Help deciding on EDC flashlight

[Phaedrus/69]

Batteries can be a consideration, that's true. Personally though I would rather take my own spares vs relying on buying locally. If you can be troubled to bring a light why not batteries, too? What if you take an AA for better battery availability but all you can find at the Stop 'N' Rob are cheap store brand carbon?

That said there are lots of good AA and AAA lights. But even with those I'd bring my own replacements since I like to use lithium cells.

 

[herrwalther]

Batteries can be a consideration, that's true. Personally though I would rather take my own spares vs relying on buying locally. If you can be troubled to bring a light why not batteries, too? What if you take an AA for better battery availability but all you can find at the Stop 'N' Rob are cheap store brand carbon?

It really is a consideration. My EDC light uses 2 CR123 batteries. I use rechargeable since these batteries can be expensive in the alkaline or lithium varieties with the much shorter burn life compared to 1-2 cell AA or AAA lights. On long trips from home I carry 1 spare set of rechargeable and 1 lithium set in a bag. CR123 availability has come a long way but nowhere near AA/AAA surplus. I can pick up 4 or 8 low quality AA/AAA batteries respectively at dollar stores that will work in a pinch. I can't say the same about CR123.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I see where you're coming from but I'll just carry spares and hope for the best. To be honest though I often have a "real" light like a Surefire or JETBeam on me along with another one that takes AAA/AA.

 

[JTQ]

To be honest though I often have a "real" light like a Surefire or JETBeam on me along with another one that takes AAA/AA.

I think this may address some of our discussion and where folks seem to have a difference of opinion.

I think of the AAA/AA flashlight as an "EDC flashlight". Something that is on you all the time and used for most tasks you'd use a flashlight for, finding your keys, finding the candles or circuit breaker box when the power goes out, reading a map, changing a tire at night, etc.

The "real" flashlight would be for "special/specific" needs that you go grab when you need the big lumens, such as taking a your dogs for a walk in the woods, and for you guys with the 400+ lumen lights, lighting up the high school football field when the stadium lights go out so the game can continue, lighting the runway when the runway lights go out so planes can keep landing, etc.

 

[Derry 1946]

I have a bunch of them, but ended up with the Microstream. It's powered by 1 AAA. The Nano is smaller, but takes button batteries, which are harder to find. I could carry four spares, but then I lose the advantage of the Nano's small size. The Stylus is nice and thin, but a bit long for dress shirt pockets and takes odd AAAA batteries. Yes, I know I can jailbreak them from a 9-volt, but then I need to carry the tool for that. The Stylus Pro uses 2 AAA batteries, and seems great, but the Microstream uses just one, is more pocketable, and is plenty bright enough. Of course, there's a bewildering array of other choices.

 

[JTQ]

The only reason I've picked the Stylus Pro over the Microstream, which is a great light, is due to run time. My wife and daughters all carry Stylus Pros them in their purses. They've been pretty handy when the power has gone out in school buildings or theaters over the years.

 

[DP03]

I think this may address some of our discussion and where folks seem to have a difference of opinion.

I think of the AAA/AA flashlight as an "EDC flashlight". Something that is on you all the time and used for most tasks you'd use a flashlight for, finding your keys, finding the candles or circuit breaker box when the power goes out, reading a map, changing a tire at night, etc.

The "real" flashlight would be for "special/specific" needs that you go grab when you need the big lumens, such as taking a your dogs for a walk in the woods, and for you guys with the 400+ lumen lights, lighting up the high school football field when the stadium lights go out so the game can continue, lighting the runway when the runway lights go out so planes can keep landing, etc.

I think some of us are trying to convey that with todays technology you don't need to choose, as some lights are extremely versatile, have multiple lumen outputs, and in the case of the pictured light, are lighter than a 2XAA light, and unlike, the AA/AAA, can go from under the sink to out to the woods. Lastly, the modern lights have an extremely bright strobe mode, which you may not need in an EDC, but does it hurt to have it just in case?

After using the newer Cree/Lithium rechargeable lights, the only thing I would consider using a AA/AAA light for would be a backup, and even then not likely. But certainly there is no right or wrong answer, just like there's no right answer to "what's the best gun". To each his own.

 

[Derry 1946]

The only reason I've picked the Stylus Pro over the Microstream, which is a great light, is due to run time. My wife and daughters all carry Stylus Pros them in their purses. They've been pretty handy when the power has gone out in school buildings or theaters over the years.

A very valid point!