Best LED Luxeon collection advice?

OK, you've all got me hooked. My poor pregnant wife has endured the past week of me reading all of the posts and reviews here. Until I found the forum, I didn't know others had this light "bug" of mine. I'm new to quality flashlights and LEDs, always thinking that Maglites were tops.

Now I want to build a collection of about four lights. How's this logic??

Small-Peak LED Solutions Caribbean. The FlashlightReviews.com glowing review has me hooked.

Medium funlight-I tried the Element at Sam's and the Metal Gear at Walmart. I found that the Metal Gear has a much smoother light transition but that it's dimmer than the Element. I also like the Post Industrial modern design, rather than the military look of the Metal Gear, I suppose. Has anyone found any of their Elements to not have the "ringy" quality? Would Writeright take care of that without dimming the light much?

Medium regulated-Streamlight JR LED-I like the idea of having a AA light with the "comfort" factor of being so similar to the Mag AA light. My guess is to pick up one of the closeouts, rather than the new one that many here have complained about.

Large Throw-Here I'm stumped. I want a performance light that throws well but isn't such a narrow beam to not be versatile enough for closer items. I was ready to ask my wife to buy an Inova T3 for me for my birthday but don't like that "ringy" quality, nor do I want it to be too bright close-up. So now, I'm wondering about the Streamlight Scorpion LED. Why doesn't anyone one these forums recommend it? Is it really that hard/annoying to push the on switch? The specs in the FlashlightsReviews.com page seems solid. Also it seems very similar in specs and size to the Streamlight TL-2. But I do like the Scorpion looks a bit more. Any advice here? Again, I love that mod look of the Inova T3 but want a versatile light, near and far.

OK, have at it? How's my logic? I appreciate your advice for this noob addict!

LOL four lights...

Welcome to CPF onthebeam!

Stay a while and hang on to your wallet /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I think onthebeam meant four lights...this month. Has to be a typo.

Since I discovered CPF and Flashlight Reviews in June this year, I've spent enough $$$ on flashlights to buy a small pony. I'm thinking of applying for federal disability benefits based this sudden onset of mental incapacitation.

And there's just no end in sight, thanks to the shared comfort of addiction found here... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/happy23.gif


I think if I were to pick some Lux lights based on your criteria, I'd go with these. (I'm keeping the choices relatively cheap so that you still have enough money over to feed and diaper your new baby):

Small: JiL Lite DD or 1.3w. For more info, check out this thread . $65 and up.

Medium "fun" light: Probably the Nuwai Q-III. Great pocketability and can be modified, nice floody spot. $29 and up.

Medium regulated: My pick would be the UK 4AA eLED - 12 hours straight of pure regulation, good brightness and durable design. $22 and up.

OR if you wanted to get pricier, anything from Surefire, an HDS EDC, or a McLux PD. $100 and up

Large throw: Streamlight ProPolymer 3C Lux or the 4AA Lux. (Also at Flashlightreviews.com). $27.50 and up.


Congratulations to you and your wife. I'm sure with all the midnight romps with your new baby, you'll find your new flashlight hobby useful. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

While we're on the topic of babies, here's a thread I started a while ago before our baby was born. Congratulations, and welcome to CPF!

How about just getting an HDS (any model) and a set of rechargeable batteries with charger and having all 4 of your lights in one?

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Solstice said:
How about just getting an HDS (any model) and a set of rechargeable batteries with charger and having all 4 of your lights in one?

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Just wanted to reiterate this. Onthebeam, an HDS would cost less than the total of those lights you mentioned. It's not a throw monster, but has good output and is cool as heck besides.

At a minimum, an HDS EDC would fulfill your first three items. If the throw wasn't sufficient you could get an inexpensive big throw light (that means incan, not LED). E.g. PT Surge has tremendous throw/output and is inexpensive.

Re Scorpion LED vs TL-2 LED Gen2, they appear very similar in size, weight, output and throw. The Scorpion has a click on/off switch, whereas the TL-2 is twist on/off and button for momentary.

I agree with Solstice -- better to buy one or two really nice lights than several medium ones.

Of course CPF tradition is buy lots of really nice lights /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I've got two Sam's Element lights (I think made by Dorcy) and they don't any ringy-ness in the beam. Mine both have a smooth wide spot and nice spill. Good choices overall.

Collections reflect individual tastes and it seems you've reasonably researched to find the "four" lights for your taste. If I had to choose 4 from the ones I have (or would like) reflecting my tastes, I would go:

Small light - Dorcy 1xAAA upgraded with new Nichia SPW whatever 5 mm LED. Cheapest ($6 + $1 LED + a little time): very tough and one of the best performers (near or maybe beats new Arc AAA output with great Arc-like SPILL - which is what makes a small light useful in my opinion)at ANY price. Only short coming is a tail switch which is relatively loose - I fixed it with a little plastic tubing over the tail and rear body. For the price of a Peak or Arc, get 5 and have backups, give them to your wife and future children, etc.

Yeah, I know that the $1 LED price is if you buy several, but I'm sure there is a way and it's really worthwhile.

Medium fun light - Fenix L1P, through 4sevens "now or never" group buy at $38 shipped. This looks like the real deal for compactness, output, HA finish, coated glass lens, run time, cheap batteries, etc. etc. Or maybe the regular L1 at $28 shipped (a steal).

Medium regulated - one of the 2xAA 1 or 3 watt Luxeons or good clones. XM3 (maybe upgraded with a glass lens) would be very good. Emilion has what looks to be a nice one . Streamlight Jr. Lux as you mentioned.

Big thrower - don't know your size limits. If I wanted a light too big to take on a walk for throw, I'd probably get one of the rechargeable multi-million candlepower lanterns I see around, but I usually want something more portable. Even my Nuwai 3x3W Lux is too big for anything but a shelf at home (not recommended). Many compact throwers around, I use a Blaster Jr., but I'd probably recommend a Streamlight Propolymer Lux for a throw specialist.

I like using AA nihms where possible, as reflected by these choices.

As others have said, you will in time (and maybe less time than you think) probably have these and several others to "provide some depth" to your collection and to fill in the (neverending) gaps between your 4 classes of lights.

Oh, and your baby (and the lights you will no doubt give him/her) will be the real advanture.

Thanks, everyone, for all of this terrific feedback. With such great advice, my list of four is surely growing. Why not six, he says as he loses all contol of rational thought. . . ! Since CromagNet and Pradeep1 and so many here have recommended the ProPolymer, I've ordered the AA model and I think it will probably meet my needs for throw. But I am salivating over the thoughts of the Pelican M6 3W, or my original idea, the Streamlight Scorpion LED. (Does anyone here own that Scorpion?? I still wonder why it's not discussed here.)

For the funlight, I picked up two more packages of Element flashlights at Sam's. Man, they really do vary and when I compared six lights, three were very good indeed. Not without a few beam flaws, but nothing i couldn't live without. It's a terrific value flashlight for around the house and unbeatable for $13. So, I returned two packs and now have two decent cheap lights of quite good brightness.

For a quality light, I still hope to order the PEAK Caribbean. I see that today's review of the Glacier Bay really says the two lights are a toss-up and share the same casing. The Caribbean is brighter while the Glacier Bay trades a bit of brightness for running longer. Will probably opt for the Caribbean. However, I am intrigued by the Fenix. Has anyone received theirs yet? Wonder how the brightness will stack up against the Peak Caribbean. . .

I'm also going to order a Nuwai Q III right away. (Anyone here have a green one and likes its looks??) All of the scores of satisfied users can't be wrong! But I'm realizing that as I walk around my home WAY late at night testing lights when everyone else is sleeping contentedly, that I really need a far less bright light for late night trapzing around, checking on the baby, etc. So, I'm hoping to get that light modified for two brightness levels. Is it worth upgrading to the TWOJ LED too??

Last, I have also ordered the older version of the Streamlight JR. As I mentioned, I'm still wedded to that all too comfortable size and shape of the Maglite AA.

So, my dream of having a collection of four lights is rapidly morphing into flashlight madness!!! Now I'm done for. . .

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onthebeam said:
...I'm also going to order a Nuwai Q III right away...I really need a far less bright light for late night trapzing around, checking on the baby, etc...

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The QIII is a nice compact inexpensive light but it overlaps somewhat with the Peak Caribbean. Suggest you just get the Caribbean.

The SL ProPoly Lux 4AA has great throw (I have two) for its class, a beautiful beam pattern, a great bargain, but beam is a little tight. The real throw monsters (less expensive ones, anyway) are still incandescent, e.g. PT Surge, SL TL-3.

Re lower brightness inside at night, that's why I suggested the HDS EDC (selectable brightness). EDC Basic 42 is "only" $120. Or get an Arc III.

Welcome onthebeam and you are in for a nice suprise here....4 lights will do for now however you will be soon wanting many more...

I suggest starting out with a few cheap lights to play with and the 6 dollar Dorcy AAA is incredible for the cost. If you search around you can find a few threads on removing the reflector of the Dorcy AAA and once inside paint the reflector a silver color with ordinary spray paint. It smoothes the beam out and in my opinion makes a much improved EDC and every day beater.

For a little more cash you could move up to few lights available at any WalMart as well. I like the new Brinkman Maxfire and at 19 dollars it is a spare in my duty bag and a good value. I recently bought a new AA Mini Mag and replaced the bulb with an un cut MJ LED and this is also a great little back up light.

Mid range cost I would suggest you look at a few Pelican lights. The M6 LED as well as the incandescent are incredible throwers and fairly popular around here. I have these and they are really good performers. As already suggested the QIII is a no brainer for me and was really one of the best bang for the buck purchases I have made in some time.

If nothing else in my opinion everyone needs a good old Ultra-G (old style) as this is really my always "go to" light when I am headed outside. This light has always worked without fail and the beam is pretty decent. For me I will always like the older model better and if you can find one you may want to grab it while you can.

I have seen so many new choices come to market lately that are so very close in performance. I remember a few years back there were only a handful of decent lights and today we are very lucky to have such a wide choice to choose from.

I think my personal favorite suggestion to you for EDC would have to be the Fire-Fly 2. I truly do enjoy mine and with the addition of a reflector is nearly the perfect light in my opinion. If you decide to purchase a more costly light you may consider the FF2 or even the newer FF3 model that is soon to be released.

You may also want to consider a Luxeon that will use the rechargable 123 cells without hurting the circuit. This brings me back to the QIII as this light performs incredible with the new 123 cells.

I could talk lights all night and would surely have many more suggestions for you. I will say that whatever you decide do some searches and read the review section here also.
I will also say that I now have more lights than I will ever use. I also started out by saying "what is it going to hurt if I buy a few lights" Man was I in for a suprise a few months later when I was ordering up everything that came out....then there is the modding and custom stuff. Enjoy your stay here and good luck with your choices.

Wait a second, there's no 5-watter on your list......