jbfla
Newly Enlightened
Reliable Flashlight Thread Summary:
Searching for a reliable flashlight to carry while motorcycle traveling:
Advice:
... two is one and one is none (lightemup) This is my personal favorite...brief and to the point.
...along with spare lamps (if incandescent) and cells (jayflash)
...new light, carry it around for a while to get to know it (SilverFox)
...spares and multiple backups are the only option to ensure that you always have light. (RayT)
Criteria for the most reliable lights for the task:
(nerdgineer)
...Twisty, not clicky switch (fewer moving parts)
...Lithium batteries
...LED, not incand
...Direct drive (no electronics)
(jbfla)
...small size
...waterproof/resistant
...vibration/shock resistant
(gadget lover)
...1) The components are under driven...the LED, electronics, switch, batteries.
...2) Use circuitry that allows it to run a partial brightness as batteries near depletion.
...3) Have all major components potted...
...4) Has sufficient heat managment...
...5) Low enough draw on the batteries ...don't hit thermal shutdown.
...6) It's case has to be sturdy enough ...to survive minor accidents...
Recommendations:
...TWO Surefire G2s (KevinL)
...20 for $20 kechain lights (Silver Fox)
...MiniMag Mod by Nerdnik (Goldfish)
...CMG Reactor 2 with 2 lithiums (nerdgineer)
...Gerber LX1 with 2 lithium AAs (nerdgineer)
...regulated LED with Lithiums and dual level output (Kiessling)
...Arc AA (Kiessling)
...minimag with a Radio Shack LED (thesurefire)
...SureFire E1e (Nikon)
...SureFire kl1 on an e2e (rackness)
...SureFire E1e+KL1 (KevinL)
...StreamLight TT2L (Playboy JS)
...ARC AAA (and Infinity Ultra by extension) (Playboy JS)
...Innova X5 (gadget lover)
...UK eLED lights (gadget lover)
...SureFire U2 (Kiessling)
...Inova X5 and X5T (Wrangler)
Lights I was considering before posting the question:
...Gerber's Trio, LX1.0, and LX3.0; really rugged cases w/LEDs
...Pelican M6 LED
...Inova X5, and XO (the X5 is my light of choice around the house)
Thanks to all for your thoughts. I used to think flashlights were just a bulb, a couple of batteries, and a case.....little did I know.
Right now I'm leaning toward the Inovas...I like their sleek looks, and they seem to meet most of the criteria. I also like the SureFire LED lights, but their cost would leave me devastated if I lost one.
I'll post a follow up message when I make my final decision.
JB
Searching for a reliable flashlight to carry while motorcycle traveling:
Advice:
... two is one and one is none (lightemup) This is my personal favorite...brief and to the point.
...along with spare lamps (if incandescent) and cells (jayflash)
...new light, carry it around for a while to get to know it (SilverFox)
...spares and multiple backups are the only option to ensure that you always have light. (RayT)
Criteria for the most reliable lights for the task:
(nerdgineer)
...Twisty, not clicky switch (fewer moving parts)
...Lithium batteries
...LED, not incand
...Direct drive (no electronics)
(jbfla)
...small size
...waterproof/resistant
...vibration/shock resistant
(gadget lover)
...1) The components are under driven...the LED, electronics, switch, batteries.
...2) Use circuitry that allows it to run a partial brightness as batteries near depletion.
...3) Have all major components potted...
...4) Has sufficient heat managment...
...5) Low enough draw on the batteries ...don't hit thermal shutdown.
...6) It's case has to be sturdy enough ...to survive minor accidents...
Recommendations:
...TWO Surefire G2s (KevinL)
...20 for $20 kechain lights (Silver Fox)
...MiniMag Mod by Nerdnik (Goldfish)
...CMG Reactor 2 with 2 lithiums (nerdgineer)
...Gerber LX1 with 2 lithium AAs (nerdgineer)
...regulated LED with Lithiums and dual level output (Kiessling)
...Arc AA (Kiessling)
...minimag with a Radio Shack LED (thesurefire)
...SureFire E1e (Nikon)
...SureFire kl1 on an e2e (rackness)
...SureFire E1e+KL1 (KevinL)
...StreamLight TT2L (Playboy JS)
...ARC AAA (and Infinity Ultra by extension) (Playboy JS)
...Innova X5 (gadget lover)
...UK eLED lights (gadget lover)
...SureFire U2 (Kiessling)
...Inova X5 and X5T (Wrangler)
Lights I was considering before posting the question:
...Gerber's Trio, LX1.0, and LX3.0; really rugged cases w/LEDs
...Pelican M6 LED
...Inova X5, and XO (the X5 is my light of choice around the house)
Thanks to all for your thoughts. I used to think flashlights were just a bulb, a couple of batteries, and a case.....little did I know.
Right now I'm leaning toward the Inovas...I like their sleek looks, and they seem to meet most of the criteria. I also like the SureFire LED lights, but their cost would leave me devastated if I lost one.
I'll post a follow up message when I make my final decision.
JB
