Not sure if this is the right place...

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C

click clack

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But I am interested in some flashlight advice and I thought why not try here :cool:. I wasn't really sure where to post this but I feel that flashlights and knives go together pretty well, dont you? :rolleyes: I have been considering http://goinggear.com/flashlights/flashlights/fenix-pd30-r5-2-cr123-led-flashlight.html and http://www.opticsplanet.com/reviews...dual-output-led-200-15-lumens-flashlight.html. Does anybody have any experience with these or have any others you would recommend? I am looking for a powerful and compact flashlight but without alot of different modes...The simpler the better.

Thanks
cc
 
http://www.lapolicegear.com/511-tactical-uc3400-53000-flashlight.html

It's more expensive than the light you linked, but IMO, it's well worth the price. Excellent quality. Compact and lightweight, but very well made and durable. Dropped it several times, never had a problem. Bulbs are extremely bright. Three modes. Normal, bright, and pulsing. On/Off button on the top near the front (similar to a Maglite), and also has an On/Off push-button rear end.

It doesn't take standard batteries. It has an internal rechargeable battery that charges fully in 90 seconds (literally). Runs for 120 minutes on the full battery. 5.11 Tactical says it will charge (and hold the charge for the full 120 minutes) at least 50,000 times. Probably not quite there yet, but I've never had a problem with mine.
 
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I have an older 6Z with a led module in it (sure fire led, 120L) and it is a great torch. I have been put off sure fires for about a year though when one 6z just quit working and the other two burned out stock modules in a week or so each. I have been buying lesser cost and quality torches, and have been very satisfied with their performance, brightness, and robustness for the dollar amounts. I can say they FEEL lest heavy duty than the Sure fires, and that means something to me.
 
Bobson, but Ive had a rechargeable light before and I want to try something different.. I do like it though
 
CC, what are you planning to use the light for? That'll help us gauge better at which light to recommend.

On a side note, the guys at Going Gear are good people :thumbsup:
 
I used to carry an 8x Commander. A $200 Surefire. Now, I carry a fenix ld 20. A $50 probably Chinese light. I will admit sometimes the fenix needs just a gentle shake, after I press the tail cap, to light up but all in all its still my favorite light. Tiny, takes common batteries, 6 modes, strike bezel, and bright.
 
It will mainly be in the nightstand but will also come along on camping and hunting trips.
 
But you simply cannot go wrong with Surefire.
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I love Surefire like crazy. I have 8 Surefire lights, and plan on buying more in the future. But...I had problems with the exact light the OP is asking about.

The 6PX/G2X line is notorious for a mode-switching issue that Surefire is aware of. I sent mine in for repair, only to receive a used and slightly abused replacement light, only to be asked to send it back in again, and I'm waiting on a new replacement.

You can read about this issue, plus everything you'd ever want to know about this line from Surefire here:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...eFire-6PX-G2X-Tactical-and-6PX-G2X-Pro-Thread

When these lights were first introduced, they were $65 to $75. That's when I purchased. They are now $95-$115. I would not purchase at that price.

I'm still trying to wear out a Surefire 6P I bought a long time ago.
It's wearing a push-button tail cap and a Malkoff 175 lumen LED bulb now though.
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Absolutely impeccable taste! ;) There really isn't a more robust, powerful, quality combo for a handheld light than a Surefire P/C host body and a Malkoff drop-in. I have the Malkoff M61HCRI in my Surefire C2 Centurion, running off a 17670 rechargeable. Love it.

Which brings up a good point - for the cost of a new Fenix or similar quality light, you can still find older discontinued Surefire incandescent models, pop out the P60 6V lamp assembly, and choose from hundreds of LED drop-in replacements. You can accessorize a Surefire 6P the same way you can accessorize an AR-15. The options and combinations are endless. You can run different tailcaps, bezels, lenses, body tube extensions, incandescent lamps, LED drop-ins with 5 modes, rechargeable batteries, primary batteries, lanyard loops, the list goes on and on.

If you don't see yourself getting into the flashlight hobby and messing around with assembling your own combinations, you have dozens of quality brands out there to choose from. I could go on for days about flashlights, so I'll give you 3 simple pieces of advice:

1. Go look around at candlepowerforums

2. There is so much more to a flashlight than the lumens rating it's manufacturer claims. Don't get caught up with the "brightest" light.

3. Here are a few quality flashlight manufacturers that are all well-respected in the "flashaholic" community, and are worth some research :

• Surefire
• HDS
• Streamlight
• Fenix
• Nitecore
• Jetbeam
• Eagletac
• 4 Sevens
• Olight
• Klarus
• Thrunite
• Sunwayman
• Zebralight
 
so Johnny, if your light collection was only allowed to consist of lights from 3 of those manufactures, which 3 would it be?.. and i dont see this becoming a hobby, im just looking for an upgrade from my LED maglite (which has fit the bill wonderfully)... I just want something nicer, brighter, and just plain cooler!!

thanks for all the help guys
 
so Johnny, if your light collection was only allowed to consist of lights from 3 of those manufactures, which 3 would it be?.. and i dont see this becoming a hobby, im just looking for an upgrade from my LED maglite (which has fit the bill wonderfully)... I just want something nicer, brighter, and just plain cooler!!
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Between Surefire, Fenix, and Jetbeam, all of my flashlight needs could probably be fulfilled (assuming I would still have access to drop-ins for the Surefires).

If an upgrade to a Maglite is all you're looking for, just about anything from any of the manufactures I listed will blow your mind. I don't hate Maglites, I actually own 4, but the technology used in a standard incandescent Maglite is outdated by about 20 years. Even their newer LED models are a good 10 years behind current Chinese flashlight technology.

Lots of modes seems cool at first, but I find that the flashing or "disco" modes (S.O.S. and strobe) have absolutely no practical use in everyday life. A simple 2 or 3 mode light works great (low, medium, and high).

If you don't have a problem using CR123 batteries (about $2 a piece), your options really open up, and the brightness and runtimes skyrocket. If you want to keep it to more common and less expensive batteries (AA, AAA), you still have some great options, but there is a definite performance ceiling. Modern quality lights using the 1xAA form factory can't seem to break the 150 lumen barrier. An even smaller light using 1xCR123 can reach over 250 lumens easily, plus it will run longer on 1 battery.

Lights with super-low modes (anything below about 5 lumens) are very handy around a pitch-black house or in a movie theatre, dimly-lit restaurant, any setting where a blast of 100 lumens wouldn't be appropriate.

Finally, what is more important to you - a narrow, long-throwing beam with limited side-spill, or a large floody beam that lights up everything around you? Floody lights seem to be better for up-close work and indoor applications. Throwers work well outdoors to spot things at a distance, and can seem more impressive than a similarly bright floody light, but you sometimes have to sweep the beam back and forth to illuminate a large area.
 
Lots of modes seems cool at first, but I find that the flashing or "disco" modes (S.O.S. and strobe) have absolutely no practical use in everyday life. A simple 2 or 3 mode light works great (low, medium, and high).
Click to expand...

If you don't have a problem using CR123 batteries (about $2 a piece), your options really open up
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that pretty much sums up what im looking for. From the begining I was leaning towards CR123. and as far as all the modes go, im with you.. I hate em

And i like a long, narrow, concentrated beam with limited spill.. I know I could buy an aftermarket lens, but which do you think have the longest and least spill from the factory?
 
For a small light using 1xCR123 battery, with only high and low mode, and made for extreme throw - you really can't beat a Surefire E1b. It uses the Surefire TIR (total internal reflection) optic, which keeps the beam in a very tight sharp spot out to long distances. The price is too steep for most casual flashlight users (about $160), but it's build quality is top notch. The 110 Surefire lumen rating for the E1b is probably closer to 140 or 150 actual ANSI lumens. The user interface is my favorite kind - a forward clicky that comes on high first, then goes to low with a quick second press or click of the switch.

For about $25 more, and a little added length, you can step up to the E2DL, which is 200 lumens, and shares the same TIR optic. This model is my favorite flashlight of all time, and is a true Surefire classic.

The TIR models from Surefire are really great throwers, and my E1b throws it's beam a lot farther than most of my 200-500 lumen lights.

If $160 is just too much, give the other brands I listed a look. For maximum throwing distance in a handheld light, you want a deep, smooth reflector (as opposed to a textured "orange peel" reflector), and a small-die LED (as opposed to larger LEDs such as the new Cree XM-L, the Cree XR-E is an older LED, but throws the best).

It seems that lately, the flashlight manufacturers have all jumped on the XM-L/OP reflector bandwagon, which when combined, give lights tremendously bright and large spill beams, but not very good throw characteristics. You'll probably have to buy a light that is at least a few years old in order to get an XR-E or XP-G LED with a smooth reflector. Some of the Fenix PD models still go this route, I believe.
 
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Surefires are great, but I prefer streamlight. My EDC light is a Streamlight PT-1aa or some such designation. Small (only slightly larger than the single AA battery that powers it), long lasting (about 5 hours on a standard AA), bright (120 lumens) but has a low (40ish lumens) setting and a strobe setting. I think I got it for around $50. Very durable, comes with a decent nylon belt pouch.

I've also got a streamlight on my HD shotgun.

The TRL series weapon lights are hard to beat.

The Surefires I've had in the past were the rechargables, and I didn't care for them. they didn't hold a charge for very long, and they got very hot to the touch.
 
The TRL series weapon lights are hard to beat.
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I agree, I have the TLR-1 and the TLR-3. Great weapon lights for the money.

The Surefires I've had in the past were the rechargables, and I didn't care for them.
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Well, there's your problem right there! ;) Try on a current Surefire E-series LED like the LX2, E2DL, E1B. They will impress.
 
Sounds like your thinking may be similar to mine (I'd be lying if I didn't say that scares me more than a little bit), so you might check out a couple of my reviews @ Amazon-just look for basicblur-3rd review on one, 1st review on the other.

I have a number of lights listed by perceived brightness, and have my 2 D-Cell Maglight (with the Maglite LED upgrade) in there for comparison.

For my bed light, I have a few Strealight Nightfighters (older models without the strobe-not as bright, but more run time).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00091V2KC/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk

For vehicle glove boxes and always on my belt (same length as my cell phone case), I have a number of Streamlight PT-2L.
http://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-8...S1Q2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320373575&sr=8-1

I also purchased a Surefire E2DL and Z2S (both LED), and while quality lights (albeit pricey!), I don't particularly care for the tailcap switch-it's a little too recessed for my liking. I seem to have to fight with it-the light keeps sliding forward in my hand as I chase the switch.
 
Any 2xAA $30 light can fill the bedstand/camping role. Rayovac, Eveready, Innova, Streamlight, just about any branded light with a single LED putting out at least 60 lumens will do. Most of them on the market will be made in China.

2xAA will give decent runtimes, and AA power allows the use of rechargeables to cut costs, or AA lithiums for extended shelf life - up to 10 years.

If the CR123 lights seem more appealing, start shopping for replacement batteries that don't cost 3X more than AA's. They are not common. Boxmart still charges a premium as they see it as a high profit camera battery used by those with more upscale levels of disposable income. You'll likely need to buy a small case of 30 off an internet vendor to cut costs. That's another $40 - 60 in batteries sitting around for years waiting to be used.

I got out of the 123 trap, gave away my Surefire, and pretty much carry one light everyday to do it all. For the last two years it's been a Streamlight Microstream AAA, which puts out 20 lumens, uses a great clicky tailcap, and can't be ruined going thru the wash. Today, I'm waiting for the Brown Truck to deliver a AAA Maratac, with three modes and 80 lumens on high, better than the 2xAA's sitting on the bedstands - and cheaper.

Frankly, whatever we can get now will be technically obsolete in two years, if it's survived well enough to even stay on the market. Until the volatile increase in power levels off in ten or twenty years, I'm urging caution - unless it's money you can blow on "toys," the $30 lights are the best value for the dollar on the market.

Given literally months, last years $250 light is next years $100 light is a $30 light in 2015. The industry is probably the best example of planned obsolescence to date, rivaling Ryobi grass trimmers.
 
I got a sleeve of 12 123's for around $25 at the local BatteriesPlus or BatteryMart (whatever it is called) for my 4Sevens Quark X. I have an old Surefire rechargeable that was an expensive Christmas gift and frankly a piece of junk. The original batteries wouldn't hold a charge and Surefire replaced them with batteries that worked; but, the instant on/off tailcap button is a bear to actuate, the light and batteries get hot, you have to monitor the battery charger or it will ruin the batteries (according to Surefire), the run time is mediocre at best, and the brightness is very meager by today's standards. I have stayed away from Surefire because of this experience.
 
Frankly, whatever we can get now will be technically obsolete in two years, if it's survived well enough to even stay on the market.
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Well, yes and no. You are right about the technology itself - i.e. maximum output and runtime from the LED. But things like durability, form factor, and user interface are things that stick around for years and years. Whereas a computer is obsolete the minute a new chip or operating system comes out, something like a Surefire 6P is only obsolete until you unscrew the head and drop in the latest cutting-edge LED for about $25.

Lights have gotten smaller, brighter, and cheaper. But the "big boys" (Maglite and Surefire) still sell a ton of lights that were designed 20 years ago.

Technology (specifically electronics) usually doesn't have a big impact on tools. A flashlight is the exception. But while the electronics of a flashlight are important, so is the "tool" aspect. And good, solid, rugged tools that can take a serious beating and keep working in harsh conditions are the ones that won't be obsolete in a few years just because something smaller, faster, brighter, or cheaper comes along.
 
OregonJohnny is on the mark. A SureFire with Malkoff is a great option, or just buy an ElZetta.
 
Time to rethink alkalines vs CR123s?

Boxmart still charges a premium as they see it as a high profit camera battery used by those with more upscale levels of disposable income.
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If he'll just step over to Lowes, he'll find those pricey Surefire CR123 (just painting the Surefire name on it automatically raises the price!) for 1/2 the price of the WalMart camera batteries snce Lowes sells 'em in the flashlight section. Last time I was in there, a two pack was under $5.

Some seem to be moving away from CR123s, but I'm moving towards 'em. They have a 10-yr shelf life, so I bought one of the Pelican storage boxes with the foam cutouts and have a healthy supply-name brand bought for around $1.50 each delivered.

CR123s are not as pricey as they seem as you're not comparing apples to apples when you start talking CR123 vs. alkalines. I have Eveready Ultimate Lithiums in all my high tech toys as they handle a much wider range of temperatures, don't leak, and have a much longer shelf life than alkalines. When you compare the price of AA lithiums to CR123s (more of an apples to apples comparison), the CR123s are actually cheaper in my experience.

If you do go CR123s, you might also check for police supply houses in your area-a number of 'em I visit have 'em cheaper than Lowes.

Another reason I prefer the long life CR123s is I use my lights intermittenly-rechargeables for intemittent use would probably be more trouble than they're worth. It's been my experience that I spend more time making sure they're recharged than I do actually using 'em!
 
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