Flashlight recommendations

[benjamming]

In the interest in overanalyzing everything, I am looking for a few recommendations on a good general purpose flashlight. My b-day is coming up so, along with the grease gun thread, thought I would ask on here.

I am looking at Mag-Lite. Their 4-D cell & 4-C cell lights are pretty comparable with the incadesscant bulbs. The 4-C continuous on time is 5 hrs & the 4-D is 9-10 hrs. Peak Beam Candlepower (PBC) is ~ 23-24k for each. However, the 4-D is 14 oz heavier. I can get Xenon bulb replacements as well. The price is ~ $22-25 for either.

They also have a rechargeable flashlight that uses Ni-CAD. It uses a halogen bulb with with a tempered glass lens and 51,700 PBC. However, continuous on time is only 2 hrs. It is quite a bit more expensive (2-3x).

Of course, there is also the SureFire A2 Aviator light. It is $195 though.

 

[sierrascout]

Mag-Lite, Mine went though a fire and still works. I'll take no other.

 

[Laminar Lou]

The question is; "what is your application?"

I've got a surefire (I think it is the 8N). It is rechargeable. It works great when charged, but it doesn't have an intelligent charger you can leave in all the time. That and it doesn't charge the flashlight with the battery in it, so I have to take the battery out. Not something you can leave on your nightstand to have at the ready.

I've got a 6 cell maglite (which is 20 years old but still works fine). I don't think they make the 6 cell anymore, but it is nice to have on a walk as it doubles as a pretty good club. It's in the bedstand.

Then I have a 2D maglite with an LED in it. That thing works great and gives you a great white light with long battery life. I am not sure though how many hours (I looked on the maglite website and couldn't find life data).

The Magcharger can charge the battery through the flashlight, which is a bonus. It is very bright (I've got a friend who has one). They are more geared for law enforcement, but all the cops I know have a surefire or a streamlight. I don't think the mag chargers are as durable (at least that is what my Dad tells me and he carried a streamlight as a firefighter).

Of all the flashlights, the surefire brand consistently seems to have the best light beam quality. They have quality reflectors that don't show the "rings" in the beam pattern that the maglites do. Not sure if that is important to you, but I do like the quality of the sure fires.

Hope that gives you some info that is useful. I have been in the lighting industry (automotive) for 16 years and I kind of geek out on flashlights.

 

[Laminar Lou]

I stand corrected, they still make the 6D flashlight. I've just never seen one in a store. Being California, it was probably deemed illegal.

Reminds me of a friend who had a baseball bat in the back of his car (he delivered pizzas):

Friend: "Good evening Officer"
Officer: "What's the bat for in your back seat?"
Friend: "Protection?"
Officer: "Wrong answer, out of the car please."

Friend was 16 at the time. The cop told him if he was going to keep a bat in the car there better be a mitt with it and he shouldn't be so honest about the answer.

 

[moribundman]

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I stand corrected, they still make the 6D flashlight. I've just never seen one in a store. Being California, it was probably deemed illegal.

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I bought an 8D cell flashlight just fine here in CA.

 

[MarkC]

I have an old 2D Maglite, and an equally old Surefire, as well as an ancient and cheap military surplus crookneck job. All three are fine. The Surefire is obviously the brightest and smallest.
I carry a 36" stick in my Jeep. Nobody ever asks me about it.

 

[Tempest]

I am also a fan of Maglite. I have also become a fan of LED flash lights from my experience with cheaper, smaller units. It's to the point where I simply will not buy an incandescent flash light anymore. Much better battery life, better resistance to shock, practically unlimited bulb life, etc.

Fortunately, it looks like Maglite has come out with LED types, but I do not have personal experience with these units (yet).

 

[Laminar Lou]

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I bought an 8D cell flashlight just fine here in CA.

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I am guessing that is more of a large mirror spotlight that runs the batteries side to side and not a "baton" with their arrangement end to end. Not saying I knew it was illegal, just that it wouldn't surprise me. I know the LAPD can't carry anything like that anymore...

I'll tell you that the 6 cell is quite a flashlight to hold. Mine has nicks in the side of it from when I used it once to hammer in tent stakes. The filament broke, but the spare in the cap still worked.

 

[MarkC]

"I know the LAPD can't carry anything like that anymore..."

That's because they don't know how to behave themselves.

 

[1sttruck]

I like:

1. 2D Maglites, been switching to their LED recently.

2. 2AAA Maglites, as I can carry two in a pouch for the 2AA Maglite.

3. 2AA Maglite with an offbrand LED at Walmart, that runs about $4.

4. For a 4D light I like the Ray-O-Vac Industrial (?) at Walmart, as it has a nice spot beam. I'll try the 4 cell Maglite LED soon.

5. Photon lights. Most people like the white one, I like the yellow as the battery is good for about 200 hrs. My wife used hers when all the lights went out in a mall, she said it was pitch black, and no one in the store she was in had a light. I use mine pretty much daily.

In my backpack I carry two 2AAA Maglites and I have the yellow Photon on my keychain. A brother carries a Streamlight (?), which he says is very effective in touch and go situations.

 

[kc8adu]

www.candlepowerforums.com

 

[alreadygone]

Been using a rechargable Maglite for 8+ years. Love it. Even if it runs down in 2 hrs, how many times is that not more than sufficient,,,and it's rechargable! Also between being a tight wad and procrastinator I NEVER change batteries when they need,,only when they won't light any more.

Bob

 

[carlprop]

LED flashlights have come a long ways since they were introduced. I have only seen these at C. Crane, an online electonics store.

 

[Mamala Bay]

Fenix flashlight. web page

 

[Warlord]

At work I have been using a 2d led flashlight made by energizer for the past 6 months. I have not changed the batteries since I purchased it and it shows no signs of dimming. This thing is pretty well made with what appears to be durable plastic with rubber protection. I have dropped it many times and it shows no wear. Best of all this thing was cheap!

 

[benjamming]

Wow, a lot of good responses. Kinda took me by surprise. Thanks!

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The question is; "what is your application?"

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Just general usage around the house. I have a generator outside, might want to trek through the woods, work on the car, etc.

We went to Ace Hardware yesterday. They had the 3C, 4C, 2D, 3D, 4D, 5D, & 6D. Man, that 6D is LONG. I liked the 4C for $22. The SureFire and the rechargeable Mag would require a significant contribution from my coffers that I simply don't have right now. But I might be able to squeeze in.

But, what about the Krypton bulb vs. Xenon bulb vs Halogen bulb (only available in the rechargeable Mag) in Mag also vs SureFire?

I don't know about the Engergizer light. Is it made in China? I will not buy a light made in China.

I have a blue Craftsman rechargeable that is a piece of junk. Someone got that for me as a Christmas present one year. So, this time I thought that I would research the options well.

 

[1sttruck]

Forgot to add that some sort of headlamp is really needed in some cases. Currently using a couple of Petzval (?) 3 LED that run off of 3AAA.

For regular bulbs I replaced all of the halogns years ago with:

1. some Phillips PR6, about 300 mA with 2 cells vs 1A for some of the bulbs that I took out,

2. PR9, about 150 mA which is dim but useable with a spot beam, when you need to make the batteris last,

3. and some Slyvannia PR17, a rare made in the US (NH) 300 mA bulb for 4 cells, which works great with a spot beam.

I orded two boxes of each years ago, and evidently got the last of that type of PR17. I could have gotten by with one box each of the PR9 and PR17, but I wanted ALL OF THE PR17, THEY'RE ALL MINE, HA HA HA HA.....

 

[Merkava_4]

Check out the Inova T5 Made in USA.

 

[Warlord]

My energizer is a china light. I didn't know there were any that weren't.

 

[benjamming]

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Fenix flashlight. web page

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Fenix home office is China so no thanks.