what do you look for when buying a flashlight?

cheapo

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 5, 2005
Messages
3,326
What does a flashlight need to have for you to consider buying it? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 

MaxaBaker

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 14, 2004
Messages
2,260
Location
South Jersey
Well, it's gotta be bright enough to hurt the eyes quite badly /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

It's gotta be rugged (I'd like it to be waterproof as well, but it's not a neccesity).

It's gotta look at least *a little* good.

And, I'm a throw lover, so except for rare cases (such as an L4), it's gotta have a lot of throw /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 

beezaur

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 15, 2003
Messages
1,234
Reliability.

I am a reliability freak. I think Murphy has me on speed-dial or maybe lives next door. You know all that stuff that will never happen to you? Well, that is because most of it happens to me instead.

I usually like to buy high-end lights, since those typically have performance and features along with reliability. But reliability comes first when I look for a light to fill some role. Cheap and robust is preferrable to cheap and feature-packed.

Scott
 

Polar_Hops

Enlightened
Joined
Jun 1, 2003
Messages
296
I usually look for HAIII, Waterproof, common batteries, bright, pocketable. I hope the photon proton will be waterproof, in which case, i supose i can forget about HAIII, because i dont think they would hard anodize it =\
 

cheapo

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 5, 2005
Messages
3,326
Here is what I think:

*anodization
*regulation
*luxeon LED
*good beam quality
*THROW
*aluminum reflector
*water resistant at least
*tailcap switch
*under 5.5 inches
*uses CR123 batteries
*white tint
*the light has to look good
*warranty similar to Pelican's

-David
 

357

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 15, 2004
Messages
1,951
Location
usa
1. Reliability
2. Beam Quality / good tint (if LED)
3. Fit Finish/Build quality
4. Runtime
5. Output:Size ratio
 

ACMarina

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Sep 10, 2004
Messages
3,119
Location
Brookston, IN
I look for something that fills one of the needs that I have at that particular point in time. That's why I've got so many different lights. .
 

TORCH_BOY

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 25, 2004
Messages
4,242
Location
Australia, Vic
Quality, good feel in the hand, Beam quality, some regulation, good runtime, robustness and affordability.
 

leukos

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 8, 2004
Messages
3,467
Location
Chicagoland
[ QUOTE ]
cheapo said:
What does a flashlight need to have for you to consider buying it? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Modularity and accessories. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 

BentHeadTX

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Sep 29, 2002
Messages
3,892
Location
A very strange dark place
Durability/Waterproof
Regulation
Brightness
Small size
AAA/AA batteries
LED
Variable output
Price

The big cannons I build myself, my nFlex WX1S Mag is my current favorite (not as an EDC though!)
 

gadgetnerd

Enlightened
Joined
Mar 31, 2005
Messages
786
Location
Brisbane, Australia
Main considerations:

Build quality
Beam quality
Robustness
Small size
Run time
Price
Ability to get one too Australia without too much #^&$%ing around online.
 

rgp4544

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 26, 2004
Messages
190
My preferences, including ones not available yet:

High quality;
Long term reliability;
Ideally, dual output, with a very low low beam, low enough that if I use the low I will still be able to see in the dark when I turn it off, and a good throwing high beam, preferably incandescent high beam;
Idiot based switch that anyone can use (none of the switch based menu system type of junk as found on some lights);
Switch on the tailcap;
Must be easily operable with one hand;
Size, no longer than a Mini Mag, but not as small as most of the 1 x CR123A lights because if too small I find them difficult to operate;
Regulated output on both levels would be ideal;
Ideally it would be an item that I could maintain myself in the event of breakage...and I did once break an LED which didn't require the tremendous shock one would expect.

Ability to attach a lanyard, one long enough to hang it around my neck;

Ideally it would also be made of a non magnetic and non conductive material and will not cause interference in other electronic items.

Closest I've found to ideal is the SF A2, although I'm saving some spare cash to order an Aleph to attempt to duplicate the SF A2 output using 2 x AA's. I prefer CR123A's for use in the USA but have to fly all over the world and in most places you're more likely to see the Queen of England walking out of a public toilet than you are to find some CR123A's for less than $10 each.

Richard.
 

thesurefire

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 15, 2003
Messages
1,081
Location
U.S.A.
What do i look for?
In order of highest prority first
Good warenty (who makes it)
Finish
If it has a good clip (or a chanable clip)
Vaule (or amount of light to $ ratio)
light amount
light quality (beam quality)
finish quality
2 stage (or addable 2 stage)
Who makes it
weight to light ratio
size to light ration
price (overall)
long term relablity

you may notice some odd things, like why relablity is on the bottom. well if they have a great warenty (top) i dont mind having to replace the thing a few times /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 

FluffyGrunt

Enlightened
Joined
Feb 5, 2002
Messages
253
Regulation!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/buttrock.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/happy14.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sleepy.gif
Good build quality, fit and finish and such.
A switch I can trust.
Good runtime.
Useful throw or spill.
Regulation.
Usually Led.
Possibility of running with rechargeables.
Battery type.
Size, comfortable to use and carry.
Look, has to appeal to me at least a little.
Did I mention regulation?
 

VidPro

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 7, 2004
Messages
5,441
Location
Lost In Space
Cheap Price
usable quality
high output (lux1 min)
Reduced parts (no regulation)
standard battery types, with possibility for rechargables
Smooth Beam, throw is OK as long as it will light a path ETC
size VS Runtime, meaning 1 hr is ok when it fits in shirt pocket, if its the size of a 2D mag, then it better run longer than a 2d mag does.
Price
 

MR Bulk

Flashaholic
Joined
Aug 12, 2002
Messages
6,059
Location
Hawaii
Smaller. Brighter. Better. Oh wait, that's SureFire's slogan.../ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif


Hey sithjedi333, you said:

[ QUOTE ]
Multiple light levels.

--------------------
Fire~Fly II, SO17XA reflector, BB650
Fire~Fly II, SO17XA reflector, BB650, no logo
Fire~Fly, MM+ WO, 16ohm 2-stage
Aleph 1, 2x123, DB700
TigerLight
Laser Products 6Z, SureFire KL3
SureFire G2, modded to 3w LED
Maglite 2D


[/ QUOTE ]

But none a yore lights has that (multi-levels)...?

(sorry, just messin' with ya...)
 
Top