What's the best flashlight out there?
 

This was touched on in another thread.

What's the best one out there? (Money no object. But small enough to travel with.)

I'm a big fan of Maglights.

I have several: a couple two-cell AA models, a 4-cell D model, and a 2-cell D model.

Maglites are not small. Look at the Surefire stuff. Cheapest decent one they have is $32 and they can go up to 20x that amount. Once you try one, you'll wonder what took you so long.

I have this one and it's just crazy bright. But it's not real practical for carrying around, since it sort of looks like a handgun when in your hand.

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I think a 2-cell AA Maglight is plenty small. They have an even smaller 1-cell model.

money no object? surefire V2 vampire. two settings...bandito frying 100 lumen on high, and for reading maps, you can heat up the sheets with 10 lumen. there isnt even a price yet. i bet north of $350.

second choice. surefire kroma. about half the power of the vampire. $250? the batteries dont fade. i have a "defender" for san fransisco jogging, that i just drained the 5 year old batteries. if i ever go hunting in Alaska, i would buy a kroma. when you need light desperately, you want it to click on...and be 100% dependable. running from a grizzly, slapping your maglight, trying to convince it to light up...no way.

your run of the mill duracel cant do that...i hate maglights...to bulky.

again, for a travel flashlight. you cannot beat the G3 nitrolon. $60 bucks or so. same guts as the high end stuff. they even have the LED version now. but all housed in a plastic indestructable body. small enough to be stuffed into a travel backpack. coupled with my petzl headlamp, there isnt a situation i cannot handle.

once coming down an elevator at my wife's high rise, the elevator blacked out. no emergency lights at all. i had my defender on me. i lit up the darkness, and everyone thought i was a hero. the blackout lasted about 30 seconds, so my hero status was short lived. another 30 seconds later, i was the dork that was scared of the dark and had to carry a flashlight. LOL. my wife has a G2 nitrolon. (one less battery). when she worked in a high rise, i gave her the light, a pocket knife. i had a hardhat in her desk, with gloves, and boots. in an earthquake, i wanted the best odds for her to get out.

Streamlight Stinger. I use one at work and ya just can't beat it.

How about this?

Glock Tactical Flashlight Xenon Bulb with Laser and Batteries (2 CR123A Lithium) Fits Glock-Style Rails Polymer Black - MidwayUSA

Surefire, by far....maglights are clubs with hot and cold spots.

yea, but the rechargeable thing is not so good in a third world country. great light tho! i use one for my nightly walk to tuck my chickens in. my racoons hate that light. i can almost shoot an arrow with the light from my stinger.

polystinger, great bargain. $80.

I have about 5 or 6 maglites. One is so small it takes a single AA battery.
The best one is my rechargable nicad with a halogen bulb. that thing will blind you. it has a holder-charger that is mounted on the wall in the garage, same as the police and fire departments use.
5-Cell Rechargeable
It cost about $115 but i've had it for 10 years. had to replace the bulb a couple of times and the battery pack once.
But, it's not something you'd travel with. I have a couple of the ones that use 2 AA batteries, they can fit in a pocket and are pretty handy.

So for a hundred bucks or so, which manufacturer? Streamlight or Surefire? I am a click away from ordering the polystinger. . .

This guy has the best prices anywhere on Surefires and accessories. Can't remember his phone#, but he takes credit cards and I've bought several lights from him.

brightflashlites@aol.com

Streamlight

Surefire executive defender $100.

burning oil. for what use? like i said, i have the ED2 defender from surefire. it has raised teeth on the bezel for seriously injuring a mugger. i guess i blind them with light, and then jab is the plan. tiny, bright, very durable.

the polystinger is fantastic. i have two. problem is, you are tethered with the recharger. there is a car charger that is cool. but if you ever travel into some remote areas, a few tiny batteries are easier to deal with. the battery on the polystinger is good for one hour. i changed a starter on my truck with it, at the end, i was almost done in by a dying battery. they dont like to be run down like that either. the instructions say not to, but i did, and needed a new battery about a month later. every snapon truck carries new batteries.

so it all depends on the use. buy the polystinger, and a G2 nitrolon. $80 for the poly, $32 for the G2. bassproshops is a good cheap source for both.

Well, since you asked on PELICAN, I'd say the Pelican M9:

Pelican 7050 AC110F Black Knight M9 Rechargeable Flashlight

Had mine for many years - bright, compact, hold a long charge....

It surprises me, but probably shouldn't, that there's a site devoted flashlights:

Flashlight Reviews and LED Modifications

Lots of geeky stuff there - love it!

that Gladius tactical flashlight is badarse. i know an electrician that carries one as his work light. retarded...but cool. it has a strobe feature for disorienting insurgents.

I have one I keep in my car that I gave like 26 bucks for a pair of at SAMS. Dead reliable and damned bright too... Plus if it gets stolen...

Oh and supposedly its bright enough to stun a person... Never tried that though...

this is the light that will replace my polystinger at home. or at least move it full time to garage duty. 90 second recharge time!!! too huge for travel, but it would light up racoons for miles!! earthquake, home intruder..blackouts.. bring it!

Light for Life Flashlight UC3.400 | Flashlights | 5.11 Tactical

i wonder what an ultracapacitor is?

Jeez Rick, wish I could afford a $225 flashlight! Looks nice but way out of my budget.

whoa rick! i got a chubby. NIIIIIICCCCEEE!

For what use? That's the big question. Don't laugh...the one I grab most around here is a little 2 LED, powered by a 9V battery thing. I have them scattered about the place, in the cars, by bedsides, near the TV, etc.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1259782717.jpg

Pak-Lite's Official Website - Pak-Lite's Official Website

BatteryJunction.com Batteries, Battery Chargers, Flashlights, Solar Products & more!

Olight is good quality and cheaper than Surefire. Get some rechargeable CR123a batteries and you're all set

OLIGHT T20 TACTICAL w. Cree Q5 WC LED 5 levels, 220+ lumens! 2 x CR123A

Surefire E2D. There is not other flashlight that is as small and as powerful. The new LED version pumps out 200 lumens.

For general use, Surefire G2.

Troy

at a cost vs usefulness price this was hard to beat
led selfpowered [shaker] at the mexican swap meet
normal 2 D cell size very bright
for a dollar each
I got 5 of them
still working 3 years later

Got it for $172 delivered. I was at the NRA show here and the guy at the SIG Sauer booth talked me into it. They were running a special at the show. I really want another one for my rifle now. The laser on this thing is awesome too. And it has a strobe feature. Just crazy overengineered. But Dottore said money was object, so he should consider this.

I have one of these on a rifle and an LED version in my bike's tank bag. You can buy LED conversion kits for most Surefires. I also have the C2 as my bedside light and take it in my backpack on trips.

The non LED surefires burn through batteries way too fast. I have a 4d cell maglite for repo work, and a couple of the smaller "tactical" lights around my house.

LOVE THIS THREAD! here is what is in my pocket right now. seriously, i am not scared of the dark..really.

surefire G2 nitrilon. as JTO states, it is a great general light. i use it for backup at my job.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1259784185.jpg

These guys are fruit cakes about all manner of lighting.

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None of you guys have heard of Fenix? EagleTac? JetBeam? Nitecore? Olight? I'm embarrassed for you punks!

After the post with that exploding CR123 SureFire I've switched to all AA lights. Yes, I'm paranoid, but I carry my flashlight clipped to my pocket, about 10" from my man parts. Have a Fenix LD10 right now--it does 120 lumens on one AA battery, is water proof, and has several alternate modes (low power, strobe, etc.).

A bunch of 1xAA lights: 1xAA Round-up Review - Part IV - RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOTS, & more! - CandlePowerForums

A bunch of 2xAA lights: 2xAA Round-up Review: Fenix, Nitecore, Olight, ITP, Eagletac, Jetbeam, Mag ... - CandlePowerForums

I'm gonna get this: Streamlight 76605 Polystinger Flashlight with DC Fast Charger, Olive Drab

burnin...how much?

i bought four of them a few holiday's ago for gifts...$76? great light. mine are yellow. i find yellow easier to find in the dark.

$85 on Amazon. It's a gift for my brother-in-law

A nice heavy mag light is good for a$$whoopin and lighting up the dark...

$60 here

Thanks, Gluten-Free.

That price is sans charger, but with the charger, it's $10.00 less than Amazon. Good job.

Gluten-Free. LOL!

Would you believe Betty Crocker now has GF cake mixes? We've gone mainstream, baby!!! :D