Surefire Beast

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I read about this flashlight in a book, and thought "wow...2000 lumens? I think ill look into one of these". So I googled them, and saw the price on them. Needless to say, I was in complete disbelief, and almost passed out.

I have NO intention (couldnt if I wanted to) on spending $4700.00 on a flashlight, but im just wondering, whats the big deal? The nonrechargable ones require 20 Lithium 3 volts, and only run for 20 minutes. At $5 a piece, thats $100 for 20 minutes of runtime.

Whats everyones opinion on a flashlight that costs more to run for 20 minutes than I would feel comfortable spending on the flashlight itself, and that costs more than my first car just to buy?
 
I sure as heck would not buy one. You can get those plastic rechargable spot lights in the 5 million candle power range for less than $50. I can't imagine that the Beast is that much brighter. I know that CP and lumens are not convertable, but at $4700... WHO CARES???
 
Wow, that's insane. As mentioned, those 5 million candle power spots are $50-100 depending on what you buy and most of those are rechargeable. I have a Surefire 6PLED that I like, but that's all I need.
 
I don't know where you pay $5 a piece for CR123 batteries, but I only pay about $1.50 each online, ordered 20 at a time.

Yep, it is a battery hog and no doubt gets awfully hot awfully quick. I think they were meant as weapon lights for Barretts. :D
 
^I usually get them at Walmart, because I try to stay away from ordering simple items like that online. If I can get something in a store, I usually dont order online. But $1.50 a piece is an amazing deal. Where do you shop for Lithium 3's?
 
;)I believe our Border Patrol agents are using the "Beast" for nighttime stuff, as was Surefire's original intent!

Surefire 123 batteries are $1.50 each at Bill's Trading Post in Preskit, AZ.
 
They need to have it hooked to a stronger battery source. One that is rechargable, kina like the first cel phones, 20 batteries every 20 min is craxy. Even at $1.50 that's a cost of $90 per hour for a flashlight!! There our goverment making good use of our money again!! A rechargable Q beam can be had for $30 and I can't imagine needing more light than that.
NCH
 
^They actually have a rechargable version of the flashlight. Even still, its a $4700 light. Whats so great about them? Has anyone used one before? Is it any brighter than the $200 or so dollar Borealis?
 
Don't know much about the Borealis, 'cept what I've read from the maker.

I did see the original video when the Beast was being first released. It was filmed in Vegas, indoors, with lights on. They placed it on a table, with many onlookers, facing the ceiling. When they lit it up, everyone quickly turned away!

I want one, but I'm sadly not a rich man.
 
Unless things have changed, the Beast is not available to the general public.
Is it any brighter than the $200 or so dollar Borealis?
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Going by the quoted specs from both manufacturers, the Beast puts out just under twice the light that the top-of-the-line Borealis does.
 
This website has it for ONLY $4160. The website also shows a rechargable Surefire Handle which gives up to 2 hours of run time at the 2000 lumen output. I'm sure this is the option most owners will go with since 20 batteries (@ $1.75 a pop from Surefire) would cost $35 and only give 1.5 hours of run time. I'm not sure if these are the specs for The Beast 2 though.

I like the fact that they are using HID technology since it puts out a tremendous amount of light but not a tremendous amount of heat. HID lights do require lots of power though (20 3 volt batteries = 60 volts). I still can't see myself shelling out that kind of dough for a flashlight. I'd rather buy a very nice gun or even a couple of guns.
 
(20 3 volt batteries = 60 volts).
Click to expand...

Only if linked sequentially. If linked parallel, it could be a three volt light with 20 times the wattage, but more realistically, the light may be a 15v light with 4 times the wattage (5 serial sets of 4 parallel sets). Or maybe it is a 60v light if all are linked sequeantially.
 
Here is a picture of the Beast in action at a Las Vegas private party for CPF.
Has anybody mention that they attain full power slowly? unlikely incandescent hot wires that are instantaneous.


As you can see in the picture, it is not exactly pocket size!


beast.jpg


Cheers
Black Bear
 
So, do I gotta pay a luxury tax on that thing? Best served as a portable tanning bed. No, wait a minute, I can get my wife a tanning bed for less money. Or a used car. Or a family vacation. Or even two tanks of gasoline (I crack myself up). If the sun ever burns out and I win the lottery, I know which light to buy!
 
So, do I gotta pay a luxury tax on that thing? Best served as a portable tanning bed. No, wait a minute, I can get my wife a tanning bed for less money. Or a used car. Or a family vacation. Or even two tanks of gasoline (I crack myself up). If the sun ever burns out and I win the lottery, I know which light to buy!
Click to expand...

lol...priceless :p

I didnt realize they were so huge either. It just seems so impractical. I think ill stick with a borealis when I can even afford one of those :(
 
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