Need reliable high power flash light

Stumbo · #1 06-22-2008, 09:16 PM

All the high power flashlights I've purchased over the past 2-3 years have gone out (charger, battery, housing, etc.). All were made in China, even if distributed by an American company.

Any recommendations? Probably $50 max.

bwv1013 · #2 06-22-2008, 09:47 PM

maglite. made in ontario, california. haven't had one fail me yet.

tplyons · #3 06-22-2008, 09:55 PM

Maglite is the only way to go for me.

The new LED ones are bright as hell, but rather expensive.

spade2you · #4 06-22-2008, 09:59 PM

Surefire.

**Freddels** · #5 06-23-2008, 05:58 AM

Maglite. I've had one for 20 yrs and it still works perfectly. I have had to change the batteries a few times though.

ehque · #6 06-23-2008, 06:09 AM

Maglite, especially with the LEDs.

I use a no-name Chinese LED torch, with 15 to 20 LEDs soldered to a circuit board inside. Blindingly bright if you look into it, but disperses light well.

Phalex · #7 06-23-2008, 06:26 AM

+1 on the MagLight. If you get a big one, it can help get you out of a "situation" as well.

DigMe · #8 06-23-2008, 07:51 AM

Surefire. I have a 3 D-cell Maglite. Never really been impressed with it. They made some waves with their original design (that is not very bright) but they've been followers ever since. It took them forever to finally get high-power LED lights and by the time they added 1 watt and 3 watt lights the rest of the industry had already moved on to better LEDs.

I also recommend the Streamlight 4A Luxeon LED. Great light. Surefire is probably a notch up though and they have a no-questions-asked lifetime warranty.

bc

sarcastro83 · #9 06-23-2008, 07:53 AM

another vote for Maglite. Heavy, huge, bright, reliable.

burk48237 · #10 06-23-2008, 07:55 AM

Surefire is far superior to Mag. A two battery Surefire "mini" puts out more light then a 6 D-cell mag. Mag makes decent stuff, but Surefire has been the standard for LE and the military for years. The G2 will be well within your price range, it's small, super bright, and well made.

http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/...r/16/sesent/00

DigMe · #11 06-23-2008, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarcastro83

another vote for Maglite. Heavy, huge, bright, reliable.

Heavy and huge is a detriment unless you're looking for something that you can hit someone with. Mag fills the "something to hit someone with" role pretty well. Other than that the light output is really lame for the size. Bright? Clearly you've never compared a maglite to a good flashlight. Why not get something much smaller that puts out more light and is even more reliable?

bc

Marcury · #12 06-23-2008, 08:19 AM

I don't know why no one has mentioned Maglite.

sarcastro83 · #13 06-23-2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigMe

Heavy and huge is a detriment unless you're looking for something that you can hit someone with. Mag fills the "something to hit someone with" role pretty well. Other than that the light output is really lame for the size. Bright? Clearly you've never compared a maglite to a good flashlight. Why not get something much smaller that puts out more light and is even more reliable?

bc

yeah... I used to live in the burbs, and it would be an hours walk to all my friends through subdivisions that were just in the process of being built. No streetlights. Pure darkness. I was looking for something to hit people with.

Those surefires sure do look cool, though.

FL Knifemaker · #14 06-23-2008, 10:27 AM

Read up on all the latest here:

http://candlepowerforums.com/

I'm really diggin' the Fenix lights I have. Great bang for the buck.

Pilgrim · #15 06-23-2008, 10:35 AM

FL Knifemaker has the right idea. There are a number of comprehensive flashlight forums online - do a bit of searching and you'll learn about aspects of flashlight technology that you never dreamed of.

There are people who are every bit as crazed about flashlights as we are about basses. Go figure.

Stumbo · #16 06-23-2008, 02:56 PM

Thanks for the info.
I'm also looking for the best rechargeable.

DigMe · #17 06-23-2008, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Thanks for the info.
I'm also looking for the best rechargeable.

The Streamlight Stinger is a rechargable that gets a lot of law enforcement use.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/streamli...ashlights.html

bc

FL Knifemaker · #18 06-23-2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

FL Knifemaker has the right idea. There are a number of comprehensive flashlight forums online - do a bit of searching and you'll learn about aspects of flashlight technology that you never dreamed of.

There are people who are every bit as crazed about flashlights as we are about basses. Go figure.

Some of the custom titanium flashlights are amazing. This collection of customs belongs to one of the members on my knife and gun forum

Johnny Crab · #19 06-23-2008, 06:18 PM

Surefires look and sound good BUT maglites are owned here.

A mini-maglite lives on my nightstand and one in my gigbag. They get fed AA's that I change in my wireless every gig(1.6 volts before gig, 1.45 volts after the gig, last WEEKS in the mini-mags).

PS:
"Used-by-wirelsss" AA's also get recycled into a digital camera and Wi handheld game controller....

68Goldfish · #20 06-23-2008, 11:29 PM

The stinger rules. Use it every day, all day. Get the piggyback charger if you use it as much as I do.