Help deciding on EDC flashlight

I'm a big fan of Malcoff lights.

I like my Streamlight Stylus Pro. Been using and ubusing it for about a year now. Pretty beat up looking but still works like new. A very handy tool to keep clipped in my pocket.

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+1000

You can absolutely not beat these for the money. I have owned 2 now with the first one seeing so much use that I decided to return it and get a new one (there lifetime warranty rocks!). The first one was dropped countless times, once run over with a lawn mower, twice left outside in torrential rains and still worked.

Look at how many times streamlight has been mentioned in this thread and just buy 4, one for your pocket, one for the car, one for the house, and one for your wife.

Can't go wrong with an Elzetta, I'm a fan of the Surefire EB1

I really want to get an EB1! But it's hard to justify the money since I already have two E1Bs. The EB1 is also pretty large for a one cell CR123a light. Great light though!

I'll also chime in with my own positive opinion of Streamlight. I have had a few of them for several years and they've been great. I have a Microstream (1 x AAA) that's a great EDC and camping light, too. I think they still run under $20 most of the time. A good balance of power to size.

A lot of the time I carry a JETBeam BC10. It's a 1 x CR123A light that's around 270 lumens. It's under $40 and a great performer. The thing I like about it most is that it has just two modes, HIGH and LOW. You set that by twisting the head, then you just have a clicky tailswitch. The Surefire has a cleaner beam and better reflector but the BC10 is brighter. The JETBeam is a little lighter. Sometimes I carry it since I could buy five of them for the cost of the Surefire; much better for situations where the light might be lost or stolen.

Klaruslight.com ....

Check www.klaruslight.com .
The tactical series offers a lot.
They might be hard to find at local shops but you can buy these white lights online from a few places or Amazon.com .

Rusty

Fenix. Quality products, reasonable price, wide variety of sizes.

Fenix, great value for the money, runs with the best of them. And can survive being run over with the town plow truck...(I dropped it holding it to light the spreader, I ran it over and I found it still working)

For EDC I use a Streamlight Microstream, uses 1 AAA and I love it.

Streamlight Stylus Pro http://www.streamlight.com/en-us/product/product.html?pid=133

Useful light level for most tasks, long run time, easy to find AAA batteries, inexpensive.

I don't care for multi-output lights as you usually need to tap-dance your way through the switch to get the output you're looking for. I also think greater than 100 lumens is too bright for most flashlight uses other than "tactical" needs. If I need that kind of light, I'll carry a light to provide that specific power.

I keep one of these in my pocket pretty much all the time.

http://maglite.com/shop/maglite-xl50-led-3-cell-aaa-flashlight.html#.VVzlfflVhBc

Not very high speed, but a very good light.

I also have a Stylus Reach, by Streamlight. I bought it to inspect barrels on the used rack, among other things. It's a bit bright to use for a bore light, though.

Been using the same Streamlight scorpion since 09. Simple and rugged. Tail switch, belt clip, adustable beam. A little too big for the pocket, hence the belt clip.
Also found a mini torch for the key ring. Only an inch long and rechargable by pluging into a usb port.A very bright lightin a small package.

I've been carrying a Streamlight Microstream everyday for over 4 years and it has done for me everything I've needed it to do. I clip it inside the outer corner of my left front pants pocket and forget about it until I need it.

I prefer a simple tail cap pushbutton. I have no use for a multi-mode flashlight.

After clicking on the Streetlight Sylus Pro link, I think we're definitely comparing apples to oranges with some of these. At 65 lumens, I wouldn't think that would be worth a whole lot for much outdoors. Heck, I have an Olight thats tiny (one CR123), magnetic, and much brighter. Built like a tank as well. And I don't think any of my Fenix lights (I have many) are under 400 lumens. Now, do I use the highest power all the time with my lights? No. But it sure is nice when you need it.

Here's a link to the Olight. Very tiny, very powerful. And with the accessories, a bargain for a good light.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ONMOO8U/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AVQZ6Z4LCAKI5

My first and often ONLY consideration anymore...

Can I buy batteries for it at EVERY "Quickie Mart" or gas station out there?

Todd.

Well, as to CR123A batteries, probably not a Quick Mart. But CVS, Walmart, even grocery stores, yes.

Remember, most of these flashlights can run for a LONG time. One spare battery(s) and you'd be safe in most conditions. And many are rechargeable if there's access to an AC plug or DC car receptacle.

My first and often ONLY consideration anymore...
Can I buy batteries for it at EVERY "Quickie Mart" or gas station out there?

Todd.

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I just carry extra batteries in my briefcase and vehicle. "Be prepared."

After clicking on the Streetlight Sylus Pro link, I think we're definitely comparing apples to oranges with some of these. At 65 lumens, I wouldn't think that would be worth a whole lot for much outdoors.

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You have a point. A bigger light is certainly a must for outdoor nighttime activities. But this thread is about EDC flashlights. Most of us dont need, or even want, nuclear beams of light for simple day to day tasks. Even my feeble little Stylus Pro is sometimes blinding when trying to look into tight spots. The light reflects off everything around and back to my eyes.

And AAA batteries are nicer IMO due to the slimness. A thin flashlight clipped in the pocket nearly disappears

After clicking on the Streetlight Sylus Pro link, I think we're definitely comparing apples to oranges with some of these. ...I don't think any of my Fenix lights (I have many) are under 400 lumens.

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If you're looking for a 400 lumen light for every day tasks, we sure are comparing apples to oranges.

For those old enough to remember, the original Surefire 6P was a 60 lumen light and that was so incredibly bright, it got folks to stop carrying their 4 D-Cell Mag-Lights.

You can use the StylusPro for practically anything, from finding your keys, to reading a map, to navigating your way around the woods. A 400 lumen light has a very limited usefulness.

JTQ said:

If you're looking for a 400 lumen light for every day tasks, we sure are comparing apples to oranges.

For those old enough to remember, the original Surefire 6P was a 60 lumen light and that was so incredibly bright, it got folks to stop carrying their 4 D-Cell Mag-Lights.

You can use the StylusPro for practically anything, from finding your keys, to reading a map, to navigating your way around the woods. A 400 lumen light has a very limited usefulness.

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Well, again, if you can have a much brighter light, at the same size and cost, why not? If you look at the dimensions of the Olight that I posted, you'll see you can't get much smaller. You do know these lights have settings for a number of smaller lumen outputs? I completely agree that you don't need 400 lumens indoors. But I happen to have mine outdoors every night (two dogs) and live in a wooded area. A low output light simply doesn't meet my needs. But I also do quite a bit around the house, and a low lumen light is a tailcap click away.

My EDC carry light is 260 lumens with a low setting of 10 lumens. I use both setting depending on what I am doing. Something I use high or low outdoors as well as both indoors. All depends on what I am doing. 400 is a good output for a light, as long as there is 1 or 2 lower settings for when that much light, and the resulting higher battery drain are not needed.

Picked up a Ray O Vac pocket lite at WalMart a couple of days ago, $2 bucks.

How many lumens? I have no idea, but it lights up the darkness, isn't that what they are made to do?

The Streamlight Microstream is pretty awesome.

Recharger...

Finding fresh, high quality batteries in rural or remote areas might be a big problem, .
To buy or carry a EDC-white light that can be recharged or use different systems is handy.
Newer, high tech lights can use USB ports too to recharge.