I Need a Good Simple Flashlight...

C

Cosmodragoon

New member
I've been using the same set of Maglite incandescent flashlights for decades. They used to be cutting edge, from their incredible reliability down to the spare bulb tucked under the battery spring. Now... well, technology has come a long way. So help me get with the times.

I want a relatively small flashlight. I want it bright but not like, Ark of the Covenant bright. I want the button on the end for thumb operation. I do NOT want to cycle through a whole bunch of modes with that button. I just want "on" or "off". I want it waterproof, resilient, and long-lasting. I want it for under fifty bucks.

Any recommendations?
 
I've been carrying the Cree type flashlights daily for quite a few years now that use the batteries that look like a AA battery on steroids, 18650 Li-Ion I think.
Doubt that you'll find one without the feature of multiple modes by pushing the 'on' button, but some are less temperamental than others in that respect.
They make some pretty puny ones that simply use one AA as well.
Great light with a beam that you can focus, durable, waterproof, for very little money.
Pick them up off eBay with light, charger, and at least one battery for anywhere from $5 to $50,(if you want to overpay).
Cheap enough that I keep one in the truck, the service truck, and several places around the house along with the one on my belt daily and two batteries in a charger on the counter 24/7.
Car chargers for the batteries are available as well or you can use the typically included cradle for three AAA batteries instead.
Here's a link to some on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/sis.html?_nkw=G1000+Tactical+LED+Flashlight++-+Adjustable+Tac+Light+Ultra+Bright+CREE+T6+-+KIT&_id=332140152959&&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2658
 
Streamlight Microstream. AAA

Hear me out.

I have a ton of flashlights and the Microstream at like 17 bucks simply punches far above its weight for a general purpose have it anywhere buy a few flashlight.

Pop a lithium aaa in it and you will be pushing to my eye about 50 lumens and your runtime is in the 4 hour range in my experience. Throw is decent, spill is decent. The tail switch is perfect. Heavily sprung to click for on requires thought / effort but momentary is easy, but not so easy to constantly come on in your pocket. All that and if you lose or break one......$17 Bucks :). I have a couple that are toss around lights and the finish wears but they just keep chugging.

This coming from a guy with Surefires, HDS, and much higher end Streamlights as well as many others.

For more money I really like the Streamlight 1L-1AA. You can set it to only come on in high mode and the ability to run a CR123 or alkaline/lithium AAs is a pretty nice and well thought out feature. A CR123 gets you like 300 lumens the AA about have that. If you use a lithium AA you are looking at around 150 lumens for a good long runtime.

Invest in a set of Eneloop batteries and you have a rechargeable option for either. I would go with the Eneloop Pros for this use but any will work.

For ref sake an incandescent 2D maglight puts out about 20ish lumens but has a discharge curve that drops that number like a mortar very quickly.
 
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I like the Streamlight 88853. LED, CR123, polymer so it's light and plenty tough for the average user. I have one in my jump kit and one in each of my trucks. Bright but not nuts.
 
There are plenty of good options costing under $20. Look at Walmart. If you have access to a Sams Club these are about as good as anything.

https://www.samsclub.com/sams/tasco-led-flashlight/prod16420024.ip?xid=plp:product:1:1

These are 400 lumens and are far more powerful than the light you've been using. I like that they use 3 AAA batteries instead of the expensive ones.

There are several smaller versions that are in the 50-200 Lumen range that easily fit in a pocket
 
If you like your maglight just get an LED bulb replacement kit. Same light, brighter and cheaper to run.
 
Take your HF coupon and buy something small and get a light for free.

I usually get a brass brush, great for cleaning revolvers.
 
two

I'll mention two lights with which I have had good experience.

The first is a metal Pelican #2360 that takes two AA batteries and has a pocket clip. It does have a tail cap switch . But I found that Pelican buried in the mud one spring on a 4wd woods road. It had undoubtedly been dropped months earlier by a deer hunter and laid out for a long time. Once I dug it out, it still worked. Took it home and cleaned it up, and it is still working. 'Course with new batteries. It does have two switch settings, high and low, but that is one tough light. As mine was free, I cannot advise a cost!

The other is a Streamlight Microstream. It talkes a single AA battery and is small enought to wear in your shirt pocket daily. I've washed mine in the machine several times, lost in once and it laid in our gravel drive and got run over , but it is still ticking. Tail cap switch, pocket clip a and one setting.
 
The Streamlight ProTac 2L is an excellent, very high quality, compact flashlight. It uses 2 CR 123 batteries . The switch button is on the end for use of the thumb to turn on the flashlight. I have two of them and they are the best flashlights I have ever owned. Dealer prices range from $30+ to about $44+.

Edited for typo.
 
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If you like your maglight just get an LED bulb replacement kit. Same light, brighter and cheaper to run.
Click to expand...

I still like the larger ones and they'll probably stay in use for at least as many decades as they have already. I'll probably keep them incandescent. Beyond nostalgia for the good ol' days, I do like the gentler light for certain tasks. An important problem with the smaller Maglites is that they don't use a button. You need to twist them. I want quick and easy one-handed operation with a thumb button for this one.
 
Do some of the decent penlights or small flashlights have their multiple modes controlled by something other than the on/off switch?
 
LED's, standard or tactical, is the way to go

Tactical and non-tactical LED flashlights are so prolific that you don't have to jump thru hoops to find one. Our local farm store lists these for $10.00. LED is the future for a number of very good reasons and yes, most come from China.

I have give most of my hunting incandescent flashlights to my grandsons and replaced them with LED's. I am also in the process of replacing all my 48" fluorescent shop lights with LED"s. as well as my standard lamps/bulbs.

Be Safe
 
If your just interested in one light and your done any of the Surefire, Streamlight, Olight, Fenix, Klaurus or a number of other well thought of brands would serve you fine. SureFire is considered the best by many and they make a multitude of sizes of hand held and weapons lights.

If you have a serious interest in flashlights (usage or collecting) I highly recommend heading over to the CPF forum (Candle Light Forum) where some serious Flashaholics ( Flashlight enthusiasts, collectors) can answer your every question on flashlights.
 
Thanks, everybody. I was not prepared for the depth of this rabbit hole. I picked up a few of the basic single-mode flashlights to play around with, including the Microstream and Stylus Pro from Streamlight. I ended up joining the CPF to learn more. Now I'm looking at some multiple-mode flashlights that might actually work for me, and some of those less harsh LED options like the Nichia 219...
 
The Streamlight ProTac 2L is an excellent, very high quality, compact flashlight. It uses 2 CR 123 batteries . The switch button is on the end for use of the thumb to turn on the flashlight. I have two of them and they are the best flashlights I have ever owned. Dealer prices range from $30+ to about $44+.
Click to expand...

Second this.
 
About a zillion

I swear I have around that many flashlights, hyperbole of course.

Not at all fond of the flashlights that take three AAA batteries. In my experience the battery life is poor.

I have become addicted to the really bright headlights. I have one with a large rechargeable pack that I use with my 3.5 loupes.

If you choose the E-bay (Chinese) loupes be careful about the working distance. Prolly around 200 mm is best for working on guns.

I just picked up a headlight by Xanes, designed for cycling. It's a flamethrower. Really like the 18650 battery pack, on the back of the headband.

Nice big pack, recharges via USB, and balances nicely. Awesome and about 20 bucks.
I wear a headlight a lot, and the three AAA type eat batteries.
 
The flashlights that take a AAA battery pack should work with either a 18650 or 18500 (one or the other; many are too short for a 18650 to fit) rechargeable lithium battery. I wrap a paper sleeve for the battery so it doesn't rattle around in there. I get 18650's from old laptop battery packs. Those batteries are not "protected", but I'm pretty sure that doesn't matter when you use them singly.
 
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