Looking for a new flashlight, help me decide

[GLP Standard]

Okay, heres the deal. I have a Surefire G2 Nitrolon as a backup flashlight, and I use a 3 D-Cell Maglight as my main flashlight. I hate the Maglight, and am looking for another flashlight to use as my main light. What would you guys recommend?

-Has to be rechargeable
-Same approximate size as a Maglight
-Brighter the better

 

[woodland]

Streamlight SL-20LED is what I use for my work flashlight. Rechargable, very bright clean beam, comfortable to hang onto, and it can really take a beating. (or give one, depending on how you look at it!) I like having the LED option for close up stuff, like looking at papers or writing notes or something. Plus, if it goes dead on the regular light, you still get about an hour of usable light from the LEDs. If you don't want the LED you can get the same light without it for a little less $. That is the SL-20. If you are not going to beat it up, then you can get the SL-20P, which is a composit, or plastic, housing.

Try one! You will love it!

 

[BillCA]

Both Maglite and Streamlight make excellent products. The Streamlight has made it's name on the rechargeable feature which is excellent if you use a light a lot.

In the past, instead of the "D" cell units, I've preferred the "C" cell units for two reasons.

First is that the can be carried in a standard police baton ring. Thus you can have a flashlight with 3-5 cells and a spacer, giving you an aluminum "nightstick" and flashlight in one.

Second is that the smaller diameter "C" cell units are easier to hold in the hand and use like a baton than the "D" cell units. This means retention if you're using it defensively.

I don't know if either Maglite or Streamlight sell the "baton" style lights any more, however. I was used to using the original "Tac" light made by Kel-Lite.

 

[sholling]

I think we just covered this but here ya go.

In my pocket at all times the Fenix L0D CE - $47 (discounts available) and worth every penny.

Fenix L0D:
• Cree 7090 XR-E LED
• Five output modes: 20 Lumens(3.5hrs) -> 7.5 Lumens(8.5hrs) -> 50 Lumens(1hrs) ->Strobe -> SOS
• Four days of survival use (two continuous hours per day on the lowest setting)
• Uses one 1.5V AAA battery (not included), inexpensive and widely available
• 7.35cm (L) x 1.4cm (D) (or 2.9 in (L) x 0.6 in (D))
• 14.5-gram (or 0.5 oz) weight (excluding batteries)
• Made of aircraft-grade aluminum
• Durable Type III hard-anodized finish
• Toughened ultra-clear glass lens with AR coating
• Waterproof to IPX-8 Standards
• Capable of standing up securely on a flat surface to serve as a candle
• Input voltage: 0.8V~3.3V
• Reliable twist-switch
• Includes a spare o-ring, a split ring, and a pocket clip

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On order for belt carry the Fenix T1 - $77 (discounts available)

• Cree Premium (Q5) 7090 XR-E LED with lifespan of 50,000 hours
• Two modes of output, selected by turning the bezel:
¨ Turbo Mode: Constant 225 Lumens, 1.5 hours
¨ General Mode: Constant 60 Lumens, 10 hours
• Highly efficient focusing head - throws beam over 200 meters
• Textured Reflector for optimum balance and transition between spot and flood
• Digitally regulated output - maintains constant brightness
• Low battery indication system
• Uses two 3V CR123A lithium batteries TWO CR123A INCLUDED
• 136.5mm (Length) x 35mm (Diameter)
• Solid stainless head & durable aircraft-grade aluminum housing
• Premium Type III hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish
• 153 + -- 0.5 gram weight (excluding batteries)
• Waterproof to IPX-8 Standard
• Toughened ultra-clear glass lens with anti-reflective coating
• Tactical tailcap switch with momentary-on function
• Tactical body clip – attaches securely for easy carrying
• Anti-roll, slip-resistant body design
• Able to stand up securely on a flat surface to serve as a candle
• Included accessories: holster, lanyard, two spare o-rings, and a spare rubber switch boot

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next to my bed the Tenergy CREE XR-E (4W) - $29 w/10 CR123A batteries - on par or slightly better than a 3D-cell Maglite, but not in the same league as Fenix. BTW: This is the only All-Battery flashlight that I can recommend.

While you're at All-Battery check out their chargers. A charger for CR123A with 6 rechargeable batteries is $27.

Note I am not associated with either company except as a happy customer.

 

[GLP Standard]

woodland: Ill definately look into the light you suggested. I glanced at it briefly, and it seems to suit what I need, for a nice price. How does everyone feel about the Stingers?

 

[woodland]

The Stingers are great too. I prefer the SL-20 series though, because I also have a Surefire Nitrolon G2LED on my belt. The Stinger is not really big enough to use as a "tool" but it's too big to be a "handy little" flashlight. To me, when I want more than just the G2, I want it to be something that I can break a window out with or use as an effective weapon. To me the Stinger is just a bit to light for that.

 

[rnr]

Look at the Streamlights at Brightguy.com and decide from there.

And don't throw the Mag light away. Get the correct (2 or 3 cell) 3 Watt LED drop in for it at WalMart. Turns a not so great Mag Lite into a pretty decent light.

 

[black bear 84]

Has to be rechargeable
-Same approximate size as a Maglight
-Brighter the better
[quote/]


If you are in law enforcement forget about the small LED's lights that have such poor throw at a distance and are so poor at penetrating fog, rain and smoke.
Stick with a serious incandescent light.

Here is a post that will throw some illumination

THE BEAR CUB
SMALL LIGHT BIG PERFORMANCE

Not long ago to get magnum illumination out of a flashlight, I had to drop down the tube, six of the big D batteries on a Maglite 6 D size.
That the light weights three pounds one ounce and measures 19 ½ inches was just incidental to the use if I wanted to get a really good, powerful beam.

Later Surefire come up with small lights that could take two and three or four small but powerful 123’s camera batteries, some of those lights, come up and surpass the 181 lumens of the big Maglite 6 D.
I am thinking now of the specialty tactical light than Surefire have as the M-4 that uses four of the 123 batteries for 225 lumens for one hour run time.
Incidentally the M-4 is not precisely inexpensive, costing $330 USD from Surefire or their dealers.

The only problem is that the little 3 volts batteries are quite expensive, and using four of them for one hour run time can cost you $8.00 for that hour.
And that is if you buy them at discount over the Internet, when purchased in the camera stores (such as Wal Mart) the little 3 volts batteries cost as much as $4 each.

So a light of the size of the Surefire M-4 (9 inches long) was highly desired if it could be made to run on rechargeable batteries, to avoid the big battery expense of the M-4.

Enter the Bear Cub, a nine inches light, with a 13 oz. weight that is rechargeable and uses Lithium Ion batteries.
This little light makes 220 lumens for 90 minutes of run time, and then recharges its two batteries with a fast charger that is included, in three and a half hours.
The Lithium Ion batteries can be recharged up to 1,000 times and when they eventually get depleted can be replaced with $30.

HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE BEAR CUB LIGHT, NEXT TO THE SUREFIRE M-4.

AND HERE NEXT TO THE MAGLITE 6 D

And here a couple of beam shots at 26 yards for comparison.

MAGLITE 6 D

BEAR CUB

Yes the little rechargeable Bear Cub is characterized for an intense white light, and a run time of 90 minutes, all in a small size that can fit in any glove compartment or trench coat pocket.
Best Wishes

Black Bear

 

[black bear 84]

And a comparison of how it does against the vaunted Surefire M-4 (225 lumens for 60 minutes on four 123's batteries)


THE SUREFIRE M-4 AND THE RECHARGEABLE BEAR CUB

The M-4 is 9 inches long and quite light in weight, it have a stippled reflector that diffuses the light into a flood, which in my opinion is more flood than it is needed, I would like to see this light marketed with a smooth reflector for more useable throw, as sometimes the wounded deer circle back toward the open fields, and to spot one lying dead in the middle of the field more throw is needed.
For more about the Surefire M-4 ($330) contact Surefire.

BEAMSHOTS FROM 26 YARDS, CAMERA AT 12 FEET FROM DEER

BEAMSHOT OF THE SUREFIRE M-4

The rechargeable Bear Cub is made by Black Bear Flashlights; it uses two state of the art Lithium Ion rechargeable batteries for 90 minutes run time outputting 220 lumens. This light is made
using the “host” of a maglite 2 C, which means than after years of hard use when the light is scratched or dented, you can renew it just by buying a new “host” for about $14.00.

The light is also 9 inches long, it has a smooth reflector that concentrates the beam and shoots it a long way, no problem with this light in spotting a dead deer in the middle of the field. The light is sold with a Li Ion charger that will charge the batteries in 3 ½ hours, so it is no problem to have it ready for the next morning, fully charged. These batteries last for 1,000 recharges so you have 1500 hours of use before needing another set of batteries. Before the M-4 can run for 1500 hours it will have spend $12,000 in batteries!

Extra lightweight Lithium Ion rechargeable batteries cost $30 per pair, so carrying an extra pair in a pocket will give you another 90 minutes of white intense tracking light.
When these lights are not used for tracking they make a formidable tactical light for home defense, with the capability of momentarily blinding an opponent.
The Bear Cub is available from the maker for $130 shipped, for more about this light contact Black Bear Flashlights.

BEAMSHOT OF THE BEAR CUB

Both of these lights will beat handily a 250,000 lumens spotlight; they are very convenient to carry in a pack or fanny-pack or even a large pocket. I use a red light to enter the woods without polluting them with light; I make a habit of always carrying my Bear Cub in my pack, ready for the most important chore of the hunting season, the retrieval of a wounded deer. I think that is our obligation to the game to make our best efforts to retrieve the deer we shoot, the use of the proper tool for tracking blood is imperative to aid in such efforts.

All the best
Black Bear

 

[bushidomosquito]

I like the Rayovac 3W LED for $25 at wally world. It's 80 lumens, hard anodized aluminum (it leapt from my pocket and skittered down a 30 foot brushed concrete driveway without a scratch), well machined and looks like a thermal detonator! It puts my Surefire E2D to shame and uses AAs instead of those expensive 123As. At that price you can seed the house with them and always know where one is.

 

[The Man]

The Hitman

I Have A Surefire G2 And Its A Great Flashlight,The Only Bad Thing Is The Batteries,But They Are Making Rechargeable(Surefire G3).I Have Too A Rechargeable Mag-Lite And Is Good Enough,Brighter And Last A Real Long Time.

 

[UMP]

G2 nitrolon led is the best. It is so powerful and has great battery life. 80 lumens and 10-12 hrs of battery life.