[jyl]

It is time to buy some flashlights to restock the house and cars.

I used to have a whole bunch of Maglites and similar, but one by one the kids took them to college or camping and they disappeared.

What do you all like for flashlights, in the following categories?

A: Light Cannon. This is the flashlight you keep by the door for when you hear a sound and go outside, aim your flamethrower into the night sky, and light up a UFO taking off with a whole neighbor family. You raise the alarm but no-one believes you. A week later the UFO comes back for you and you fight them off with your light blaster, focused to max tight and broiling pasty aliens like ants under a magnifying glass. Not just a self defense weapon, in a pinch serves as a photon drive or tanning booth. Size and weight not that important, looking for sheer lightpower plus beam control. Optional club feature a nice to have but we’re not cops on a beat.

B: Utility Illuminator. This is the flashlight for the back of the refrigerator, the underside of the car, the basement during a blackout. The light cannon gets all the oooos but when you want to change a fuse without being knocked unconscious by the light beam ricocheting off the panel door, this is what you need. Wide and even illumination, good battery life, small and handy, stays where you put it, and cheap enough to have a dozen stashed in cars and rooms. Bonus if can be held in your teeth, double bonus if battery life is long enough to last through the whole blackout. Rechargeables will be considered.

C: Headlamp. More than just a utility illuminator stuck to your forehead, the ideal headlamp is feather-light, goes from bright enough to mountain bike a trail in the dark to dim enough to tie on a fly without spooking the whole stream. Waterproof, small and powered by standard batteries are all musts. Night vision red setting gets bonus points.

Have any recommendations to share? Post links and watch me do my patriotic consumer duty!