The Flashlight review thread: post yours.

[look 171]

Nitecore Digicharger D4 4-Channel Smart Battery Charger for Li-Ion, Ni-Cd,& Ni-MH by Sysmax

They are actually cheaper now

[look 171]

Surprise we haven't heard from Vash. I think he big into flashlights due to his job sneaking around underground.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by wildthing

Ok ok ok... Can't help it. This one is in my cart, bundled with batteries. What do you guys think?

http://www.amazon.com/Nitecore-Monster-TM26-Search-Ultimate/dp/B00F8JR79U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437444401&sr=8-1&keywords=Tm26

this is a smoking deal. I paid over 300 buck for my light

Amazon.com: NITECORE Tiny Monster TM26 QuadRay 3500 Lumen Quad CREE XM-L LED Flashlight / Searchlight with 4 X Nitecore NL186 2600mAh 18650 rechargeable batteries, 8 X EdisonBright CR123A Lithium Batteries and Smith & Wesson Red Carabeamer Clip Light

[porsche4life]

What would you guys recommend? I need a good light to carry in my car for when. I'm out showing houses. I've got one that's about 300lumens now. SAMs club special that's been beaten around for a few years and wearing out. I don't use it often, but it seems a few times a month I end up showing a house with no power right after dark. A good flashlight that's not bulky to carry would certainly be nice. Don't want to break the bank either.

[look 171]

this Sid http://www.amazon.com/Bundle-Flashlight-Waterproof-Searchlight-Eastshine/dp/B00PW1LEOS/ref=pd_sim_200_7?ie=UTF8&refRID=1R0XYAZHEKT6Y3RKSJ9Q

I have one just like it for my wife in her van. They are small, and doesn't have that stupid sharp tactical sharp bezel at the end so it wouldn't do any damage. All you need is one more 3400 mAh battery, the run time is very good but charging these batteries can take some time. You will never have to buy another AA or what ever size battery again for years to come.

[wildthing]

Apparently there are two versions available, at least. Last year's 3500 lumen model < $300 and this year's 4k lumen model at $309 to $370 depending on what's bundled with it.

Any of these below would be good in a car. Not sure about showing houses in the dark. Buyers wouldn't see the whole room at once.

[aschen]

i have several fenix, a few streamlights, and a couple surefires from before there were cheap Chinese made equivalents available.

The fenix lights are awesome for the money, I have one of the big boys rated at 1000 lumen and it is a fun novelty.

However if I was a police man or I thought my life might depend on it I would spring for a surefire and make sure it was powered by the long shelf life LI cells. I think they are overpriced and a poor value but there is extra quality. Sorta like snap on vs american made craftsman. The snap on is better even if it is overpriced

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by gtc

These are about the best bang for the buck I have encountered. They're tiny, pretty bright, run fine on AAs, have three modes and an adjustable beam.
I picked up 3 for $10 a while back (the price fluctuates).

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B006E0QAFY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00

My son bought one of these and it's a great light for the money. It will shine a nice beam for about 1/8 mile (he's always lighting up the neighbor's truck. that has to make the neighbor happy)
A few nice features, it will zoom down to a nice tight square beam or you can open it up for a wider spread. It also has a high, low and flashing strobe setting. If you want to go into convulsions, use the strobe.

[aschen]

PS I am skeptical about the comparability of lumen ratings of some of these flashlights

I see cheap small flashlights at Walmart and Amazon rated at several hundered lumen, I dont quite believe

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

What would you guys recommend? I need a good light to carry in my car for when. I'm out showing houses. I've got one that's about 300lumens now. SAMs club special that's been beaten around for a few years and wearing out. I don't use it often, but it seems a few times a month I end up showing a house with no power right after dark. A good flashlight that's not bulky to carry would certainly be nice. Don't want to break the bank either.

I would recommend a non-rechargable light for occasional use. The theory is that with alkaline batteries, they show that they are low for a long time before they go out. You have time to replace them.

With LiIon, they'll push out full power and then suddenly die. You don't want that if your living depends on being able to show a client a house at dark.

I might recommend LED Lenser, which has a very useful adjustable beam. You can pan out with a flood, or zoom in to create a spot. The color rendition has gotten better recently, so the light is not too blue or too white.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by look 171

Oh, another sick puppy. You will like this light if that's something you use often. Look into their smart battery charger. This way, you will always have fresh batteries on hand. I think the charger is only 60 bucks. Charging those four batteries will take all day and night.

Geez, that is a long charge time.

[Tobra]

I like a headlamp with a ball cap to keep the light out of my eyes. Having a red LED is mandatory, because, well, I want to be able to see at night. If I am out and about at night, and need a bright light, I need a red light too. Nice to have both hands free.

[vash]

Originally Posted by look 171

Surprise we haven't heard from Vash. I think he big into flashlights due to his job sneaking around underground.

oh..i'm on my third draft..i wanna get it right

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by wildthing

Any of these below would be good in a car. Not sure about showing houses in the dark. Buyers wouldn't see the whole room at once.

Its never planned, and not an ideal situation. But sometimes you get there and its dark and the powers out. Has happened to me about 1/100 times. Nice to be able to at least get a feel for the place. You can still tell if the floor plan is wack in dim light. I'd never want a customer to make an offer based on looking at a dimly lit place.


I'll look at the lights suggested and find something. I have an older LED lenser light that I use for camping that really like. I don't mind the sharp bezel to be honest. More than a few realtors have had to defend themselves. I'd smack someone upside the head with that sharp flashlight if I had to....

[speeder]

I have a Streamlight Stinger LED rechargeable, expensive but I use it almost everyday while working on stuff. It's super bright, (not sure the lumens), I've seen someone using a Fenix once that was WAY brighter.

[rusnak]

The white headlight that I posted in the op has an auto-dim feature so that it won't blind you if you have to read a map or something up close. I just found out tonight that it has a turbo boost mode. I was looking at an owl several hundred feet away.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by rusnak

The white headlight that I posted in the op has an auto-dim feature so that it won't blind you if you have to read a map or something up close. I just found out tonight that it has a turbo boost mode. I was looking at an owl several hundred feet away.

You are only really interested in the flame throwers.

[vash]

I carry this with me everywhere. It's not expensive, uses regular batteries, and is blindingly bright. There is a slight serration at the bevel so I can jab to the sternum of a rapist and deliver a good hit. In our cars all the torches are sure fires with the CR123 batteries that seem to have superior shelf life.




Sent via Jedi mind trick.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by look 171

You are only really interested in the flame throwers.

You are so right! I don't slow down because of the dark. We keep working at the same pace. I use light towers for area lighting, but even then the flashlights get a lot of use, especially in the winter, when days are shorter.

[Eric Coffey]

I've got a few. These are the ones that were in reach (gratuitous spoon content included):



I like keeping to one battery platform, and all of these use lithium CR123s. They last forever (shelf life), and provide decent output/run-time.
Very versatile as well. I've got hosts ranging from 1-4 cells, with outputs from about 120L to over 1200L.