Posted: 7/8/2007 4:56:50 PM EDT
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alright ive been shopping around because ive got this hole burning in my wallet that just has to spend some money so i thought what do i need?? AHA!!! the other night i heard something odd outside my car while driving home at 2am, so i get out to inspect and i have no flashlight....i know i know....im a SF member and i dont have a flashlight in my car but i dont usually carry anything survivalish when i go out for a cruise in my car in town im wantin to go with surefire, expensive but theres a reason for it. there stuff works i want somethin small enough to keep in my pocket or clip on my belt so ill have it on me 90% the time an wont know it but also be usefull in a survival type situation on a hike im thinking the E2 defender or the E2E there small have a belt clip if i dont want it in my pocket, 60 lumens im leaning towards the defender model because i may be walking across campus late at night and that sharp bezel could be usefull if someone tries to mug me plus i can get the defender with 12 free bats an free shipping for $109  help me decide |
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A flashlight? Can't help you - I have two or three nearly everywhere. In the truck I keep a nice SureFire torch and a kinder multi-LED one. If you're going to be changing a tire using a SureFire you're going to melt the thing before you're done - the multi-LED will run for hours. |
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i have a photon on my keychain an thats what i used at that point i work on cars ALOT almost everyday so i could change a flat tire in my sleep, its just 2nd nature i may consider an LED light of sorts also for longer run times, than the short ones surefire lights are known for |
I stumbled across an amazing light over at Candlepowerforums that has me totally freaked out. Fenix LOD-CE.  It is pretty amazing off the shelf. It costs about $47.00. It uses a AAA battery, and the light itself is the same diameter as aa AA battery, and about half again as long. It has a twist head that goes normal(20 lumens), low(7.5), high(50 lumens!), strobe, SOS. So right off the bat you have something tiny that you can read a map in a car without blinding yourself or find your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night that on another setting pumps out almost as much light as the Surefire 6P that revolutionized the tactical flashlight world. Anyway, like I said, that's "off the shelf"... They have these things called 10440's, which are rechargeable batteries that are the size of a AAA, but put out 3,6 volts (that's like double a AAA). Anyway, on one of these, this little tube puts out way over 100 lumens on high! This thing is so small i don't even notice it on my keychain, so I have it with me all the time. It just blows me away. |
| Up until last week I would've whole heartedly endorsed Fenix lights, but with my P2D CE going through a brand new battery with less than 30 minutes use I'm not so sure anymore. The Fenix Store, the vendor, is willing to replace it and I'm returning the seemingly defective unit tomorrow. I anxiously await the new light. I intend to burn through a brand new Duracell just to see if my first Fenix truly was an anomaly. |
For a VERY bright flashlight that you can comfortably carry 24/7, it's pretty hard to beat the Fenix P1D-CE - Puts out 120 lumens (actual measured), has several brightness settings, and can be used with RCR123 rechargeable cells (which now cost about the same as NiMH AA cells). |
As someone who has had two out of three surefires die shortly after 1st use (in a 12 year period), don't always assume because something is expencive, that it will always work. If I were given one, I'd use it around the house, but I'd not spend my hard-earned money on one. |
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On a budget, it is hard to beat a Streamlight Propolymer 4AA for output & throw from an LED light. Plus Streamlight has great customer service. You want the Luxeon version. The 3C light lux is also nice. Fox Intl Also I have good luck with lights from Amondotech. Amondotech I edc an older Fenix L1P that I love. I also have SF 6p lights, and a wonderful L2 that is my bump-in-the-night-light. For killer incandescents, I like Juan's stuff from BlackBear Lights. |
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DX just picked up the Fenix line and is offering them at a discount. The rumor is that Fenix is clearing out existing stock to jump ahead a few generations of Cree lamps. www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4562 |
What he said. I've been carrying a P1D-CE everyday (and using it many times a day) for ~8 months now. I wouldn't be without mine. Come to think of it, it's probably time to buy a spare. 
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Thanks for posting, GLOCKshooter. $43 for a P1D-CE......screaming good price. I had to order two. Never hurts to have spares. 
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I recommend the Surefire A2 Aviator, if you need a light now. Otherwise, you may want to wait to see if Surefire upgrades the A2 with CREE LEDs, or get a multi-setting CREE LED light. flashlightreviews.com/reviews/surefire_a2.htm The above site has a lot of good information I also recommend Calvin to purchase from |
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i'll pitch this one again..... 120lm off a aa battery 150 with a lithium 14500 VERY well made light and small! www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2888 |
| I'll give +1 to the G2 if you like Surefire. You can find bulbs and batteries almost anywhere. And for about $25-35 doll hairs, you can get about three for what some of the other lights are going for. I have also heard good things about Fenix but I do not own one. |
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i am done with surefire. between exorbitant prices and poor performance compared to whatelse is out there, they really aren't that great anymore. i have a g2 and with the led cree upgrade it's ALMOST as capable as my other lights. toss in having to get and stock cr123a's and they just aren't feasable for EDC anymore. the crees BLOW THEM AWAY in terms of output and runtime. |
What's the source for the Cree G2 upgrade? Thanks in advance. |
I think I've got one of these. I found it on sale some time ago at Target for $9.99. It uses a single common-as-dirt AA battery, runs for about 1.5 to 2 hours, is a regulated 1w Luxeon LED good for about 40 lumens. I have a bunch of Surefires and a Gladius, but this is the light I carry all the time. It's small enough to pocket, has a belt clip, and is light enough to clip to the bill of a cap for a head light. Worth the money even at $23. I may eventually get a Cree-based light to replace it, but most of the time I just don't need over a hundred lumens to peer into a dark server rack. I also don't want to cry over the loss of a $50 to $200 light if something happens to it. Alpine |
If you already have a G2, dropping one of these into it is pretty fun. Alpine Edited to fix link. |
Yep, mine's in the pocket of my pants lying on the floor and I've been carrying it almost 2 months. Use it almost every day. 
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I've got at least 4 of the P6 Surefires and love them, but recently bought one of the Fenix P3D's (same 2 CR123 batts, more power, longer runtime, etc) and really like it. Take a look: https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_69_70&products_id=227&osCsid=04506f3bd373c207fbae2f6fa3db85be |
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Try the Surefire L1 Lumamax (LED): 65 lumens 1.5 hours or 10 lumens for 16 hours, on one 123 batt. I still carry my first Surefire, a 6P purchased 12 years ago, on my duty belt. They have great cust service. I'm itching to buy one of their LED flashlights, but my 6P's, C2, E1e and 9N's keep running. What ever you buy, I'd really keep an LED light as my 1st choice. Surefire stuff |
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We are in a golden age for flashlight technology. My advice is to go over to DealExtreme And pick out 2 or 3 affordable LED flashlights. The Cree lights are amazing. Make sure you use Lithium batteries if you are going to stow the light for long periods of time. one of these if you want the commonality of AA $8.99 AA Cree The 123A Cree LED's are much brighter, and run great on the 3.6 volt rechargable 123's By the way- they are also the source for the excellent G2 Cree upgrades. DealExtreme G2 Upgrade Allow about 3-4 weeks for your order to arrive. |
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I just ordered 3 of these. I went with this particular model for because its AA (for commonality), and 5 modes of operation. http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4882 I also went a bit nuts, and ordered the 50 pack of keychain lights. works out to 25 cents a light. I plan on giving most of them away. I figure at this price, any remaining zipper pulls I have can have a light on it http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3247 Of course, you cant go wrong with the Fenix lights. |
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Made hot.... Been thinking about the Fenix lately, haven't been keeping up with the newest and greatest...
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