My #*$#@ Surefire addiction!

Money is tighter this year. No overtime and a cutback in pay. Forget about a bonus. I work in high tech and our company like many other's took a big hit this year. A while ago, I showed my co-worker, a surface mount repair specialist whom I heavily depend on, my E1. She fell in love with it. I decided I would get her a decent little flashlight for Christmas to show my appreciation for making my job much easier (try changing a 200 plus pin fine pitch surface mount IC yourself, she does it in 15 minutes). I bought a Princeton Tec Rage, from my local REI for $12 based on the recommendations I've read, mainly from Brock's site. As Brock mentioned it is a very good light for the money, certainly better then any mini mag but when I compared it to my E1, there just was no comparison to the beam quality. So I'm gonna spend $40 plus for an E1 because I would just feel too guilty giving her the rage. I realize there is no real relevance to this post other then to reiterate what other people have said. Surefires are addicting. You will willingly pay more to own them. Now what to do with the Rage?

Forgive me if I am posting heresy here.

I know it's no E1, but if you are counting pennies you can always get a 3p for a little less than $40 like from here. And while again it's no E1, the Rage does it's job well, I use mine all the time when my 8nx is too much light.

The Rage is a great light--gave one to my father last year, and my mother has now "appropriated" it.

Regarding your co-worker, is she going to stuff the light in her purse? If so, a lock-out tailcap might be prudent. SureFires are my first choice in lights, but more than once, I've had a light go on while in a bag, running down the batts.

To add even more confusion to the mix, what about a UKE 2L? It is another great light, and I believe it goes for about $25 at brightguy.com.

Regarding your orphan Rage, you could always list it in the Individual For Sale section of this forum.

The Rage will find a good home. Possibly to a family member who hasn't seen any of my Surefires. The Co-worker who has seen my E1 will notice the difference in beam quality. I don't want to give the impression that the Rage is piece of junk, it's not. It is surprisingly bright. I would take it over any of my 2d cell lights that I've had in the past or certainly my mini mag in which mini mags are approximately the same price if I recall. It's just there's something about Surefires. You see more, you see more quicker and easier. Regarding other lights suck as the UK2L, I wish I could actually see the lights in action myself. Brock mentions he has seen a wide range of disparity in the beam quality amongst the different UK2Ls. Surefires, you can buy sight unseen and be rest assured you will have a good beam from light to light, from model to model.

Off topic. Tree. It is not heresy to post that way at CPF. However, DO NOT post a recomandation like this on the Surefire BB. It will start an inquisition on your damned soul(Recant and we will give you a clean death).
Exceptions: CPF members on the SF DB.

If I was in your shoes, I'd give her the PT Rage. You are on a tight budget, and I'm sure she knows it. She's in the same boat, so buying $6 batteries for the E1 is not going to be pleasant. The batteries in the Rage cost way, way less, and last 2 or 3 times longer than the E1. The weight of the PT Rage is 71.8 grams, while the E1 is 62.4 grams, a difference of only 9.3 grams, or ).332 oz. This makes the Rage ideal for purse carry. I'm sure she will appreciate any nice flashlight you give her. Any good person would be happy to get a PT Rage. I wish I knew about them before I bought the EternaLights I bought as Christmas gifts; I'd have saved a lot of money. And I think the Rage is a much more practical flashlight; I can carry one in my pants pocket, but I really can't carry my EternaLight around with me, unless I'm wearing a jacket or coat. The reviewer was right about the amount of light for the dollar; Princeton Tec has done a very nice job of making modestly priced flashlights that are very compact, lightweight, and put out a very good amount of light. The PT 40 is very close to my E2 in terms of output and beam quality, but only cost about 25% as much. No, it will never be as nice a flashlight as a Surefire E2, but in terms of the light you get, irrespective of the cost, or the appearance, or the size of the light, is very, very good. You are giving you co-worker a much nicer flashlight than I am; I bought him a AA Mini Maglite, silver, at Target on sale for about $9.50. Looks nice, but my PT Rage is a much, much better flashlight. Again, if I had learned about the Rage sooner, I'd have gotten him one. He's seen several of my 'high end' flashlights, but I'm sure he will be very happy to get the Mini Maglite, especially as I'm the only one who buys Christmas Gifts for my co-workers. Just don't go doing a side by side comparison with your co-worker between your Surefire E1, and her Princeton Tec Rage. I'm sure she will be very happy with the Rage.

I think Gandalf has very good points and especially about the batt cost. She might not be so thrilled with the light when pulling out her credit card to replace it. Is the Rage the one that you can change to led or regular?

You guys make very good and valid points. I am not sure if you can change this light to LEDs but the case was exactly the same as the Attitude, REI was also selling. Speaking of which I would guess the Attitude is selling quite well as there was only one left on the shelf compared to an ample supply of other lights. I would venture to guess that in terms of total light output, the rage beats my E1 but not really close to my E2, my favorite light of all. The thing that drives me crazy about the Rage is that there are two dark spots, right in the middle of the beam. I am waiting for the day when a regular flashlight manufacturer can come up with a beam that rivals the Surefire, yet uses common batteries. The Princeton Tec Surge is close when focusing in to it's tightest beam, yet still the peripheral "spill" light is not up that of Surefires, IMO. I feel guilty and apologize for using character explicits in the title thread, it really wasn't necessary.

Oops.... I carry 3 lights (non-LED) all the time and 2 of them are those junks that you just mentioned - Rage and 2L. It happens that I also have 3 of E2HA, 9AN, M3, M6 (just acquired) and 10X.

I would higly recommend Rage and 2L to any flashaholics who appreciate good lights regardless of the brand and non-flashaholics who really needs small lights. Of course, I would also recommend most Sure Fire to any flashaholics.

Alan

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alan:
Oops.... I carry 3 lights (non-LED) all the time and 2 of them are those junks that you just mentioned - Rage and 2L. It happens that I also have 3 of E2HA, 9AN, M3, M6 (just acquired) and 10X.

I would higly recommend Rage and 2L to any flashaholics who appreciate good lights regardless of the brand and non-flashaholics who really needs small lights. Of course, I would also recommend most Sure Fire to any flashaholics.

Alan<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

At least if you happen to lose that $10. Rage, your whole day isn't ruined