For those that carry a flashlight everywhere...

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About two or three years ago Sig arms had a good deal going on a small AA LED flashlight for like $60 when I was ordering some other stuff. It's something like 60 or 80 lumumens and has worked well for me over the years. When it breaks, I will likely get a small Surfire likely the E1B backup or similar. 110 lumens (more than I really need) and around $140.
 
Big fan of Coast LED flashlights that use inexpensive and common AAA batteries. The flashlight was $50 at Lowes and my smaller ones were like $20 for two-packs at Costco. Thumb pressure switches, bright, and long battery life.

IMO and experience, avoid the costly lithium battery models. The batteries die quickly, don't last long in cold, and are very hard to find and expensive to replace.
 
Coleman Max...........it has held up for several years now to daily use and often extreme abuse as well.
 
Since buying my first two-pack of these 130 lumens Rocky flashlights, I now have 6 of them and I'm quite pleased with them. I carry them every day in my truck, on night stand, in office, in my field bag, and around the house as needed. Can't beat them for about $15 each or about $30 for a two pack. They run on three AAA batteries.
 
sidheshooter said:
What is it currently?...
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The best light I've found for my uses is a Jetbeam Jet-II IBS. It has three modes that I have set at about 110-20-220 lumens, and can be focused from a spot light to a pretty decent flood. The only problem I have carrying a light is that it rubs holes in the bottom of whatever pocket it's in. I like to wear carpenter pants so I have the pockets on the side, but most of mine have nicely frayed holes in them now.:mad:

I don't understand why more manufacturers don't make lights that can be adjusted like this Jet-II -- there are really very few times I want a spotlight while looking through my truck at night, or walking around the house after the kids are in bed.

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When asked about EDC, I assume that means on your person. My Streamlite Stylus is ALWAYS in my pocket, at work, at home, at church....everywhere.
A high dollar sooper-lite may be brighter, and have more bells and whistles, but will do little good if you don't have it ON YOU.
<PLUS>....
My Stylus will fit down the barrel of a 12; 16; or 20ga shotgun. This is very useful as a wadknocker/FTE/borelight.(Let's see your lights do that!)
 
IMO and experience, avoid the costly lithium battery models. The batteries die quickly, don't last long in cold, and are very hard to find and expensive to replace.
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I would disagree with a couple points. First, at least around here you can now easily find CR123's at Walmart, and if not there, Sportsmans Warehouse. I have a set of the Sportsmans house brand in my Surefire right now, in fact. The other thing I only disagree with you based on my own experience which is evidently different from yours, and that is the "they die quickly" point. In use, yes, they die fairly quickly. However, they are far more dependable at rest than AA or AAA is, and thats why I have my Surefire as a bedstand light. I check them once in awhile, but past that, I know when I need it, my light is going to work. The reassurance that provides is worth the extra cost of light and batteries.

CR123's are more expensive, and the fact is that for my other lights I prefer AA and/or AAA for the simple reason that they are more easily and cheaply replaced.
 
I don't know anyone who actually carries a flashlight in their pocket or on their belt everyday (EDC) except folks that use them on the job. I keep my flashlights handy. I do like the LED Mini-Mags (D-cell size) for hard use. The focusing feature is very useful. But with these little Rocky AAA cell lights, I have them closer at hand due to their size. I would have one in my day pack or hunting, no question and certainly won't be carrying a large mini-mag light in that scenario. The Surefires and other similar high-end lights are just too expensive for me when I commonly misplace flashlights for weeks on end. Misplacing a $100 flashlight is a problem. The Coleman's are attractive because of the price and useful (got one a year or so ago), but I like the Rocky better.
 
I like ANY small LED light that uses AA batteries. LED's burn with very little power drain, and AA batteries are cheap. My former favorite was AA mini-mag but the bulbs sucked power like a Cadillac :D
 
I keep a AA Mini Mag in the pocket of my flight suit all the time. I also keep one in my travel backpack at all times. I don't remember what type is in my helmet bag, some sort of LED that seems to always inadvertently get turned on and kill the batteries...
 
Days off, it's a Fenix P1D-CE in my jeans pocket. At work, it's a Smith & Wesson Galaxy Elite that I got on sale for ~$20, in my pocket, and a headlamp of some flavor that's always worn before the sun comes up (currently a POS Energizer from Wal-Mart).

The Fenix has been dead-nuts reliable. The Smith, I've only had for a couple of days so I can't really comment on its durability. It's bright, though, and the batteries are far less expensive. My rifle wears a SureFire G2 with a KX4 lamp.
 
When I used a flashlight at work, I carried an Inova X5. I'm not smart thought, so instead of $30, I paid $50 because it says Snap-On.
 
fenix ld20, runs on AA's so its cheap and you can find them anywhere. also not much more than 50$ for the light.
 
I have a Streamlight PT-2L on my belt at all times-'bout the same length as my cell phone pouch and ya never know it's there 'cuz it's so small (but still big enough to grip with a fist).

Before I got the PT-2L, I carried (and still do) a Streamlight Nightfighter whenever it was cool enough for a cargo jacket.

Both of 'em have the newer C4 LEDs-although it's rated higher than the Nightfighter (180 vs 120 lumens), the Nightfighter is a little brighter than the PT-2L and has more peripheral light-I assume because it has a bigger head/reflector, but that darn PT-2L is just so small/convenient/bright!

I'm partial to CR123 batteries-for whatever reason the CR123 lights I've tried have been brighter than AA units I've tried. WalMart is gonna burn ya if you buy 'em in the photo section ('bout $5/each). I hit police supply houses, mail order etc and so far I'm getting name brand CR123s for around $1.40 each.

They're actually cheaper than any name brand lithium AA/AAAs I can find.

Dunno what the deal is with someone that posted lithiums don't handle cold well-from what I understand, lithiums have a much wider temperature operating range than alkalines, etc.
 
I've changed to CR123's - greater shelf life, wider temperature range, and massive energy storage to size/weight/cost ratio. While a pair of them will go flat in a Surefire 6P (incadescent) in 50 minutes and only put out a maximum of 65 Lumens, the now dated 6P LED variant will put out more light, 80 Lumens maximum, for 5 hr - and useful light for 11 hr. I first tried a Fenix P2D Q5 CE, single CR123 multifunction light, I got a deal on the Surefire E1b Backup 2.5 yr back - and it has been my EDC ever since. I buy US made Surefire CR123's for $21/12 boxes directly from them - and give boxes to my son & f-i-l as Christmas gifts (They have Fenix single cell lights.).

Oddly, the first thing I do with a pocket knife is remove it's clip... the E1b Backup uses it's clip - it is my LH front pocket EDC - and I mean every day - every where!

Stainz
 
Edc led

The older I get the more frequent it is I carry a LED light and reading glasses ;)

I have a 1XAAA 4Sevens Stainless ReVo on my key chain 82 Lumens OTF, out the front rating, and three light levels.

I frequently carry a penlight style 4Sevens Preon II 160 OTF 2XAAA. It's my favorite since you can carry it like a pen, I also have it on a light lanyard and you will frequently see my watering the dog with it around my neck.

My major on the belt number is a 4Sevens Maelstrom G5 2X123A and 350 Lumenst OTF. Its my boating and camping light. It will run in moonlight mode
.2 lumens for 7.5 days.

I put a Fenix L1T v 2.0 in my wife's car. It's a 1XAA at 80 lumens. I have a EagleTac 2XAA in my truck console.

I also have a 4Sevens Quark Mini CR2 180 Lumens OTF, show someone this light at night and they are amazed at the size vs output of this little sucker.

14SevensG5800cc.jpg
Maelstrom G5

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ReVo Stainless

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Preon II and Quark Mini

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642 and a Titanium LTD Quark from 4Sevens

Here is a heavy carry early Fenix T1, my wife uses it to walk the dog at night.
t12he7.jpg

This makes a nice EDC, 2XAA and only $31. 4Sevens QMini
Mini_AA2_3.jpg
This one is hanging on my office door on a lanyard.
4Sevens supplies some nice accessory items with most of their lights and they come with a 10 year warranty. They are out of Atlanta

www.4sevens.com

If you use a lot of batteries, particularly AA and AAA there is a nice rechargable setup from Sanyo.
Eneloop Ni-MH. You can find kits and seperates on Amazon. They have a great shelf life and don't have to be drained. You can even put them in a cylinder to create C and D Format batteries.

http://www.eneloop.info/home/faq.html
 
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edc an energizer LED that uses 1 AA btty w/ about 65 lumens. picked up on sale for around $14 and rides next to my billfold in a back pocket. have been in a building when power went out, frequently going in/out of parking lots at night and just handy to have on me just in case since it slides into a dead space anyway.

when i choose to carry a flashlight (the energizer is always there) it's usually a surefire 6P or G2 but i'm finding more use for the AA/AAA btty models. have also had good luck with the rocky brand and keep one (along w/LED 3D mag) in each car.
 
Fenix PD30 (257 Lumens). Bright and has lots of options:

Two modes with 6 types of output:
Turbo Mode: 257 lumens (2h37m) ->Strobe
General Mode: 10 lumens (126h); 67 lumens (17h); 124 lumens (7h45m): and SOS

fenix%5Cpd30r4.jpg
 
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