Went to the National Museum of the USAF last week. Used my flashlight on numerous planes. Especially those where you could look into the bomb bay or walk in the cargo compartment. Very handy and several people around commented on how they wish they brought one. (ProTac 1L-1AA)
Is an EDC flashlight even necessary?
- Thread starter D.B. Cooper
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Trunk Monkey
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I work nights as a security guard, obviously I use a light nightly. I carry a Fenix RC35 it's 4 inches long and .75 inches OD and 450 lumens. Which is enough for most of the tasks I use a light for. It's small enough to conveniently carry in my pocket.
Even if you only rarely need a light you can carry something like that daily without much hassle
Even if you only rarely need a light you can carry something like that daily without much hassle
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D.B. Cooper
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So I ended up buying 3 of the Fenix ED05 lights. (single AAA, 85 lumens) one for each person in the house. (20 bucks each w free shipping to AK). I'll give one to my son, although, I don't know that he carries a key ring yet.
nettlle
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85 lumens doesn't sound like much but my 20+ year old Surfire 6p is only 65 lumens and has got the job done. I also have a Fenix. Fenix makes nice stuff.
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D.B. Cooper
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I think, given the size, it's a good trade-off. I have a Fenix 35PD (1k lumens) but it's always at home because it's too big to carry. (So, in effect, it's a zero lumen light.) And yeah, I really like my Fenix light.
nettlle
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The Fenix I have now is 1600 lumens and roughly half the size of my 65 lumen Surfire 6p. The 1600 lumen Fenix throws light farther than the 65 lumen Surefire 6p but not as much as some may think.
There is a need for just enough practical lumens. If the need is to spot racoon eyeballs in a tree 500 yards away or a skunk in the yard a 100 yards away. I just need enough lumens for the skunk.
And my yard is big enough to see a skunk 100 yards away.
There is a need for just enough practical lumens. If the need is to spot racoon eyeballs in a tree 500 yards away or a skunk in the yard a 100 yards away. I just need enough lumens for the skunk.
And my yard is big enough to see a skunk 100 yards away.
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D.B. Cooper
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It's like other forms of technology. As time goes on, devices will become both more powerful and smaller. It's not unlike computers, really.
Elkins45
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This^^^Gotta check out the new LED version of the maglight solitaire. Its the little AAA keychain light. But with the new LED it lasts longer, is brighter and MUCH more durable than ever before.
Note- this is NOT the led upgrade they sold for few years... those sucked. These are designed with the led from the factory and they are good. So small you wont notice it and only about $10 at wally world or AMZ.
Classic.
I have a whole bag full of AA and AAA lights I have accumulated over the years and the best of them is the new Maglite. I’m not a fan of many Maglite products but they got everything right with this one. Bright, efficient and the switch is smart. It’s a twisty head switch but unlike most twisty lights you UNSCREW it to turn it on. That means it doesn’t turn itself on in my pocket like other lights did. I used to wrap a small strip of duct tape around my EDC lights to keep them turned off but so far the Solitaire hasn’t needed that. Best $10 flashlight you can buy IMO.
nettlle
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One of the reasons I bought the Fenix is that is rechargeable and it has a battery charge indicator built in to the flashlight. With AA and AAA lights I never knew what battery life was left and many times I was replacing AA and AAA batteries that really didn't need to be replaced just to be safe. I know their are gadgets to check battery life but I don't have time for that when I can just push a button on the flashlight to check battery charge level. The 18650 batteries seem to have a very long life.
Flashlights with these features and the batteries that go with them (like 18650 rechargeable batteries) at first seemed way to expensive to me for what a flashlight does. But I have thrown away a few dozen less costly flashlights. Hundreds of batteries. When I finally got the attitude that flashlights shouldn't be disposable and started paying a little bit more for them in the long run I feel that I may have saved more money by keeping the same light for decades and not going through so many batteries.
Flashlights with these features and the batteries that go with them (like 18650 rechargeable batteries) at first seemed way to expensive to me for what a flashlight does. But I have thrown away a few dozen less costly flashlights. Hundreds of batteries. When I finally got the attitude that flashlights shouldn't be disposable and started paying a little bit more for them in the long run I feel that I may have saved more money by keeping the same light for decades and not going through so many batteries.
toivo
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I'm a flashlight guy, I guess. I usually have one on my person and two in my car. I like the twist-on LED Maglites: AA and AAA. The new ones are plenty bright and not too bad on batteries. Maglite also makes a 3-cell AAA LED light with a tail-mounted push-button switch -- it's a great little light, but it eats batteries like a kid on Halloween eats candy.
My problem with cellphone lights is that they're awkward and they drain your phone battery pretty quickly -- something you don't want to happen in an emergency.
My problem with cellphone lights is that they're awkward and they drain your phone battery pretty quickly -- something you don't want to happen in an emergency.
milemaker13
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If you are still using a flashlight you bought 20+ years ago that is awesome but you might be surprised what the new ones can do.
Armored farmer
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Last night at a family outing, in a rented cabin, fortymiles from home, one of our guests couldnt be found.
My streamlight microstream was in my pocket, and immediately put to use. My search began around the fire ring and expanded to the vehicles then perimeter and the woods walking trail, and finally down the lane to the blacktop and beyond.
It ended in the back of a squad car after the 75yo man had been missing for maybe a total of 40 min.
Luckily, I had put fresh batteries in just that morning.
All ended well enough, and my pocket flashlight was indispensable
My streamlight microstream was in my pocket, and immediately put to use. My search began around the fire ring and expanded to the vehicles then perimeter and the woods walking trail, and finally down the lane to the blacktop and beyond.
It ended in the back of a squad car after the 75yo man had been missing for maybe a total of 40 min.
Luckily, I had put fresh batteries in just that morning.
All ended well enough, and my pocket flashlight was indispensable
jdh
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OP question for you. Have you ever been taking care of business in a public restroom and there either been a power failure or had someone else turn the light off as they left? You really want to do the paper work while holding your cell phone?
A simple LED upgrade kit allows the oldies to work as well as the new ones. I was kinda attached to my E2E. When the last spare bulb gave up the ghost it got a Lumens Factory LED upgrade. It is almost too bright for close up work.
A simple LED upgrade kit allows the oldies to work as well as the new ones. I was kinda attached to my E2E. When the last spare bulb gave up the ghost it got a Lumens Factory LED upgrade. It is almost too bright for close up work.
We were at an AB&B and the little flashlight allowed us to walk to the door without lights when we were coming in from a music festival.
Trunk Monkey
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I got caught on the factory floor at work and in the middle of a mega church sanctuary during a power outage and was able to walk out because I had a flashlight in my pocket.
I use my flashlight every night at work. I went through Maglights, Steamlights, Gerbers and an "intrinsically safe" light called a Nightstick. The Nightstick was required because I worked in a Propane storage facility but it also is a good emergency light for if the power goes out at home because it will last 14 hours.
I said all that to say that after a while I realized I was spending more on batteries than on the lights. I now carry two Fenix rechargeable lights. They cost 60 & 90 dollars respectively but I've more than saved that in not having to replacebatteries over the last few years.
My favorite moment is when I had to pull one out so a rookie cop could take notes while I was making a statement. Her training officer laughed and laughed and laughed and she turned as red as a beet. I'm she she heard about it all night long.
ETA the Night Stick isn't a pocket light but it was worth the 40 bucks and would be a great emergency light for your home or car.
Added a video for the Nightstick
I use my flashlight every night at work. I went through Maglights, Steamlights, Gerbers and an "intrinsically safe" light called a Nightstick. The Nightstick was required because I worked in a Propane storage facility but it also is a good emergency light for if the power goes out at home because it will last 14 hours.
I said all that to say that after a while I realized I was spending more on batteries than on the lights. I now carry two Fenix rechargeable lights. They cost 60 & 90 dollars respectively but I've more than saved that in not having to replacebatteries over the last few years.
My favorite moment is when I had to pull one out so a rookie cop could take notes while I was making a statement. Her training officer laughed and laughed and laughed and she turned as red as a beet. I'm she she heard about it all night long.
ETA the Night Stick isn't a pocket light but it was worth the 40 bucks and would be a great emergency light for your home or car.
Added a video for the Nightstick
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D.B. Cooper
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I have to fully agree with your assessment of the value of rechargeable batteries. Back when I was doing line maintenance on aircraft, I was the only guy with a light that had no recharge capability. (It was a 3 C cell light.) I pretty much got sick of buying C cells every week in short order. Although, I still have the light. It's in my garage. With dead batteries in it.
RA40
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LOL, that applies to most forums when reading about various gear/toys. I pass by particular threads knowing that those discussions start the temptations.
KevininPa
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I always have one. But then I'm an electrician. I also always work second or third shift.
Everyone should own a few quality lights.
Everyone should own a few quality lights.
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Trunk Monkey
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A flashlight is never necessary, until it is
A little light is a lot of insurance. Almost everyone here wouldn't find a $400 handgun expensive if it's quality, and I've had a number of knives worth over $100. Paying less than $40 for a quality light seems like a worthwhile investment.
John
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22-rimfire
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I think those will work just fine. That is plenty of light for occasional use. It is not like you're trying to spot deer with it.
I personally do not carry a flash light on my person all the time. I do have them awfully handy though and I use flash lights every single day. I keep emergency lights inside my house all the time ready to go. I have used them for work on occasion when I need a constant light source beyond a flashlight.
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