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Topic:
What's the latest great flashlight product?
This thread has 21 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Friday November 25, 2016 at 16:47
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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I've got a couple of Goal Zero Bolt flashlights that recharge using a USB mini jack on the flashlight. They're great. There's only one drawback: something about them must have been horrible, because Goal Zero doesn't have them, ebay doesn't have them, can't find them anywhere. So let's move on.

That flashlight is USB rechargeable, about six inches long, uses a battery that can be replaced (an 18650, IIRC), has two light levels, and can focus from a spot about a foot wide at five feet to about six feet wide at five feet.

There's another drawback, common to most flashlights: it easily rolls on a flat surface.

The price was thirty something dollars a few years ago.

So, if you had something like this, what would you replace it with? I'd like to hear what you actually use; I can see lots of flashlights online and in stores where I'd have to do my own review by spending the money! Thanks for your time.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 2 made on Friday November 25, 2016 at 17:01
iform
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I have a Fenix PD-35 clipped onto my bag. Not usb rechargeable but really bright if I need it.

They have rechargeable units though.

Look at the RC-11, it can recharge magnetically.
Post 3 made on Friday November 25, 2016 at 18:24
oprahthehutt.
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Its called the Fleshlight. Very innovative.
Post 4 made on Friday November 25, 2016 at 21:06
Mario
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I just have 2 of these: UltraFire 7w 300lm Mini Cree Led Flashlight Torch Adjustable Focus Zoom Light Lamp

[Link: amazon.com]

It's basic, cheap and won't roll due to belt clip.

I have my flashlight on my belt at all times.

I'm not in SWAT trying to illuminate a city block.

This light is small and good enough to do anything I need it, be it behind a cabinet, crawl space, dark driveway on my way to the van after dark, etc.

And because it's inexpensive, I won't lose any sleep if I forget it somewhere.

The only annoying thing is that it always goes from LOW, HIGH, BLINK.

BTW, I have purchased one of the $89 super flashlights and found them to be too bright, large and unnecessary since I have my mini.
Post 5 made on Friday November 25, 2016 at 21:23
Fins
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If you want the best lights ever made, check out Surefire. They have headlamps, wrist lights, flashlights, and tactical lights. Police and military is where they really got their start. But their lights are incredible. Some even can double as defensive weapons.

But they aren't cheap. Far from cheap. The other option, go to Amazon, buy multiples of something with a high lumen rating that's cheap and you won't care if you lose. Put one of them everywhere.
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 6 made on Friday November 25, 2016 at 21:48
thecapnredfish
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Streamlight Pro Tac 2AA. Does not roll seriously bright runs on always available aa. Great warrany. Nearly indestructible. Not new, but proven.
Post 7 made on Friday November 25, 2016 at 21:48
tomciara
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Fenix E-12 for the pocket, three brightness levels, (1) AA battery so it lasts. Good pocket size, I use it ALL the time.

Fenix LD-41 to light the whole length of the crawl space.
There is no truth anymore. Only assertions. The internet world has no interest in truth, only vindication for preconceived assumptions.
Post 8 made on Friday November 25, 2016 at 22:16
Fins
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Streamlight is a descent budget option for surefire. I forgot about them. If you compare the two side by side, they clearly aren't in the category as surefire, but they are very good.
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 9 made on Friday November 25, 2016 at 23:45
pilgram
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I've been carrying a Streamlight Stylus Pro in my pocket for years.

I wouldn't rely on it for tactical purposes but it is perfect for this line of work!

[Link: amazon.com]

Last edited by pilgram on November 26, 2016 00:12.
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Post 10 made on Saturday November 26, 2016 at 01:46
Brad Humphrey
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I use Streamlight as well. I have the headband that uses 3AAA, love that thing.
[Link: amazon.com]

I have a few Maglite Mini flashlights around. Has worked great over the years. The only thing I don't like is they are a little to much 'spot' and not enough 'flood' for me most of the time. Very bright beam because of the spotting.
[Link: amazon.com]

There is another one I have also but can't remember the name - it works even better than the Maglite Mini (a bit more flood). But I might have paid a little more for it.
Tip: to keep those round lights from rolling on you, just take the fuzzy side of some velcro and stick some to one side of the light - problem solved.
Post 11 made on Saturday November 26, 2016 at 05:35
buzz
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In my late teens we discovered an ad in the back of Popular Science touting "the world's most powerful flashlight". We had to purchase a case of the six D-cell monsters with a 4" glass reflector. On a lark, I joined the group purchase and I wasn't disappointed. Need to spot something 100 yards down the road? -- no problem. Drop the thing in a pool -- no problem (don't take it diving). Now, it will be done with cellphones or wimpy little LED things, but back then there were occasional "flashlight wars". With this beast, it wasn't much of a contest, the war would abruptly end after I ignited my torch. (think kitchen knife facing an automatic weapon) I kept this weapon under the driver's seat and I could give a tailgater with high beams blaring a bright message. In the end, the flashlight was stolen from my car and, as you can see, I still miss it.

I've gone through a few LED's, including Maglite Mini's. So far my favorite was a "REDLINE" that I picked up in a hardware store, but it's battery holder disintegrated after a couple years. I had a similar issue with a Mini where a conductive carbon path developed in the battery holder, causing the batteries to run down after a few days. Currently, I'm using a Duracell model that works OK, but the power switch is too easy to press and just bumping it my pocket turns it on and runs down the batteries.

Yes, I hate the flash mode. I don't understand the rationale behind that feature. It seems to me that they were running the LED in pulse mode and at that point, adding the flash was a cheap feature and an easy way to differentiate an LED model from its incandescent competition. The early LED models were very dim and had terrible optics -- but they could flash.
OP | Post 12 made on Saturday November 26, 2016 at 10:22
Ernie Gilman
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On November 25, 2016 at 21:06, Mario said...
I just have 2 of these: UltraFire 7w 300lm Mini Cree Led Flashlight Torch Adjustable Focus Zoom Light Lamp

The link for that flashlight states that a new model is available: [Link: amazon.com]
Thing is, it's twenty bucks, has a different battery, and has five different light modes. So it's not the new model, it's a different model.

The only annoying thing is that it always goes from LOW, HIGH, BLINK.

I'd LOVE to hear from someone who likes or needs that stupid blink mode. The twenty dollar one also has an SOS mode. I'm sure someone needs that, but it should be a specialty item, not the run of the mill model!

BTW, I have purchased one of the $89 super flashlights and found them to be too bright, large and unnecessary since I have my mini.

Agreed.

On November 25, 2016 at 21:23, Fins said...
... Surefire... have... tactical lights... Some even can double as defensive weapons.

A tactical light IS a light that can be used as a weapon. You don't just smack a guy in the face with it, you grind those sharp front projections into his eye socket.

On November 26, 2016 at 05:35, buzz said...
I kept this weapon under the driver's seat and I could give a tailgater with high beams blaring a bright message. In the end, the flashlight was stolen from my car and, as you can see, I still miss it.

You could check out this: 10,000 lumen: [Link: amazon.com]

Yes, I hate the flash mode. I don't understand the rationale behind that feature. It seems to me that they were running the LED in pulse mode and at that point, adding the flash was a cheap feature and an easy way to differentiate an LED model from its incandescent competition. The early LED models were very dim and had terrible optics -- but they could flash.

Someone thought it was a good idea, sold some, and then everybody felt they had to compete. That's my guess. It's a stupid idea for most of the world.

Thanks for all the input!
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 13 made on Saturday November 26, 2016 at 12:10
highfigh
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I used to think my dad was insane for having flashlights in all areas of the house. Ever heard the saying "He's his father's son"? Yup.

They're in my tool bag, tool boxes, stuck to the steel bulkhead in my van, in my garage, basement, upstairs, in the kitchen......

I bought a headband light with a switch that's too easily slid to ON, so the batteries are dead more often than not. I went to a gun store yesterday for a few things and on Black Friday, they have a $20 mystery box filled with items that would sell for at least $50 and inside, was a headband light similar to the one linked above, with a different name and color. I'll be tossing the old one next time I see it.

I have cheap ones from Harbor Freight with a tether- they're not bad and when they have a coupon, they're free or 2 for $3. I also have a few that have a hook for hanging, with a group of LEDs on the face and a row on one end- they're pretty good and most of them take 3-4 AAA batteries. I have a few Mini MagLites that have the incandescent bulb- I almost never use them because of bulb/battery life and cost. The one that takes four D-cell batteries only cost $15, but I never use it because I got this-

[Link: skywalker.com]

It doesn't have a sharp edge around the lens, but the sleeve is turned aluminum, so it has small pyramid-shaped areas that would work great for smacking someone in the head and collecting skin/DNA samples. It can be adjusted to flood an area or for a bean that's so narrow beam it projects a crisp shape at long distances. The Skywalker site shows that it's good to 300 yards- not sure whether they mean it's visible at that distance or it will illuminate something at a useful brightness, but it's pretty annoying when it shines into someone's eyes at the brightest setting. It has Bright, Dim and flash, which is useful for shining into a wall or other space that it lit, but I need to see if the gap or hole I shine into can be used for fishing cabling. It also has a metal bead on the end, for breaking glass.

I used it when I was feeding cables at a house that's a three hour drive from here and the first time I worked up there, I was pretty tired at the end while I cleared my stuff out and since I had needed my ladder elsewhere, I didn't notice that I left it on a heating duct. I realized this when I was about halfway home and there's no way I was going to drive back for a flashlight. I returned two weeks later and the first thing I did was make a beeline to the basement, where I saw the beam from my flashlight, shining very brightly. I think I bought it in 2013 and if I have replaced the batteries more than once, I would be surprised.

Best flashlight I have owned.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 14 made on Saturday November 26, 2016 at 18:03
cshepard
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Four Sevens Maelstrom.
[Link: foursevens.com]
Chris
Post 15 made on Saturday November 26, 2016 at 18:10
CI256
Long Time Member
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59
"What's the latest and great flashlight product?"

My iPhone. I have flashlights lying around with dead batteries because I always have a flashlight in my pocket and it's always charged. Sure, it doesn't work in every situation but that's what a headlamp is for. I use my phone 99% of the time. My iPhone 7 even has quick access to different light levels using 3D Touch.
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