jasonp
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2005
- Messages
- 22
Hola guys. My first post. I need some ideas on a good light. I'm an Agent with the US Border Patrol and we rely on our flashlights extensively. I carry a stream light stinger and love the output/beam. As you know however, the output is short lived. This just doesn't cut the mustard when you are tracking a group of drug smugglers, etc. at night for 4+ hours or more. A few details for you; when tracking with a flashlight, you have to hold your light close to the ground and parallel to it as well. This creates a shadow effect on the ridges of tracks (foot prints) IF the light you are using puts out a good beam this technique works well. NOTE: flood lights don't work well for this.
Take one of your good beam lights and one of your flood type lights outside, step in the dirt, and then hold both lights (individually) very close and parallel to the ground aiming across the track. You will see what I am talking about. Difficult to explain unless you see it I guess.
Anyway, with the above in mind, I am looking for a light/torch that puts out a good beam and is somewhat long lasting. Like I said, the stinger is great but burns out too quick as does surefire 123's. I ordered an Elektrolumens xm-3 a couple of nights ago hoping that this might come close. I ordered it due to all the good reviews you guys were giving it here. I've tried the light wave 4000 (too much of a flood), stream light 4led AA (again just flood light, no beam). I like the LED's white light and longer life on a set of batteries but I haven't found one yet that fits what we need. If I can find one the fits the bill, I'm going to TRY and put in an order of around 150 of them for my troops. I tried my little brother's Coast Lenser Tac the other night and liked it. It was powered with three AA's and had a decent beam. That was the first time that I've seen a LED light with a good beam. I just couldn't find anything about its burn time on the net so I went with the xm-3. How bright is the xm-3 compared to say a stinger or a D-cell (regular) mag light? If it put out a decent beam, it may be close to what I'm looking for. You guys are the master of the light stick so I figured that you would know. Thanks for your help in advance..JP
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Take one of your good beam lights and one of your flood type lights outside, step in the dirt, and then hold both lights (individually) very close and parallel to the ground aiming across the track. You will see what I am talking about. Difficult to explain unless you see it I guess.
Anyway, with the above in mind, I am looking for a light/torch that puts out a good beam and is somewhat long lasting. Like I said, the stinger is great but burns out too quick as does surefire 123's. I ordered an Elektrolumens xm-3 a couple of nights ago hoping that this might come close. I ordered it due to all the good reviews you guys were giving it here. I've tried the light wave 4000 (too much of a flood), stream light 4led AA (again just flood light, no beam). I like the LED's white light and longer life on a set of batteries but I haven't found one yet that fits what we need. If I can find one the fits the bill, I'm going to TRY and put in an order of around 150 of them for my troops. I tried my little brother's Coast Lenser Tac the other night and liked it. It was powered with three AA's and had a decent beam. That was the first time that I've seen a LED light with a good beam. I just couldn't find anything about its burn time on the net so I went with the xm-3. How bright is the xm-3 compared to say a stinger or a D-cell (regular) mag light? If it put out a decent beam, it may be close to what I'm looking for. You guys are the master of the light stick so I figured that you would know. Thanks for your help in advance..JP
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif