [and potentially smallest] light for brief periods)
____30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
__X__90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
____3 hours + (I critically need this light to run on max for extended periods in between battery changes/charges).




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

____Not Important (A "night-stand" light).
____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood).
__X__Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
__X__Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
____I don't know.


12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):

__X__Any size switch will do.
____I need a BIG switch (I'll be using gloves or have very large hands or coordination issues).
____I want a forward clicky (Helpful for momentary activation and signaling).
____I want a reverse clicky (For use with multi-mode/level lights).
____I want a momentary switch (Predominantly for use with signaling and short bursts of momentary light only).
____I want a twisty switch (Tighten the head/tailcap to activate, and the light will stay on until the head/tailcap is loosened).
____I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
____I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today's high end lights).
____I want a remote switch (usually found on high-end bicycle headlights)
____I don't care.
____I don't know.
____Other, please specify____________________.


13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.

____A simple on-off with only one output level is fine for me.
__X__I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
__X__I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a programmable light.
____I want a selector ring.
_prefer__I want a strobe mode. (Oscillating pattern to confuse/blind aka "Police Mode")
____I want SOS mode. (blinks in ...---... emergency pattern)
____I want a beacon mode. (Regular flashes at full power to show location.)
____I don't care.
____I don't know.


14)Material/Finish/Coating

____Plastic/composite body (this may limit your choices significantly).
__X__Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today's higher end flashlights).
____Stainless steel (durable, but much heavier than aluminum)
____Titanium (durable and nearly as lightweight as aluminum, but can be moderately to significantly more expensive).
__X__I don't care.
____I don't know.
____Other, please specify____________.

15) Water resistance
____None needed
__X__IPX4 (Splash resistant)
____IPX7 (Waterproof to 1 meter/30min)
____IPX8 (Submersible to greater than 1 meter for 4 hours)

16) Storage conditions
____In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
____Emergency kit (long standby periods)
__X__Automobile glove-box (wide temperature swings, long standby periods, critical reliability)
____Other_________________________________________ ____


17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.

Gift for employees to provide quality product and help with personal security. Value is important- I don't like to give junk but don't have the budget to buy everyone a Malkoff.

____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________).
____Dedicated R/G/B secondary LEDs.
____"Hybrid" light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
____Pocket/belt clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Crenulated bezel
____Non-sparking, Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments
 

desmobob

Enlightened
Joined
Sep 9, 2013
Messages
328
Location
Upstate NY - Lake George region
I think the Fenix UC35 is a great choice. I bought a UC30 for a girlfriend who is not a "flashlight person" (or "battery charger" person) and she really likes it and uses it often. I gifted a Nitecore MH10 to her sister; same situation.
 
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badtziscool

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 13, 2006
Messages
1,722
I have to be honest. I consider myself a flashlight fanatic but I honestly can't recommend any particular flashlight. There are soooo many of them. The only things I would suggest are:

- Anything that is USB rechargeable. Giving out a flashlight as a gift to someone who knows nothing about safe handling of speciality batteries is asking for trouble. Something that can be recharged using a cable and plug that almost everyone has in their home or vehicle is a huge step in ensuring the operator knows how to operate And maintain the light.
- If it's not USB rechargeable, at least make sure it's compatible with a widely available battery type. AA and CR123 Are good choices.
- Something simple. No need for something you can program, or with 10 different modes or three different switches and buttons. In a defense or compromised situation, you only care whether the light will turn on or not.
- Shop at a reputable store. They would have done the homework already and will take away the possibility of purchasing a junk brand. Stores I can think of are GoingGear or Illumn or Battery Junction, though there are a lot more than that. Those are the ones that come to my mind.
- Brands that come to my mind are Fenix, Nitecore, Olight, and maybe Acebeam. There are others but they tend to be much more expensive.

Sorry I couldn't give you a specific model, but that should get you in the right direction. Good luck!
 
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peter yetman

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Messages
5,100
Location
North Norfolk UK
I can only endorse the above post.
In my experience, if you give a Muggle a light that doesn't take proprietary batteries it won't get used once the batteries are dead. Also they will have no conception of how much the light is worth and probably discard it.
It's also not a good idea to give a Muggle anything that puts out too much light, as the heat generated needs to be monitored.
With this in mind, I thought of a Streamlight 1L 1AA which will run on Litium Primary CR123, rechargeable 16340, AA Alkaline - Lithium or NIMH and the same in AAA. Very simple to use, with 3 programmable mode groups - LowHigh, High and High/Strobe as I remember.
P
 

lightfooted

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
1,017
I can only endorse the above post.
In my experience, if you give a Muggle a light that doesn't take proprietary batteries it won't get used once the batteries are dead. Also they will have no conception of how much the light is worth and probably discard it.
It's also not a good idea to give a Muggle anything that puts out too much light, as the heat generated needs to be monitored.
With this in mind, I thought of a Streamlight 1L 1AA which will run on Litium Primary CR123, rechargeable 16340, AA Alkaline - Lithium or NIMH and the same in AAA. Very simple to use, with 3 programmable mode groups - LowHigh, High and High/Strobe as I remember.
P

I agree. You might have some staff members who will take it seriously and treat it like a tool but most people will just put it in their junk drawer or their car and let it set there. I think something that uses AA cells is probably the best.
 

mayfly-1970

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Joined
Oct 11, 2019
Messages
16
The Fenix E28R is USB C and fits into your requirements.
Thanks, I thought of this one as well and logged in to ask a question about it.

I heard from Fenix and they extended a great price and custom engraving of the school's logo will only be an extra $3. However, I grew concerned of the size of the UC35 at 5.5 inches and that it might be too long for many employees to actually carry. The E28R is 4.25 inches. What do you all think?
 

mayfly-1970

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Joined
Oct 11, 2019
Messages
16
In follow up. I went with the Fenix UC35 v2. The deciding factor ended up being the ability to get them engraved with our school logo through the custom shop. They can not engrave as well on the E28R due to cooling vents or something. I think the employees who care about quality will like the gift, those who look at it as "just" another flashlight- oh well- they probably wouldn't like anything. And yes, they get a nice bonus this year because EVERYONE likes cash.
 
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