Okay...School me on flashlights

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The "pocket dump" thread spun off into a flashlight discussion. Got me interested, but I know nothing about these lights. Probably not going to carry one. Don't need that much stuff in my pocket. That said, I may have have use for one from time to time and like gadgets.

So, what does one look for in a flashlight? Are there standard sizes? Battery life? Any rechargeable? Brightness? Do they have clips? Construction materials? weight? Best brands / Models. Cost?

Of course, this is a good time to post close-up pictures and recommendations.
 
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I like the fenix lights. I've got the E15 that is a small keychain light up to 300 lumens on a 123a Battery.
Then on my backpack I keep a fenix light that is a micro rechargeable light with up to 1000 lumens.

I've not had any of the more expensive lights and probably never would fenix fits all my needs.
 
I carry a single AAA Streamlight daily, it's overall size is slightly longer than a AA, has a clip, think it's about $20. It's no baton, and not gonna burn out retinas but for common light needs it'd be hard to beat.

Carried a AA Fenix before that, and it was truly excellent, very bright, decent life, still fairly compact, but lost it somewhere and the price had increased substantially.

Sent from my SM-G360V using Tapatalk
 
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I have 2 that make up my standard rotation. I don't like a bunch of crap in my pockets and don't wear cargo pants. Not sure how guys carry all the stuff in some of those pics. I prefer common batteries. Though I make an exception for my work light because I need the power. You can't beat Streamlight for price, quality, and warranty.

So, when I'm not working, it's a StreamLight MicroStream 1AAA. It puts out plenty of useful light, lasts a long time, has a great warranty, and is very compact. For $16 it's a great price too.

When I'm working I use a StreamLight Pro-Tac 2L. A little larger(2x CR123), just as tough and bright as hell. Around $45
 
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Single AAA Streamlight, great for daily use and has a clip that I can clip to the bill of my hat for hands-free use.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J120AZ using Tapatalk
 
I’ve been carrying around a Protac 2L for several years now. My eyes are getting old faster than the rest of me so I use my light all the time. Anyhow, the 2L has held up great to daily carry, it’s plenty bright and the batteries last a good long time. Can’t go wrong there.
 
All my flashlights are cheap($20 or less) I’ve got an ozark trail light from Walmart that I have beat the everloving snot out of and it keeps kicking. I also buy AA models cause I horde batteries and the two lights i use most get rechargeables.
 
I've only has 2 beers officer....seriously.
Yes, we know.

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What's the best flashlight? Much like the best gun, it's the one you have on you when the lights go out. I carry one of the knock off aaa lights because unlike the streamlight they can put out 100 lumens and takes up little enough room you won't be tempted to leave it behind.

I do want a pocket holster made for my .380 with a little sleeve build on to the front to hold one though. @chiefjason ?
 
I've got a stream light, 350 lumens, uses either the 123 battery or aa battery, your choice, come with high, low and strobe, 42 bucks tax and all. After going through a bunch of the cheap flashlights, decided to invest in a better light and I haven't regretted it.
 
I do want a pocket holster made for my .380 with a little sleeve build on to the front to hold one though. @chiefjason ?

I've done crazier things. And I might even have an idea, not on the front but on top of the slide above the sights. Make for a wider holster, which could be an issue. But so can thicker holsters. We would have to talk some specifics to see how doable it is.

And to the OP, I carry a Fenix PD30 daily. I have beat that light to death and it still keeps going.
 
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My handheld nightstand light is a SureFire 6P with LED conversion. 80 lumens, 2 123 batteries, 11hr run time. Used once every other day or so.

My daily carry pocket light is a Streamlight MicroStream. Single AAA battery. 2.5hr run time. 45 lumens. I use it many times per day
 
For this time around I had a few things I was looking for in a daily carry light:
clip
small
rear click...FORWARD click (there is a type of click called 'reverse click' - this has to do with momentary on/off and how it is accessed)
and, as always, price.

I picked up a Microstream from Streamlight for about 14 shipped on Amazon.
I like how small it is, the pocket clip is nice. Im able to clip it in my front right pocket, I put it as far right on the pocket as I can. This allows me to access the pocket without dealing with the light. Its about the size of a chapstick tube, slightly longer, but lightweight.

This one is 45lm (or roundabout, I forget), and at first I was worried about that output, but now that I have it I have no worries. It has helped out many times already searching for something under a desk/table/etc. Its not going to blind anyone, but its enough to help around the office and house.
 
I have been carrying a streamlight micro for a while. Its not a tactical pocket sun by any means, but it can find a toy under a table at applebee's. Small and very useful. My kids/wife got me a streamlight protac 2 aa for christmas. I like it alot. Its bigger than the micro but its a big step up in light. Its a good size for my hand and uses common aa's. It actually rides very nice in the long lower pocket of my carpenter jeans. So depending on pants, pockets, belt choice etc. I have a small and a big light choice. I have a streamlight scorpion in the quick safe with my pistol, but the protac 2aa is quickly becoming my favorite light.
 
I have been carrying a streamlight micro for a while. Its not a tactical pocket sun by any means, but it can find a toy under a table at applebee's. Small and very useful. My kids/wife got me a streamlight protac 2 aa for christmas. I like it alot. Its bigger than the micro but its a big step up in light. Its a good size for my hand and uses common aa's. It actually rides very nice in the long lower pocket of my carpenter jeans. So depending on pants, pockets, belt choice etc. I have a small and a big light choice. I have a streamlight scorpion in the quick safe with my pistol, but the protac 2aa is quickly becoming my favorite light.
I must buy a flashlight.

We were at Applebee's the other night and I had no idea they have toys under the tables. :)
 
I used to buy a nice sure fire every 5-7 years think upwards of 200 a pc. Well I lost an E2d defender it was the last and favorite of all the surfires I had.
Now my EDC is a stream light pro tac 1L which will take one cr123 or a dbl A battery.
With the cr123 it has 300 or 320 lumens small and powerful also has 3 settings high low and strobe. It's almost the perfect EDC light I have owned.

38.00
 
Fwiw we have killed every light except two sure fire and insight. I have a box of dead pelican and streamlight. End button always, it is hard to find one on the body of a flashlight. Hard to beat the cr123 batteries. Strike bezel and a pocket clip and on the bezel or clip some anti rotation so when you drop it it won't roll far.

The flashlight you walk the dog with should be your go to light at 2am. No Multi functions you'll never have the one you want easily. There are other tricks, take a night fighting class. At the range 9am Sunday several el cheapo lights would not power up. 9 degrees. Hth
 
I have three Fenix lights, all use AA batteries (two use 1AA, the other uses 2). I carried one of the smaller ones when I was working because it was plenty bright, and small enough to carry in a regular pocket. They are well-made, reliable, and not really expensive (at least not when I bought them). But there are also probably half a dozen of the Harbor Freight freebie lights at various places around the house, none of which I would ever rely on in an emergency.
 
Im a big Fenix fan, have several E05 keychain lights, as well as an E11....if they still made the E11 I'd buy more of them too.
The new version, well its got the reverse clicky which I hate, so its a no-go for me.
My father has several of their PD series lights and loves them.

Had some issues out of a E05 once, at first they sent a bunch of spare parts. A day or two later I had a new light on my steps.
So now I have a bunch of spares, should something go bad again, as well as a new light to replace the malfunctioning one.
Good CS, in my opinion.
 
I used to buy a nice sure fire every 5-7 years think upwards of 200 a pc. Well I lost an E2d defender it was the last and favorite of all the surfires I had.
Now my EDC is a stream light pro tac 1L which will take one cr123 or a dbl A battery.
With the cr123 it has 300 or 320 lumens small and powerful also has 3 settings high low and strobe. It's almost the perfect EDC light I have owned.

38.00
I have a Pro Tac 1L and a 2L. Very bright lights and great battery life from the Cr123. I carry the 2L daily and the 1L is in my pocket at home, always. I seem to find a use for a light every day.
 
I also have the pro tac hl-x thanks to @thrillhill.
Speaking off killing streamlights I have killed several sure fires. I'm a flashlight fan have been since I was knee high to a duck. Surefire and streamlight both make great flashlights.

Strramlight has come along ways in the last couple of years surefire has seems to have slowed on new tech innovation. Not sure what going in with them.Will I ever buy a surefire again probably will I buy streamlight again you bet.

It's easier to lose a 40$ light then a 250$ light.
It's a hard pill to swallow.
 
I carry a little AAA ITP light that is 100 lumens on my key chain. Several companies make a similar light. It is a true EDC light that does not get in the way but has come in handy numerous times. I would not be without one. I keep a Surefire E2D in my Go Bag (tactical briefcase). I just picked up a Surefire G2X Tactical (600 lumens) for $60 to my door from Battery Junction. I found out hunting deep in the woods and coming out 30 minutes after sunset that there is no such thing as too much light. I have a couple of 1000 lumen surefires for that chore. Most Surefires only take CR123a batteries. I just ordered a Streamlight ProTac HL-X Dual Fuel Flashlight from Battery Junction, 1000 lumens, CR123a or 18650 rechargebles. Surefire flashys are the only ones I am willing to bet my life on. I've had all the others including Jetbeam and Fenix. Had problems with all of them. Had a problem a dozen Surefire batteries that went bad after a couple years. They are supposed to have a 10 year shelf life. I always got put on hold/ignore with Surefire and the vendor that sold them to me offered me a discount on another dozen. I bought Streamlights instead. Surefire is supposed to have great warranties and CS but I have not personally seen that. There is a thread either here or on 1911 Addicts about Streamlight CS being pretty darn good. That's great but I would rather have a flashlight and batteries that work first time and every time instead of great CS. I guess in this day and time good CS is all you can hope for.
 
I have a bunch of lights, and headlamps. I keep getting ones that look interesting. I like single CR123A for keychain, and 18650 (rechargeable, size of 2 CR123) for handheld and headlamp. For walking the dog at night, use a headlamp. Both hands free can be very valuable.

There are a bunch of good brands, which have been brought up already. I've tried cheap ones too - no surprise that some die quick and some last longer than they should.

The trick is to figure out what you want it to do and what you are going to use it for. Just off and on full power? Multiple power levels? strobe and/or SOS? programmable to choose what functions you want to use or be able to cycle through if there are ones you don't need? Red (to preserve night vision) or IR (to use with night vision equipment)? Tail momentary switch (which you can press while gripping a pistol with both hands, and the light), or click on/off, or both as you wish? How bright do you want/need? How long do you want the batteries to last? Alkaline/lithium AA/AAA or CR123 or rechargable like 18650 (or AA)? Do you need some kind of clip for a pocket? And on and on.

If/when you find the one that fits what you need, you will not want to do without it because it will get a lot of use, just like a decent carry folding knife.
 
My needs. Inexpensive not cheap. Good name brand. Small and little weight.

I have carried a streamlight stylus pro for 5 years. Is a great compact light. Takes 2 AAA batteries. Very tough little light. I have started pocket carry so I have bought a 5.11 light. It takes 2 AAA batteries as well but they are side by side not on top of each other so it fits in my change/watch pocket very well. Both lights are 90 lumens. Plenty bright for my uses.
 
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