Flashlights.. Surefire, Streamlight or other?

[silent knight]

I'm in the market for another flashlight and i want to know what you guys think. Is there an advantage with using LED? Is one better than the other (Streamlight, Surefire).

[steveracer]

But streamlight is cheaper, and surefire is brighter

[CountGlockula]

Surefire are a nice quality product. I have the X200B (wide beam) and a DG-11 pressure switch (just got it last week) for my Glock 35.

[clown714]

my only exp. is with the surefires.
quality product with the price tag.good CS and warranty
LED is the way you want to go,IF you want to save batteries.
but,they don't have the throw as the incad. do.
check out www.candlepowerforums.com

clown

[Sistema1927]

I have read some good things about the Nuwai Q-III lights. I just ordered one last night, so I don't have any hands on experience with them yet.

I have a Surefire by the bed, a Streamlight Scorpion that is attached to the AR15, and a Wal-Mart special Brinkmann that I toss in my suitcase when travelling. All three of these lights use double CR123 lithiums. All of them seem to last about the same on a set of batteries, and all of them seem to have comparable throw. (I am sure that the flashlight purists will jump all over that statement, but for my purposes they are basically interchangeable.)

On the belt (possibly to be replaced by the Nuwai) is a Mini-Maglite 2AA with a Nite Ize LED conversion. I have others of these in the vehicle gloveboxes and in my tool shed. These are very handy lights, inexpensive, plenty of "non-tactical" light, and give good battery life. These lights get used several times each week.

To round out things I have a Streamlight Twin-Task 3C that does all round duty as needed around the house. It also rides in a pouch on the outside of my carry on bag whenever I fly. I like the heft of this light in my hand.

[lesjones]

I have a SureFire E2Ed that has amazing light output. It stays on top of the pistol safe.

I used to carry it, but got tired of replacing batteries. Now I carry a Streamlight TwinTask that switches between long-life LEDs and high-output Xenon at the touch of a button. Not as bright as the SureFire, but much better for battery life. Cost about $30.

[10-Ring]

I have 4 SF, 1 Streamlight & a 17 year old Maglite. I thinkthe Surefire is the best package but pricey, the Streamlight is a nice value and Mag-lite has lost step w/ its competition.
As for LED...I'm not a fan of LED lights during the day....just not intense enough. Sometimes in daylight, it's tough to pick up. At night, they rule tho ;)

[sonyman74]

Well, I have a few Surefire lights and the work great. But as far as a weapon mounted light I called Surefire and they said that the X200 was not good to put on a shotgun. In fact the guy told me they only had one light that was made for a shotgun mounted light but would not fit on my Super Nova tactical. When the new Streamlight TLR-1 came out I called them and they said it was guaranteed shock proof and that if it did go out they would replace it no questions asked. As far as the brightness I could not see any differences in the two. And the price? Well, the TLR-1 was only $100 vs. $250 for the X200. In that case I can get two of the TLR's and still have $50 to get some batteries.http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r286/sonyman74/CIMG0159.jpghttp://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r286/sonyman74/CIMG0150Smalldfa.jpg

[VWTim]

steveracer But streamlight is cheaper, and surefire is brighter

Huh? Streamlight and Surefire both make excellent lights for different uses. I own several from both manufactures and others as well. On a budget you can't go wrong with Streamlight, but the build quality on SF's is a step above (bombproof?) My carry "tactical" (I hate that word) light was a Streamlight TL-2 until recently, it's was actually a tad brighter than my new E2E, but I like the bezel size on the E2E better for belt carry.

You really can't go wrong with either, or many other brands of lights actually.

[Maximum1]

In my experience there's only one flashlight I would stake my life on...Surefire...AND it's the one the U.S. Military stakes our solders lives on...Enough said.

[VWTim]

Maximum1 In my experience there's only one flashlight I would stake my life on...Surefire...AND it's the one the U.S. Military stakes our solders lives on...Enough said.

So I take it you also carry an M9 and wear fatigues? Just cause the military uses it doesn't mean it's the best for all situations.

[Stretchman]

THINK The lowest bidder.

I just ordered an Inova X5, that is good to like 150 feet and can withstand 2000 lbs. Not bad for 29.95. Oh, and it'sin my favorite colors. black, for tacticool, and blue LED, which are easy on the eyes at night.

They also have a T1 that can be mounted on a weapon for cheap. Don't need to blind anyone inside the house, and shouldn't use it outdoors.

But, to each their own.

[johndoe1027]

I only have experience with Streamlight (Strion) and I love it. Battery life is plenty good enough (I have a ton of $20 LED's for backups). The light is very penetrating and built like a tank. I used it for a work flashlight when I got it and dropped in several times on concrete. It's ugly now but works just as good as day one.
For weapon mounted I say LED (no breaking) for handheld I like xenon better. More intense light. I have held a TLR-1 next to a M3 and there was no comparison even though both boast the same lumens etc.

[JTW Jr.]

carry and use : Surefire E2e , 6z , Nuwaii 3 Watt , Fenix 1LT , Inova ( couple diff ones ). each has its use , those for average mundane stuff , the Fenix gets the call , I save the surefire for the bump in the night stuff.

[doc2rn]

+1 for innova

[jac714]

I have 2 Surefires, a G2 in the glove compartment and an E2d in my left pants pocket. They do go through batteries but are bright reliable and tough. That is everything I want/need in a small light.

Their CS is amazing, the switch failed on my E2d, I called and they had one in my hands in three days no questions asked.

[ProguninTN]

I have one of those too. Handy light, also doubles as a battery-powered candle.

[ABTOMAT]

What light you get totally depends on what you're going to do with it. Streamlight, Surefire, Innova, and a million other companies make flashlights of all different styles.

If you're going to mod a Mini-Mag get a Luxeon upgrade. Much brighter.

[cslinger]

If I were you I would wait for Novatac to come out with the EDC120. Should be about 150 bucks and give you options of 120 lumens for 20 minutes or so or a lumen or less for hundred or more hours and everything in between. For example in my current HDS 60 I have four standard settings. Somewhere around .5 lumens for a couple hundred hours, somewhere around 6 lumens for 20 hours or so, 10ish lumens for around 8-10 hours or 60 lumens for 20 minutes. All on one battery, completely customizable.

The Novatac offerings are the evolution of the HDS EDC series. I currently have a 42 and a 60 lumen model and they are quite possibly the best flashlights I have ever owned. The Surefire A2 aviator runs a close second.

HDS/Novatac is made 100% in the USA and their lumen ratings are honest lumen ratings, not over rated at all.

HDS size in relation to Smith 442
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/094642.JPG

HDS size in relation to a Surefire L1, E1L and the HDS. All are one cell lights.
http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/076560.JPG

[thirty-thirty]

Let's talk about switches...

Ideally a lite is easy to turn on and off at night with gloves on. A round lite makes it hard to find the switch in the dark. Lites with on-on-off beams are more likely to get you killed than lites with off-on-off switches, right? I have a cheap LED lite that goes: On low-on high-off. If I'm getting shot at I want it off now.
A lite with an end switch is good for mounting but awkward for hand carry.

There is much discussion of power, but the switch makes the lite, IMO.

[K.L.O.sako]

i have to +1 on the LED'S, i mean super long life and low power consumption to boot, they can't be beat. i have owned two lights with xenon bulbs and while uber bright they weren't life or death reliable, actually kinda fragile as a work light. i had a 3-c cell pelican super saber when i worked the inland towboats(a very ruff job) and i found myself changing the bulb every month or two, a few hard knocks and the bulb died. the LED'S however take a real beating, the thing to look for in LED'S IMO is the single bulb and concave (projector like) lens they project a perfect circle of light that's very usable, unlike multi bulb led's that are more like flood lights, good up close, but no projection. either company you list would be a fine choice. both have excellent products.