Picking a small carry flashlight

[AustinMRH]

TXCHL Hive-

I've decided to pick up a small flashlight for carry and bedside. I've already got a 5cell Maglite for normal around the house, but wanted something brighter and easier to carry.

Through work I have access to Fenix, Novatac, and Princetontec at wholesale. Is there somebody better that I should look at? How bright is bright enough (100, 120, 200 lumen)?

Fenix clearly makes the brightest and their prices are inline with Novatac, but I'm not sure on durability and carryability. None of my guns has a rail, so rail mount is not important.

So what makes a good carry light?

[boba]

How bright is bright enough (100, 120, 200 lumen)?

For what? Indoors in a typical home or office? Indoors in a large warehouse? Outdoors on the wide open prairie?

For a long time, a SureFire 6P was bright enough. Before that a 4-5 D-cell Maglite was bright enough. Both of those are in the 60 lumen range. There are a lot of lights now that can give you 100 lumens easy.

So what makes a good carry light?

It depends. Do you need high/med/low or is one light level (like the 6P and Maglite) enough? Do you need a strobe? Beacon? SOS?

My EDC is a cheap Ultrafire that runs on a single AA. It's about as bright as the the comparable Fenix (on High) at a quarter of the price. It's a convenient size, puts out enough light for me, and runs on AA. Will it survive a drop off a 10 story building? Maybe not, but I don't think I will either.

[speedsix]

...have bought several from Home Dippy...currently carrying a Maglight LED that's around $30...over 100 lumens...lower level settings to save power...Coast has a good LED one at around 90 lumens...I paid $40 at Home Dippy...both will give you enough light for most situations...have a rechargeable Stinger and rechargeable LED Stinger...LED is much brighter...bought at pawn shop for $45 and $65 , respectively...I don't mount lights, either...all of these fit pocket well and are handy...the first two would be small enough to belt carry daily in a small pouch...

[A-R]

I HIGHLY recommend the Fenix PD20. Love this little light. My only problem so far is that when clipped to my front left pocket, sometimes my iPhone case will catch it just right and activate the on/off switch - I don't realize it until the little sucker gets HOT then turn it off. Have wasted a few batteries now because of it. So carrying inside my pocket until I find a better iPhone case solution.

http://www.batteryjunction.com/fenix-pd20-r5.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also, see last post in this thread. I washed the PD20 with my pants (and dried in dryer) and it never skipped a beat. Very well built.
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=33527&hilit=fenix&start=30" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also have one of these I picked up just before Christmas on a close out sale. But it's only the 190-lumen version (why it was on close out). Also a nice light, don't like it as well as the PD20 but it's a good light.
http://www.batteryjunction.com/olight-t10-t-s2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Medic218]

+1 on the Fenix lights

[Ameer]

Fenix makes good utility lights but I don't like a reverse clicky switch for self defense.

[cougartex]

I like the Coast V2.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/coast-tacti ... l7736.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[fm2]

I like the Fenix lights.

[ZeeMan]

Streamlight Microstream is what I carry with me all day everyday. 1aaa battery and bright enough to light the night.



http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=144" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[cheezit]

im a big fan of streamlight products. I use them everday. they hold up great and come with a lifetime warranty. I used maglights for many years I would no longer own one.
looks like zeeman beat me to it

[ZeeMan]

I also use this one in the truck

Streamlight Twin-Task 3C


http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=45" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Commander]

Check out O-Light. I have the T-10 with 190 lumens - very small....fits easily in your pocket; and the T-20 with 270 lumens and would recommend either.

[KD5NRH]

I use the Fenix LD20 as an everyday carry and a work (night shift security) with Energizer E2 batteries, and only have to change the batteries every 2-3 months. The holster, IMO, could be better quality, but that tends to be a problem with most lights. (What they need is one with a kydex liner at the bottom so the light won't eventually wear through the nylon.) I've been carrying it for about three years, and it's about to wear through its second holster. The light, OTOH, could almost pass for brand new.

[cheezit]

I also use this one in the truck

Streamlight Twin-Task 3C


http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=45" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I keep the same one in mine, great light and amazon had the best price.

[KJV]

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.