What flashlight do you use?

[John Rogers]

I have a trio of Mag Lite 3x D cell flash lights I converted to LED and these were bought in 1985/86 time frame. I also have about 2 dozen HF "free" LED lights and other small lights. I was looking at the "tactical" lights at the last Delmar gun show and there were lights from $20 all the way to a monster that weighed 2 lbs or so! Of course the sellers all said theirs were the best........and then there is Atomic Beam and other advertised super lights so I figured I would ask here to see what the tactical folks here use?

[speeder]

I use a Streamlight Stinger LED, rechargeable. Have two of them. About $125 online. I'm not sure what constitutes a tactical flashlight but it will really light up the woods or blind someone temporarily if you shine it in their eyes at night.

[cashflyer]

I use a Streamlight Stinger LED, rechargeable.

+1

Like this, in yeller, so it's easy to spot in the work area.
Stinger® Series - PolyStinger® Streamlight

[pwd72s]

For powerful light, I use a Fenix TK60, as plugged by a Houston Cop who posts on the Bullitt Mustang board. His patrol light. Very bright and long range. Uses 4 D cells. I could drive by it's light.

But the one I use most? I carry one of these in every car, have 'em scattered about the home. When we suffer one of the frequent power outages here, it's comforting to see the green glow of it's top. Darned strong light for it's size, about the same output as an old twin D cell incandescent bulb flashlight. I carry one in each car. It's the light I grab most when going out at night to do routine chores like getting firewood, turning off sprinklers, etc.

Pak-Lite's Official Website (9v LED Flashlights) - Pak-Lite's Official Website

[pwd72s]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5YO9NV8u5c

[masraum]

I'd like to have one of those crazy flashlights (there have been several flashlight threads here over the years), but everytime I start looking at them, I decide I'm crazy for thinking of paying $100-150 for a flashlight that I'll hardly ever use. I'd still like to have one.

I do have a couple of Petzl headlights. they have 3 LEDs, and 3 modes, low, high and flash. They are the most useful flashlights that I've ever had. They are awesome when you're trying to work on something and need both hands. Hell, I've even read with them. They've gotten more use than any other flashlight I've ever had.

I do have some sort of little cheap LED flashlight that takes a couple of AAs that works pretty good. All metal body, decent output. I have or had another one around somewhere, but not sure If I've still got it. It had a head that could rotate 90° and would put out red or white or infra-red light (never was sure what that was for since I can't see in IR).

[sand_man]

Very much enjoying the Thrunite TN12. There is also a TC12, which has a built-in micro usb charger, but I already had a Thrunite U1 charger...plus I wasn't so keen on adding the USB charger complexity to the light itself.

I also keep the tiny Thrunite Ti3 in my pocket at all times.

[John Rogers]

The Thrunite models look pretty darn good to me and they are priced pretty good.

[Eric Coffey]

Nevermind...

[Bill Douglas]

Fenix TK30. There are a lot of bigger and better around these days, but it's lasted me well for years.

[wildthing]

Oh no another flashlight thread that will give me ideas on what to buy next!

From another thread, I got the idea for the Nitcore Tiny Monster. It now sits on my desk at home.

I have a couple of those $20 Duracell flashlights with 3 C batteries from Costco, and those 3-for-$20 with 4 AAA batteries scattered around the house.

I have 3 SureFires, one in each car.

A 4Sevens in my pocket, and some old Inovas complete the list...

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by john rogers

I have a trio of Mag Lite 3x D cell flash lights I converted to LED and these were bought in 1985/86 time frame.

. Gotta look into that.

Looked, doesn't make sense to me. $15 each flashlight, or more for the LED conversion. I have a bunch of nice LED lights, I'll keep the old school 4D head knockers in the car, they give enough light for roadside work.

[Joe Bob]

Originally Posted by speeder

I use a Streamlight Stinger LED, rechargeable. Have two of them. About $125 online. I'm not sure what constitutes a tactical flashlight but it will really light up the woods or blind someone temporarily if you shine it in their eyes at night.

I have three, since my Lasik surgery my low level light acuity is in the dumper. I use one every day while two are on standby for the extra use like on a power outage. Obviously LED head and high lumens....

[HardDrive]

I have a ton of mini maglights around for day to day used. I have an Olight M22 Warrior that is absurdly bright.

[mjohnson]

fenix uc35 - it's a rechargeable with 5 brightness levels. I've never been able to see a difference between #4 and #5. I does hold whatever brightness you choose between uses, so that's a huge plus for me. The dimmest is reasonable for inside the house and for walking the dog. The brightest is useless but for showing off - it is a pretty broad beam, but it does impress some of the tacticool crowd.

[Don Ro]

This thread may be of interest to you:
.
Looking For a Good Spotlight - Advice, Please.

[look 171]

I am like Sandman, I have a Thrunite TN12 in all my vehicles. The are small enough to fit anywhere, but very, very powerful. The best thing I like about is that the flashing"disorient the bad guy' cycle can be completely off. That drive me nuts with all the good flashlights. I only need low, med, or high. The Tiny Monster sits right on my desk. If I hear something in my back yard, I will give it a good blast clear across the canyon. Only bad thing about the Thrunite TN12 is that they are so little that it can get misplaced if not careful. I love the size and the power output.

O-light makes a great light as well. I only buy Zebra headlamps which I find most useful if I need to do something outside.

The trick is in the battery. The li-ion rechargeable can put out a lot of juice needed for these LEDs. They last a long time too. Any of the lights mentioned will blow the traditional 5 D mag light out of the water, all day long.

I have to admit that I am a bit flashaholic myself

[look 171]

John,

One thing to considered is not only the brightness or the distance a light will through a beam, but usable light to fit your needs. For example, if a light is needed for search and rescue, then a throwing type beam is needed but for a general working light, a larger area or flood beam maybe needed instead of a concentrated or focused beam.

I have a flashlight guy make the drop-ins, the concave lens and LED, for my custom lights. I know, I am pretty sick in the head.

[daepp]

Wow - can't believe no one mentioned my two favorites:

- Surefire Defender

and

- iPhone 6

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

I have three, since my Lasik surgery my low level light acuity is in the dumper. I use one every day while two are on standby for the extra use like on a power outage. Obviously LED head and high lumens....

I haven't had Lazik but regular old aging has made my low light acuity pretty bad. I can read a newspaper w/o my glasses early in the day outside, (before the muscles in eyes that adjust pupils get tired, can't think of their name), but in any less-than-great light, forget it.

I first got turned onto the Streamlights at a friend's shop, they have a whole gaggle of them charging on the wall and use them as an essential tool for seeing into the nooks and crannies of automotive machinery. They are amazing; you can really see where leaks are coming from when a car is on a lift and you're looking up into it, also great for showing customers specific problems by using it as a pointer so no one has to get their hands dirty. That level of light is like a magnifying glass, my old eyes can see things that I'm completely blind to unaided.

Any flashlight will provide some light and be a lot better than nothing, it just depends on your needs. My iPhone 6 helps me read menus and small print on things everyday. It also works as a regular flashlight in a pinch. I just really like the rechargable type light and extreme, (plus adjustable), beam on the Stinger.