FLASHlights: what's the latest in SUPER-bright LED "torches"??

[Dirtman]

does it come with the Bat Signal?

What a stupid question. Of course it does, how do you think ww2 destroyers signaled the dark knight?

 

[Fast Eddie]

On a serious note. The only flashlights I buy are Pelican or Princeton tech. Why? Princeton tech is made 20 minutes from my house and I have literally gone there to throw broken lights at them.

Pelican because they have one of the last remaining no questions asks full lifetime warranty in existence. You break a pelican light, you're getting a new one no matter what.

I do not buy rechargable lights because while they are convienent, like anything with a proprietary battery once it's dead your screwed and need to either buy a bunch of expensive specific batteries to keep charged, or wait for a new one to get shipped. All my pelican lights take standard AA, C, or D batteries so while they aren't rechargable I can swap batteries instantly with stuff I have on hand or can grab at a 7-11. When it comes to emergency use, you cannot compare the two. If you don't have or can get batteries right now, what good is your super bright flashlight in an emergency?

While it's not a "flashlight" my pelican LED headlamp is dive rated (meaning waterproof to 300ft) and is brighter than hell with 4 AA batteries.

Led rechargeable mag light on the left... Pelican diving headlamp on the right...

View attachment 64569

What are all the hieroglyphics on the wall?

 

[Blmpkn]

What are all the hieroglyphics on the wall?

Must be @PetroleumJunkie412 's last words.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Must be @PetroleumJunkie412 's last words.

or his will...

 

[Roert42]

There must be the start of a loose connection somewhere because it flickers slightly every so often.

I’ve gone through a bunch of cheap led flashlights. I find the spring that presses on the battery gets wear alder a while. Coil up a piece of copper wire and slide it down the tube.

 

[Roert42]

I go through flashlights like a fat kid goes through their Halloween candy. So I’ve never buy a flashlight more $15 or $20.

I also prefer small flashlight that can fit in my shirt pocket easy. Just to use as an inspection light when working in a machines cabinet.

this is what I use currently.

Milwaukee also makes one that is a similar size. I’ve tried the 5 pack cheapest ones they sell at Home Depot, but the springs are very weak and the light starts to flicker before the first battery change. I also have a couple of coast brand head lamps that are great for when two hands are needed. All aaa flashlights, anything else is too large.


I also don’t like rechargeable batteries, I would rather just carry a extra pack of aaa’s in my tool box and swap out as needed. Much more convenient.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Nightcore, or Fenix. I have a few of each, all awesome. Get good batteries.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I have the nitecore tiny monster and love its versatility, goes from 5 lumen tent light to a 3800 lumen torch, and has a tripod mount, its light is bright and spread out enough to be used as camera lighting. I also have the MH40GTR, which throws an intense focused beam, and mounts in standard scope rings. LED Lenser (owned by Leatherman) makes great headlamps. I have two of em.

 

[fixizin]

LIVELY thread! Much Grass for all the input! Will post with what I wind up with... could be a while.

"prison break" bright... that was a good one, lulz...

Roert42: I go through flashlights like a fat kid goes through their Halloween candy. So I’ve never buy a flashlight more $15 or $20.

I know, right? Shoulda put a price cap in my OP... our Ranger bros with their $50 and even $100 flashlights--crikey, I'm not deploying to Ashcanistan, and since my truck-light is typically strapped to the pull-down handle on the Ext Cab kiddy seat, I really don't want anything that tells a crackhead to break a window and help yourself.

 

[fixizin]

The Milwaukee Trueview w/ PIVOTING HEAD looks like a winner... certain I'm not the only one to waste money on a Black & Decker bendable "snakelight" back in the day... IIRC it didn't last a year before all the ChiCom contacts (and on/off switch) started dislodging and/or coming unsoldered... still have that POS in a box somewhere, but it's pre-LED, so not sure it's worth fixing.

 

[Dirtman]

What are all the hieroglyphics on the wall?

The name of the company that made the blocks 140 years ago...

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I used to be cheap flashlight guy until I got sick of having so much stuff around that I could never find when I needed...and noticed when I have a good flashlight I tend to keep it charged and in a dedicated home for always access...

 

[fixizin]

Eddo, you're probably right. MBA professors like to tell the tale of when Nabisco CEO John Sculley took over at Apple, he used a Maglite and a cheap plastic flashlight to make the point to his staff that there are no MID-priced flashlights, and that by God they were going to make the Maglite/Cadillac of computers, not the Eveready/Yugo...

... still, don't think I have a long enough prybar to get mah wallet out of my pocket for a 3-digit price tag on a "torch"...

 

[Blmpkn]

... still, don't think I have a long enough prybar to get mah wallet out of my pocket for a 3-digit price tag on a "torch"...

Treat yo'self fool! Despite what the filthy hippies say... capitalist decadence can be a very enjoyable part of life. Not everyone is content sitting under a tree smelling butterfly farts and licking dirt.

 

[JoshT]

The one he has uses the CR123A batteries. But I don't doubt the one you have work great on 2AA batteries.

He always uses those batteries... they do sell a rechargeable battery for it too. He said something about those and he didn't like it and stays with the regular batteries. He buys a 10 pack for about $15 and has batteries for the entire year.

I'm sure it works, but it ain't going to be as good as the CR123A light. I'm curious what he has against the rechargeable batteries. I've got several lights that can use CR123A or 18650 rechargeable. While I keep a pack of CR123A on hand for those that can't use the 18650 (mostly weapon lights), I must say I prefer the rechargeable battery.

Don't go to CPF then. There's lots of professional reviews with tons of photos there. I stay away from the place because it's a money pit. I have too many damn lights as it is, most unused because something newer and brighter came along. Last light I bought was that Nitecore TM03.

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. I've been a around CPF for a while and got tired of the snobbery I found over there.

I will agree with you on the Nitecore products. I was actually building my own P60 based lights for a little while to get what I wanted. They worked great, much better than anything I could buy at a store for a similar price. Still have and use them. I happened on an Amazon sale on a Nitecore P12GT and it's been my light since. I still use the home built P60s, one on resides on the night stand, another mounted on a shotgun in the corner, and a few more floating around. The Nitecore is the one I typically carry around though. I actually panicked a bit when it disappeared on me a few months ago.

Eddo, you're probably right. MBA professors like to tell the tale of when Nabisco CEO John Sculley took over at Apple, he used a Maglite and a cheap plastic flashlight to make the point to his staff that there are no MID-priced flashlights, and that by God they were going to make the Maglite/Cadillac of computers, not the Eveready/Yugo...

...and they succeeded in creating an Eveready/Yugo that costs more than a Maglite/Cadillac. Convince people to buy a name and you can sell them anything.