Picking a small carry flashlight

[Excaliber]

How do you choose between the xenon and LED on the Streamlight Twin-Task 3C? It looks like the xenon bulb is as bright as a xenon Surefire G2 and about the same price, but the Streamlite is big enough to use as an impact weapon.

Xenon bulbs break under impact and burn out. LED's (for the most part) don't.

[cheezit]

all you do is hit the button to cycle threw the modes. and if you have to beat someone you still have leds to see with. they are uv colored so it can be used as a black light too.

[PhilC50]

Here is the one that I bought. Easy to carry. Very bright, normal light and strobe.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=733314" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Crucial]

I'd recommend a small AA light for the best balance between power, ease of carry and common battery use. Pick an appropriate model depending on user interface and features. A Fenix or Quark light is of high value for the money. I've purchased both before at http://www.4sevens.com/

[jtran987]

i carry a fenix pd30 it put outs 265 lumens with 5 levels including a strobe, its a great small flashlight, it also has a combat bevel on it. and heres the kickers...i only paid like $75! take a look into it if you want a good quality product without dropping $200

[TxA]

take a look into it if you want a good quality product without dropping $200

I bought a PD30 from Amazon last May for about $50. It's just as bright today with the same batteries and I use it daily, even for just a small bit. The CR123 batteries make the diameter a litter bigger than what I would like, but after using it for the last 7 months, it's a great flashlight for the money. I've dropped it on concrete out in the garage on several occasions and it's never skipped a beat. If I lost it today, I would buy another tomorrow without hesitation.

[rbrecount]

I asked my favorite gun dealer for a light bright enough to blind a BG. He had a Pelican M6 LED. A little over five inches long, powered by two lithium batteries, it runs a one watt 5-volt LED very hard for about four hours, less so after that. Comes with a belt carry pouch that has a space for spare batteries. $60. Push on, push off, tough aluminum, water-resistant.

I have an older Maglite that runs three LEDs on two AA batteries. It came with a pocket clip and a lanyard to fit around my neck while flying. It is a slim, good-looking aluminum light that does a good job. It just takes two hands to twist it on.

Either ought to do.

[Skiprr]

How do you choose between the xenon and LED on the Streamlight Twin-Task 3C? It looks like the xenon bulb is as bright as a xenon Surefire G2 and about the same price, but the Streamlite is big enough to use as an impact weapon.

Xenon bulbs break under impact and burn out. LED's (for the most part) don't.

Now that this thread has been resurrected, I'll add a note that another factor with a xenon bulb is the cool-down. The main purpose for a defensive carry light is target identification, and I’ve been taught: on, identify, off, move, shoot. With a xenon bulb, there’s a short period--maybe less than a second, but a period nonetheless--after the bulb is switched off while it glows slightly as it cools. In the “off, move, shoot” method, that ain’t a good thing: if your light didn’t impede the BG’s night vision, or if there is a second BG, having a little glowing tracer in your hand as you move can give away your new position.

I still have a trusty Surefire 6P that I haven’t yet converted to LED, but it’s now used as a basic flashlight, not a defensive light. The advances in LED technology over the past several years have been pretty remarkable when you think about it, and you can get some great LED products now that outperform the small xenons we used to have, and at half the price.

[WildBill]

Xenon bulbs break under impact and burn out. LED's (for the most part) don't.

The first time I read the second sentence I thought you said:
"LEOs (for the most part) don't."

I like my Surefire defender. Besides the light, I like the crenellated Strike Bezel. Getting hit with it can hurt. Not deadly force, but if someone was trying to grab you they would let go after getting whacked with it. As far as I see, the only drawback is they are more expensive that they need to be.

[ctb5]

For those in the Clear Lake area (, Webster, League City, ...), Sports Authority is moving locations. Their old location had Gerber Firecracker single-AA flashlights on clearance for $5(!) a couple of days ago. Can't beat it for that size and price.

[Ameer]

How bright is the Gerber Firecracker? Google says 18 lumen which is good for a utility light but only 1/3 of the original Surefire 6P introduced 20 years ago.

[ctb5]

Now that I see the original poster was looking for a defense light, I agree the Gerber would not be bright enough.

[glbedd53]

I have a Fenix PD-20 and I'm impressed. But I don't have anything else like that to compare it to. It sure lights up my back yard for a little 3V battery, and my back yard ain't small.

[speedsix]

...Mag has been selling my new favorite...their LED XL50...runs on 3 AAA, low power, high power, strobe...$29.00...I've bought two for my CHL-bearing sons and one for me...plenty bright...bought mine at Home Dippy...small, powerful, and great warranty...

[SWAMPRNR]

I like the Streamlight Stinger DS Led. Rated at 180 lumens, rechargeable and came with 2 battery packs. Its been dropped and even ran over a couple of times and still works great.