Do You Also Carry A Flashlight With Your CCW ???

[David Park]

YES, I carry a Surefire Z2 all the time. I used to only carry it sometimes, but then I was rear-ended, and the little Photon 2 on my keychain was worthless for checking damage to my car, even in a "well-lit" urban area. I've since been rear-ended again (while stopped at a light! ) and the Z2 with upgraded P61 lamp was very helpful.

I currently have an ARC AAA and AA on order, so I can save the batteries in the Surefire for emergency use. I also keep the Surefire spare battery carrier in my bag, with the old P60 lamp assembly.

 

[Zak Smith]

Whenever I'm out at night, I have my Surefire E2E in my pocket.

For anything needing more light, I take the M2 with the 120 lumen bulb assembly.

-z

 

[WonderNine]

I usually have a Surefire E2E clipped in my left front pocket, even in the daytime. Such a neat, handy, light, bright little light. No reason to leave it behind.

Also got a turquoise phaser light 3 on my keychain.

 

[jmtgsx]

MaterDei

I have a Surefire G2 that sports the P61 bulb. Biggest drawback is its too damn bright! But I still havent switched back to the std P60 bulb. I keep the Surefire on or near me for tactical situations and only use it sparingly for utilitarian purposes. If your looking for something your wife dropped out of her purse when the movie is over, I prefer the keychain mounted Photon L.E.D.. I have had my G2 since June and have just recently had to change the batteries for the first time(20 minute runtime). I ran it down while extricating a splinter from the foot of my 9 year old daughter! Makes a great operating room light! ( should have switched to the P60 bulb for this operation because the glare was pretty intense.)

Stay safe, Jim

 

[WonderNine]

Ha! I said phazer....

Yea, I meant Photon 3. I know what you mean about it being too bright sometimes. I was shining my E2E in the mailbox the other day....AAAAHHHH!!! I'm blind! I'm blind!

 

[Hutch]

David, another one worth considering is the Brinkmann LX. 20 dollah US at Wally-world, and comes with 2 CR123 batts. Not as small a package as the SF's, but has a comparable beam.

Try www.candlepowerforums.com for more than you ever wanted to know about flashlights.

 

[WonderNine]

Might as well get a Surefire G2. I see them on sale from time to time around $20.

 

[David]

Thanks for all the "other than Surefire" suggestions -- I will check-out their websites!

 

[DMK]

Yes

I think a flashlight is very important whether you are armed or not. I've been stuck in warehouses and office buildings when the power's gone out. Groping around in the dark to find an exit is not fun at all.

Also keep in mind that most dangerous critters, two and four legged are nocternal.

I always carry a tiny, but bright Underwater Kinetics 2AAA LED keychain light for every day use and a Streamlight Nightfighter 2 for when serious candlepower is appropriate.

 

[Shane]

100 percent of the time I carry at least one flashlight.


Usually I carry a 2AA Minimag with Opalec LED conversion unit. Also sometimes carry an Arc AA or Arc AAA. If its really late and dark, I'll carry both the Opalec 2AA Minimag and Arc AAA.

Pretty soon, I'll also be carrying a Pelican M6 LED. I find that there is at least once or twice each day that a flashlight comes in handy.


At this point, the LED lights are all I use. I still have a few incandescents, but I can't remember the last time I used them.

 

[SapperLeader]

I usually have two or three photons, a arc aaa, and carry my surefire e2 in a jacket pocket. I ordered a sheath from on scene tactical for the e2, and one i get it, ill add it to my list. I use the photons for instantaneous I need a small light situations, the arc for tasks that take a little longer, and the surefire for anythign where I need a minuture sun for a bit. It as great when someone hit my truck in parking lot. By the light of the photon and the arc, I could barely see the damage, but the surefire let me identify the color of the car that hit me .

 

[DragonRider]

I used to always have my E1e with KL1 and M2 with me, right now I'm using just the L4 to see how that works. So far so good.

John

 

[jacketch]

David, another one worth considering is the Brinkmann LX. 20 dollah US at Wally-world, and comes with 2 CR123 batts. Not as small a package as the SF's, but has a comparable beam.

I also found the Brinkmann Legend Xenon to be a very good value. Aluminum construction and a intermittent/constant tail switch. Mine was $18.88 at Walmart. They also make a similar sized LED version.

Might as well get a Surefire G2. I see them on sale from time to time around $20.

I have the G2 but don't think it's that good of a deal because of the crappy switch and twist method for constant on.


Yes, I always carry at least a micro-light.

 

[Gocart]

Surefire E2E always goes with me. I particularly enjoy the pocket clip, making a light holster unnecessary. It will confuse and blind an attacker, and you can walk around with it in your hand and still be pc.

 

[powerstrk]

YES, a SF Z2 Combatlight, one handed operation. Gotta love that thing at night. Its devistating on the eyeballs. I keep it in my truck during the day.

 

[yotehunter]

Sometimes I carry a light, most of the time I dont. I would like to get into the habit of always keeping the light with me but I just cant warm up to it.

 

[Jay Kominek]

minimaglite right next to my swisstool, at my side, all the time.

keychain maglite, giant maglite, and one of those trillion lumen cigerette lighter powered lights, in my cherokee, all the time.

nothing else you carry matters if you don't have the light to use it with.

 

[Dirty Bob]

What about the Streamlight Stylus3 ?

Funny I haven't seen the Stylus 3 mentioned here. It's the size and shape of a long pen, and most people fail to recognize it as a light when they see it clipped to my pocket. Quality is good, price is reasonable (~$20 from brightguy.com and others), and batteries last quite a while as it's an LED. It's brighter than you might expect and uses a "tactical" button on the end.

Several people here say they don't have space for a flashlight, but how about enough space for a pen? The only negative is that it uses AAAA (yes that's 4-A) cells for power. You pretty much have to go mail order to get them. I plan to pick up a Streamlight Batonlite as a pocket light, but I'll keep carrying my Stylus, as well. It's a good little light.

Dirty Bob

 

[sanchezero]

I always have a flashlight. 95% of the time it's my E2e. I use it all the time as a day to day light (gotta order the batts online, cheap) and I've used it many times as a defensive tool.

Even in daylight, you never know when you might be indoors and need a light.

The metal surefires are also dandy improvised impact weapons so if I can't carry a gun I still have a light, a knife and my nuclear nasal spray.

 

[outfieldjack]

Skunk....

Have you practiced reloading with a light in your paw?

My Surefire E1E fits nicely in my mouth.... allowing me to use both paws to reload.

 

[brownie0486]

Sure Fire E2E on the belt in a pouch at all times since 9-11.
Another one in the car, and several maglight rechargeables around the house.

2 cases [ 40 ] of batteries for 50.00 gets me 20 hours of run time.

You never know when the lights will go out, even during the day. Ever walked a fire escape with no lights from the 22nd floor? Not pleasant.

Brownie

 

[sanchezero]

My Surefire E1E fits nicely in my mouth.... allowing me to use both paws to reload.

If you use the thumb to work your lightswitch, try this for reloading or other off hand manipulations.

Use your thumb to roll the light away from the heel of your palm and flip your index finger onto 'your' side of the light body. This gives you an articulate thumb/index finger combo with the light securely out of the way in your last 3 digits. Now you can reload or open doors or whatever easily and still have all your gear in your paws.

 

[grnzbra]

It will confuse and blind an attacker, and you can walk around with it in your hand and still be pc

Be careful if your attacker is wearing anything reflective; going into the local park at 5AM one morning, I went to scan the field with my SF Z3 and had it all come back at me from a reflective sign at the entrance. Not anywhere as bad as looking into the bulb, but still uncomfortable.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

As I posted here:

Wal-mart sells cheap, reliable 1xAAA mini LED flashlights for $6.

Brand name is "Dorcy". They look like tiny little SureFires, complete with rubberized grips and momentary tail cap switch. Tactical and cheap! I now keep one tucked into my SmartCarry holster. It's not the brightest light on the planet, but it's plenty bright enough to see where you're going.

No, it's not a SureFire. But at this price you can buy a dozen and clip one to the zipper of each jacket, wife's purse strap, etc.

Matt

Update: I have one in my jeans (fits in the coin pocket), one in my bathrobe for the almost nightly crying-toddler-recon-missions, one by the bed, and I'm thinking of where to put the next three.

I find myself using the little buggers multiple times daily.

I do have a couple of SureFire G2s now, but they're pretty big for everyday carry in an urban environment. One sits in my quick-access gun safe, and one has a holster to go with me when I feel like wearing the Batman belt.

 

[Sprout]

I'll second the Dorcy AAA. Not quite as bright as a Photon II, but realy quite handy. It's also great that it uses AAA batteries instead of those expensive coin cells, so you don't feel bad using it all of the time. I too keep one in the watch pocket of my jeans, and one in my car. Six bucks well spent.