Need an EDC flashlight.

Status
Not open for further replies.

Axis II

Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2015
Messages
7,175
I used to have a fenix 350lumen light work bought me but someone stole it. I would like to replace it with something in the 400lumen or brighter. I would also like something not bulky that would ride in a pocket nicely.
 
Lumintop makes decent AA and AAA flashlights for about $20 in the 500 lumen range.
 
I have a Streamlight 88062 ProTac 2L-X incoming. You can get this with the battery option or the rechargeable option. What I like about it is it's programmable for 3 settings of high only, low/high or high/strobe/low.

I use these lights at work constantly because I'm always having to illuminate dark recesses and interiors. Streamlight offers a good lineup, I'm sure there are many others that are as good or better but that brand has been my go-to for several years.
 
I vote for the ProTac 1L-1AA. One of the reasons is it can take AA Alkaline, or AA Lithium or CR123. Normally I use CR123, but in a pinch I can stoke it with an AA.

It's also programmable, so if you only want one mode (High, Low, Strobe) you can program it for just that mode.
 
How do you guys feel about the flashlights that take the special cr123 batteries? I need something for hunting, walking the dog at night, movie theaters, etc. I thought about grabbing another Fenix in 1k lumen for about $65 but they only take the special batteries. I guess I could buy a bunch and hoard them. Looking for something bright, clean and use for far away. When I walk the dog at night we have a lot of deer in the neighborhood open lots and I like to see what's around me before we get too close.
 
Steamlight protac 1L-1AA

It's been pretty outstanding and I have gifted at least 4 of them to family and friends
Streamlight is my go to for flashlights.

I like the Polytac. Bright like a hand held spotlight. Strobe function is signaling for help or befuddling an aggressor, water resistant, and relatively cheap.
 
Last edited:
Streamlight 8807 Protac HPL is the last handheld light I have purchased.

Admittedly it's bigger than most, uses multiple battery sizes and rechargeable.

Very bright though!
 
ohihunter2014

It runs on CR123 batteries with high lumens at 350, with 3.25 hours on High and 35 hours on Low.

There's also the ProTac 2AA which runs on AA batteries. High lumens is 250, run time on High is 2 hours and 43 hours on Low.
 
The olight s2r baton ii has been my edc for almost a year now. It's a nice balance of size and brightness. Top end is just over 1000 lumens and runtimes are fantastic. I use mine daily at mixed brightness and only have to charge it every few weeks. It carries nicely in my front right pocket. I clip it up near the top edge so it tucks in when I sit down and it's not obtrusive at all.
 
My carry light is a Fenix pd36r. 1600 lumens is what it states it has. It is very bright. I used to carry the pd35 (1000 lumen) until this new one came out. I use my light every day as well.
 
After years of carrying traditional round flashlights, I recently got a Surefire Stiletto as my EDC light. It’s a game-changer for me. Here’s why it’s so much better than most traditional flashlights:

1: Its shape. It lies flatter than a round flashlight, it’s about the size of a 1911 mag. It’s also pretty lightweight.

2: It’s rechargeable. It uses the near-ubiquitous micro-USB chargers that most phones (except the iPhone) use. And a charge lasts over a month for me, and I use my flashlight a lot.

3. There is a tail button for the brightest setting (650 lumens if I remember correctly), and then a side button that toggles between three brightness settings, and you can change which order they come on. So when I’m in the house not trying to wake up my family, I can instantly turn on the lowest setting without having to toggle past a brighter one. But if I need the brightest setting it’s instantly available on the tail button without needing to toggle past a dimmer setting.

4. Its shape makes it really easy to hold in your mouth if you need to both hands free. And the plastic housing is easier on your teeth than aluminum.

5. It has a very well-placed pocket clip.
 
Last edited:
I'll cast another vote for the Streamlight Protac 1L-1AA. It's been an EDC light for me for the past two years and has proven to be tough, and reliable with plenty of light. I've used CR-123's exclusively so far but like the ability to drop in AA batteries if I have to.
 
Are any of these not made in China? I have a bunch of flashlights with different brand names, and nearly all are from China.
 
Are any of these not made in China? I have a bunch of flashlights with different brand names, and nearly all are from China.

I have:

- maybe 80 cheap lights from China (300 lumens, about $4 ea. or less, waterproof) that I have stashed everywhere and hand out like candy:
upload_2019-10-14_22-13-3.png

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BDGD8KR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

- maybe 3 dozen Stream light and a handful of Surefire weapon lights.

- and my 2 Thrunite EDC lights I just bough for a brighter EDC option on my packs.


all of these lights work but most of my lights are from China:

upload_2019-10-14_22-11-10.png

22 High-Quality Flashlight, Headlamp, & Lighting Brands Made in the USA!
By Matt Mullins updated May 7, 2018:

https://www.americangearguide.com/american-made-directory/lights-headlamps-flashlights-made-in-usa/
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top