LED flashlight

[Echo9]

Hey guys, I know this doesn't fit perfectly into this forum, but I'm looking for an insanely bright, really durable, and fairly small LED flashlight. I don't need pocket or keychain sized, just compact. Maybe 6-8" long.

Anyone have a recommendation?

 

[Averageman]

Go buy a mini mag at walmart and then get the LED upgrade they sell. I have one and Laugh everytime I see someone lose a $100.00 flashlight over here.

 

[jdh]

This is the one I use,
http://www.surefire.com/G2-Led
Shop around you can find them much cheaper than MSRP.

If you prefer all metal,
http://www.surefire.com/6P-Led

 

[Kingcreek]

Gene Malkoff makes some of the very best. I've got the M60L module in a surefire G2 and its great.

 

[Doug S]

Fenix P1D Premium LED. Only 2 3/4in and brighter than my incandescent Surefires.

 

[JShirley]

If you want very bright and compact, the LumaPower LM33 is a good bet. Here's a review I wrote last month. You can get a LM33, NanoCharger, and two RC 123 cells for about $45, shipped.

Other good bets: Fenix E20, 2AA light, $43 shipped.

The LumaPower is a bit smaller than a MiniMagLite, and the Fenix will be slightly larger. Both have push-button switches, which I require on all except backup lights, and will put out a great amount of light.

John

 

[highorder]

Go buy a mini mag at walmart and then get the LED upgrade they sell.

What an utter waste of money.

Sounds like you want a Fenix E20, or a Nitecore D20.

I carry a Nitecore D10 every day, and it's the perfect EDC light.

 

[JShirley]

If you don't mind (or already have some) 123 batteries, the Nuwai 5 Watt is on sale at Battery Junction right now. A screaming deal at about $24, shipped.

 

[hso]

insanely bright, really durable, and fairly small LED flashlight

is a step beyond the inexpensive LED lights.

Of course "insanely bright" means different things to different people.

 

[mfcmb]

I've been very happy with this one:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13094

Very bright! Batteries last a long time. Solid. Easy to use. Just wish the reflector head was less wide, but it's needed to focus the beam.

 

[philuk44]

Another happy Fenix P1D user here

Phil

 

[highorder]

• Bright.
• Cheap.
• Long runtime.

Pick any two.

 

[ChristopherG]

I carry a Fenix TK10:

http://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_55&products_id=517

Been toting it 40+ hours a week for almost 2 years and nary a problem. Max 225 lumens, base level 60 lumens. Very sturdy and trustworthy light.

 

[gb6491]

The Coleman Max 2AA, under $25 at Walmart, is worth a look. It's a 100+ lumen light and solidly constructed; mine has been a great performer. I like it much more than my old Surefire 8X (similar brightness brightness/throw levels, but the LED produces a much whiter light).
Here's a review someone did:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=202659
Regards,
Greg
BTW - for size comparison, here's the Max 2AA with a Mini-Mag 2AA.

 

[Echo9]

Thanks everyone, I'll probably look at the Fenix, Spiderfire, and Nitecore. And probably the LumaPower. I work at a Cabela's, so I might get a decent discount.

All of these flashlights look like lightsabers.

 

[444]

I agree with HSO that you can pick two of those options but having all three is probably not going to happen.
The sticking point for me is durability vs. cheap.
I carry a flashlight all the time for work as a firefighter. I am a very minor flashlight geek since it is a very important part of my job (having a flashlight) so I am always looking for the next greatest thing out there.
This always brings a lot of flak but I own several Fenix flashlights. On the surface, they are great lights. However they just haven't held up for me. I carried two for several years and both of them stopped working. You wouldn't think this would be a big deal: flashlights arn't all that complicated. Battery(s), bulb (LED), switch. But, they stopped working never the less because the switch failed. Although remote, there is a chance that this could get me killed.
I am not a Surefire fanboy but I can honestly post that in my experience, the only flashlights I have that have worked everytime I turn them on is Surefire. I have had the same Surefire for many years. I would put it away for a year or two at a time while I went with some other light. When the other lights quit on me, I went back to the Surefire and it works every time.

On these boards, cheap is the trump card. Many people post that they are looking for the best, but in the end they go cheap. Also, I guess durability means different things to different people. And, to some people durability is of paramount importance and to others it is just nice to have. Point being, there is no free lunch. I don't care what you are talking about. On these boards it might be optics, flashlights, guns.............whatever but there is no free lunch. I have, over the years, tried many times to convince myself otherwise but in the end I was shown the truth: there is no free lunch.
In my old age I now use a general rule of thumb: if someone says that Y is just as good as X, I buy X. If that is what people are using as the gold standard that everything else is compared to, then I am buying the gold standard and not taking a chance that something else is just as good. Again, this isn't just about flashlights. If X is the standard of comparison for whatever I am looking at, I buy X.

 

[highorder]

444, thats a good post you have there.

It made me re-read the OP. He did ask for "really durable." How we each define that really changes the playing field. I agree with you when you say that Fenix light are not as durable as others. For many, that just means the hassle of warranty repair. For you, it could mean your LIFE.

I have dozens of lights from many different makers. Some are merely "toys," too expensive or too fragile for real world use.
Of the scant few that are reliable enough for hard use, two get the regular nod.

• An original Surefire E2e (SN AA00696) running a 150 lumen lamp on 2x Li-ion 123a's
  
• The aforementioned Nitecore D10 Smart PD, also running on a Li-ion rechargable 1x 14500.

The Nitecore is small, bright, versatile, and cool; the Surefire WORKS.

 

[JShirley]

hso, I guess it also depends on what you think of as "inexpensive". The last couple of (Nuwai) flashlights I linked are on sale for $8 and $15, IIRC. Battery Junction usually charges a little over $8 for shipping, but if you buy a few other lights...

I personally am happy with any light with decent spill and throw that has at least 30 lumens, as a primary EDC light. Anything much over 100 lumens is actually TOO bright for many close tasks, in my opinion.

Of course, one always has the option of carrying a very powerful primary, say a SureFire G2, and a much smaller backup/task light, like the adjustable output Photon X.

There's also no excuse for every one of us not having a keychain light. Therey're just too small and inexpensive for there not to be one on every member's keys.

...444, I own...um...5 SureFires, I think. In general, I agree with your assessment, but I have an L4 that needs to go back to SureFire again. In fairness, I am not the only person who's had an L4 failure, and I'm not aware of other SureFire models with similar problems.

John

 

[highorder]

Anything much over 100 lumens is actually TOO bright for many close tasks, in my opinion...
...There's also no excuse for every one of us not having a keychain light. Therey're just too small and inexpensive for there not to be one on every member's keys.

Agreed.

WARNING: SHAMELESS PLUG

John from www.lighthound.com tosses a keychain light (or 2) into every order!

He's also a great retailer for all things flashlight, including custom mods/parts not available anywhere else.

 

[Echo9]

I actually never said I wanted cheap. I want something that'll last a long time so that I don't mind spending the money.

Although like I said, I work at a Cabela's. I'll probably get a discount.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Streamlight

I haven't seen Streamlight mentioned.

They are not "high end" and I don't imagine they are especially rugged, but I have one on my person every day.

Good brightness, good battery life.

I also bought a couple of River Rock lights with which I have been very pleased. Their 2xC-cell is a very handy, very bright, quite compact light. Throws a very bright focused spot. Their AA lights are also good. They are also "not high end" as these things go. Worse, they (Target) quit selling them immediately after I figured out they were a good deal and went back for more. The brand seems to have disappeared. Rats. I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

I emphasize run time (battery life) when I'm looking at LED lights. I will give up some brightness if I can double the run time. In one case, I actually went up a whole battery size to get the run time I wanted (Ray-O-Vac brand).

The one in my pocket (Streamlight) is rated at over 20 hours on low, over 5 hours on high, if memory serves. It's not "insanely bright" but I've toured a totally blacked out house with it without feeling shortchanged.

 

[JShirley]

River Rock are good lights.

 

[Onward Allusion]

+ 1 on the Coleman... It is as bright if not brighter than my 1st gen TLR-1. All for ~ $25 - can't beat it with a stick!

The Coleman Max 2AA, under $25 at Walmart, is worth a look. It's a 100+ lumen light

 

[highorder]

River Rock are good lights.

Indeed. I have 3.

 

[conw]

Inova (the flashlight mfr, not the cookware, disc golf, or pet food manufacturer - 4 companies share the name) offers exceptional toughness for a good price with reasonable brightness. You can sample them at target.