Posted: 2/4/2009 2:59:14 PM EDT
Guess I've been out of the flashlight loop for long enough.Picked up a Surefire G2 LED awhile back and thought it was a great light ! Just got a Fenix E20 LED today to carry in my belt holster with multi tool for work,another great light ! I've been carrying mini mags since they probably came out and never thought of changing until I started reading posts here about flashlights. Thanks for pulling my head out of the sand guys !! Looks like another financial burdern along with the AR'S,knives,ammo,etc. 
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| No, nothing wrong with mini mags. Theyre on a completly different performance level than a high output LED light. At work I carry a mini mag. Most of my work is in machinery 2 to 3 feet from my face. A high output LED is overkill for that work. On walks at night, camping etc I carry a Surefire LED. It gives 4 D cell mag performance in a palm sized unit that only weighs a couple of ounces. A 4 D cell mag makes a pretty good whacker, a Surefire probably wouldnt be a good whacker. |
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For anyone wanting to upgrade lights I recomend some hours spent at candlepower.com or whatever that site is with lots of info on flashlights and batteries.'
Really pay attention to run times and output and try to play with some stuff to see what you really need vs. want. I still have my maglights, both the mini mags and the d cell stuff. But the new stuff using cree led bulbs is well worth the money and effort to upgrade. Lately my savings in batteries is well worth the cost of some midlevel lights. With my 3rd shift job I use my personal light a whole lot and hours ass up quickly. |
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I carried a minimag with led upgrade for work at night and it is fine for looking inside vans but I wanted a capable weapon light too. I picked up the Fenix L2T v2 a couple weeks ago and really like it. I just wanted a good low and a good high with a clicky tail cap so it is perfect. I would prefer changing from low to high on the clicky instead of turning the bezel but I couldn't find one with that option that didn't have multiple brightnesses or had to be programmed.
candle power forum is as dangerous for your wallet as this place. |
I have two Surefire G2s, and I just bought a G3 two days ago to keep in my truck, along with my old three-cell Maglite. I feel like I've been out of the light-loop as well. What would be a better light to keep in a vehicle that gets seldom used, a CR123 powered light or an alkaline cell powered light? I mean the light wouldn't get used much, not the car.  I need a light to put in my wife's car.
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Ive read that the lithium batteries are less prone to leakage than alkaline batteries. If true theres less chance of having a useless flashlight when you go to use it.
I know that lithiums are rated for a much longer shelf life. If I remember correctly its up to 10 years for a properly stored lithium battery. |
| I put lithiums in the Fenix when I got it yesterday-curious to see life on them. I have nothing negative to say about the mini-mags,I still have them. I just was surprised at the new technology available in flashlights and yes I'm aware that just like anything else there's a proper light for certain applications. |
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I just recently stepped up to a Surefire G2 LED from my Mag Lights and there is no comparison. My G2 LED has as much light output as the 4 D Cell Mag Light. I still keep my Mini Mag with a Red Lens in my BOB for Map Reading at night when you need to be discreet though.
I was in the dark too but now I see the light of technology. |
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When you're ready to upgrade your surefire or your maglite, check out Malkoff Devices.
You'll get lots more light, even than the surefire led, and more run time to boot. He's also got a few drop ins to retrofit the old maglites. Your head knocker doesn't have to be dim. |
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Quoted:
When you're ready to upgrade your surefire or your maglite, check out Malkoff Devices. You'll get lots more light, even than the surefire led, and more run time to boot. He's also got a few drop ins to retrofit the old maglites. Your head knocker doesn't have to be dim. wow what timing. I have a old maglight D6 sitting here I was going to give away since I got my G3. I defiantly want that 700 lumen mod, the tailcaps are pretty wicked also. Im on the waiting list for the mag-lite and SF mods
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I hear ya brother. I was trying to avoid going there because I knew I'd get hooked on a new "drug" so-to-speak. My brother-in-law told me about that forum a year ago or so, and I knew that I should probably stay away from it since I'm so easily influenced to buy more crap. 
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Lithium batteries last longer in storage and handle working in low temps better than normal alkaline batteries.
So for vehicle stuff I now just use lithium batteries. To some extent I am getting spoiled by lithium batteries and using them in most of my stuff that walks out the door. The tv remote just gets alkaline. I have a fair bit of alkalines around but am mostly stocking up on lithium these days because of the extended run times and storage life. So far I have not found one flashlight that can do it all. I think it is out there and I just need to decide to put my trust in something running on AA lithiums with a good high beam and a really low beam. Can't decide how many cells I want or if I need a middle power beam. But the search these days is more entertaining, I plan to buy some of the good mods for my non led stuff, maglight and a surefire g2, but that is more for amusement than me trying to make the perfect light One thing I do is let people borrow my maglights since they normally get returned. My expensive little super lights are not something I really loan out unless it is coming right back to me. Then again, one uncle recently had his wife buy a whole lot of the really really cheap flashlights and they have lights all over the house but they go through batteries pretty quickly. They live out in the country and often grab a light when going outside to do something even if they mostly plan on using the outdoor lighting for being able to see around the house. |
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I found out last year on a winter camp that surefire cr123's do NOT hold up to cold well. temps were in the -10 to +5deg range, and all my batteries drained. It was a pain in the ass.
This past years camp wasn't as cold during the day, but nights were in the 10deg range, my AA inova led worked the whole time. A small AAA or AA led for utility, and a medium lithium for tactical stuff. And those malkoff heads are awesome. A cop buddy of mine got one for his 6P, and holy shit it is bright. |