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What the best flashlight?

Csmnlm

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Dec 27, 2007
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128
I'm a full time mechanic and have tried mag lights, stream lights and a few other tool truck brands and nothing seems to hold up. What are you using that has worked well for you?
 
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WhiskeyTangoFox

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Mar 20, 2014
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77
Felix LD 22 or a 4sevens quark X aa2 with rechargeable AA eneloop batteries. Had em for a couple years. Solid, used daily in construction field.
 

Stuey

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Jan 8, 2008
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11,034
Location
28m above sea level
You're breaking Streamlight flashlights?

I was going to recommend Foursevens as well, but Fenix, Foursevens, Surefire, Streamlight, and similar handheld flashlights are all in the same (premium) class.

I agree with hamton - maybe try a plastic-bodied Pelican next?

Have you tried a Milwaukee M12 model yet?

Foursevens usually runs some nice holiday and end-of-year sales. Sign up for their newsletter.
 
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Csmnlm

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Dec 27, 2007
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128
I have used the stream light pen size light. Not sure what model number. I have broken the threaded body were the battery cap goes on and the switches on those lights are just ****.
 

Can I try?

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Mar 2, 2015
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374
Location
SE PA
I like Coast flashlights.

They're not top of the line, but they're good for the money. I'm hard on my flashlights. They get banged around a lot, dropped on concrete, dropped in water, covered in grease, and they hold up.
 
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GTA Matt

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Aug 30, 2010
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Zebulon, NC
Streamlight strion HL. You would have to be doing some amazing flashlight abuse to damage it , and if that's the case, no flashlight will survive.
 

SantaAna12

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Mar 1, 2012
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1,091
Full size: Stinger.....an awesome and well built light.
Mini: Ld22 with Eneloops for everyday. Fits in a pouch or pants pocket, and is quite a tool.

Both carry lifetime warranty.

I don't know what Pelican is selling these days, but it would be worth checking out.
 

Fugio

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Dec 5, 2014
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460
Fenix and Zebra are great, but if you're breaking Streamlights, then I guess not.

Surefire 6PL or Surefire G2-LED would be the only options for me of you're breaking all the others.
 

Ainsley

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Jun 12, 2014
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557
Location
Ontario, Canada
I've been happy with surefire, jetbeam, zebralight, older novatac (now HDS), Felix has been alright, and I carry a streamlight stylus pro in my shirt pocket all day at work.
 

M6erfan

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Dec 6, 2014
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Location
'Merica!
For mechanic work I like the Zebralight H52Fw AA Floody. Runs on a single AA (But they have models that use other types of batteries as well). I have 2, one in the shop, 1 in my vehicle and I've had them for several years. IMO, they are very well built but what I like best about them is that they can be configured for hand held or head lamp.

http://www.zebralight.com/H52Fw-AA-Floody-Headlamp-Neutral-White_p_121.html
 

TheFarmer

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Oct 14, 2011
Messages
134
Location
Northern Ca.
Streamlight Stingers. I have three Stingers, my original Stinger (oldie none LED) still works fine, the body is beat, it's been dropped in coolant, kicked around under cars by accident and its still rocking. My two newer Stingers (LED and their newer HL LED model) are both pretty solid too.
 

Backpack Hunter

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Jun 15, 2014
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792
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NC
For work we have been using Nebo for a while with no complaints. For headlamps it is hard to beat a Zebralight.
 

engineer2

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Dec 13, 2009
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11,795
Location
Chicago burbs
I've got a Nitecore P12 1000 lumen that is very bright. Nice light, but haven't put it through hell yet. Needs a special charger for the LiIon battery.
Our police departments use Streamlight, but some of those models cost $150.
 
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Csmnlm

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Dec 27, 2007
Messages
128
I pulled the trigger on a stream light stinger led. I will see how it holds up.
 
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bigjeff94

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Oct 15, 2014
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212
Location
USA
I carry around a small coast inspection light everyday. I love it its pretty bright and compact. I use it in a cement plant and it holds up.
 

Finky198

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Feb 25, 2014
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2,120
Location
North East
+5 on surefire I have carried them for many years including 6px pro, the fury, E1b and E2l they have outlast all my other lights and have delt with serious abuse

The fury is bright as :evil:
 

fourtythree

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Jun 27, 2011
Messages
480
Location
WV
I just picked up a 500 lumen JobSmart flashlight from tractor supply for 11 bucks. Runs on 3 C batteries and is bright as hell.
 

NYBODYMAN

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Sep 10, 2013
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4,833
Location
NY
I am a police officer who works straight night shifts and my flashlight is my most important tool. I've tried Mag Lights for years and while they are nice and heavy/sturdy, they don't hold up to droppage. I recently bought a Streamlight rechargeable and love it. While its not as comfortable in my hands due to being smaller than Mag Lights, it is bright as hell and very durable.
 

RatZ1LLa

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Apr 17, 2015
Messages
63
I have a Fenix PD35 2014 edition 960 lumens with 5 modes and it is amazing, dropped it a few times and still kicking.
 

Soslow

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Oct 20, 2013
Messages
122
Sunwayman V10r. Been carrying it for a year and makes a great EDC light.
 

Evilunclegrimace

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Sep 24, 2015
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868
Location
Erie Pa
For all of you that like your Mag-light's for their body's durability but don't like the bulb breakage when dropped look in to a Malkoff insert. Sorry I can't find the link at the moment. Gene is an awesome guy, his shop is based in Alabama and the product that he sells is amazing.

I tried one of his drop in inserts for my 2D cell ML and was very impressed with the amount of light that it can produce and how far it will throw a beam. I have up graded all of my ML's to his insert's and also upgraded my Surefire light with equal satisfaction..

There is a company out there called Alzetta? that uses one of the Malkoff insert's in their light and the salesman uses it to drive nails into a 2x4 with it hundreds of times and it has not failed in a demo yet.
 

Wakefield

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Aug 26, 2010
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Arlington VA (but would like to get out to country
I am a police officer who works straight night shifts and my flashlight is my most important tool. I've tried Mag Lights for years and while they are nice and heavy/sturdy, they don't hold up to droppage. I recently bought a Streamlight rechargeable and love it. While its not as comfortable in my hands due to being smaller than Mag Lights, it is bright as hell and very durable.

The Mags not holding up to droppage,I wonder if that also applies to the large LED Magcharger or the newer 600+ lumen 3D cell LED units

I take it Streamlite should make a full size rechargeable Stinger in heavy high impact plastic-as big as the Maglite one which should be able to run all night without having to be recharged on its reduced brightness setting which is still brighter than a regular bulb flashlight -on full brightness it is supposed to go 4 hours and is about like having a car driving light in hand
 

NYBODYMAN

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Location
NY
The Mags not holding up to droppage,I wonder if that also applies to the large LED Magcharger or the newer 600+ lumen 3D cell LED units

I take it Streamlite should make a full size rechargeable Stinger in heavy high impact plastic-as big as the Maglite one which should be able to run all night without having to be recharged on its reduced brightness setting which is still brighter than a regular bulb flashlight -on full brightness it is supposed to go 4 hours and is about like having a car driving light in hand


I was using the regular 3 cell ones. I would usually get about a year an a half out of them before the switch would go or it would flicker and not stay lit all the time. I got tired of buying a new one all the time so I went with the Streamlight. Believe me I loved having a 3 cell Mag Light in my hand. Made for an extra weapon if need be but wouldn't hold up to dropping and such when rolling around with bad guys.
 

Kensgarage

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Sep 30, 2015
Messages
442
I've used Inova X series for years. Just ordered an XO3 for a hollerday gift. Tough as hell and simple. I've had Pelicans too. A military CR3 model and a 4060 rechargeable.Not bad but not an Inova.
 

Wakefield

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Aug 26, 2010
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5,132
Location
Arlington VA (but would like to get out to country
I would think the new Mags would be more delicate than the older ones because their switch is electronic and activates more than one mode if pressed two or three times rapidly
some of them have "strobe" but I don't think the flickering is fast enough to disorient someone in the way that some self proclaimed "tactical" lights claim to do -it does help to chase rabbits out of the yard after dark however
the 3 and 4 cell bulb type Mags made more than about 15 years ago seem to have been a bit thicker walled and heavy than the current ones or the newer LED lights-
 

Wakefield

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Location
Arlington VA (but would like to get out to country
There was a Streamlite "Polypro" that is yellow plastic bodied and uses multiple small LEDs and 3 "C" batteries and will run all night but it isn't very bright and doesn't have any extra functions or even a focusing beam It will survive and even stay lit when it went into a creek under more than a foot of water at night some years ago in George Washington National Forest.
 

90zcar

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Nov 8, 2013
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2a71b132a7fc4bbf17400beef29e5f55.jpg
I own 2 stream lights. A little 1aaa microstream and a strion
The green makes it easy to find when dropped in an engine bay


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