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Haze
Gender: Male
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<Reply # 80 on 7/12/2005 12:46 PM >
|  | | | Mag-Lite has got to be the best brand of flashlights, I have a small one and a large police issue part-batton part-flashlight I got from a military surplus store.
I am going to get one of those 'wind up' flashlights and I'll keep that with me in future because it wont run out, I have always been scared the flashlight will run out x_x
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deltacbravo
 
location:
NYC, Rochester
I am Shiva, the Destroyer of Worlds
| | | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 81 on 7/12/2005 7:15 PM >
|  | | | Haze, you're wrong. SureFire is by FAR the best flashlight brand. Followed closely by INOVA, Pelican, and Streamlight.
http://www.industrialnewyork.com |
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atomx
    
location:
Brighton, ON
Gender: Male
| | | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 82 on 7/12/2005 9:05 PM >
| | | | From www.maglite.com
98,000 Lbs. Light
Im a Heavy Equipment Operator in the US Air Force, and currently a dozer boss for the only wildland fire dozer team. I thought someone in your company would be interested in this story as it truly shows the strength of your flashlights. I loaded a dozer on a tractor- trailer one night during a fire operation one night and left my Maglite® Flashlight on the tractor and drove to the front of our yard. After realizing what I had done I when back, expecting it to be smashed to bits as the weight of the rig is 98,000 lbs. When I found it, it had been run over by all the tires on the drive-side but I picked it up, turned it on and it still worked and only had a couple of scratches on it. I have used Maglites for a while, but now all I buy is Maglite® Flashlights.
Vandenberg AFB, CA
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"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Richard Cook |
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ems_ranger
| | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 83 on 7/12/2005 10:14 PM >
| | | | pelican m8 led - 1 watt narrow bright beam, long life, shock proof, small, lighter than maglite.
Backup - streamlight aaa led stylus w/green light (helps nite vision)
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Factor VIII
 
location:
tu5t1n
Gender: Male
The Legacy
| | | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 84 on 7/12/2005 10:51 PM >
| | | | Posted by Haze
Mag-Lite has got to be the best brand of flashlights, I have a small one and a large police issue part-batton part-flashlight I got from a military surplus store.
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Would you be talking about something like this? I use maglites when I explore but I mostly do drains so I'm not to concerned about the weight or stealth factor. The SureFire lights are really nice, they cost a lot though. What I like about the mag lights is that they have interchangeable lenses, When I go draining I usually use the red filter because red light doesnt damage your night vision as much as white light.
use the boost to get through |
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luc
location:
ask and i'll tell
Gender: Male
i like to climb trees
| | | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 85 on 7/13/2005 1:04 AM >
| | | | I have this Brinkmann LED flashlight that works great, I'm not sure of the model or whatever, and also have a 4 D-CELL Mag Lite that works great. If I bring it, I also have a Petzl Tikka headlamp, works great.
if theres a god in the sky, only he can judge me, so until my dying day, stay the fuck out of my face |
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tick
location:
Abingdon, VA
Gender: Male
| | | | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 86 on 7/13/2005 3:42 AM >
| | | | Posted by Haze
Mag-Lite has got to be the best brand of flashlights...
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The "best" brand is open to a lot of debate (although I agree that Surefire makes the best incandescent lights), but it's definitely not Maglite. Their beam quality is poor, they have short runtime (30 or so minutes to 50% brightness), and mediocre reliability (I've had several fail while exploring dark steam tunnels).
My new favorite flashlight is the Pelican M6 3-watt LED. It's like the standard M6 LED, but with type-III anodizing (like Surefire), a Luxeon III LED, and it's regulated for a more constant output. They're available from batterystation.com, for $100.
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Comics
location:
Montreal
Gender: Male
| |  | | | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 87 on 7/13/2005 7:50 PM >
| | | | I just bought myself a Petzl MYO XP headlamp and love it so far. No complaints. Very bright, and the deflector is also quite useful.
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Explorer Zero
| | | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 88 on 7/13/2005 9:22 PM >
| | | | I just bought a Pelican M6 and it seems to be first rate just testing it in the house and around the yard last night. The tail switch can be locked out and the holster has a place to carry a couple of spare batts.
MAGLITES. what can I say everyone has got an opinion on MAGs. The AA Mini Mag is pretty wimpy if you ask me but mostly due to the bulb. Those bi-pin bulbs are weak and burn out at random. Buy a super bright white LED trim the leads an pop it right in with a little bending they fit perfect. Better yet I got a $3.99 3 LED drop in replacement for it. Its probably the only LED substitute that ends up being brighter than the original incandescent! If you have a AA I recommend this conversion it will run a lot longer too.
The D and C size are good because they can be used as a bludgeon in a pinch (that why I carry one) but they have some flaws. The resistance in the tail cap threads and the spring can build up and become problematic and the switches tend to go out on some very quickly while others go 20 years with no problem. I do know this if you ever have to deal with the service people a MAG they are pretty cool. They sent me a switch for a 3C just by calling. Arrived in two days.
If you want to learn from some guys that are completely eat up with flashlights and flashlight access'ries go here http://www.candlepowerforums.com/ some very good info including some radical MAGLITE modifications.
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mushrea
location:
North of Boston
Gender: Male
| | | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 89 on 7/24/2005 3:15 PM >
| | | | It should be fairly obvious what my flashlight of choice is after viewing this photo (I own 2 more not in the shot):
The red one on the far left is the biggest one they make, a 6D. You could seriously play baseball with this thing. I don't bring it on any UE trips because it's a behemoth, but it's a nice addition to my humble Mag collection.
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oldtimer
location:
Toronto
Gender: Male
| | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 90 on 10/31/2005 10:57 PM >
| | | | I'm still always on the lookout for decent flashlights. I have the 1AAA, 2AA, 2D and 4D Maglite versions.
Recently I stopped by at Home Depot to take a gander at their selection. Tired of dorking around, I was seriously considering one of those Ryobi 18V battery packs with the flashlight attachment. But for some reason purchasing those items separately along with the charger was almost as expensive as getting the "starter set" which included a table saw and screwdriver/drill thing. And an electric toothbrush attachment I'm sure. So just for the flashlight, battery, and charger the cost was approaching $70 to $100. Maybe I should buy the "set" - the table-saw and drill would serve as a clever decoy so they wouldn't catch on that I was a UE'er.
On a previous trip I noticed that they sell the 6V lantern batteries but a helpful employee told me they do not in fact carry the actual lanterns (for camping and so forth). Well my most recent trip found that helpful employee to be grossly in error. But it does take a leap to go see the back section of the "tools" department.
There was a plethora of lanterns - the kind with the huge reflectors, using the big rectangular batteries. Or 2D or 3Ds. Mind boggling in its variety. "Floating" I assumed meant waterproof but then I'm only guessing. Cheapo and not-so-cheapo ones.
I was about to give up again when I spotted a Husky brand spotlight. 1-million candlepower (arghghhhhhhhh, I salivated). It was rechargeable. Came with an A/C wall adapter and a 12v car cigarette lighter cord. For those pre-exploration top-ups. The unit was constructed of yummy aluminum too. A real glass front lens. Quartz halogen bulb. Switchable 3 light levels. An "area light" that was a longish cylindrical incandescent bulb in the top of the unit. 3-LED battery-charge status indicators. A lanyard that gives me an excuse to buy one of those carabiners. Internally it has a 6V sealed lead-acid battery rated at 3 Amp-Hour.
Only $22.97 plus tax. Heck at that price it's disposable. Like everything (doh!). I mean easily disposable without a lot of post purchase depression.
Amazing but true:
http://www.homedep...duct.jsp?pn=165066
Here's a review although there he says it's $29.95
http://www.shortcu.../column/column537/
Anyhow it remains to be seen how well it performs in the field. But even if it doesn't I'll keep it in the car. I had a 1.5 million candle power thing someplace which needed direct connection to the cigarette lighter but a rechargeable portable one is so much more.
Home Depot also had two different head-band type lights. They operate on 3AAA. I hate things that take odd numbers of batteries. One had 2 white LEDs and had 100%, 50%, 20% brightness and some blinking options. Around $14.94. The other had 2 white LEDs and a red one. Selectable but no variable output power. Around $20. I will hold off until I go see what some of the higher end hiking stores offer such as the Petzl mentioned above.
Just some more ideas for those who are looking to widen their urban lighting possibilities.
[last edit 10/31/2005 10:58 PM by oldtimer - edited 1 times]
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ian_evil
location:
Providence, Rhode Island
Gender: Male
we hope you have enjoyed our program.
| | | | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 91 on 10/31/2005 11:11 PM >
| | | | Posted by MothMan
the all-around best headlamp for explorers; the RAY-O-VAC Sportsman.
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If anyone wants a free Sportsman headlamp, I lost mine at the Providence Police and Fire Headquarters. I'm planning on buying another one, because they're cheap, handy, have the 3-way light, bright, have great battery life, etc, ect..
I also use Maglites. I own the AAA, AA, and a C versions. I feel like they're expensive, but they come with replacement bulbs, lenses, an easy way to carry them, and I feel like they're bright enough for their battery life.
[center][b]New England Industrial Culture Online[/b]
Stencil/Graffiti, Street Art - Industrial/Exprimental Music - Urban Exploration
"[i]We are the ones you had to dehumanize.[/i]"[/center] |
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'Dukes
Noble Donor
Gender: Male
At least someone llikes me
| | | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 92 on 10/31/2005 11:59 PM >
| | | | All lights aside, the best accessory you can buy for a Mag at least is the clip n grip by Nite Eyez, which is a neoprene sleeve with a clip for the belt and has a strap to fit the hand. This way you get a noiseless holder, as well as the ability to take photos without putting the light down (it's strapped to your hand).
I took the concept further and used a nylon strap which we use at work to "wear" the light under a jacket. How many times have you wanted to look a little normal and not have a goofy backpack, but you rather needed a somewhat obvious light? The solution, use a small, less effective light, or use the strap and grip n clip!
This way, you never have to worry about dropping the light, as it has a swivel, so if you choose to belt wear it, its just a matter of swivelling it towards your subject.
I've found this product to work best with 3d or above; I find all I ever need is a AA mag wich can be worn and is small anyway, and at most all I need is a 2d; unfortunately the sleeve covers the lights switch, so I modified the neoprene sleeve by cutting a fairly clean hole where the switch sits. So far it's worked pretty well.
I got your tour winner right here pussies, at least he'd crash out trying. |
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Collector
location:
SLC, Utah
| | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 93 on 11/1/2005 12:32 AM >
| | | | I am a big fan of Mags for UE. They have good throw, impromptu bludgeoning capability and are easy to replace. I just bought a Surefire G2 though, and wow what a light. Its about the size of a MiniMag, yet brighter then my 3D with more consistent output over time. So far I have been very very pleased with it. I will always use my trusty 3D, but for a backup or when a smaller light is called for I am glad to have discovered the G2.
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tick
location:
Abingdon, VA
Gender: Male
| | | | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 94 on 11/1/2005 4:29 AM >
| | | | Posted by Collector
I just bought a Surefire G2 though, and wow what a light. Its about the size of a MiniMag, yet brighter then my 3D with more consistent output over time. So far I have been very very pleased with it. I will always use my trusty 3D, but for a backup or when a smaller light is called for I am glad to have discovered the G2.
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And we have yet another convert to the world of high-end flashlight!
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Jonsered
location:
Back in New Mexico where I belong
Gender: Male
Dressed for a scarecrow ball.........
| |  | | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 95 on 11/1/2005 4:10 PM >
| | | | I've got a Surefire, a Streamlight, several MagLites, a Petzl, a Ray-O-Vac or two, a handful of old Army and Navy surplus lights, a Pelican and your typical selection of crap lights from big-box-retailers. All of them have advantages I enjoy, and quirks I hate. My final word on the subject is fairly simple. MagLites work for real. I have a mini-Mag that I bought in 1985, right after they were introduced, and it still works fine. I has been dropped, submerged, bathed in solvents, left in the snow, covered in deer blood, and a ton more abuses I can't even recall. As long as you carry a spare bulb, you will have a flashlight that functions. I won't debate battery life, beam shape, light color, etc. I just want one that works, and MagLite does it!
I have changed my personal exploring ethics code. From now on it will be: "Take only aimed shots, leave only hobo corpses." Copper scrappers, meth heads and homeless beware. The Jonsered cometh among you, bringing fear and dread.
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Axle
location:
Milton, ON
Gender: Male
Sieg oder Tod
| | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 96 on 11/1/2005 5:45 PM >
| | | | I used to have a three C cell Maglight, however it got lost/stolen. I replaced it with a Reactor LED 3 D-Cell and man is that a nice flashlight, super bright white LED. Works really well. Plus it has the same aluminum construction as Mags.
Celer at Audax
Para la Victoria Siempre Alemanes! |
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vwtype3guy
location:
Liverpool, NY
Gender: Male
| | | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 97 on 11/7/2005 2:23 AM >
| | | | I usually bring two Sears Craftsman flashlights that utilize a rechargeable battery. My father purchased them as part of a Cordless Drill/Flashlight Combination Set about five years ago. Bulky? Somewhat. Worth its weight in gold? Absolutely, in my opinion. :)
(My friend Brian holding both of them while I accidently snap a random picture)
(The closest thing on the current Craftsman market that I could find)
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Flynot
location:
West Saint Paul, MN
Gender: Male
| |  | | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 98 on 11/7/2005 8:34 AM >
| | | | I have a Surefire 6P in my back pocket next to my wallet at all times. This is the best flashlight I have ever owned. If running is the best option, a quick flash to the face can give you a healthy head start. I have had it out in heavy rain, dropped it in sand and gravel, and even dropped it onto rough asphalt from my bicycle going about 20. The latter resulted in only superficial damage.
I used to be a MagLight loyalist, but now that I have such a BRIGHT flashight I have seen the error in my ways. Definitely worth the price of admission.
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zero-trace
location:
Oshawa/London
Gender: Male
| | Re: best flashlight
<Reply # 99 on 11/8/2005 3:13 AM >
| | | | I don't know about the "best" but I bought a Noma luxeon L.E.D. flashlight at Canadian tire. It was only 34 bucks and it comes with 3 AAA batteries and a blue and red lens filter. I am saving up for an Inova T3 or maybe T5 but in the meantime this is a great flashlight. I also like the fact that it uses 3 AAA batteries which I can buy at the dollar store on the cheap instead of camera batteries. I also carry a 2D mag, L.E.D. headlamp, and two L.E.D. back-up flashlights.
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