OT: anybody buy a LumiTact G700 LED flashlight? :OT

RRP

I'm sure you have seen the teaser ads about the super bright "military grade" flashlight that keeps showing up here and there. They claim it is a $224 value but can be bought for $56. Last thing I probably need is yet another flashlight but this thing intrigues me with it's 5 settings of light intensity. I'm thinking of tripping the switch so to speak, but I wonder if any body here already owns one and what you think of it. TIA
http://www.thedailylife.com/military-grade-flashlight-now-available-to-public?utm_source=cpc&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=g700

Lit

2000 lumens isn't really that crazy in today's standards. My wife got me one of these for Christmas a couple years back and it lights up as much as a car headlight. http://m.wickedlasers.com/torch

gdenby

Can't answer your basic question, RRP, as I do not have the item.

However, as an early adapter of LED's , I can assure you that flashlights that once cost $90, and failed within a year, only produced as much light as a $9 - 12 light today.

If they are asking $56, my guess is that's the price they can still make a profit on while clearing something that was once sold at inflated prices to the military. Maybe the metal in the body is worth something.

The hardware that drives LEDs can be the pinch point. The heat in the LED component is mostly in the driver circuits. Those will usually fail before the LED, and may fail really quickly if they generate and hold heat regulating the current to the LED.

Spaightlabs

Anyone can put the words 'military grade' on anything they want - doesn't mean bupkus.

Caveat Emptor, but I'd bet you can buy one twice as bright for half the cost.  

a 5 level of brightness light would be a PITA if you have to run through all 5 levels to go from on to off...

Carolina Q

I've never seen the ads you mention nor have I heard of that flashlight, but you might try CPF, the egghead forum of flashlights. 

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/content.php

pgprescott

Looks cool. I would just move in the same neighborhood as BGC, the residual would be ample. JK of course. 

RRP

Lit said:

2000 lumens isn't really that crazy in today's standards. My wife got me one of these for Christmas a couple years back and it lights up as much as a car headlight. http://m.wickedlasers.com/torch

WOW! I'd say your wife loves you and/or you are hard to buy for! $200 for a "flashlight".

Where I got hung up is using a plug in beam rated at 1 million candle power. We used to fish for catfish using various forms of lines and jugs which were legal here. Rather than go out on the lakes late at night to run them on dark nights that light would pinpoint where to head to bring back a catch. Then after that I went through two million candle rechargeables (ha ha ha) with little use time in a mere 3 years. Since then I've gone back to cheaper models made by MAG-LITE which are nice, but aren't powerful units. I just like to light up the night out here in our woods if I want to see what is screaming bloody murder or hooting so loud that we can't sleep! Bright light is security sometimes! 

stlcharcoal

I've had a lot of luck with Fenix and JetBeam.  Met the reps at SHOT Show years ago and liked their testing, durability, and warranty.  I have several different models of each, some of which have been subjected to a lot of vibration, impact, etc.

Either way, don't get the ones made for alkaline.  Get the rechargeable lithium ion batteries.  The green Panasonic / Orbtronic ones are the best.  The cheap ones only last 10-20 minutes and die regardless of what they say their maH is.  The good batteries will recognize thermal runaway and shut down before they catch fire.

Years ago I had two military surplus PeakBeam handheld MaxaBeam's.  If you ever saw the movies True Lies, Jurassic Park, etc., these were the lights.  There's an electric servo inside that focuses the beam for with a toggle switch.  Zoomed all the way out, the small LED lights are almost better on coverage and intensity.  But when you zoom it all the way into a pin point spot light, the range is absolutely incredible.  I live on a 200ft cliff above a river bank and on clear nights it was wild to see the reach the thing had.  They were fun to play with, but they were the older lead acid ones so they weighed a ton..... sold them on eBay.  If I ever come across a surplus Li-ion one, I'd buy it.

RRP

Thank you, Jonathan!

nolaegghead

I've had a few fenix.  Not the best made but a step up from most of the Chinese crap out there.  I'm still mad about one of their lights that fell apart on me.  I can post pics.

Lit

If I got in a pinch I'm pretty sure I could light the egg with my flashlight. 

blasting

Spaightlabs said:

a 5 level of brightness light would be a PITA if you have to run through all 5 levels to go from on to off...

^^ agreed ^^

It seems all my flashlights have multiple light levels.  I long for the days of clicking once for on and once for off.

Steve753

If you want a really good flashlight, look at Streamlight. Very bright light. I have the one with the strap that is either on or off. I use it to walk home from the Trolley in the dark.
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=streamlight-flashlight&tag=googhydr-20&index=tools&hvadid=33854329075&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1365799589

fishlessman

never had good luck with any flashlight lasting.  i would put up a big 10000 lumen flood and hard wire it, thats what some on the lake use for pond hockey at night, they light up everthing

HeavyG

blasting said:

Spaightlabs said:

a 5 level of brightness light would be a PITA if you have to run through all 5 levels to go from on to off...

^^ agreed ^^

It seems all my flashlights have multiple light levels.  I long for the days of clicking once for on and once for off.

Most of these late model flashlights that have click settings remember the setting it was at when you turn it off. If you want it to turn on at the highest output level just turn it off when it is at that level.

Focker

Can't say this enough.  Hold off on the Chicom sh!t.  Buy a Surefire.  The G2X is a classic.
Looking to upgrade my hunting/camping/egging headlamp to Surefire soon.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2xwqD9spsE

Carolina Q

I agree with Brandon. I have a Surefire E2L Outdoorsman...not the brightest, but a GREAT light! Bought it 2-3 years ago and have cooked with it ever since. Awesome light, I use it at least once a day. Ridiculous price and it hurt even though I used a gift certificate for the purchase! But I would do it again.

BTW, Surefire SF123A batteries are crazy good.

RRP

Carolina Q said:

I agree with Brandon. I have a Surefire E2L Outdoorsman...not the brightest, but a GREAT light! Bought it 2-3 years ago and have cooked with it ever since. Awesome light, I use it at least once a day. Ridiculous price and it hurt even though I used a gift certificate for the purchase! But I would do it again.

BTW, Surefire SF123A batteries are crazy good.

Thanks Michael. I just didn't post a follow up, but today following Brandon's recommendation I researched SureFire and ordered the G2X from Amazon. Even with free shipping then with tax it came to $60. We have varmints coming up close at night which makes my 4 legged security alarms go ballistic. With the windows we can normally see the varmints before our dogs can so I'm hoping between the blast of blinding light plus sound if need be may save us some time not having to calm down our dogs!