Help!!! Best pocket flashlight???

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Help!!! Best pocket flashlight???

Posted: 10/28/2001 5:23:17 PM EDT

I am interested in purchasing a small flashlight that I can carry in my pocket ( attached to my key chain ). The best light I have found so far is a SureFire Executive Personal Light model E1.

I was at the grocery store here in Texas when suddenly the power was knocked out by a storm. I didn't appreciate being stuck in the dark! To make things more interesting, I was informed that there was a tornado in the area and people were trying to find a walk-in freezer to use as a shelter. At that point, the need for a light that I can easily and comfortably carry with me at all times became evident.

Does anyone have any ideas or recommendations as to which flashlight I should buy?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

John

Posted: 10/28/2001 5:28:43 PM EDT

[#1]

NOTHING beats a Surefire !

The E2 is a bit brighter than the E1... (but you can't hang it off of a key chain)

Or... you can try an Eternalight. (over 700 hours of operation on 3 "AA" batteries)
Pretty bright for an LED light. It's got a ton of cool features and can easily fit in a pocket.
(they've reduced the pricing by about 75% from "pre-y2k days".

[url]www.techass.com[/url]

Posted: 10/28/2001 5:40:00 PM EDT

[#2]

I got a 6P and 9N.

6P comes in about five different colors.

Posted: 10/28/2001 6:06:28 PM EDT

[#3]

My wife and I use a Surefire 6z and a 6p.

No better light made.

Posted: 10/28/2001 6:29:30 PM EDT

[#4]

Surefire 9's are pretty big as a 'pocket light' Hiya big fella happy to see me? [;)]

With all the electronic stuff one carries today I need a bat-belt to hold all this stuff.

Cellphone, beeper, palmpilot, flashlight, knife, leatherman, etc etc etc

Posted: 10/28/2001 6:30:50 PM EDT

[#5]

Ifyour interested in akeychain light, then look at the LRI Photon microlight. Has a pressure switch and a constant on switch, comes in red, gree, white and orange-yellow. There's anotherone that I like better, but the name escapes me, something like Princeton Tec. Also very small and very bright.

[url]www.gtdist.com[/url] has the moicrolight.

Sherm

Posted: 10/28/2001 6:53:05 PM EDT

[#6]

A Surefire 6P - you'll love it.

Posted: 10/28/2001 8:21:15 PM EDT

[#7]

I keep a SureFire 6P with me most of the time.

Posted: 10/28/2001 8:26:35 PM EDT

[#8]

6p all the way. The only bad point is that they eat up batteries, but damn, are they a good light!

Posted: 10/28/2001 8:32:51 PM EDT

[#9]

Ummm...That's not a flashlight in my pocket[;)]

But seriously, I am sure the Surefires are great lights, but damn they are expensive. However, a Mini-Maglite is only about $8 and does a great job! AT that price I can buy several and afford to lose one.

Sgtar15
[img]http://www.tartarus.net/images/food/coffee1.gif[/img]

Posted: 10/28/2001 8:38:20 PM EDT

[#10]

My jaw just about hit the floor the first time I saw a Sure-Fire in action. It made my macho Maglite look like a penlight.

When the advertisements say that they're so bright that they can be used as weapons they're not kidding around . My firearms instructor told me that he was present when a security guard accidentally 'discharged' one in his own face. It actually incapacitated him for a few seconds.

Posted: 10/28/2001 8:48:01 PM EDT

[#11]

I like my little Photon. It puts out quite a bit of light and it's tiny. I keep a Streamlight Scorpion in the truck but I think the Photon is adequate to carry all of the time.
[img]http://members-http-1.rwc1.sfba.home.net/jeff.hoeft/pics/Lights3.jpg[/img]
Here is the Photons light from about a foot above the keyboard.
[img]http://members-http-1.rwc1.sfba.home.net/jeff.hoeft/pics/Lights2.jpg[/img]
Here is the Surefire 3P from about one foot above the keyboard.
[img]http://members-http-1.rwc1.sfba.home.net/jeff.hoeft/pics/Lights1.jpg[/img]

Posted: 10/28/2001 8:49:00 PM EDT

[#12]

... Trust me: SCORPION

I mounted a Surefire 500 on my MForgery and I love it, but you specified "pocket".

Posted: 10/28/2001 8:55:10 PM EDT

[#13]

But seriously, I am sure the Surefires are great lights, but damn they are expensive. However, a Mini-Maglite is only about $8 and does a great job! AT that price I can buy several and afford to lose one.

There is absolutely no comparision between a mini-maglite and the Surefire lights. I can use a minimag on the back side of one of my film processors at work to find a water leak without ruining any film but if I even go into the next room and use my 9z with the p91 bulb (200 lumens)assembly it will blow enough light through the minor holes in the walls to ruin the film.

With the 9Z I can see to the bottom of some chemistry tanks where the minimag provides only about 1/2" of penetration.

I need something smaller to carry all of the time so I'm considering the E1, E2, P2, and M2.

Posted: 10/28/2001 8:59:51 PM EDT

[#14]

The Photon's are a nice little white LED pocket flashlight. I like em.

Posted: 10/28/2001 11:29:33 PM EDT

[#15]

If you are going to get the 6P or 6Z Surefire (or any small model), make sure to get the recent ones which allow you to back the cap off in such a way that the ligjt can not be activated by pressing the button.

The older models are vulnerable to the button being accidently pressed by being squeezed in the pocket/bag/pack or other items pushing on it. The light then drains the batteries without you realizing it. Potentially if this happended while it was in your pants pocket, the heat might give it away.

Posted: 10/28/2001 11:54:51 PM EDT

[#16]

Thanks for all of the info! Looks like Im going to get the E1. As PRK pointed out, how do you prevent the button on the end cap from accidentally getting pressed while your carrying the light in your pocket? PRK mentioned something about getting the "new model"?

Id hate to have the light in my pants while its on.
The bulbs in those things get pretty hot! [flame][}:(]

Posted: 10/29/2001 12:13:38 AM EDT

[#17]

Squid-

You'll be happy with the E1. I have one and find that I use it the most out of all my sure-fire lights (6P,6Z,M500B). Compared to the rest it's extremely economical, as it only uses 1 battery lasting ~90 minutes. Not bad considering that little light is more powerful than a 2D Mag-lite. I use it for everything ranging from navigating at night to lochia checks, pupil checks, and vaginal exams (i.e. examining mom for herpes in the L&D unit) to hiking/hunting excursions. For the compactness and the power you can't go wrong.

BTW, if you don't want it discharging in your pocket just unscrew the tail cap counterclockwise a little more than usual--acts sorta like a kill switch.

Posted: 10/29/2001 11:08:40 AM EDT

[#18]

I wrote Surefire customer service and they told me that they will have a new model out the beginning of next year called the E1 Elite. It will have a feature that allows the lights switch to be locked-out so the light cannot accidentally be turned on. Guess Ill wait[:)]

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Help!!! Best pocket flashlight???

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