What flavor of "flashlight" do you prefer?

I was partial to the bland taste of a 2D Mag Light, but heard about a better brew called Surefire. Having tasted its rich stout flavor, I'm totally sold.

I can't recommend this flashlight any more highly, its the best I've seen thus far. Its small, concealable (for running on city streets), water proof (for anything we would ever use it for) and the batteries last over 6 hours. Plus its really damn bright, which is really why we need it, right?

Surefire 6PL-BK

Surefire is a bit/way out of my price range. I prefer Fenix lights myself in this way overplayed topic.

Anything LED.

Posted by istakebroad Anything LED.

Anything LED for exploration, but for light painting, I much prefer incandescent...

http://www.uer.ca/...d=1&threadid=43707

That should have some answers for you, right there, on the 2nd page of this board....

Always glad to help!

I'm a bit of a mix, I have used several LED mag's, but personally for draining I use my fenix L2D mostly, however I also bring my Surefire E2L for backup and G2 for when I really! want to light up something! For those who are apprehensive to Surefire's initial cost, and the cost of the 123 batteries, I recommend the Fenix L2D, I got mine from fenixtactical.com and the several levels I find useful, especially the low, which is good to get your eyes accustomed to the darkness in drains.

Portafluoro ftw.

Maglights are total crap.. Surefires aren't that great, they cost alot and I'm not sure I am a fan of their quality... The Dark Ops Hellfighter line of lights is the best I have seen.. Well back in the day I had an X-11 from them and it really was the end all flashlight, they now have canned the X-11 (the X-11 was pretty much redesigned into the X-15) and have an entire line of lights (many of which are rechargeable, which is a /massive/ bonus) they also have LED versions of some of them.. although I would take an incandescent over LED any day of the week, it's nice to have an LED as backup though..
The one thing I hate about LED lights is from what I have seen they all have crap for throw, sure they can be bright but the light just doesn't go anywhere..

Anything good that costs less than $50?

Posted by Shawn W. Anything good that costs less than $50?

Check out the Solarforce T7 - retails for US$55, but I picked it up for less on ebay.

Posted by metawaffle Check out the Solarforce T7 - retails for US$55, but I picked it up for less on ebay.

240 lumens. I know that this may make me sound like an amateur, but what's a good lumen rating, and what's the rating of a 3AA LED Maglite? I currently own one, but I figure that what you suggested is probably better.

Posted by Shawn W. 240 lumens. I know that this may make me sound like an amateur, but what's a good lumen rating, and what's the rating of a 3AA LED Maglite? I currently own one, but I figure that what you suggested is probably better.

This is the site you need, but prepare to spend a while getting to grips with a whole new world of nerdery:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/

There's a review of the Solarforce T7 in there that convinced me. The only downside of the T7 (and most other similar powerful flashlights) is that they run on CR123a batteries. I just bought some rechargeables to suit on ebay.

Posted by Shawn W. 240 lumens. I know that this may make me sound like an amateur, but what's a good lumen rating, and what's the rating of a 3AA LED Maglite? I currently own one, but I figure that what you suggested is probably better.

I spotted one estimate of 40 - 50 lumens for the 3AA LED Maglite, which isn't too bad. The Solarforce T7 throws out considerably more light than that, obviously, but at full power it gets pretty warm, and will drain a set of rechargeables in just over three-quarters of an hour.

My headlamp is a 60 lumen LED thing, running AAs, but I tend to switch it off in favour of the brighter handheld torch unless I need my hands free.

I use the rayovac sportsman xtreme 1 watt led plenty bright and cast more of a white light unlike other led's $18 usd at wal-mart.

I have some more expensive lights (streamlight) but this is a really well built solid little light with a decent output, especially considering you can often pick them up for under $20

http://www.brinkma...=820-1025-0&id=138

http://www.flashli...mann_maxfirelx.htm

Posted by metawaffle This is the site you need, but prepare to spend a while getting to grips with a whole new world of nerdery: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/ There's a review of the Solarforce T7 in there that convinced me. The only downside of the T7 (and most other similar powerful flashlights) is that they run on CR123a batteries. I just bought some rechargeables to suit on ebay.

In case anyone's looking at the T7 on the strength of my comments, I'll say what the problems are, too:

* Using rechargeables, it often just flashes quickly instead of switching on. A quick tap of the power button fixes this.

* The power button switches between flashing and normal - I'd prefer it to just switch it on and off.


Minor complaints, really. I'd buy the same torch again without any real reservations.

Posted by metawaffle This is the site you need, but prepare to spend a while getting to grips with a whole new world of nerdery: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/ There's a review of the Solarforce T7 in there that convinced me. The only downside of the T7 (and most other similar powerful flashlights) is that they run on CR123a batteries. I just bought some rechargeables to suit on ebay.

A whole new world of nerdery is an understatement. I hadn't even gotten into the forums yet before I raised my eyebrow and said, "What the heck?"

Posted by pirateoftheguyan I use the rayovac sportsman xtreme 1 watt led plenty bright and cast more of a white light unlike other led's $18 usd at wal-mart.

Yeah I got the same one in 3watt version; It beat my 2-D maglight by a long shot.

On most nights i take 4 out of 5 of these.

ok from left to right


My very most favorite, the Ultra Fire WF-606A($20), I flipping love this thing. by far the brightest flashlight I have ever owned, it have a very bight white light, good throw and can be used as a flood light if you take off the bezel, and its only $20.
http://www.dealext...ku.4238~r.29749062


Next is the Harbor Freight 9 led flashlight($3), its not very bright(little less than an AA maglight) but is good for low light stuff, this is the one I some some times leave at home.


Mag Light Solitaire(i don't know how i ended up with this but i think its about 5 or 10 bucks) this is a little 1 AAA light. not bright at all but I still seem to need it a lot so I take it with me.


Next 10 White LED - 5 UV LED - Red Laser flashlight($5). this thing is cool, the white leds are much brighter than the HF 9 led light and its brighter than a AA maglight also. I use the UV leds for low light, and the laser for...well...a laser, its nice because it runs off rechargeable AAA's.
http://www.dealext...etails.dx/sku.3248


Finally there is the 5 led Harbor Freight head light($5) yet once more a cheep good flash light.




BUY THIS FLASHLIGHT you will love it. Ultra Fire WF-606A FTW

That WF-606A has a good reputation in flashlight-nerd land, too.