Most you would spend on a flashlight?

[rayh91]

My EDC Surefire 6PX was $65. I would pay max something along the lines of $100-150.

 

[bgott]

http://www.centralpolice.com/category_s/244.htm

Screw the tool truck, this place has Streamlight for cheap. I carry my flashlights to them for switch and lens replacement. Streamlight has a lifetime warranty so I get my lights fixed for free. They have a little flashlight room and they fix your lights while you wait. The only problem with them is they don't have any other colors than black in stock.

 

[american lockpicker]

Well I use my flashlight every dqay . I used to carry the stupid huge maglights and honestly will never buy another one . I carry a Coleman 150 Lumen light every day that fits in my phone holster and I paid $25.00 for it . Heres a link to one on overstock.com that is over priced in my opinion .

http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/Coleman-150-Lumen-Flashlight/4865692/product.html



Now if we are talking about how much time I would spend on a flashlight . The longest I have spent making one so far was a couple hours for the Coke bottle shaped one . The others I can whip up in under an hour from a fresh piece of brass and yes all of the pictures are of single LED 6 volt brass flashlights handmade by me .


Rick

You on CPF too?

 

[rickairmedic]

You on CPF too?

Dont know whats CPF . I am on SFT and here mostly .


Rick

 

[slip knot]

Guys at work swear by the Mag charger. I've got a Streamlight recharger at the house and a pelican 2C in the truck. I'm very impressed with the Streamlight. Runs @$120 but damm its a good light.

 

[american lockpicker]

Dont know whats CPF . I am on SFT and here mostly .


Rick

candle power forums

 

[Stuey]

A LOT of guys I work with do not know their stinger has multiple brightnesses. They think it is only bright and strobe. So I will borrow one (especially if it is a new guy who just upgraded) cycle it down to low "moonlight" mode and return it asking what is wrong with the flashlight?! I see a bit of worry come over their face, and then I hold the button down and it starts toggling through the modes and they are shocked.

lol, set up a secret webcam next time?

Everyone at work is using a variation of the FourSevens. I have the mini you have to twist the end to turn it on and off. Most everyone else is using a similar but very slightly larger one with a push button switch in the back, They are not cheap, but it is much better size and weight wise from my Ultra Stinger and way better than the rechargable mag light before that.

I much prefer the AA batteries (company provides them free) and you don't have to replace rechargeable batteries every couple of years. The weight of those heavy lights on your belt will make your back hurt. I keep my mini FourSevens in my shirt pocket or pants pocket. Love it.

Charles

Would you recommend one of the AA Quarks?

 

[diesel research]

lol, set up a secret webcam next time?

Last week I did it again, and the guy first blew it off as "low battery" but then was a bit mad. Still a bit mad after I showed him, because he claimed "I've had this thing for 3 years and never knew about that! That medium mode would be handy instead of blinding me with glare while using it up close"

 

[thomaswbdswim]

the ryobi tek4 rechargeable flash light is the brightest one i have ever used and it is rechargeable it is about 20 dollars i think and the battery are about 20 also however there are tons of other tools that it goes to like screw drivers, cameras, inspection cameras (least expensive best quality i have found) it is a great tool only complaing it is a little bit awkwerd to store i havent found a pouch for my belt that really fits it but it goes in the tool bag so not a big issue

 

[shampoop]

Any streamlight that suits your needs is worth it. Seriously. They work awesome and can take years of abuse (repetitive drops onto concrete).

 

[brett09]

candle power forums

Thats another dangerous place to visit if you want to spend A LOT of money.
I've been a member there for longer than here.

I've spent more than $2500 on many different lights. I've finally came to my senses and sold off the collection. I now carry a HDS executive HI CRI at all times, and have a beat to hell surefire 6p with a nailbender xml dropin for times when i need more light. A 6d Maglite stays in the truck. Cheap 9 led showerhead lights get garage duty.

The most I have paid for a single light is $215 for a surefire lx2. Anyone looking for a light, I cannot praise the HDS line of lights enough. Simply bomb proof.

 

[brett09]

Also a little tip for anyone who uses cr123 primary batteries for their lights. They can be bought in bulk online for as little as a buck a piece on places like ebay, batterystation, or batteryjunction. Paying asking price in places like walgreens or other B&M stores is ridiculous. $9.99 a piece? ridiculous.

Also I'd recommend panasonic brand batteries. They make batteries for duracell, energizer, and surefire. Usually are cheaper for the same exact battery.

 

[gsport]

i just replace the batteries in three of my HF freebie flashlights that are over a year old, i'm good to go for another year

 

[smalltruck]

I bought one of these this summer and love it. Streamlight knucklehead is the best work light Ive seen so far just damn pricey
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RS5PEW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[decaf]

My last Led Lenser T7 cost me 88$. Well spent money on a good flashlight if you need it often. I also bought a H7 headlamp for 85$. Really nice one.
There is nothing more frustrating then a bad flashligt when you really need a good one.

 

[metaleltr]

$120, Streamlight stinger with piggyback battery. The extra battery is nice because the is always a fully charged battery waiting.

 

[sberry]

We use Milwaukee that use our battery system, they are so handy they are often trouble lights in the shop, 5 hrs on a charge.

 

[rayh91]

Also a little tip for anyone who uses cr123 primary batteries for their lights. They can be bought in bulk online for as little as a buck a piece on places like ebay, batterystation, or batteryjunction. Paying asking price in places like walgreens or other B&M stores is ridiculous. $9.99 a piece? ridiculous.

Also I'd recommend panasonic brand batteries. They make batteries for duracell, energizer, and surefire. Usually are cheaper for the same exact battery.

Lowes has Surefire batteries. 2 for $5.

I know it's not cheap but if you need it now that's the cheapest I've found B&M.

 

[crewchief888]

$20-$30 tops.

i have a tendency to loose flashlights while working.

mostly i use HF lights, if i loose one it's no big deal

 

[rickairmedic]

candle power forums

Actually no I am not a member over there although I may check it out .


Rick

 

[ncfh]

Much as I despise my "torch enthusiast" B-inlaw, I'm thinking about an Inova XO3 or X2 for my bday.

Just can't decide if the inconvenience of ordering 123 batteries online is worth the performance increase over AA batteries.

The XO3 uses two 123 batteries while the X2 runs on two AA batteries. Both have a high and low mode.

Claimed lumens/runtimes:

XO3 - 200 lumens / 3 hours, HIGH. 18 lumens / 40 hours LOW.
X2 - 150 lumens / 1:10hrs, HIGH. 18 lumens / 60 hours LOW.

About $10 difference between the two.

I'm leaning towards the XO3, with nearly triple the runtime on high.

And what is 18 lumens? As bright as an old school AA Maglite?

 

[Stuey]

Also a little tip for anyone who uses cr123 primary batteries for their lights. They can be bought in bulk online for as little as a buck a piece on places like ebay, batterystation, or batteryjunction. Paying asking price in places like walgreens or other B&M stores is ridiculous. $9.99 a piece? ridiculous.

Also I'd recommend panasonic brand batteries. They make batteries for duracell, energizer, and surefire. Usually are cheaper for the same exact battery.

Thanks for the tip! I don't go through cr123s often, but my backup supply is dwindling.

Lowes has Surefire batteries. 2 for $5.

I know it's not cheap but if you need it now that's the cheapest I've found B&M.

That's where I bought most of mine when I had a coupon and needed $10 in "filler" items.

 

[ert01]

I dont actually use a flashlight at work all that often. I do own a nice bright Surefire that I throw in my Jeep but for normal everyday use I find my headlamps are absolutely worth their weight in gold. I rarely need the distance and light output of a flashlight. I have a Petzl Tikka headlamp that was on my helmet for 3 years in the army, it has been on my hardhat every single day at work now for the past 4 years and it has been on hundreds of hiking/camping/backcountry trips with me and it still is going strong. The light output isn't phenomenal at all, but on low mode I can get nearly 200 hours on a set of 3 AAA's and the fact that I have both hands free is awesome.

I have bought everyone in my family headlamps for Christmas and birthdays over the years and everyone has one in their camping gear and in their glove box of their vehicle. They are what I would consider a very essential tool. Theyre small, cheap (ish), light, get great battery life and leave your hands free and shine the light exactly where you need it.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Also a little tip for anyone who uses cr123 primary batteries for their lights. They can be bought in bulk online for as little as a buck a piece on places like ebay, batterystation, or batteryjunction. Paying asking price in places like walgreens or other B&M stores is ridiculous. $9.99 a piece? ridiculous.

Also I'd recommend panasonic brand batteries. They make batteries for duracell, energizer, and surefire. Usually are cheaper for the same exact battery.

I buy mine off eBay. I see them for sale in the supermarket at least twice the price i pay. I do find though, the amount i use my lights (i have two matchine ones.) if i use anything other that the fancy "ultra power" or whatever they're called batteries they don't last long at all.

 

[FergusonTO35]

I'm totally sold on Coast LED flashlights. They're really tough, bright, batteries last a long time, and most models have an actual on/off button. They don't cost terribly much even at full price and often you can find them on sale. My single AA Coast is darn near as bright as my older Streamlight 4AA.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

i spend just enough ($100) to get my streamlight with charger. so far it's been worth it.

 

[Treyz82]

Now they issue Streamlight Stinger LED!

I still choose to use the old bulbs in the my stinger, led's tend to defuse the light in window tint film really bad. I carry it in the car with me so I can slide it in my flashlight loop but I also carry a litt surefire G2 on my belt when I want something small. I like the new light for life because it has led and incandescent bulb in it as well as an almost instant charge time but its a little to bulky still

 

[ev2mopar]

As a firefighter, I always carried minimum 2 lights in my gear at all times. I carried a battery powered Streamlight clipped to my coat, and a "Little Ed" in my left pocket of my bunkers.
I was religious on changing batteries every 30 days, regardless.
I am a believer on preparedness. I still carry a small lamp at all times, usually on my belt and atleast 2 in my Jeep. Overkill maybe, but no one ever plans on being in a ****** situiation._

 

[ev2mopar]

The question was how much.. sorry. I went off the track.
$100.00 to $200.00 will buy a good quality light.
Only buy a cheap one if your never going to need to rely on it.

 

[aveos]

I like your style.

 

[energ666]

streamlight stinger DS with piggy back charger and 2 batteries(off the cornwell truck,and he has warrantied it for me) .. about 180$ gets used everyday, would probably buy another one if i lost it..

 

[osborn.ozzy]

best thing ever
http://www.tooltopia.com/e-z-red-pcled6.aspx

 

[bobemmerich]

I spent 39 on my SureFire G2 a couple years ago. Thing is super bright and tough, too.

 

[carbon]

It used to be about $10. Like for those cheap multi-led flashlights at the hardware store counter. Which broke in 2 weeks.

Sooooo, I went off to Candle Power Forums, and got me a Ra Light (which is now HDS Systems, I guess). The model I got was the EDC Clicky for $99 bucks. 120 Lumens. Really bright for something that small. I used to use a 2AA Maglite for backpacking and this Clicky is unbelievable compared to that. CR123A powered. Small form-factor. I see they make a 200 lumen version now for $199.

What really set the Clicky apart from the competition was the interface. One button. Click on, click off, just like the old flashlights. It doesn't irritatingly cycle through High, Low, Strobe, etc. With the Clicky, if you want different modes, you use different click patterns (click and hold, click twice quickly, etc).

Streamlight has a semi-comparable one here.

 

[plinker]

I would probably spend around 100$ tops. For the most part my Maglites (AA & D cell) have been fine. I am going to pick up a couple of newer the XL50's.


I had thought about getting one of the Surefire G2's, but I am not impressed with the battery life of 1 hour and the somewhat special size batterys.


I do not like using cheap flashlights as my experiance has been they are next to junk and dont work half of the time. Maglite has always been the standard I've bought since I got my first one years ago.

 

[outcast]

this is what i have. my shop has been using them long before i got there.
and this one was a "hand-me-down".

idk what i am going to do when it craps out.

http://www.tooltopia.com/makita-ml120.aspx

 

[Andy Griffith]

Most I would spend on a flashlight?

I'd rather not answer that on the grounds that my wife might read this forum and I would be in hella big trouble.

I have had quite a number of different flashlights including some of the high-end surefires. However, the ones that I use in the shop and for most all general purpose tasks is the relatively low cost surefire G2 led, modified with the pushbutton tailcap. I really dislike momentary and/or twist tailcaps on any general purpose flashlight. I like the momentary/twist tailcaps on my weapon lights but not on the general purpose lights.

Some reasons I like the G2.
- It seems more drop resistant than the metal bodied lights

- It's more comfortable to hold in the mouth when needed vs the metal bodied lights. Yeah yeah, I have headlights, but you guys know as well as I do that oftentimes in the real world jobs don't always go as planned.

- It comes in all different colors so I can find the damn things in a pile of tools

- It doesn't get blistering hot when used continuously like many of the metal bodied lights do.

- It doesn't seem to bend or chip as easily as the metal bodied lights do when I run over them with the racecar or squish them under the hoist arms.

- It's the 'right' size. Not too big that I can't stick it in my pocket temporarily without any drama. Not too small that it becomes a pia to hold onto with my fumble fingers.

I am also a big fan of streamlight flashlights. I can be hard on equipment and two times now I have busted streamlight flashlights due to miss-use. Both times I called them up to order replacement parts and told them I broke the light, likely due to rough use. Both times they said no problem and sent me all the parts for free, including shipping.

When it comes time to replace the 3 surefire G2's I have in the shop I will probably buy the Streamlight polytacs as they are the functional equivalent to the G2 for the most part, but less expensive. About $40 I believe.

I've also really been wanting to try the Streamlight stinger as I really like the standardized charging stations that don't require a wire to be hooked up to the light, or one that requires the rechargeable batteries to be changed out each time. (light just clips into the charger) Even though I buy the CR123 batteries in bulk over the internet, I'd still like to get away from them and move towards a reliable, easy to use rechargeable system.

Finally, unless you have good budgetary self-control I would recommend you DO NOT visit candlepower forums or you WILL get caught in the candlepower vortex, and it may not end well for your bank account. Trust me on this.

 

[american lockpicker]

Finally, unless you have good budgetary self-control I would recommend you DO NOT visit candlepower forums or you WILL get caught in the candlepower vortex, and it may not end well for your bank account. Trust me on this.

Truer words have never been spoken.

 

[j.c.whitney]

I wouldn't buy a flashlight without checking it out on candlepowerforums first. Flashlights sold at the box stores are usually 1-2 generations behind the latest Cree Emitter technology which is moving rapidly. Most expensive purchase to date is a 4Sevens MiNi AA2; now looking at the 4Sevens Quark X 123-2.

 

[w1im]

Fenix PD30 ~$70

I agree with j.c.whitney, take a look around candlepowerforums.com before you make a decision.