Flash Lights....regular or those "tactical"?

[John Rogers]

I may have missed the subject but I haven't seen anyone post about flash lights? Soooo if a double post, what the hell. I have a pair of 4 "D" cell Mag-Lite flash lights I got before I retired from the Navy, about 1983 or so and kept them since retiring in 1985. The have had the finish worn some but still work well and a little over two years ago I bought LED replacement bulbs to see if they were better. Well yes they are brighter especially after the company sent me a pair of new glass lenses. I put in 4 new D cells in each one and they are used nearly every day especially if I have to look behind the computer or find one of my wife's hearing aides. Well it dawned on me today the batteries haven't needed replacement in the time the LED conversion took place! So if you have an old flashlight the replacement LEDs are worth the slightly extra money.

I also noticed while at Costco the other day they had a Duracell 1500 lumen "tactical 4 battery flash light for about $20 so I got one and that sucker is BRIGHT! I want to see how long the C cells last?

[berettafan]

Tactical = mall ninja to me.

But for sure flashlight tech has really improved. My favorite is a $20 ‘defiance’ Home Depot light I got about 5 years ago. Use it as a spotlight running the duck boat pre dawn. Single mode and the button is near the lense end where it belongs making it useable with one hand. So much better than the old rechargeable spots that lasted maybe 10 minutes on a charge.

What I hate about most new lights now is the stupid multi mode switch they have. Bright, dim, flash....wtf I just want a flashlight!!!

Originally Posted by berettafan

Tactical = mall ninja to me.

But for sure flashlight tech has really improved. My favorite is a $20 ‘defiance’ Home Depot light I got about 5 years ago. Use it as a spotlight running the duck boat pre dawn. Single mode and the button is near the lense end where it belongs making it useable with one hand. So much better than the old rechargeable spots that lasted maybe 10 minutes on a charge.

What I hate about most new lights now is the stupid multi mode switch they have. Bright, dim, flash....wtf I just want a flashlight!!!

Agree. I have one where you have to cycle through all the modes each time. Arrrgh. Still looking for flashlight nirvana. Still looking for folding knife nirvana.

Originally Posted by John Rogers

I may have missed the subject but I haven't seen anyone post about flash lights? Soooo if a double post, what the hell. I have a pair of 4 "D" cell Mag-Lite flash lights I got before I retired from the Navy, about 1983 or so and kept them since retiring in 1985. The have had the finish worn some but still work well and a little over two years ago I bought LED replacement bulbs to see if they were better. Well yes they are brighter especially after the company sent me a pair of new glass lenses. I put in 4 new D cells in each one and they are used nearly every day especially if I have to look behind the computer or find one of my wife's hearing aides. Well it dawned on me today the batteries haven't needed replacement in the time the LED conversion took place! So if you have an old flashlight the replacement LEDs are worth the slightly extra money.

I also noticed while at Costco the other day they had a Duracell 1500 lumen "tactical 4 battery flash light for about $20 so I got one and that sucker is BRIGHT! I want to see how long the C cells last?

I have an affinity for those big 4 D cells. Clubs that happen to have a handy light coming out one end!

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by madcorgi

I have an affinity for those big 4 D cells. Clubs that happen to have a handy light coming out one end!

Agreed. A 4-cell Noggin' Nokker on the floorboards within handy reach is always a good idea - in case of a blown fuse or something.

[Jeff Higgins]

Yeah, LED flashlights are something else. While I have a number of old three and four "D" cell Maglites (I didn't realize there was an LED conversion for them - gonna hafta look into that), I bought some generic "hog hunting" green (green is supposed to not alarm them) LED thing from Midway a few years ago. Holy moley - I swear I can light up the bottom of airplanes on final to Paine Field, much less every hog in Washington. I bought it to light up rats in the back yard for my night time pellet gun rat shooting. It takes some weird, non-standard battery, so I bought a box of 20 of those, thinking "those should last awhile". Well, no schitt - five years later, I'm on about my third. The LED just doesn't use any juice. Isn't modern tech wonderful (sometimes)?

[rusnak]

The flashlight that I use the most is this one that just clips onto my shirt.

[look 171]

I still have a couple of those big old Maglights but they don't get use anymore. I have been a flashlight nerd for some time now so may I suggest my favorite Thrunite TN12 or better yet its brother ThruNite Chargeable Flashlight TC12 V2 +3400*1 - ThruNite Official Store. I like it because it can be left charging through a USB port and don't have to deal with a battery and charger.

No cycling through, set it with a little button but cycle through the 5 settings if needed. This little thing is bright, but can be dail back so it can be used inside the house behind cabinets looking for small stuff without blinding yourself. I have one in everyone of our cars. It last a loooong time. When I remember, I change out the batteries on them once or twice a year. Only draw back to this is that its small, so its no weapon and it can get lost in a bag or drawer. I hate those tactical flashlights with the serrated bezels. Not only it cut up my shorts and get snag on stuff, its sharp so its a PITA. Oh yeah, did I mentioned I hate cycling through the modes especially the freaking strobe. When in the hell am I ever going to need that?

These more powerful flashlights had save my ass from crawling into people's attics and crawl spaces because its dark and old Mags aren't powerful enough. Money well spent.

You may be able to save a few bucks buying through Amazon or ebay?

[wildthing]

Here we go... I will see something and have to fight the urge to buy. Once every 6 months there is a knife thread and a flashlight thread soon follows.

Here are some of the old threads:
The Flashlight review thread: post yours.
Surefire flashlights
What flashlight do you use?

[flatbutt]

I've just started looking for a reliable one as well. But so far everything mentioned here have bad reviews on reliability. Going to Cabelas this week to see what they have on offer.

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I've just started looking for a reliable one as well. But so far everything mentioned here have bad reviews on reliability. Going to Cabelas this week to see what they have on offer.

Cabelas is a very dangerous place for me to hang out in.

[Evans, Marv]

I bought a two pack of C battery (3) flash lights at Costco that I really like a lot. They have two brightness levels by pushing the on/off button and the front lens slides back and forth to vary the beam from narrow to wide illumination field. I think they're the best I've found so far for general use.

[wildthing]

I've had mostly good experience with the Costco Duracell ones... maybe 2 out of 7 failed on me. One was the small one that holds three AAA batteries and another one that had 4 C batteries.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by madcorgi

Agree. I have one where you have to cycle through all the modes each time. Arrrgh. Still looking for flashlight nirvana. Still looking for folding knife nirvana.

I have a NEBO light that does that. Its a pain. accidentally double click and you have to start over. I have a new NEBO pen light that rocks. Super bright and it is small enough that I can clench it between my teeth when I am in a tight spot, under a dash or under the car.

[stealthn]

For me Maglite is the go to light, have had them for years. In our cars we carry safety light, then can cut seat belts, break safety glass, and have a good light.

Form follows function.

[mjohnson]

I just put a LED into a 20yo 2D cell maglight and was still very meh.

The newer USB-charged tactical-scary-black-flashlights are just too good, and so much smaller. I like the Fenix ones, but I'm sure they're not the best. They might not be as good of a club though.

And I'm not even tacticool-curious. I've no pants with zippers or rifles without wood.

[jyl]

My C and D cell Maglites with LEDs sit by the front door. Like baseball bats but less obvious.

Otherwise, it's $10-15 flashlights from the hardware store. Cheap, bright, small, pretty much disposable. Not very tactical I guess.

[berettafan]

Forgot to mention there is at least one forum for flashlight mods and such. Candlepower or something like that?

[ckelly78z]

I EDC a small tacticle Bushnell 20150 flashlight in my pocket that is always there, and always ready. It has 2 AAA batteries, and a end mounted push button on/off button for one handed use. I have used it holding it with my teeth for hands free use, and propped it under a vanity for doing tight plumbing work (just yesterday).

I keep a large Maglite in my truck, and a small maglite at work. I always carry the Bushnell because several times, I have been in a situation that I (and everyone else in the room) have been helpless when the lights go out unexpectedly...never again.

[ckelly78z]

My EDC items are the Bushnell flashlight listed above, a really nice tacticle pen/glass breaker, and a swiss army knife. I carry all three in a COHIBA 2 spot leather cigar holder that slides into my pocket effortlessly, and allows me to grab one of the above with one hand, and without looking....one of the best things I have ever come up with.