Posted: 11/13/2009 9:31:43 AM EDT
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Ok, another thread got me thinking about flashlights.
My use will be for work. I am a cable technician, so I frequently find myself crawling around in attics and crawlspaces, which are often poorly lit. To make it worse I recently started a new schedule that has me working later, so from time to time I will be entering these spaces after dark, so a light is essential. I have been on the job for several years now, and have found that LED lights work the best for me, the battery life is amazing, and they put out a very bright narrow light, which is what I need. Up until now I have been using cheap Chinese flashlights from gas stations, they work well enough, and I have never actually had to change batteries in one, I end up leaving them under houses before the batter goes. The light I have now is in need of new batteries, I guess I have finally got to the point that I have learned to make sure I have my light in my hand before I crawl out of the crawlspace. The things I need in this flashlight are it has to be fairly compact, one hand operation is a must. I actually prefer one that I can carry in a pouch on my belt (similar in size to a pocket knife pouch), or at least fit into a back pocket, so large C and D cell lights are out. It must have a decent battery life, I am not trying to blind anybody with it, so it doesn't have to be the most powerful beam this side of a high energy laser either, but it does have to be bright enough to allow me to see black coax in the dark from ten feet or so. I have never owned a light, or anything else that used cr123 batteries, and have always assumed they were kind of expensive. This will be a light that I use constantly throughout the day, whether it be to look behind an entertainment stand, or crawl around the attic, so spending ten bucks a week to replace the batteries is not acceptable, ten bucks for 20 or thirty hours of on time would probably be OK. I would like for this light to not cost more than $30, but I would like it to be of a decent quality. I have had several cheapo LED lights that had problems with flickering, it is annoying, and the main reason I figure it is time to step up and buy a decent light. ETA: Please keep in mind, I don't want and am not interested in spending a hundred bucks on a flashlight, any suggestions to spend that much will be laughed at, and the suggester will be mocked and ridiculed. I had the same conversation a year or so ago about pocket knives, I was able to get a CRKT M16 for $35 that is still serving me well, after being told my many people that I wasn't going to get a decent folder for anything less than $150. My life doesn't depend on these tools, neither does the lives or lively hood of anybody I know, I want something that works well, not something that I can take on an expedition to mars. |
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Solarforce L2 (Surefire P60 clone)
31 bucks shipped: http://www.sbflashlights.com/Solarforce-Lights/Solarforce-L2-p4.html Solarforce L2 Color : Black Crenelation: Color Coordinated Crenelation Holster: No Holster 1 Mode Dropins: LC-1 Cree R2 1 Mode 6V-18V (Blue) It is compatible with Surefire batteries or you can use rechargeable CR123s or 18650s. I have three of them. |
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The Fenix looks like a good option.
This is the one I have, and it sounds like it would be well suited to what you need. Quark 123 It comes with a belt holster, is small and has numerous brightness settings. Just don't go with the "tactical" version, because they aren't as easy to cycle through the different modes. Also, since the clip faces away from the head of the light, they can be clipped to the brim of your hat and still project light into your work space. They also come with a finger-band so you can mount it on your hand. |
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Quoted: Quoted: In before this deenerates into a fleshlight thread..... And surefire makes excellent products. May spend a lil more than $3, but well worth it. Yep, Surefire./Thread The Surefire warranty card says something like - Batteries die and bulbs burn out, but we'll take care of the rest. How could you not like that? |
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It might be a little smaller than what you are looking for but I use an ARC AAA flashlight for my everday carry (for the past 3 years).
http://www.arcflashlight.com/arc-aaa.shtml Its small, uses a single AAA battery, has a very long runtime, very bright for how small it is, made in USA (Arizona), costs about $30. |
| If you have to actually do stuff with your hands, you might consider a headlamp. I've had one of these for a few years and it's pretty damn bright. It's got a tighter beam than my SureFire L4. I did upgrade the LED, but it didn't need it. Also, it runs on CR123s, but there's a lot of headlamp offerings out there that run on AAs. When I get done with mine, I just pull it down around my neck. Hard to lose. It's been quite reliable, but you do have to pay attention that it doesn't get turned on when you stuff it in a bag. I just unscrew the battery cap a little to "safe" it, same as my SureFire. |
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Fenix LD10 $59
Search Candlepowerforums for a discout Code: CPF8 for 8% off, making it $54.23. Turbo mode gives 120 lumes for 1½ hours Low mode gives 47 lumes for 6 hours All on a single AA battery. |
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I like the Fenix LD10, does anybody have any experience with this Ebay seller?
This seller Looks like the same package that is available for just a couple of bucks more on the Fenix site. Normally I wouldn't even have to think about it, I would just order from the Fenix site, but I do have $25 in my paypal account. If the seller is legit this would be a great deal, as I don't use paypal much and that credit has been sitting there for a long time. |
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I carry a Nitecore EX10, which is a very small, very bright light. Its also been back to the factory twice now and is no longer under warrenty so next time she goes down she wont be getting fixed. She will be replaced by a small Surefire Titan. I have lots of lights: Surefire, Streamlight, Gladius, Fenix, Olight, Maglight........ and of those I would go with Surefire or Streamlight. I use a Streamlight Stylus Pro at work nightly and while its not a torch it does a good job at lighting up things in the dark. If I need something much brighter I take out my EX10. . Streamlight is about 20 bucks and has a kick ass warrenty also. I had the clicky go out on mine after a year of daily hard use and dropping and throwning and I sent an email and a few days later I had two brand new clicky caps.
Streamlight Stylus Pro |
 COMES WITH FREE LUBE TOO !!!
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There's a 2 pack of "tactical flashlights" being sold at Sam's Club right now. They are labeled "Serengeti" and are LED with a 3 function end cap push button, low LED, high LED, and strobe. The end cap also works as a "momentary on" when pushed and held, it will come on bright and then when you let go, it goes off.
A buddy at work bought a set and showed them off to us, I messed around with it during a night shift last week and then went and bought 4 of them, to space out in the vehicles and use on patrol. They are powered by 3 AAA's and seem to be just as bright as my Streamlight SL-20 and Streamlight Stingers, also my Surefire 6P's, both with regular bulb and an LED bulb. Check them out, for 32 bucks or so after tax, and batteries included, I don't think you can go wrong. They also have the "attack bezel" with sharper edges and a lanyard you can leave on or take off. |
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Quoted:
There's a 2 pack of "tactical flashlights" being sold at Sam's Club right now. They are labeled "Serengeti" and are LED with a 3 function end cap push button, low LED, high LED, and strobe. The end cap also works as a "momentary on" when pushed and held, it will come on bright and then when you let go, it goes off. A buddy at work bought a set and showed them off to us, I messed around with it during a night shift last week and then went and bought 4 of them, to space out in the vehicles and use on patrol. They are powered by 3 AAA's and seem to be just as bright as my Streamlight SL-20 and Streamlight Stingers, also my Surefire 6P's, both with regular bulb and an LED bulb. Check them out, for 32 bucks or so after tax, and batteries included, I don't think you can go wrong. They also have the "attack bezel" with sharper edges and a lanyard you can leave on or take off. Sounds like a nice light for the price. Do you have any pics? |
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I have had no luck with fenix and their switches, buy at your own risk.
This has been my edc for some time now, with a rechargeable lithium ion 18650 battery. I've beat the shit out of mine with no ill effects and its bright enough to shine deer with. http://www.bugoutgearusa.com/jemi.html http://www.lighthound.com/Ultrafire-WF-139-Charger-for-14500-17500-18500-18650-RCR123-37-volt-Lithium-Battery-Charger_p_2279.html http://www.lighthound.com/AW-18650-Protected-2200-mAh-Rechargeable-Lithium-Battery_p_105.html Ive shown it to a few police officers and others, and they just sit there in aw....its a very nice light for the money. If you have the $$ to spend, then buy a surefire, but Ill keep on buying these. |
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I just bought this 2 pack at Harbor Freight a couple weeks ago, $3.99 on sale, even came with the batteries for both flashlights. That is cheaper than buying 6 AAA batteries these use. These go on sale frequently there, toss then when the batteries go, and buy another 2 pack on sale. |
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After years of crawling around inside coal-fired boilers, we found these to be the best for combination of brightness, weight, ease of carry, size and battery life.
Pretty durable, too. Underwater Kinetics 4C |
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I found a website that has the light and it's features listed, but Sam's Club is selling a two-pack of the lights, WITH batteries for under 30 bucks.
Serengeti Flashlight |