Surefire flashlights

[vash]

I only have older flashlights. (Gasp) incandescent ones. They all run the CR123 batteries that I love. The shelf life is incredible. They saved my bacon this week.

I was researching LED conversions. Holy big money! And new LED models are also expensive.

Any cost effective options? Or just start buying new flashlights?

I have a very robust SUREFIRE E2D flashlight hanging from my bed post. I never think about it. But when I flip it on, it turns on. Sucks the light is yellow incandescent and a big energy suck. Tips?

i used my AA LED regular flashlight usually, but I always change out fresh batteries when I remember at work.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by vash

I only have older flashlights. (Gasp) incandescent ones. They all run the CR123 batteries that I love. The shelf life is incredible. They saved my bacon this week.

I was researching LED conversions. Holy big money! And new LED models are also expensive.

Any cost effective options? Or just start buying new flashlights?

I have a very robust SUREFIRE E2D flashlight hanging from my bed post. I never think about it. But when I flip it on, it turns on. Sucks the light is yellow incandescent and a big energy suck. Tips?

i used my AA LED regular flashlight usually, but I always change out fresh batteries when I remember at work.

If any of your Surefires are the P60 (6P) type, there are tons of inexpensive LED drop-ins available.

Also, the funny thing about those "old" incandescents is that their output tint/color temp is often sought out by flashlight geeks (as opposed to the all-to-common cool-white temps/tints).
Those incan. bulbs give you the highest CRI possible as well, which is also something that flashlight geeks seek out in LED offerings.

Always good to have a couple CR123 lights around, but I would suggest looking into the world of cheap(er) 18650 lights. They typically blow the SF stuff out of the water.

You might start here: Mountain Electronics
The guy that runs the site (Richard) is a good dude, and has all sorts of stuff for the flashlight addict (including quality P60 drop-ins).

[look 171]

I use flashlights often due to my lazy ass not wanting to crawl under someone's house anymore, so a powerful light will often do the trick because I can see across the house. I've become a flashlight geek of some sort for a very long time now (like childhood), like Eric mentioned. I am not as bad so some of those guys, but have gotten custom flashlights made to my specs by someone in WA. That said, I have a Thrunite TN12 in everyone of my cars and a few areas throughout my house. Its small, and very powerful but that's not the only thing I like about it. I hate the aggressive bezel, what ever you call that damn thing? I am not going to get attack so I can jam that into the attacker's face. All it does is it cuts holes in my pocket. Hate to have to go through the full cycle including strobe just to get to medium. This light does none of that only if you program it to do so. I have beaten one of them to death and it has never failed on my yet. I stuff one into my kids backpack when they went out camping for the weekend with their friends. I trust it that much.

It runs on 81650. I like the natural white light better (easier on the eyes) then the cool white even through the cool white is a little brighter. Believe me, its more then bright enough.

If you want to just switch the drop in on your Surefire (P60?), there are a ton of stuff out there but most are cheap Chinese junk. Makoff makes a solid drop-in that is reliable.

I am so happy with the TN12, I stop using my custom light. My custom light have a wide spread beam pattern so I have more light area which is what I normally need when I am not peeking into someone's attic. The TN12 satisfy that requirement and the trow is pretty damn good.

[pwd72s]

How much light output do you need? For that I have a Fenix LED TK60 that is bright enough and has the reach to drive with. Around $120, if I recall correctly. Great on a dark night when I have to look around. More powerful than the 12V spotlights of old. BUT, it's able to go though it's 4 D cells pretty quickly. Suggested by a Houston cop who uses one as his patrol car carry...a guy who posts on the Bullitt Mustang board.

Then, for indoor use, I have these scattered throughout the house, called Pak-lite. The super glow tops are my favorites. Also have 'em stuffed in the cup holders of each car. On bright, you can easily watch your step...on dim, you could read a newspaper. And the hours of burn on a single 9V battery is amazing. The genius of the design is that the 9V battery is the handle. Made by a family in Southern Oregon. If I could have only one flashlight, this would probably be my choice.

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

[look 171]

Vash, just in case you need headlamps, get yourself a Zebralight. I ahve the slightly larger 18650 lamp as well as the AA ones. Normally I grab the AA lamp jsut because its so small and light and the output is one of the best in its class. If I need more light, I grab the bigger and it last much longer with so much more powerful light available. They are both flood lights but you can order them in different configurations.

[look 171]

here's a photo of that lil' head lamp. It brighter then most AA headlamps I have seen on the market. Three modes, including firefly.

[vash]

^I slept with my Zebralight wrapped around my head. I love the thing. I got an AA model just to standardize the batteries in my hunting pack. I do hate the camo colored headband. Makes it hard to find in a dark backpack. I’d swap it out for something bright orange in a heartbeat.

[JTO]

Call Kevin Hall at Brightflashlights.com
He knows a bunch and has great prices
Troy

[berettafan]

just a heads up guys the 'bright light' market is no longer owned by the high dollar 'tactical' brands. you can hit any home depot or Lowes and for $20 get a light that will get it done and then some.

re headlights for hunting I spend more time with the red light on than any bright white which kills night vision and broadcasts my location for miles.

[Joe Bob]

Streamlights are the schizzle.....

[cabmandone]

I have a mini cree from Amazon that I use for hunting. Nice light.
This is the one I have.
https://www.amazon.com/UltraFire-300lm-Flashlight-Torch-Adjustable/dp/B006E0QAFY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1508246354&sr=8-4&keywords=mini+cree

[911boost]

I too have the zebra, it’s bad a$$

[aschen]

fenix lights are very good for the monies

I have 2 older surefires with incandescent bulbs. I dont think it is worth upgrading. They are very nice lights but so expensive. They are like snap on vs husky. The latter is usually good enough, but the former is more of a keepsake

[wildthing]

Hey another flashlight thread!

What flashlight do you use?

The Flashlight review thread: post yours.

I have the older 6P and a newer 6P LED, as well as other makes. Can't complain. Store them in the car. Works every time.

[86 ssinit]

I have bought these. Cheap and work great
Go on eBay you can get 10 with chargers for $25 bucks

[glewis80SC]

I use the ConoyS2+..I have them at home in the car and at work, the strobe is great for getting peoples attention when I'm in traffic. Strong, durable and batteries last a long time. $15.00 at Gear Best
For ultimate lighting I have a couple Sky Ray King's...incredible illumination batteries need recharging more often though.

[CurtEgerer]

Beware of the cheap no-name 18650 batteries, LED flashlights, and chargers. Lots of info on explosions and fires. I had lots of these no-names for my business and have long since trashed all of them. The no-name 18650 batteries are the worst offenders. I had about a dozen identical UltraFires (the most common no-name cheapo) and peeled the labeling off of them to find every one was a different recycled used piece of crap (see photo of Chinese factory below). A good 18650 3400mAh battery costs at least $20 each. Everything we have used daily for the last several years is Nitecore brand.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

Beware of the cheap no-name 18650 batteries, LED flashlights, and chargers. Lots of info on explosions and fires. I had lots of these no-names for my business and have long since trashed all of them. The no-name 18650 batteries are the worst offenders. I had about a dozen identical UltraFires (the most common no-name cheapo) and peeled the labeling off of them to find every one was a different recycled used piece of crap (see photo of Chinese factory below). A good 18650 3400mAh battery costs at least $20 each. Everything we have used daily for the last several years is Nitecore brand.

Nitecores are good. I only use Panasonics now on everything. If there's a something Fire at the end, I stay away form. From Sunfire to Ultrafire or whatever. They are all junk, including the flashlights and drop-ins.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

Beware of the cheap no-name 18650 batteries, LED flashlights, and chargers. Lots of info on explosions and fires. I had lots of these no-names for my business and have long since trashed all of them. The no-name 18650 batteries are the worst offenders. I had about a dozen identical UltraFires (the most common no-name cheapo) and peeled the labeling off of them to find every one was a different recycled used piece of crap (see photo of Chinese factory below). A good 18650 3400mAh battery costs at least $20 each. Everything we have used daily for the last several years is Nitecore brand.

It's easy enough to stay away from the junk and/or re-wrap brands. However, the real problem is knowing how to spot (and stay away from) outright counterfeit cells. Many of the higher-demand cells from LG, Samsung, Sony, etc. have been counterfeited to death. Some of them are so good that you can't tell unless you unwrap them, and/or check the internal resistance.

You can get genuine top-brand 18650s for a lot less than $20 a pop, but unless you get them from a trusted/reputable vendor, you are rolling the dice.
The link I posted above is a good source, as are IMRbatteries.com and Liionwholesale.com.

Originally Posted by look 171

Nitecores are good. I only use Panasonics now on everything. If there's a something Fire at the end, I stay away form. From Sunfire to Ultrafire or whatever. They are all junk, including the flashlights and drop-ins.

Yeah, that's the golden rule. If a flashlight/battery brand has "fire" at the end, run away, lol. The one exception I've found is "Thorfire". They actually make some decent lights, but I wouldn't take a chance on their batteries.

For 18650s, I am using Sony VTC6 and Samsung 30Q cells for everything. I have a few LG HG2s laying around that are excellent as well.
The unprotected cells give you better performance, and the chemistry is safer than the protected cells (IMR vs. INR), hence no need for a protection IC.

[911boost]

Based on your post Look171, I ordered one of the ThruNite TN12's last night on Amazon Prime to test it out.