... If you were to carry just one flashlight, what would it be?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - ... If you were to carry just one flashlight, what would it be?

Posted: 9/11/2005 9:40:05 PM EDT

... After a few weeks of snooping around, I think I may have found the absolutely best engineered carry light.

... The A2 Aviator® (A2-HA), just got mine this weekend

... The Aviator's unique digitally controlled two-stage switching mechanism allows the user to choose LEDs for close-up work or the high output lamp for full power applications. Digital current regulation circuitry provides a more consistent (even) level of incandescent light output ...

... I've finally found my new favorite, compact and robust yet diverse flashlight for daily carry

Posted: 9/11/2005 9:41:44 PM EDT

[#1]

Eh.
That ain't shit.

Posted: 9/11/2005 9:48:15 PM EDT

[#2]

Surefire 9p works for everything I need a light for. Not too big, plenty of power. Use a P91 lamp for uber brightness or a P90 for a bit more battery life. The perfect daily carry light for me. I even have the Z32 bezel just in case

Posted: 9/11/2005 9:54:11 PM EDT

[#3]

I like my Z2

Posted: 9/11/2005 9:54:43 PM EDT

[#4]

I dont have the Aviator, but I love my Surefire flashlight

Posted: 9/11/2005 9:55:02 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
Surefire 9p works for everything I need a light for. Not too big, plenty of power. Use a P91 lamp for uber brightness or a P90 for a bit more battery life. The perfect daily carry light for me. I even have the Z32 bezel just in case

... Good choice, but burn times between the P90 & P91 are negligible - and short

... I kept finding my Surefire C3 Centurion was burning through CR123's too fast during casual use, leaving me with a useless hunk of aluminum in my pocket. The "dual bulb" Aviator answered that problem nicely. I would like to see the "dual bulb" concept have more competition, the Aviator was 150 stones - eek

Posted: 9/11/2005 9:55:31 PM EDT

[#6]

Easy: ARC AAA.

If I wanted bigger, I'd go with your selection, the aviator, hands down.

Posted: 9/11/2005 10:00:12 PM EDT

[#7]

Mag lite.

Not only is it a rugged light, but if I came across any undocumented workers, I could.....well.....you know.

Posted: 9/11/2005 10:01:41 PM EDT

[#8]

It was a compact Maglite that my ex carried in the USCG.

We called it a Baby Bubba.

Posted: 9/11/2005 10:03:43 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Easy: ARC AAA.

If I wanted bigger, I'd go with your selection, the aviator, hands down.

ditto

Posted: 9/11/2005 10:11:04 PM EDT

[#10]

With 3-watt Luxeon LEDs now producing an honest 75 lumens of pure white light, I just can't see any reason for owning an incancescent flashlight any more - The bulb is fragile, has a hideously short lifespan, is expensive to replace, produces a yellowish color that rapidly changes to dull orange as the batteries discharge, and doesn't take kindly to LiON rechargeable cells.

Incandescents are the vacuum tubes of the flashlight world - obsolete in all but a few niche applications.

Posted: 9/11/2005 10:18:29 PM EDT

[#11]

Usually it's a M3 Streamlight.

Posted: 9/11/2005 10:26:44 PM EDT

[#12]

Surfires are nice, but i cna't justify the expense. some are astronomical!

Posted: 9/11/2005 10:27:55 PM EDT

[#13]

surefire u2 ultra

Posted: 9/11/2005 10:29:38 PM EDT

[#14]

Gladius

Posted: 9/11/2005 10:32:01 PM EDT

[#15]

Check out this forum. These guys are serious about their flashlights!

BTW, I like my INOVA X0.

Posted: 9/11/2005 10:38:13 PM EDT

[#16]

anything made by surefire.

Posted: 9/12/2005 1:39:58 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
With 3-watt Luxeon LEDs now producing an honest 75 lumens of pure white light, I just can't see any reason for owning an incancescent flashlight any more - The bulb is fragile, has a hideously short lifespan, is expensive to replace, produces a yellowish color that rapidly changes to dull orange as the batteries discharge, and doesn't take kindly to LiON rechargeable cells.

Incandescents are the vacuum tubes of the flashlight world - obsolete in all but a few niche applications.

+1

Posted: 9/12/2005 1:46:18 AM EDT

[#18]

A2 is my choice as well.

Posted: 9/12/2005 1:49:15 AM EDT

[#19]

Streamlight Propoly Luxeon 4AA. Does it all and is only $30. NYFD chooses them too. Luv it!

Oops, just saw you said carry light. I still luv it!

Posted: 9/12/2005 1:53:03 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
With 3-watt Luxeon LEDs now producing an honest 75 lumens of pure white light, I just can't see any reason for owning an incancescent flashlight any more - The bulb is fragile, has a hideously short lifespan, is expensive to replace, produces a yellowish color that rapidly changes to dull orange as the batteries discharge, and doesn't take kindly to LiON rechargeable cells.

Incandescents are the vacuum tubes of the flashlight world - obsolete in all but a few niche applications.

You mean niches like...throw? Nothing throws like an incan.
Well, except a laser.

Posted: 9/12/2005 2:31:15 AM EDT

[#21]

I have a couple LED's but my surefire has the 90 Lumen bulb and it kicks ass

Posted: 9/12/2005 2:54:37 AM EDT

[#22]

Surefire G2Z

Cheap, unbreakable (so far) and batteries are cheap at the PX, 12 for $17

Posted: 9/12/2005 3:12:28 AM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
With 3-watt Luxeon LEDs now producing an honest 75 lumens of pure white light, I just can't see any reason for owning an incancescent flashlight any more - The bulb is fragile, has a hideously short lifespan, is expensive to replace, produces a yellowish color that rapidly changes to dull orange as the batteries discharge, and doesn't take kindly to LiON rechargeable cells.

Incandescents are the vacuum tubes of the flashlight world - obsolete in all but a few niche applications.

Nice try for a metaphor, but they are vacuum tubes...really.

Posted: 9/12/2005 3:42:04 AM EDT

[#24]

I love my Surefire 6P. It is a constant companion on missions here in Baghdad, whether clamped on my M16 or on my IBA as situation dictates. I could have gone with a more expensive model, but this one does what I need it to. For non-tactical uses I go to my mini-maglite with red filter. The Surefire I view as more or less a defensive weapon. I have used it to stop vehicles coming into checkpoints, and as a gunner to get vehicles out of my way. They are great tools and have helped save us from having to kill (or at least fire on) more than one person who was just doing something stupid.

Posted: 9/12/2005 3:42:38 AM EDT

[#25]

Streamlight Twin-Task...does the exact same thing yours does at a fraction of the cost.

Mine has served me well over here so far.

Posted: 9/12/2005 3:50:07 AM EDT

[#26]

Gladius...

I don't see a reason to own any other personal flashlight. Surefire makes some weapon lights that I'd buy, but if it were a flashlight to carry around, the Gladius has the Surefires beat down in a bad way.

The Gladius is a very intelligent design-not as good looking as a Surefire, but it has a LOT of utility and DAMN! does that strobe feature fuck a guy up!

Dave

ETA 90 lumens for 90 minutes at high settings, and 400 hours at the low setting.

Posted: 9/12/2005 3:59:58 AM EDT

[#27]

If I was in NO, with no hope of batteries/recharging, the Everlife flashlight is the one. Just shake and shine.

Posted: 9/12/2005 4:02:05 AM EDT

[#28]

Surefire E2e. It is with me everywhere I go, day and night.

Posted: 9/12/2005 4:04:45 AM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:
... After a few weeks of snooping around, I think I may have found the absolutely best engineered carry light.

... The A2 Aviator® (A2-HA), just got mine this weekend

... The Aviator's unique digitally controlled two-stage switching mechanism allows the user to choose LEDs for close-up work or the high output lamp for full power applications. Digital current regulation circuitry provides a more consistent (even) level of incandescent light output ...

www.surefire.com/surefire/content/a2white.jpg

... I've finally found my new favorite, compact and robust yet diverse flashlight for daily carry

www.surefire.com/surefire/content/templates/mar_template/version1/august03-01.gif

That's what I keep with me, and I love it. Bright light with the ability to use the LED's and conserve battery life.

Posted: 9/12/2005 4:24:04 AM EDT

[#30]