OT - Flashlights

SoCalTim

travisstrick said:

Ok, finally something I know something about. 

You have received all good choices so far but allow me to offer my opinion based on many years of very hard flashlight use. 

Surefire is the best. It is by far the most expensive but they top the list for durability and customer service. 

Streamlight is a very close second. (I would not hesitate to buy one and have many times)

Fenix, Quark, Oilight, and Pelican are other very nice choices. 

The hardest part is finding out what size and style he wants. I suggest getting one with a Cree LED and that takes 3v Lithium ( aka 123A). I'll include my two fav hand held size and pocket size lights. I will also include a link to what I think he may find the most useful. I have the combo in the link and it is super bad ass. Here is the LINK

Awesome! I'm going thru these posts very carefully ... Streamline - Surefire seem to offer extraordinary flashlights, but I'm gonna Google all mentioned here. Thanks Again - Tim

WeberWho

Old Skool

Doc_Eggerton

Surefire with out a doubt.

RiverDoc

Some great ideas listed I use stream light and surefire I prefer my surefire but that is just my opinion both great companies. Headlamps are also great just keep in mind the set-ups vary greatly. My USAR helmet has a recessed hole that takes a specific Pelican light. If your looking for a "non-helmet" headlamp we use CMC great lights very comfortable and great batt life. Good luck.

KennyLee

Glad I saw this thread.....my LED light just crapped out and I need another pronto.  Have tons of credit at Cabela's so I would prefer to get it there.

Any thoughts between the Streamlight Ultra Compact ProTac HL and the Streamlight Scorpion HL?  Kind of down to these two and they're about the same price and specs seem similar.     

Lit

I have the torch from wicked lasers. Its the size off a small mag light but as bright as a car headlight. I have not used the others above but I would put money that the wicked lasers is twice as bright. It will light a piece of paper on fire if you hold it to the front of the light. I believe its 4200 lumens.

stlcharcoal

I had a pair of MaxaBeam's for a while.  VERY cool as you could focus the beam.  It did not have the same coverage as a 1000+ lumen LED even when zoomed out, but its reach when zoomed in was incredible.  I live on a cliff and could effectively light up objects across the river valley (1+ mile away.)

If you remember the big handheld search lights from Jurassic Park or True Lies, that's the one.  I always wanted one since I was a kid, but it was hard to justify having a $1000+ flashlight (or two of them.)  So, I sold them on eBay and upgraded my old Streamlight TLR-1&2's to the HL versions, and my JetBeam BC25's to the newer SE's.

http://searchlights.peakbeam.com/category/searchlights 

Lit

Here is a link to a YouTube video of the torch. It doesn't look like the guy has it focused but he is lighting up his back yard with it and its about the same size as a 2d maglite. Its bright enough that if you point it at something close like 10' it will blind you just looking at where you are pointing it.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BE47oGH6L1k

stlcharcoal

Lit said:

Here is a link to a YouTube video of the torch. It doesn't look like the guy has it focused but he is lighting up his back yard with it and its about the same size as a 2d maglite. Its bright enough that if you point it at something close like 10' it will blind you just looking at where you are pointing it. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BE47oGH6L1k

He has a gas grill......  :-q

TFols

I feel like a piker for having Maglites