Good LED carry everyday light?

[newlife12176]

I wasn't sure about the appropriate section to post this question on this forum, so I chose one that would be viewed frequently. Who carries a daily flashlight? I want something that is lightweight, LED, a lot of lumens, fairly small, dependable etc.. I have surefire lights for my EBR, but they get hot very fast. I know they make great flashlights, but I see that there are many options? Any recommendations?

[AEA]

The Surefire 6p is a good all purpose light. It is also one of the least expensive.

They now have a LED Conversion available from Surefire for more money than the 6p cost itself!

I just bought a regular 6p and ordered the LED kit from Hong Kong for a lot less (see link below). After all, that's probably where Surefire gets them made anyway!

These have doubled in price since they first came out. I originally got one from Hong Kong for 9.99! They are also not hot like the normal bulb.

I just orered 2 more before they go up again......one as a spare and one for my Son who uses his 6p for work (LEO).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0109712889" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mike1951]

I carry a Fenix P3D with 6 settings.

With the bezel tightened all the way, it turns on with 215 lumens. Another bump of the tailcap yields an extremely bright strobe.

With the bezel loosened, the initial mode is 12 lumens. This is what I routinely use.

Additional bumps of the tailcap yield 53 and 120 lumens. One additional bump flashes SOS.

Uses two CR123 batteries. Runs $60-$68 online but there is a vendor in some of the forums that occasionally sells them for $45 shipped.

[CompVest]

I wasn't sure about the appropriate section to post this question on this forum, so I chose one that would be viewed frequently. Who carries a daily flashlight? I want something that is lightweight, LED, a lot of lumens, fairly small, dependable etc.. I have surefire lights for my EBR, but they get hot very fast. I know they make great flashlights, but I see that there are many options? Any recommendations?

I just can't resist. I don't carry a "daily" flashlight but I do carry a "nightly" flashlight!
I have a Streamlight nano light and a Streamlight Strion. The nano is my key light. The Strion is my everything else light. It is very bright, the beam can be focused, can be mounted on my AR, is small enought to be used with my handgun, and it is rechargeable. I have a house and car charger for it.

[ELB]

I just can't resist. I don't carry a "daily" flashlight but I do carry a "nightly" flashlight!

Every time I have left the house during daylight without my flashlight I have regretted it. I have always had to look in some dark hole. An example being looking under the hood when the Texas Sun is beating down-- it is so dark under there by contrast to the outside sunlight that I can barely see the dipstick hole, or the bolt I dropped or whatever.

Anyway, to answer the original question -- for my birthday I bought (for my wife to give me ) a Surefire G-3 with the LED head. I really really like it. I already have a G-3 with the incandescant lamp head, but the tail cap switch is starting to wear after two or three years of use and riding around in my pockets, and it eats batteries, and it doesn't have a tail cap lockout. The LED version does have a tailcap lockout, runs MUCH cooler, and is much easier on batteries. I really wanted one of the smaller Surefire LEDs, like the Aviator, or one of the Executive types, but I just couldn't see ponying up the bucks for them (they run pretty high for my budget). The G-3 LED was about $70-$80, which is not chickenfeed, but compared to similar quality lights not too bad. I do like it.

elb

[jbirds1210]

I prefer the little Surefire G2 LED version.

After hurricane Ike, I invested in a few other small LED lights that took regular AA or AAA batteries....they are much cheaper to stock up on. I also took Compvest's idea on the Nano light.....while the Nano is a bit small for me, the idea of the lanyard is a very good one!

Jason

[Bob Wolff]

Everything and I repeat everything and then some concerning EDC lights....
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Bob

[agbullet2k1]

I just have a $20 mini-maglite from walmart in my car. It's bright enough for any purpose, and it takes AA's, which last a long time with the LED. My wife has LEDs built into her taser, which is still pretty bright, and intimidating.

[OverEasy]

I bought some lights from this outfit: http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.901" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I got several 'SacredFire' NF-805V lights. It is a CREE LED that is rated at 140 lumens with 3 AAA batteries.
They are BRIGHT! However the 'clicky switch' in the tailcap tends to push out of place if you push too hard. I'm going to put a shim between the switch assy. and the battery pack to hold it in place. I think the shim will make it 100% reliable!!!!
I paid $11.50 each for 4 of them, (Christmas gifts).

These lights have machined aluminum bodies with "O" ring seals. The fact that you might have to mess with it a little to make it 100% is no big deal when you consider the price.

They mailed them USPS from Hong Kong in a few weeks.

I'm going to try some of the other CREE lights they sell. I want to try one of the 250 lumen CREE 'UltaFires' for $17-$18!

I own several Kel Tec's, so tweeking a cheap flashlight is no problem for me.

Regards, OE

[Keith B]

I bought this one from DealExtreme, and it was OK. Plenty bright, but the light pattern (shadow in the middle) and no-memory for last mode were turn-offs.

I then bought an T-20 Tactical O-Light from Battery Junction and have been VERY pleased with it. Nice even light pattern and even brighter than the deal extreme one. Uses two rechargable CR-123 batteries. Here is the O-Light website

[AEA]

I own several Kel Tec's, so tweeking a cheap flashlight is no problem for me.

[aardwolf]

Target sells a Dorcy flashlight with 9 LEDs for $5 if you're looking for a utility flashlight. It's a convenient size, decently bright, has a tail click switch, and uses AAA batteries. It's not a tactical light and it doesn't come in black, but for a general purpose flashlight it beats the old 2 D cell in that price range.

[Excaliber]

I go with the Surefire L4 Digital Lumamax. It goes everywhere I go.

It's very bright, very rugged, very reliable, and suitable for tactical use.

It costs a little more than some of the others, but like a good gun or holster, I look at it as quality life safety gear that will serve me well for many years.

[flintknapper]

I then bought an T-20 Tactical O-Light from Battery Junction and have been VERY pleased with it. Nice even light pattern and even brighter than the deal extreme one. Uses two rechargable CR-123 batteries.

Love mine.

Heck of a tactical light for the money.