Looking for LED light with similar performance to 3D maglight

[redneck]

I've carried a 3 D-cell mag light in the glove box of my truck for a couple years now and find it pretty handy. I'm not happy with how the batteries keep in there though, and it would be nice if I had something smaller.
I bought an inova X1 last winter and have made an EDC of it. I love it, use the heck out of it, and now I'm wanting to upgrade the light in my truck. thinking I should give one of the lithium battery powered lights a try due to their shelf life, and I'd really like to stick with LED bulbs for the runtime.

I've looked around a lot and read alot, and its so hard to tell what your getting from manufacturers specs. I've seen the Nuwaii Q-III listed at 80 lumens, and on a review site it has similar readings as an Inova T2 which is advertised at 40 :banghead:
Right now I'm about ready to just order the Inova T2, have read several reviews and it sounds good. But I thought I'd throw this out there and see if I'm missing something. Seems like every time I turn around someone is mentioning a new light.
So basically, I need a recomendation for a light that will be similar in brightness to the mag light (has the upgraded Xenon bulb). Doesn't have to be quite as far reaching, but I want to be seen if I'm out along the road doing something. Can be spot or flood....a beam a little wider than the X1 would be nice for working on things up close, but I'm willing to compromise to get decent range. Just a good all around use light, doesn't need to be considered tactical or anything.
Also, I like the regulated circuit some of the inova's have. Really nice to have steady performance instead of steadily decreasing performance. I'd also like it to have a fairly long run time if possible ( a couple or 3 hours at full brightness should work very well....I can't afford to feed one that eats batteries every 45 minutes) Hoping to keep the price under $50. Any suggestions? Thanks a lot

 

[3 gun]

You may want to take a look at the Streamlight TwinTask lights. I have the 2 123a cell light, on the xenon bulb you have a strong bright white light that will run for about 70min. You'll get about 3hrs of strong light from the LEDs before you notice a drop-off. Even after the batteries are to drained to run the white light the LEDs will still put out a useful light. It's well made and not very expensive, well under your price point. I've found this light to be a great general duty light.

 

[Vic303]

I've been eyeing the Inova t3/XO3's and the Nuwai big Q3 lights. I have never had an Inova before, but I do have an 3W Luxeon headlamp by Nuwai. It is well made and bright with a nice beamspot with few if any flaws. If you can get a Nuwai Q3 cheap (ebay comes to mind), try it.

 

[scubie02]

well, you probably realize that led's don't give off at all the same kind of light as a maglite with a xenon bulb. The light waves are wayyyy shorter and your useful distance as far as being able to see is very short. Now if all you need is something to be able to see in the truck or to light your way walking down a road, they are acceptable. If you want something more like the maglite but smaller and with batteries that will store better in the car, you might consider a Surefire G2 Nitrolon--usually $33-$35 or so, available in several colors if that matters. I really like these. In the end these new flashlights are small enough that it's possible to have both an led and a surefire or something in the glove compartment. There are models which have both a regular bulb and led's that can be switched between around as well.

 

[dtalley]

I purchased a Brinkman flashlight from Academy for $20.00 the other day that I like a lot. It runs on 2 lithium batteries, xenon bulb and is rubber coated and tailcap switch. real bright and compact. I also saw it in WalMart for the same price.

 

[redneck]

Thanks for the ideas guys
I've thought about the twin task lights quite a bit but I can't decide if I want to go with Xenon again. I really like how bright white the light from the LED in my X1 is compared to the yellow the mag light puts out. The streamlights do look like awful nice lights though so I may end up with one anyhow.


Somehow I have a feeling this is going to end up like knives and guns

 

[raz-0]

well I picked up a nuwai TM-301-X3. For $42 to my door, it's pretty nifty. Downside as a car light, LEDs wash out pretty easy, and for brightening up the dark spots in an engine bay, they aren't so hot.

other than that, the two stage power control circuitry seems to do it's job pretty well.

according to flashlightreviews.com, it goes full zorch for about an hour, 75% zorch over the second hour, then drags on in reduced power mode for 4 hours plus. Or you can use the low output mode and it lasts a good long time. low mode is about the same a keychain led flashlight. well slightly better due to the reflector. My use seems to be bearing it out more or less.

 

[bubbygator]

I keep a Surefire G2 on my dashboard, at my bedside, & in my range bag - & I gave one to each of my sons-in-law. Still the best [strike]bang[/strike] light for the buck.

 

[P95loser]

check out lowes... they have some pretty cool flashlights next to the registers.. some leds some xenons... bright, compact, durable, and long battery. most expensive one is like 50 bucks.. and you can try them out.

 

[OldMosquito]

Led Lights/combat Quality

Take a look at BRIGADE QUARTERMASTER & CABELAS for some of the most current LED high wattage lights. They won't be cheap, but will put out bookoo light on target. I've been using and testing about 6 or 8 lights from different sources with varying results for end use, longivity of battery life versus high quality tight beam , and can only say i have good results on all but not finished yet. Only a few have the tight beam with wide enough apron of light for building use out to 35 - 50 yards that i'd be even marginally comfortable with.
I see thay have them at FIVE WATTS & UP, and I'm only at the 3w. affordable level right now. Princeton-TEC also makes plenty of good gear.
Good hunting.

 

[DigMe]

Only a few have the tight beam with wide enough apron of light for building use out to 35 - 50 yards that i'd be even marginally comfortable with.

What are they?

brad cook

 

[Vic303]

Inova T or XO series should be some lights that have a LONG tight beam throw.

 

[redneck]

I'm probably going to hit walmart or lowes this weekend to see if there's anything interesting
Thinking more and more about ordering a streamlight also....but I want an inova T2 also :banghead:

I can vouch for the Inova X-series lights. I have an X1 and the beam this thing puts out from a little AA battery is unbeleivable.

 

[Teufelhunden]

You've gotten some good answers here, but why not try the pros at CandlePower Forums? They are to flashlights what this place is to guns...

-Teuf

 

[scubie02]

I've got a couple of the 3 and 5 led lights--one's an Innova and one's just from Eddie Bauer. While they work ok in the house and walking the dog when you just need to light to see to walk, it was an eye opening experience using them in the deep woods one night. My brother had shot both a buck and a doe one day during deer season, and by the time he had dragged the first one out it had gotten dark. He didn't have a flashlight but I had my LED one along as an emergency/stuck in the woods overnight light. This was full night in a dark patch of woods, and man it was like The Blair Witch or something--it was like those woods just swallowed that light up. We did manage to find the deer and get it and us back out, but the light was useful for seeing your feet and thats about it.

 

[OldMosquito]

As said previously, i like the PRINCETON-TEC LIGHTS, STREAMLIGHT, & now the SUREFIRE L2 LUMAMAX 5 WATT, 100 LUMEN light.
Princeton-tec makes good scuba lights as well as field lights.
Streamlight makes duty lights and lights for dangerous atmospheres, which is what i am using.

Like I said before, they can be had on the internet, CABELA'S, and Brigade Quartermaster.

 

[dacat]

I have the Streamlight Propoly Luxeon 4AA. It uses a 1 watt led and 4 AA alkaline batteries. $30

It has a FLAT 3.5 hour runtime with bright light and then a few with dim light. Distance of light throw is 54 Lux, or maybe 200 feet? Tight spot in center, but a good amouint of light around center too. Waterproof, shockproof almost, 7 ounces, ergo shape.

I went over to candlepower forums and saw all the experts there saying it was the best overall light out there for the money. NYFD chooses them also.