…… High Intensity Flashlights - Best Choice

[Caplock50]

Well, here's what I got. Had to do some hard searching the find it on the net because it was a Christmas gift about 3 or 4 years ago. According to this site, it's only $19.99 (why don't they just go ahead and add that 1 single penny?) Anyway, it's an 'Atomic Beam' flashlight sold by 'BulbHead'...

Atomic Beam Zoomable Flashlight | BulbHead

Light up the night with the astonishingly bright, water-resistant, shock-resistant, lightweight, and compact Atomic Beam™ Zoomable Flashlight.

www.bulbhead.com

Mine is about wore out now from being dropped on the concrete floor just way too many times, and I do need a new one. But I love how easy it is to switch from full flood to finely focused, which can be done with just one hand. And its 3 AAA batteries last a good length of time while providing a light bright enough to light up a house a mile away to be able to easily discern its color and some other 'small details'. As I recall, it can 'attract' the attention of low flying search aircraft, it's so bright.

Anyway, that's my offering...

 

[Double_A]

Spent a fortune on several Surefire's in the early 2000's. They all still work great. Glad I got a couple LED ones too. Have heard the quality isn't the same in recent times.

A fortune for Surfire brand is right.

Th Surefire E2e's were HOT back then, they were equal to the Maglight 3D's with a slightly longer run-time. All in a package the size of a roll of lifesavers!

Ordered up about ten for my guys and one for the dept manager before he would sign off on the P.O.
Roadblock at COO signature ($700+ for flashlights?). After letters from Surefire and Maglight about runtimes and brightness. Then attached data from our Stores people on cost of Duracell's (ack) vs Lithium disposable 123 batteries, lithiums were cheaper in the end. COO signed off without any more issues. The guys always had the Surefire in their pocket, but prior rarely had a Maglight 3D.

My personal Surefire lights?
I've got an M6 incandescent, M3 incandescent, about five E2e's one with a 5W LED Head and 9P.
My LED E2e is powered by a Lithium-ion 17670 (Led Only) oops forgot about the Surefire E1b & G6

Back in the 1990's Surefire was the top. Heard this: Patrol gets Streamlight, SWAT gets Surefire.

 

[Double_A]

The 14500 tactical flashlight is the most useful Li-ion flashlight I have.
In most cases you can use the 1.5 in the 3.7
volt 14500 battery flashlight, but NOT the other way around, as it will burn out the LED.

In terms of usefulness, day to day, the one-AA battery light is tops!

I've got two LED pocket lights that can be powered from a single -3.7v 14500 Lithium ion battery or single-AA NiMH like eneloop or single Alkaline AA battery - just one battery.
Best end of the world format for those reasons and deficiencies of putting two or more batteries ("cells" more properly) end to end is trouble.

 

[Milkweed Host]

In terms of usefulness, day to day, the one-AA battery light is tops!

I've got two LED pocket lights that can be powered from a single -3.7v 14500 Lithium ion battery or single-AA NiMH like eneloop or single Alkaline AA battery - just one battery.
Best end of the world format for those reasons and deficiencies of putting two or more batteries ("cells" more properly) end to end is trouble.

The only problem with the AA alkaline batteries is the leakage that is common with many of those batteries.

I have yet to have a problem with a Li-ion battery, other than once in a while, one won't take a charge.

I agree that stacking batteries inside of a flashlight can add problems.
Probably why my old Streamlight had a battery stick, with five rechargeable batteries connected inside
the stick.

Also inside of a Milwaukee or Dewalt battery pack, the batteries are soldered/welded together.

 

[Double_A]

The only problem with the AA alkaline batteries is the leakage that is common with many of those batteries.

I have yet to have a problem with a Li-ion battery, other than once in a while, one won't take a charge.

Oh hell, I'd never run alkaline batteries if it can take the lower voltage of the Ni-Mh rechargeable and circuitry for the LED can adjust for dropping voltages decently.

BUT... in a Soylent Green society a questionable alkaline maybe all you can get, right then and there.

 

[Jackpine Savage]

I've got a Fenix HP25R headlamp for my main go to. Red light, flood, and spot. It uses 18650s.

My edc is a Streamlight Microstream USB. 250 lumens on high for this tiny little thing! The Coyote color has the high setting come on first press.

MicroStream® USB | Rechargeable LED Pocket Flashlight | Streamlight®

www.streamlight.com

For those with the old Surefires, Malkoff makes great drop in led replacements.

Malkoff Brand Surefire Dropin – Malkoff Devices

malkoffdevices.com

I avoid devices that use CR123s. I think 18650s, AA, or AAA are the way to go. For AA and AAA you can choose between Energizer Lithiums or Eneloops depending on usage.

 

[Southside]

I have Fenix 35d.
The Fenix 36 that Loup refers to above is the updated light.

It is my Go-To flashlight. Excellent.

 

[Double_A]

I've got a Fenix HP25R headlamp for my main go to. Red light, flood, and spot. It uses 18650s.

My edc is a Streamlight Microstream USB. 250 lumens on high for this tiny little thing! The Coyote color has the high setting come on first press.

MicroStream® USB | Rechargeable LED Pocket Flashlight | Streamlight®

www.streamlight.com

For those with the old Surefires, Malkoff makes great drop in led replacements.

Malkoff Brand Surefire Dropin – Malkoff Devices

malkoffdevices.com

I avoid devices that use CR123s. I think 18650s, AA, or AAA are the way to go. For AA and AAA you can choose between Energizer Lithiums or Eneloops depending on usage.

I’ve got one of Malkoff’s drop-in installed in my Surefire 9P.

Typically my key ring will have a usb rechargeable tiny light. My pants pocket will have a ReyLight Powered by a 14500 lithium-ion. AA size. If going out for a walk later in early evening I’ll have a larger light powered from a 18650, mine has LED continuously variable brightness, by turning a ring up/down

If most people adopted as I carry (above) you’d be set pretty good. Toss in a headlamp, your good.

ETA: I keep forgetting to mention Energizer makes a AA & AAA disposable lithium (not rechargeable) they are what I use in lights that need to be stored(with batteries not installed). Never ever had one leak, great longevity, but pricy

 

[Double_A]

A few of the pile
View attachment 333134View attachment 333135View attachment 333136

Im not sure my collection over the years could beat that, by I can certainly keep up with ya.
My Surefire alone is about $1600 worth. But when I was working I could (most) justify every light. Some had to be specially certified as intrinsically safe.

 

[ComCamGuy]

Im not sure my collection over the years could beat that, by I can certainly keep up with ya.
My Surefire alone is about $1600 worth. But when I was working I could (most) justify every light. Some had to be specially certified as intrinsically safe.

That was maybe halfish. The rest are in vehicles, on weapons, the wife has and so on and so forth. I try to avoid gathering them all together to avoid the wife seeing the vast quantity and questioning why I need another flashlight.

 

[Southside]

Flashlight porn.

Love it!

 

[ComCamGuy]

Im not sure my collection over the years could beat that, by I can certainly keep up with ya.
My Surefire alone is about $1600 worth. But when I was working I could (most) justify every light. Some had to be specially certified as intrinsically safe.

instead of shooting them in a pile, I sorted them out and only set up the Surefire ones



the other Surefire lights are in bags and packs or on weapons . This also doesn't include the wife’s dozen or so

 

[ComCamGuy]

Yes, I have a problem.

These are at least easier to hide than my pack problem.
The last time I pared down my packs, I offloaded almost a dozen 3-day packs, three Becket Patrol packs, am now down to around a dozen or so medic bags, ditched half a doz large ALICE packs, several Mollerucks and I don't know what else. I still have a dozen Kifaru packs and two of the Eagle Beckers plus enough to outfit a platoon with packs, webbing, sleeping bags and on and on and on

 

[Double_A]

My Surefire collection is about 3/4 of what you've shown in the photo. I forgot about my E1e and a couple others you've shown. Is that an M4 with a turbo head, next to the M6?

The problem is I've worked as so many job where I'm the person called out. My belt (1.5" double layer from Dillion Press) carried a radio, pager, cellphone, Surefire e2e, Leatherman TTi

 

[ComCamGuy]

Good eye, M4 Devastator

 

[ComCamGuy]

And half a dozen or 300u pistol lights, M600 weapon lights, and the older style ones like in the picture still mounted and in the safe.

 

[caddyshack]

I’ve had just about all of them at one point or another. Started with an Arc flashlight around y2k, then 4sevens, olight, fenix, streamlight, surefire, but for the last few years it’s been a Sofirn sp31 v2.0. Bought 8 of them for my best friends over the years too. Could be considered a budget light but the double switch design works best for me. Additionally, their lt1 lantern is the best one I own. Was designed by a group of contributors on the budget light forum and built by sofirn - it’s a winner too

 

[briches]

I had NO idea there were so many choices out there. Eye opening for sure.

 

[mechanic 217]

Have Fenix for edc, Surefire, Olight, Streamlight for weapons lights, though now that Fenix has two new weapon lights might have to rethink a few . Also a couple of GI angle heads in various toolboxes etc.

 

[Double_A]

Yes, I have a problem.

These are at least easier to hide than my pack problem.
The last time I pared down my packs, I offloaded almost a dozen 3-day packs, three Becket Patrol packs, am now down to around a dozen or so medic bags, ditched half a doz large ALICE packs, several Mollerucks and I don't know what else. I still have a dozen Kifaru packs and two of the Eagle Beckers plus enough to outfit a platoon with packs, webbing, sleeping bags and on and on and on

my issue is old packs get upgraded to newer and the old pack get retired as a backup, I now have many many backups.

 

[Double_A]

Have Fenix for edc, Surefire, Olight, Streamlight for weapons lights, though now that Fenix has two new weapon lights might have to rethink a few . Also a couple of GI angle heads in various toolboxes etc.

I have an angle headlight converted to LED with one of the early 1W emitters. Nice light has all the color filters and everything. Must be 20 yrs old now. It was pricey like everything else LED when the high wattage emitters first came out.

remember the ARC LED lights that ran off a AAA cell? Another very early LED light.

Really I should get together all my early rare lights and take a group photo, lol.

 

[Double_A]

I’ve had just about all of them at one point or another. Started with an Arc flashlight around y2k, then 4sevens, olight, fenix, streamlight, surefire, but for the last few years it’s been a Sofirn sp31 v2.0. Bought 8 of them for my best friends over the years too. Could be considered a budget light but the double switch design works best for me. Additionally, their lt1 lantern is the best one I own. Was designed by a group of contributors on the budget light forum and built by sofirn - it’s a winner too

After experimenting with jumbo(10mm) yellow leds for a while I jumped on the ARC mini-AAA White LED light, when they came out. I’ve got two, maybe three of ARC’s.

Are you an early member of Candlepower Forum?

 

[caddyshack]

After experimenting with jumbo(10mm) yellow leds for a while I jumped on the ARC mini-AAA White LED light, when they came out. I’ve got two, maybe three of ARC’s.

Are you an early member of Candlepower Forum?

I’ve been lurking there since pre-Y2K but I don’t recall posting much. It was a cool time to watch the launch of the ARC light and it’s lifetime warranty idea ( too bad the company is no longer around). Then came the eternalight lights - still have 2 of those. Even bought a couple modified maglites. Flashlights were always a hobby that had useful benefits. The wife still thinks I’m weird when as a 58 year old, I shut off all the lights at night to check out beam patterns of new purchases. So much has changed, it’s been a great ride

 

[biere]

Some old surefire bring a premium but places like arfcom or candlepower should have some used lights for sale.

O light has a monster one called marauder 2 that has my interest. Amazon has had some coupons on some headlights made by slonick and I was very happy with what I got after the coupon.

 

[Publius]

Todays LED flashlights are great and found it's way into Head lamps and I had two that were made by Raovac and it had a single white LED and also had a setting for red-light and used two red LED lights it was powered by three AAA batteries the had a 100 hour run time. It was not very bight I could see what was in front of me out to 20 feet all I can say it worked great.

Then people by the droves started asking for brighter LED flashlights and not thinking about battery life and I'm watching and seeing run times for these extra bright LED flashlights down to 8 or no better than ten hours and seen a few that manufacture said would last only 5 hours before the batteries need to be recharged or replaced but it would blind people a 1000 yards away.

Careful what you ask for as it may not work out the way you hoped for.

 

[nebb]

Flashlights, guns and knives.......gotta have a hobby

 

[Bolerpuller]

I DON"T LIKE MY OLIGHT.
I carry a light for work in my thigh pocket, and the side mounted switch regularly turns the light on. I notice it when my leg starts to heat up (problematic if I'm driving).
Add to that the proprietary charger and I'd give it the pass.

 

[LoupGarou]

I DON"T LIKE MY OLIGHT.
I carry a light for work in my thigh pocket, and the side mounted switch regularly turns the light on. I notice it when my leg starts to heat up (problematic if I'm driving).
Add to that the proprietary charger and I'd give it the pass.

Not sure what model you have, but I have a "few" olights, and the trick with them IF you don't wear them on your belt or use it's belt clip to attach it to something else, is to spin the belt clip around so that it covers the little rubber button on the side so that the button wont' get pressed in your pocket and turn the flashlight on. The other issue is that the charging plate (with the center gold colored insert being positive of the battery) can cause issues if you like to hold the flashlight in your mouth when you have to use both hands in a hurry... It also can cause problems when dropped in a pocket with keys.

 

[L.A.B.]

About 2 Quadruple AA FENIX LD-41, and a LD42.

FENIX TK-20R for work & wife.

Surefire Minimalist headlamp for work & wife.

 

[biere]

The headlamps have xharfing ports built in and take an 18650 rechargeable that it comes with. They have 6 brightness settings as well. Good battery life but I keep a charged spare battery around.

The marauder 2 is sized like a can of coke so not a pocket carry option. It has a safety off setup because of the heat it does produce when on high.

I have old surefires and streamlights and other lights as well. I am not sold on o light only. Just happy with latest purchase.

 

[AlfaMan]

Well, here's what I got. Had to do some hard searching the find it on the net because it was a Christmas gift about 3 or 4 years ago. According to this site, it's only $19.99 (why don't they just go ahead and add that 1 single penny?) Anyway, it's an 'Atomic Beam' flashlight sold by 'BulbHead'...

Atomic Beam Zoomable Flashlight | BulbHead

Light up the night with the astonishingly bright, water-resistant, shock-resistant, lightweight, and compact Atomic Beam™ Zoomable Flashlight.

www.bulbhead.com

Our company issues these to new inspectors. They’re good lights but the front of them is a bit bulky for me. Lots of our folks love them, you can tell an old hand from our co. by how much of the anodized finish has worn off. They’re black, some I’ve seen have a gunmetal grey finish from all the use. My light sits on the nightstand. In my job a good flashlight is essential.

I found a great LED flashlight at Lowes about 5 years ago, it’s a slim 300 lumen light anodized in blue with a pocket clip; and that flashlight has seen the under hood of probably 50,000 cars over the past 6 years. Color temp is in the 6000 kelvin range and it’s perfect. Can’t remember the name brand (kobalt maybe. )but it’s the best work flashlight I’ve found. Turns on with a button on its end and fully waterproof.

main thing is; it fits in one safety vest pocket with my inspection arrows, styluses, body filler magnets,and caliper gauge. I have a very fancy (and somewhat bulky)Elcometer paint gauge in my other top vest pocket so weight is negligible. I”m well balanced with everything at hand.

 

[SmithJ]

I DON"T LIKE MY OLIGHT.
I carry a light for work in my thigh pocket, and the side mounted switch regularly turns the light on. I notice it when my leg starts to heat up (problematic if I'm driving).
Add to that the proprietary charger and I'd give it the pass.

Use the lockout feature oLight has specifically for that to keep it from turning on

 

[ComCamGuy]

was referencing flashlights and my new acquisitions in another thread, so I figured I would swing by this one and post another great niche tool

LEP DX Reach - Laser Flashlight 18650 / 21700 By Maratac™

Coming Back In Stock October 12th - Jump On The Waitlist Now To Be Notified! Limit 1 Per Customer! Insane 1.2 Mile Beam Throw - 6300ft ( Visible for over 42 miles - Tested ) Includes UGM glow rods so you can add a pop of color to the rear end of the light. Also the slots work with 3mm x...

countycomm.com

 

[NCGirl]

Husband has lost 2 of my olight maudauders at $300+ a pop. I just bought a $98 olight seeker3 and it's a 1/3 the weight but still gives a great light.

 

[GeneSD]

These are awesome, they have many different uses and come in handy during a power outage! Flashlight Link

 

[blueinterceptor]

Full-sized: MagLite 4D, 1000 lumen:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0873X7XHR

Pocket sized:

Walther flashlight. no idea what the exact model is (it's in the car right now).
Looks like this:

WALTHER FLASHLIGHT MGL 1100 X2 3.7055 | RNS Traders

WALTHER FLASHLIGHT MGL 1100 X2 3.7055

randstraders.co.za

Maglite ml300 3d or 4d are nice lights. Not through Amazon though. Go to Maglite’s website. 3d is 55$ plus shipping. Got 20% off if you join their club.

 

[Double_A]

The only problem with the AA alkaline batteries is the leakage that is common with many of those batteries.

I have yet to have a problem with a Li-ion battery, other than once in a while, one won't take a charge.

I agree that stacking batteries inside of a flashlight can add problems.
Probably why my old Streamlight had a battery stick, with five rechargeable batteries connected inside
the stick.

Also inside of a Milwaukee or Dewalt battery pack, the batteries are soldered/welded together.

I have three pocket sized AA lights, that can be powered from a single Lithium-ion AA sized cell also known as a "14500" cell.

Matter of fact each of those three lights, can be powered by the....
14500 mentioned above
or one Eneloop NiMH rechargeable,
or one Alkaline AA disposable,
or one Energizer AA Lithium disposable.

What are those three lights?
JetBeam AA-01
Lumintop Tool v2 (made from Titanium)
Reylight (made from Titanium)

 

[Milkweed Host]

I have three pocket sized AA lights, that can be powered from a single Lithium-ion AA sized cell also known as a "14500" cell.

Matter of fact each of those three lights, can be powered by the....
14500 mentioned above
or one Eneloop NiMH rechargeable,
or one Alkaline AA disposable,
or one Energizer AA Lithium disposable.

What are those three lights?
JetBeam AA-01
Lumintop Tool v2 (made from Titanium)
Reylight (made from Titanium)

I also have some of the 14500 batteries, very powerful, but don't last as long as the 18650 or 26650.

IMHO, I would compare the AA or 14500 to a .22 long round.
18650 to a .22 long rifle round
26650 to a .22 mag round
and so on across the chart.


I still use the AA batteries in clocks and the AA lithium in my outside security cameras.
AA is still extremely popular for many applications.

I understand that each of us have different needs and that we focus on that goal.

 

[mostlyharmless]

This is a great question, one I've just (in the past weeks) done a great amount of research on.

First of all, you need to be careful ordering on Amazon/eBay. Sellers make outrageous BS claims about brightness of flashlights and capacity of batteries.

That being said... here are some options (all of which I own and am quite impressed with).

The Big Kahuna. Presently on sale for $82. Comes with (great) batteries. You can charge it with USB-C, and you can even use it to charge your own USB devices (phone, etc). It's INSANELY bright. I mean, insanely.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09STR56RR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Anything from Sofirn and Wurkkos is going to be a decent flashlight. These are well made, meet their specifications, and are reasonably priced. They're also running some really cool software with really advanced options (if you so desire).

Smaller/cheaper flashlights that run the same software (and are much smaller and still very bright!):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08GG2BM72/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B21DN7T1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B21DN7T1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B6ZC6TCJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Let me know which ones interest you, I can send beam shots this evening.

 

[scheri]

this is the one I have

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09SCS4DVW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1