Where do you carry your flashlight?

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When I am in my work uniform, I carry my E2e in clipped into the top of my right front pants pocket. I use it several times a day when I am not close to a droplight.

I never really thought about carrying it for use in conjunction with my carry weapon, but I guess there might be some situations where it would be good to have.
 
re: Carebear

My circumstances are such that it's conceivable ambient light is sufficient to simply traverse the distance from point A to point B, but that a threat (whether 2 or 4 legged) could present itself where I would desire concurrent access to both carry piece and light.

I know I can draw both together if I need to...hope I never have to. I know that where I carry my light won't constrain me from rapid access whether a concurrent draw is involved or not.

Stay safe,

CZ52'
 
I have a white Photon microlight clipped to my car keys, and a turquoise one clipped to my house keys. My Surefire L4 resides in my left front pocket.
 
I carry a Garrity 3-AAA LED light at about 8:30, right behind my cell phone on my left hip, in the included nylon holster. However, as I usually don't like carrying a lot of stuff on my belt (I do that often enough at work wearing a duty rig) if I'm wearing a sweatshirt or jacket with pockets, I throw it in the left pocket.

During daylight hours though, I usually keep it in the car.

-38SnubFan
 
I usually wear Carhartt pants, the work type with the leg pockets. The E2E fits nicely in the left leg pocket, and comes out easily. The times I go outside at night in my skivvies, I clip the light to the front of the shoulder rig I throw on when out like that (we have bears and mountain lions in the neighborhood.)

Keep a G2 for truck/coat pocket use when wearing a coat. and a 6P with the high output lamp (120 lumens) for dazzling the eyes in the truck in the pocket along the seat front.


FWIW, the E2E "Outdoorsman" model has a longer clip, and it will fit the E2E Executive Elite model. I ordered one but it never showed up, need to call back again.
 
Personally, I've yet to understand why people spend so much money for a FLASHLIGHT! :evil: :eek: :rolleyes: :uhoh: I only spent about $13 or $14 for mine, and it works just great.

I checked out some of the Surefire and Streamlight stuff, but I just can't fathom spending $40+ for one.

Then again, I'm usually poor as sin, so my point might be moot.

-Snub
 
Why pay $60K for a Mercedes, when you can spend $8K on a Kia.... Because the quality is THAT much better....
 
Well, it may not be a huge reason, but I've yet to see a AA/C or D sized battery with a 10 year shelf life. How many of us have reached for some battery operated gizmo that's been sitting for years and the one time we need it, it's full of corroded batteries.

My Surefire cost way too much, there's no question about it. But, it uses a battery with a proven long shelf life, and no history of corroding internal parts.
That's why I went that direction. I've had at least 2 Maglites ruined over the years from oozing batteries.
 
re: 38SnubFan

I checked out some of the Surefire and Streamlight stuff, but I just can't fathom spending $40+ for one.
Click to expand...

There's nothing wrong with healthy skepticism and frugality :).

Let me take a quick shot as to the WHY from my perspective. I started out with a Mini-Mag Light, a little one...portable, cheap, pretty reliable, a decent find-my-way-to-the-circuit breaker or peak out in the yard and see a racoon kind of range/brightness. As I continued my firearms training, I found that it had some limitations as a fighting light.

Next I moved onto a Streamlight Scorpion.

http://www.copquest.com/10-3900-head-r.jpg

I still have it, and I practice the Harries technique (pictured below from the Martialist web site). I continue to practice Harries (essentially lightly supported one hand) because it is useful to know that method.

http://www.themartialist.com/images/fightlight02.jpg

Then I picked up a Z2 (I think I incorrectly described as a G2Z above) based on suggestions from my instructor.

http://store1.yimg.com/I/knifeart_1831_30729849

The integrated O-ring let's you use the Roger's technique (pictured below, again from the Martialist web site) which allows for two hand shooting very similar to a natural two-hand hold. I've found that in several low light practice sessions, and day-time dexterity practice, I get better faster hits with Roger's. There are other techniques for night fighting, and legitimate debate about which is "the best". I offer up my experience for what it's worth.

http://www.themartialist.com/images/fightlight03.jpg

YMMV, there are several tail-cap lights which make good Harries technique lights, you can use Chapman or Ayoob (also pictured at http://www.themartialist.com/1203/fightwithlight.htm ) with many household flashlights on the market.

For Harries, I like the comfort, brightness, and durability of the Scorpion (fairly compact). For Rogers, I like the Z2 from SureFire.

Edited to add: The size of your hands, your piece, your natural hold...all these will influence what is comfortable for you in terms of light/technique selected. Try to borrow some lights from others, attempt the postures represented at the Martialist site, do some SAFE dry-fire, then try 'em on at the range.

Stay Safe,

CZ52'

p.s. The Martialist site is provided without consideration of the article's contents, the photos presented recognizable views of the techniques I mentioned.
 
In my super duty leather flashlight holster that I got specially molded for my 10 pound Maglite Supreme. I keep a battery pouch next to my mag pouch for when SHTF. I carry my BUF on a kydex ankle holster (not the one for my BUG of course!) just in case.


:D

In reality, I just have a mini Maglight on my keychain. ;)
 
Why buy a $400 Smith & Wesson when a $125 High Point pistol will do?

That is part of the reason I use high grade lights. I used Mag lights for years, and have about 5 mini-mags around, but the little things that continually annoyed me about them just don't happen with the sure-fire or streamlight scorpions. The "holes" in the light pattern of the cheaper lights aren't there, the batteries dont die unexpectedly. and they weigh noticably less. The lights don't come on all by themselves in the pocket like the mini-mags seem to, killing that near new set of batteries. I liked the light output of the 3 or 4 D cell mags, but they are heavy and bulky. The new high grade lights put out more light than the 3 D cell mag in a light the size of a min-mag.

My favorite sure-fire is the E2E Executive Elite, more compact than a mini-mag, hard anodized, (it can literally file through the body of a regular mag light without hurtintg the finish in the E2E) has the unscratchable pyrex lense, 2 different lamps available (25 and 50 lumen). I paid about $85 for mine, and feel it is the best money I've ever spent on a light. I have it on me all the time, and use it every day.

My mag lights just sit and gather dust since I got my good lights.
 
I bought a couple of Surefire G2s: one to carry, one for the nightstand.

Last week, doing some home improvement, I dropped my 4-cell Maglight into a finished wall. :banghead: I haven't even bothered to try and get it out.
 
Matt,


When you're ready, if you cut a neat hole to pull it out from down low, you can install one of the handyman special remodel boxes in the sheetrock and just cover the box with a blank.

It'll look better and be faster than a patch job.

I, uh, read about a guy who knew a guy who ended up doing that to get a tester back.... :rolleyes:
 
I think if I had accidentally dropped a mag lite into a wall I'd feel good about the O-rings keeping any battery leakage contained. Then I wouldn't have to get it out. The patch or fix would seen like more trouble than the light is worth to me.
 
Yeah, I feel kind of dumb.

Rereading this thread energized me. With another flashlight, a hand mirror, a dowel, some twine, and a duct tape lasso, I finally snagged the sucker.

Five new batteries and I'd be back in business -- and now, all of a sudden, I don't even want to put new batteries in it. What can it do that my SureFire can't -- except clobber someone?
 
I carry my twintask 3 c cell flashlite in a baton carrier on my left hip. Since I am not allowed to carry concealed in the wonderful state of California, this is also one of the only weapons I carry.

As a side note... I have a cheapie 5 inch folder in my right pocket, and a nice little Kershaw Vapor clipped onto my right pocket, as well as a heavyweight steel load in my back left pocket, that can beused as a fist pack. I use a roll of quarters if I am going to a club or something.

Both knives can be opened in a split second, and the flashlight is easy to get to.

The varrying legality of my daily carry is often a hinderance to me, but at the same time, if I feel threatened, Id rather be prepared than not.
 
Let me explain myself a little further...

The reason I was stumped by those who spend a lot of money on a flashlight is because I use mine simply as an illumination tool, not a possible defensive weapon. That's what my knife and/or gun is for. I also have two good fists to use if it's a non-lethal confrontation (I have considered getting some OC, but I'm somewhat worried about entering the "Bat-Belt Syndrome" :evil:). That's not to say I wouldn't use it to identify my target in low-light/no-light conditions, because simply put, you don't shoot at a target you cannot see.

It almost seems to me that everytime the technology advances, whether it be computers, cars, or even flashlights, that what was there before becomes obsolete and therefore "not good enough". When the smallest "bright" mini-light that everyone carried was the AA Mini-MagLite, it was the thing to have. Now that we have the multiplt Stinger and SureFire selections available to us, the Mini-Maglite is no longer good enough for a self-defense light. If it was good enough then, why isn't it good enough now? :confused: :uhoh:

I consider this: In a situation where I need to temporarily blind an attacker/BG to gain some type of "tactical advantage", the BG is probably going to be VERY close to me. The SureFire and Stinger does a damn good job (I carry a Stinger on my duty belt at work - it also makes a damn good strike device if need be!) but I feel my inexpensive Garrity does just as well at that close a range; I don't need to blind the guy from 20 feet away when I can just as easily retreat or take cover and shoot. I've "jokingly" tried this out on a couple friends with the Garrity, and they'll tell you they've been blinded for more than just a couple of seconds too!

To each their own I'll admit. It just seems that some people tend to spend so much money on this "über-tactical" equipment that they tend to remind me of the "Mall Ninja" stories I've read in these forums (which, yes, I've laughed my a** off to).

Why buy a $400 Smith & Wesson when a $125 High Point pistol will do?
Click to expand...
Because the High-Point would be more accurate if you threw it at the BG! Not to say that there's not some good guns out there that ARE inexpensive (I own a Bersa Thunder .45 and a EAA Windicator .38 snubbie), but that's a whole other thread that I'm not going to start on here.

Why pay $60K for a Mercedes, when you can spend $8K on a Kia.... Because the quality is THAT much better....
Click to expand...
You've reminded me of a Ron White skit I watched on DVD recently. He was showing off his new conversion van (with the power-sofa feature) to his too-rich-for-his-own-good brother-in-law (you guys probably have already watched this and know exactly what I'm talking about).

Brother-in-law: I'm suprised you didn't get a Mercedes, Ron. Apparently you don't understand the intracies of Mercedes-Benz technology. I've got the 4-inch windshield wipers that keep your headlights clean in a rainstorm!

Ron: I've got a place to f*** your sister!

:neener:

Oh yeah, a child could spill food or a drink in the backseat of a Kia and I wouldn't be NEARLY as upset as if he did it in a Mercedes! :D

Sorry to rant on, it just seems these kind of subjects get blown WAY to far out of proportion.

-38SnubFan
 
38SnubFan

If you can get a reliable flashlight, get a good shooting posture, and execute good hits in low light conditions, that's the key.

A $200 light that you don't use well doesn't make you "tactical". If you get consistently good hits with any light regardless of acquisition cost...that's the litmus test.

I can honestly say that my SureFire Z2 provides me an advantage, because my hands are small enough that the O-ring is a necessity to get a good Rogers hold. Jury rigged O-rings just didn't hold up. I can shoot with a Harries posture using a mini-mag'...glad I can, but I'm willing to press my advantage for an extra $50-$60 because I get better hits using a Rogers hold with a Z2.

Fancier lights have come out since I bought my Z2. They have some interesting features. My litmus test for them:
1) Will they be more reliable
2) Substantially brighter by some meaningful measurement
3) Provide a value too good to pass up
4) Most importantly...will they help me gain an advantage, better hits in low light

Follow the beat of your own drum and use what works for you. However, I'd recommend you make an informed decision if you can. Check out something like a SureFire Z2 or G2Z in a shop. Borrow one from a buddy if feasible. If try-before-you-buy doesn't inspire you to make a change, then at least you know what you are passing on.

Stay safe,

CZ52'
 
Dreaded rail lights

I am one of those idiots that doesn't carry either a flashligh very often, and when I do it is one of the evil/dangerous rail mounted lights. I love my M6 and will never give it up.
 
I carry my E2D either clipped in the front right pants pocket when wearing khakis (at work, and yes I'm a lefty) or when wearing the uber tactical 5.11 pants, in that handy little pocket up front. I use a flashlight pretty often at work, so it really comes in handy. plus its fun to blind the other guys on the job from time to time, just for kicks.


I'm looking to find a pouch that I can wear it on my belt along with a spare mag.
 
Dreaded rail lights

Do you carry it mounted in the holster? It's nearly impossible to avoid sweeping yourself if you carry it on the belt.

Thanks,

CZ52'
 
Surefire e2e in my front left pocket

or if I'm wearing cargo shorts, clipped in the left cargo pocket. Streamlight keymate (my BUL) on my keychain. 7 c-cell maglight in my car. :cool:
 
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