flashlight recommendations?

old lady new shooter · May 28, 2015

Frank Ettin said:
First, I have to admit that I have a flashlight fetish. I desperately need a 12 step program for that before I acquire any more.

But I recently bought a Nitecore P12, and found it to be an excellent, very bright flashlight.

I also bought a Nitecore MT06 which is a pen style flash light and very good of its type.

The nitecore 12 looks very good, on amazon they sell it as a package together with two different types of batteries and a charger, see http://www.amazon.com/P12-intensity...432744128&sr=8-5&keywords=nitecore+flashlight.

They don't explain the reasoning behind the one long one and two short ones, I could imagine maybe to swap out while charging, but then why two different kinds? Are the short ones also rechargeable?

Neo-Luddite · May 28, 2015

Maglite may seem old fashioned these days, but a 2 D cell Maglite in LED is many times brighter than a traditional Maglite and is thrifty with battery power, too. American made, available at Walmart for about $35.00, lifetime warrantied and hefty enough to use as a striking weapon if need be. It will easily work in the role described~it's what I keep in my car for work and similar purposes.

old lady new shooter · May 28, 2015

BLB68 said:
A little while back, I picked up a 1000 lumen light (larger) and a three pack of 300 lumen Duracell LED lights from Costco. Either option cost $15. They're branded as Duracell Durabeam Ultras.

They have aluminum bodies and both are very bright. I keep one of the smaller ones (300 lumens) in the car center console. It'd be worth looking at as a budget option. The 1000 lumen model throws a very wide, even beam (that can be focused to smaller size with a sliding focus ring on the front) and also has a strobe mode. Both types are rear button activated. (Need to watch how you store one in the car -- I drained mine b/c it got jostled on.)

They now offer a 2-pack of 1500 lumen ones for $79.99 or a 4-pack of 500 lumen ones for $59.99. Also advertised on the Costco site is a 3-pack from Feit Electric with one 1000-lumen one, one 500-lumen one, and one small-sized 250-lumen one for $37.99 plus $6.99 S&H, all with batteries and wrist straps, see http://www.costco.com/.product.1001...vc=itempageVerticalRight|CategorySiloedViewCP. The Feit ones have a "sliding zoom" feature that lets you make the beam wider or narrower. I have bought Feit lightbulbs before but did not know they also make flashlights.

Frank Ettin · May 28, 2015

old lady new shooter said:
...They don't explain the reasoning behind the one long one and two short ones, I could imagine maybe to swap out while charging, but then why two different kinds? Are the short ones also rechargeable?

The long one is rechargeable; the short ones are the usual "use and discard" type. Personally, I prefer the latter. But I like having the option. I always have a good supply of fresh C123 batteries around and keep spares in the car and several other places. The lithium-ion batteries have a ten year shelf life.

.455_Hunter · May 28, 2015

The Maglite 2-D cell LED flashlight is a very underrated tool in today's trendy flashlight climate. We keep one in every car.

old lady new shooter · May 28, 2015

"you have many great choices"

So I see! I'm still looking through all the ones everyone has recommended...

old lady new shooter · May 28, 2015

DP03:

Thanks for all the links!

The olight one has several features I like: a glow-in-the-dark o-ring in the bezel in case you drop it, a low-battery indicator and a lifetime warranty. It also comes in a package with everything you need. And the writeup says in an emergency it will even work on one non-rechargeable CR123A lithium battery (the package includes two of these). I think one other one I already looked at also had a low-battery indicator, can't remember which one.

old lady new shooter · May 28, 2015

DHJenkins:
"The Nitecore P12, Thrunite TN12 and Fenix PD35 all use the same LED/light chip. All have nearly 1,000 lumen ouput. Here's a video comparing the light output of all 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB6MI4L1JAE"

That youtube is a very thorough comparison, thanks very much.

old lady new shooter · May 28, 2015

Tirod said:
Better to consider the specs than any Brand first.

If sweeping the front of the house before turning into the drive, it's going to take over 300 lumens, and shouldn't be too bulky to do it. At the 500 lumen rating it's approaching low beam on headlights. That usually takes a minimum of two batteries.

What those batteries are goes into long term costs - if they are hard to source locally it doesn't help. So, the lower price flashlight junkies, like me, avoid CR123 tactical lights - which are using the 3VDC rating as an aid to powering the light. I focus on AAA, AA, or C Cells, which are now available in lithiums. Those aren't any cheaper, but I can store a light in the car and not worry about them running down or leaking nearly as much as alkalines. On a personal light I use rechargeables.

You can get 100 lumen AA lights for under $30 easily, they are common items in stores.
And the Defiant series at Home Depot is good for a car light. The bigger ones are over 500 lumens, take three C cells, and will definitely reach out 100 feet.

Which goes to an analysis of why the front of the house needs to be swept? If so, then there is a lack of illumination at the doorways, and the vegetation is a hazard if it can conceal an intruder. Fix that, and you still have the rear of the house, and no way to know if someone was already there waiting - unless there is an effective alarm system.

It's not about one flashlight fixing the issues, if they exist.

Really appreciate your thoughts, thanks.

Without publicly going into too much detail of the anatomy of my property, I will just say the back is lit up dusk-to-dawn, and there is a light at the front door, which is where I enter; I park in the part of the driveway that's in front of the house. I am getting motion-detector lights installed for along the front and the one side that is not currently lit. My thought behind the flashlight idea is to make sure I'm safe during the amount of time it takes me to get out of the car and into the house.

old lady new shooter · May 28, 2015

jbj said:
The best thing about having legions of flashlight junkies is that they upgrade their equipment all the time. Same goes with guys changing out the flashlights on their shotguns, and AR's. That means I can pick up sure fire G2s for 40 or 50 bucks. Best flashlight made? No. But they are good at what they do, durable, reliable, and crazily upgradable.
I will second the Streamlight micro as a pocket EDC. It's there when you need light, not when you need to burn someone's retinas out.
For the OP, you might think about a flashlight with a charger that is dedicated for the car. again, Streamlight makes a model where the charger mounts to the transmission tunnel, or center console, and I'm quite sure there are others. Hell, I even look at one of those spotlights that plug into the cigarette lighter.

Here's a completely different thought though; what about security lights on the front of your house with a remote? I'm sure there is a commercial solution, and if you have any DIY skills, the guts of an old garage door opener will do for the electronics nicely. Three Mount has decent range, are replaceable, and you might even be able to get the timer to work so that you don't have to worry about turning it back off.

It never occurred to me that people would sell their used flashlights! (But then, before reading the responses to this thread I didn't know there was such a thing as a flashlight junkie either!)

I actually thought about some kind of light on the front that could be remotely operated but rejected the idea for a few reasons:
1) If the light is electric there's no light if BG cuts the electricity;
2) I have an automatic garage door opener (this is the first house I've had that had one) and it can be temperamental;
3) In general it's my nature to prefer KISS solutions (part of the reason I'm getting a revolver rather than a semi).

As for DIY, that's why G-d invented handymen.

old lady new shooter · May 28, 2015

Neo-Luddite said:
Maglite may seem old fashioned these days, but a 2 D cell Maglite in LED is many times brighter than a traditional Maglite and is thrifty with battery power, too. American made, available at Walmart for about $35.00, lifetime warrantied and hefty enough to use as a striking weapon if need be. It will easily work in the role described~it's what I keep in my car for work and similar purposes.

Thanks, do you have a recommendation for reliable rechargeable D batteries, and a suitable charger?

old lady new shooter · May 28, 2015

Frank Ettin said:
The long one is rechargeable; the short ones are the usual "use and discard" type. Personally, I prefer the latter. But I like having the option. I always have a good supply of fresh C123 batteries around and keep spares in the car and several other places. The lithium-ion batteries have a ten year shelf life.

Got it now, thanks.

old lady new shooter · May 28, 2015

X-Rap said:
Take a look at the Surefire Defender style lights, they have a crenelated bezel that can be used for defensive strikes or compliance.
I bought my daughter and ex the executive size, they aren't cheap but will make an adequate weapon, especially in a non permissive area.

Executive appears to be discontinued. I did look at their other models, not sure why they are twice to three times the price of all the other ones recommended here?

As for using one as a weapon, do you mean to temporarily blind an assailant?

Lord Teapot · May 28, 2015

old lady new shooter said:
Well... a pack of 8 rechargeable batteries for it is $22.77, then you still need a charger. A pack of 4 batteries with a 4-position charger is $16.99. So it seems to me two of the 4-packs would be the way to go. The whole package would be kinda pricey, I have to think about whether I really need something that can go 535 yards. It would be good to have something I could use in my backyard also, which is pretty deep for suburbia, but nowhere NEAR 535 yards.

i'm just saying it's a badbutt flashlight, you'd probably be just fine spending 1/3rd that at wal-mart, i have one of these too; http://www.walmart.com/ip/34349998

and it's amazing as well, takes 9 AAs, so again buying rechargeable s would be the way to go.

old lady new shooter · May 28, 2015

Thank you!

I suppose there will still be more discussion but I just want to say thank you to everyone who responded, I'm amazed at all the information.

old lady new shooter · May 28, 2015

Lord Teapot said:
i'm just saying it's a badbutt flashlight, you'd probably be just fine spending 1/3rd that at wal-mart, i have one of these too; http://www.walmart.com/ip/34349998

and it's amazing as well, takes 9 AAs, so again buying rechargeable s would be the way to go.

Do you use rechargeables in yours?

Lord Teapot · May 28, 2015

old lady new shooter said:
Do you use rechargeables in yours?

yes, i just got them on the shelf at walmart, in the 4 packs with their little charger. problem is you need an extra one battery with the bushnell, since it takes 9,

Jackal · May 28, 2015

Check out the NiteCore MH12. It has a USB charger built in that can be charged in your car. Its a 1000 lumen light with a few different modes. Includes a high quality rechargeable battery, can use cr123's too. Here's a pic of mine (clamped in an offset 1" mount) that resides on my Coyote popper.

DP03 · May 28, 2015

Tirod said:
Better to consider the specs than any Brand first.

If sweeping the front of the house before turning into the drive, it's going to take over 300 lumens, and shouldn't be too bulky to do it. At the 500 lumen rating it's approaching low beam on headlights. That usually takes a minimum of two batteries.

What those batteries are goes into long term costs - if they are hard to source locally it doesn't help. So, the lower price flashlight junkies, like me, avoid CR123 tactical lights - which are using the 3VDC rating as an aid to powering the light. I focus on AAA, AA, or C Cells, which are now available in lithiums. Those aren't any cheaper, but I can store a light in the car and not worry about them running down or leaking nearly as much as alkalines. On a personal light I use rechargeables.

You can get 100 lumen AA lights for under $30 easily, they are common items in stores.
And the Defiant series at Home Depot is good for a car light. The bigger ones are over 500 lumens, take three C cells, and will definitely reach out 100 feet.

Which goes to an analysis of why the front of the house needs to be swept? If so, then there is a lack of illumination at the doorways, and the vegetation is a hazard if it can conceal an intruder. Fix that, and you still have the rear of the house, and no way to know if someone was already there waiting - unless there is an effective alarm system.

It's not about one flashlight fixing the issues, if they exist.

I happen to love the CR123 lights, and i NEVER use alkaline unless I'm throwing some backups in. Most people like myself use the Lithium Ion rechargeable. They hold a charge forever, and the have a very long run time between charges. If anything, the CR123's are less expensive to use than any of the AA, AAA alkaline, or even the lithium disposable batteries.

bannockburn · May 28, 2015

Another recommendation for the Maglite XL50. Well built, very durable, compact size, and gives off a decent amount of light.

Neo-Luddite · May 29, 2015

Thanks, do you have a recommendation for reliable rechargeable D batteries, and a suitable charger?

I don't use them--I run Duracells in my Maglite. Even when using for work (nightly use for short durations of a few minutes at a time on external patrol at a large prison) I got 2-3 months on a set. These days I'm inside so the Maglite stays in my car and I use a small and cheap LED from Walmart. I probably could have done better with rechargeables in terms of cost but didn't worry about it. The LED D cell Maglites will run for hours on a set of batteries.

Jackal · May 29, 2015

Maglite? Seriously? This isnt 1990 anymore. We have lights that fit in your pocket, weigh very little and put out 10x the light for around $50. Thrunite, Jetbeam, Nightcore, etc. No reason to settle for hardware store flashlights anymore... :scrutiny:

old lady new shooter · May 29, 2015

Lord Teapot said:
yes, i just got them on the shelf at walmart, in the 4 packs with their little charger. problem is you need an extra one battery with the bushnell, since it takes 9,

I just came home from Walmart, did not think to check for batteries there but OTOH haven't made the final flashlight decision yet... good to know they carry them (and probably cheaper), thanks.

old lady new shooter · May 29, 2015

Jackal said:
Check out the NiteCore MH12. It has a USB charger built in that can be charged in your car. Its a 1000 lumen light with a few different modes. Includes a high quality rechargeable battery, can use cr123's too. Here's a pic of mine (clamped in an offset 1" mount) that resides on my Coyote popper.

Beautiful photo!

Wow, another nice flashlight, and comes with a whole kit of stuff.

I think I have to make a chart to compare all the different ones, by now my head is swimming.

old lady new shooter · May 29, 2015

Neo-Luddite said:
Thanks, do you have a recommendation for reliable rechargeable D batteries, and a suitable charger?

I don't use them--I run Duracells in my Maglite. Even when using for work (nightly use for short durations of a few minutes at a time on external patrol at a large prison) I got 2-3 months on a set. These days I'm inside so the Maglite stays in my car and I use a small and cheap LED from Walmart. I probably could have done better with rechargeables in terms of cost but didn't worry about it. The LED D cell Maglites will run for hours on a set of batteries.

My two dislikes about regular batteries are that they seem to run down over time even if you don't use the device they're in, and sometimes they leak (ugh).

Since reading all the comments in this thread I am imagining additional uses for a flashlight, but for my original plan we are talking 1 or 2 minutes maybe twice a week.

flashlight recommendations?

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