EDC Flashlight

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happycamper374

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I wasn't quite sure where to post this but I figured this forum was my best bet...

I was at a conference this past Saturday in a large room when the lights went out. This was an interior room and there was absolutely no light. The lights came back on, but it got me wondering what would happen if they hadn't. I spend a fair amount of time in buildings without natural light and I don't carry a flashlight. I need to start carrying one.

What would you recommend? My first thought was a small maglight, but that's just because they're the most familiar to me. I'm looking for something that's pocket sized, puts out enough light to navigate in the dark (LED is fine, it doesn't have to blind people), and is as affordable as possible. I've heard a lot about surefire but that seems to be more of a 20 minute intense bright kind of package than a several hour power outage device. And they're pricey.
 
Go to Sam's Club, they have a package of 2 lights that are LED and are very bright, for about $29.00. Can't remember the name, but they are very good and bright for the money.
 
Hello friends and neighbors // There are flashlight APPS for some cell phones.

I took a picture of a bright white light with my cell and set the pic as wall paper when needed, this works in a pinch.

I carry the Solar Force L2 for more serious needs and highly recommend getting the multifunction lamp.(Pulse,SOS, 3 brightness settings) I have a large and small tube for different options.
////These types of flashlights get warm with continous use on highbeam.///

Simple needs I go with the phone... lighting a lock to put in the key...reading a menu....finding my way in a dark room.
 
Consider a LED headlamp. Free up your hands if you want to continue working or in an emergency. 1000+ hours of light.
 
It isn't the brightest, but I'm really happy with my Fenix E01. I have other lights from them that are fancier/brighter/more settings, but carry the E01 the most. It has also survived at least 10 trips through the washer and a few through the dryer, still going strong. I think they are $15.
 
I like to have a small lite on me at all times. Being a city boy, I spend a good deal of time in large buildings without a natural light source like the OP. On my keyring is always a tiny Princeton Tech Pulsar 2 I got at an REI place. Being on my keyring, I can't leave the house without it. The better half has one on her keys as well.

I find the smaller something is, the more likely you will have it on you when something happens.

I also carry a main light, my AA mini-mag with the Nite-eze LED kit. I didn't do the tail clicky thing, just the LED head. Very usable amount of light with a long run time; about 18 to 20 hours. And I like the AA batteries that I can get at any 7-11 or just about any store on earth. It's a tad too big for pocket carry, si it rides in a nylon and velcro sheath just behind my cell phone on my right hip. Easy to get to and out of the way. Nice thing is, it goes anywhere with me, court house, planes, where ever. If something happens to it, I can replace it at the next Walmart I come to. All of 8.99 for the maglight, and 4.99 for the LED conversion, and I'm back on the road.

I don't like to spend a lot of money on a edc flashlight.
 
I have a few different "levels" of EDC lights. First of all, if I'm away from the house, I have my truck/house keys in my pocket. On this key ring, I have a Fenix E01. It's rated at around 10 lumens, with a blueish LED. It runs on a AAA battery and will run for at least 10 hours. In a small dark room, it's sufficient. $12-15 online.

If I'm around the house, grilling outside, taking the dog out, or just anticipate being outside in the dark for a minute or two, I'll clip my Streamlight Microstream to my pocket. This thing has to be seen and held in person to appreciate how small it is. It's no bigger than my pinky and it's rated at 20 lumens for 1.5 hours on a single AAA battery. It has a click-on/click-off rubber tailcap which I love. It has a pocket knife styled clip to ride on your pocket. It has a really nice round soft white LED beam with good spill. And it will throw useable light at least 20 feet. Amazing. $20 online.

If I have a little bit more room in my pockets, and I know I'll be outside in the dark for a while, I'll take along my Fenix PD20 (the older Q5 version). This one is just a little bigger than my thumb and has 4 levels of light. 9 lumens, 47 lumens, 94 lumens, and 180 lumens. It also has S.O.S. mode and strobe mode. Clicky tailcap, smooth surfaces, runs on a single CR123 battery, still pocketable, well-made, costs about $60. It's a pretty serious light for it's size and price. It can also stand up on it's tail to act as a candle. The 180 lumens look to me to be more like 100-150, but maybe that's just because it has a lot of spill.

My Surefire E2D LED (5/120 lumens) is by far my favorite light, but a little too big for EDC, unless you're wearing a jacket with pockets. It's 120 lumen mode is definitely more than 120 lumens, looks to be about 150-180. It's built to last a lifetime, but costs too much for the casual user to justify, about $150.

There are 4 examples from $12 to $150. 10 lumens to 180. Pinky size to almost 6" long. Don't leave home without some kind of reliable light. You never know when you'll need it.
 
For years I carried a Surefire Nitrolon G2. A couple of years ago I switched over to an Inova X5 LED light. It's not as bright as the Surefire, but I only have to replace batteries on it a couple of times a year, as opposed to monthly with the Surefire.
 
Surefire has ALOT of models. Some with several hours of light that is more mellow and other that will burn out retinas for 20 minutes or so. I have half a dozen SF lights and they are great. Nearly bulletproof and they have photos to back that up. They are worth the $$$. The E2D LED would work for you nicely. A bargain LED light that I like is the Streamlight LED Scorpion. http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=34 Rubber body is great when you need both hands. You can stick it under your armpit or bite it without any issues. Under $50.
 
I have carried a Streamlight Stylus in my shirt pocket since they first came on the market.

It will light up the whole back yard on a dark night well enough to see pretty darn well.

rc
 
I got a ITP A3 EOS in a package deal with another light; since then it has become my favorite EDC flashlight.
Details:
* Uses 1 x AAA, 1 x Rechargeable NiMh AAA, or 1 x 10440 (due to the small body size, 10440 batteries are not recommended since they may cause the light to become hot very quickly).
* Material: Stainless Steel
* llumination:
Three output levels - Medium 18 lumens (4 hours) -> Low 1.5 lumens (50 hours) ->-High 80 lumens (55 minutes)
* Orange peel reflector for flawless beam.
Regards,
Greg
 
I carry a streamlight microstream everywhere and always, left pocket using the belt clip. They're quite small, but disproportionately bright. And battery life is amazing, like well over an hour on one AAA. I also keep a spare battery, in case the light is accidently turned on in my pocket and I don't realize it. They're also surprisingly durable; I use them at work (mechanic), and they last about a year, being dropped very frequently, sometimes into tubs of antifreeze, oil, gasoline, etc. And they're small enough to hold in your mouth comfortably so that you can work with both hands. They're $15.

http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=144

To give you an idea of size:

100_0981.jpg
 
Take your pic:

http://www.4sevens.com/index.php?cPath=297_306

IMHO the best EDC lights on the market, even before you look at the diminutive price tag compared to, for example, Surefire. If those are too big or not quite what you want, try the other categories of Quarks on the left, like the minis.

They're super bright, long run times, durable, waterproof, momentary or permanent on, and come with pocket clips. They also have primary and secondary modes you can switch between, with several modes to choose from (e.g. moonlight, low, medium, high, strobe, SOS). You program which modes you want as primary and secondary (I go for low and high) and then you can quickly access them depending on your situation.
 
My EDC gear.

Light: SF C2 Centurion with SF LED replacement.
Knife: Spyderco Lava
Gun: Custom S&W 642
Reload: HKS Speedloader & Bianchi Speed Strip w/Federal 38G 158gr +P LSWCHP
Holster: Bell Charter Oak Chicago Rocker
Impact: Poltergeist Works Coobothan


RSCN1345.jpg
 
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