Mastermind
Well-known member
I recently had my stream light stylus pro disappear during moving, was wondering what you guys prefer for your shirt pocket? It's been with me everyday for the last couple yrs, just wish it was brighter.
Which pocket flashlight?
- Thread starter Mastermind
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kiatech
Well-known member
GCncsuHD
Well-known member
For my pocket daily carry I carry a Maratac AAA. Hard to beat it's super tiny size, AAA convenience, and it is surprisingly bright for it's size with 3 brightness levels. Only downside is twist only, I wish it had a microswitch.
http://www.countycomm.com/aaa.html
I also keep a Streamlight Penlight in the cup holder in my truck, but I mostly use it for patient assessments, but it comes in handy for tight spots as well.
Also I keep a LED Lenser P4 Blue Moon, (similar in size to the Stylus Pro you had), in my tool box, but will toss it in my pocket when I am working on vehicles. I love the blue moon optics of this light, it's a perfect focused area of light with no artifacts in the beam so it helps when you really need to see clearly such as reading a part number/stamping on a part deep in an engine bay etc.
http://www.ledlenser.com/uk/flashlights/p4-bm/
http://www.countycomm.com/aaa.html
I also keep a Streamlight Penlight in the cup holder in my truck, but I mostly use it for patient assessments, but it comes in handy for tight spots as well.
Also I keep a LED Lenser P4 Blue Moon, (similar in size to the Stylus Pro you had), in my tool box, but will toss it in my pocket when I am working on vehicles. I love the blue moon optics of this light, it's a perfect focused area of light with no artifacts in the beam so it helps when you really need to see clearly such as reading a part number/stamping on a part deep in an engine bay etc.
http://www.ledlenser.com/uk/flashlights/p4-bm/
GCncsuHD
Well-known member
Maglite is the Craftsman of flashlights.
It's the default name brand that the mass market recognizes, and they aren't awful, but the knowledgeable consumer can do much much better.
A foursevens mini AA has been my EDC for over four years now and has been used and abused and over-volted (designed for 1.5v AA, I use 3.7v Li-Ion 14500) and the light is so reliable I would bet my life on it. I would not hesitate to recommend a foursevens product, if you want a pocket style pen light, the 2xAAA Preon is an excellent choice.
It's the default name brand that the mass market recognizes, and they aren't awful, but the knowledgeable consumer can do much much better.
A foursevens mini AA has been my EDC for over four years now and has been used and abused and over-volted (designed for 1.5v AA, I use 3.7v Li-Ion 14500) and the light is so reliable I would bet my life on it. I would not hesitate to recommend a foursevens product, if you want a pocket style pen light, the 2xAAA Preon is an excellent choice.
stratman977
Well-known member
I have the blue point 3aaa blue one, and that thing sure is bright but it has an appetite for batteries.
I also got the mac fl432 as well and I like it over the stylus. Its slightly brighter and has an easier to use switch. It's also fairly inexpensive as far as these go.
I also got the mac fl432 as well and I like it over the stylus. Its slightly brighter and has an easier to use switch. It's also fairly inexpensive as far as these go.
SOG Blade-light.
When I opened this christmas gift, I didn't like the looks of it all all and I didn't think I would like it.
I was dead WRONG.
I use both the knife and the light many, many times a day and I am lost without it.
http://www.sogknives.com/everyday-carry/illumination/bladelight-folder.html
When I opened this christmas gift, I didn't like the looks of it all all and I didn't think I would like it.
I was dead WRONG.
I use both the knife and the light many, many times a day and I am lost without it.
http://www.sogknives.com/everyday-carry/illumination/bladelight-folder.html
OP
Mastermind
Well-known member
My stylus lived in my shirt pocket, I prefer aaa size and push button.
ricepudding
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2014
- Messages
- 127
I have this light that i got from walmart. I love it. Its small and compact, but bright and weighty in the hand. Use it everyday.
http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/the-stryker-flashlight/6000188099232
When looking for a flashlight, the more lumens, the better
http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/the-stryker-flashlight/6000188099232
When looking for a flashlight, the more lumens, the better
Farmall450
Well-known member
Depending on how old your stylus was they've upped the anty.
BirdMobile
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2014
- Messages
- 588
I keep a single CR123 size ITP flashlight on my keyring, it serves me for 90% of my day-to-day illumination needs. For the other 10%, I have a Zebralight single AA battery headlamp.
Only flashlights i ever use.
Only flashlights i ever use.
ratchet_gear
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2006
- Messages
- 553
I have this one here and like it a lot. It has 3 modes, 8/50/130 lumes and runs off 1 aa battery.
http://www.fenixlight.com/ProductMore.aspx?id=124&tid=11&cid=1#.VD8OPRaa8T4
http://www.fenixlight.com/ProductMore.aspx?id=124&tid=11&cid=1#.VD8OPRaa8T4
I like that light, $25ish and no need for expensive batteries, AA are dirt cheap compared to the lithiums most of the high end lights need.
dgxlh
Well-known member
Everyone likes to rag on Mag Lite these days but this one is sure nice. (super brite and simple interface - no confusing modes to cycle thru.)
+1 this is what I have and I'm glad because before this I had the stupid mode one
sonvolt
Well-known member
Everyone likes to rag on Mag Lite these days but this one is sure nice. (super brite and simple interface - no confusing modes to cycle thru.)
I agree great new light simple and bright LED
yjWrangler
Well-known member
I have an Inova X1 and really like it. Works great for the price
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050YNGSY/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050YNGSY/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I have this light that i got from walmart. I love it. Its small and compact, but bright and weighty in the hand. Use it everyday.
When looking for a flashlight, the more lumens, the better
3xAAA is an awful battery format. And that light you linked has a pretty tight beam pattern which makes it "seem" brighter when you shine it on a wall 5 feet away, but a poor choice for close up work where you want a more floodlight type beam for example. Your unqualified "the more lumens the better" statement is just wrong. It depends on the application. Don't forget beam pattern, tint, CRI, runtime, and any number of other things that make one flashlight the right tool for the job instead of another.
Specifically for lumens, there is easily too much at times. How is your spotlight (even if it's 2000lm and can light a treeline 100 yards away and impress some flashlight noobs) going to fare when I challenge you to a contest reading the small print on a large map, in a lightless, windowless room with black walls and ceiling? I'll take my 200 lumen high CRI warm tint floody headlamp, for the win.
Obviously that's a rigged and unrealistic situation, but the point is that brighter isn't always better. Is a bigger ratchet always better?
Alkaline AA's are cheap (at first) but add up over time. In my EDC light, I use a 14500 Li-Ion instead of AA - in the 4 years of heavy usage that I've owned this light, I estimate I've saved about $230 in battery costs by using 14500 Li-Ion over alkaline AA's. ($0.25/cell, one cell per day (I told you, heavy use) 250 work days per year, four years, minus $20 initial investment in Li-Ion batts).
You can get rechargeable AA's, but then you are in the same price range as rechargeable Li-Ion, and Li-Ion have a lot of advantages. The main (only) real advantage I see for AA format is availability - you can get new batts for your light anywhere, anytime. If you use Li-Ion, make sure to bring a spare or have access to a charger...
So many people here are willing to spend $150 for the snap-on ratchet instead of the $15 craftsman alternative, I'm not sure why you would want to spend $20 on a flashlight when there are such significantly better (better than the minimag and 3xAAA walmart light) options available for only about $60? You don't have to get the $300 surefire, but look at Zebralight, fourssevens, nitecore, Fenix, eagletac, etc. as quality lights at reasonable prices (those are brands I have personal positive experience with, there are others).
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OP
Mastermind
Well-known member
Mine was a couple yrs old, buddy got them cheap from sportsmans wharehouse
Didn't know they made them rechargeable, I ended up with about 15 surefire weapon lights in an auction a few months ago. Had to buy batteries for them, the only place I found them locally was walmart at about $10 for 2 of them. I was just reselling them so I wasn't crazy about dropping $150 on batteries for something I wasn't gonna keep. The lights with the rail mounts and pressure switches are stupid expensive ($400+) I sold all 15 to a guy for $60 ea.
Probably shoulda kept a few.
I'm not real familiar with the full surefire lineup, and especially not the weapons lights, but due to the form factor and surefire's preference for cr123 batteries, I'd say there is a good chance that your lights used cr123's which are lithium (not the same as li-ion) primary (non-rechargable) batts. Those are at least $1 or $1.50 even bought in bulk, and weapons lights I think run pretty bright at the expense of runtime, so battery costs can be expensive if you use those frequently. There is a Li-Ion rechargeable in that size (16350 I think?) but they aren't very good, they usually have fairly low capacities.
dj_110
Well-known member
These little Cree/Hausbell lights are awesome! They are cheap, great light and take a pretty good beating. We use them where I work.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEOII9K/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I also have a nice Brinkman 1 Watt LED that is pretty nice.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEOII9K/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I also have a nice Brinkman 1 Watt LED that is pretty nice.
Check out terralux for a pocket flash lights! They have a rubber piece on the end so you don't chip your teeth while holding it in your mouth. Also I really like my microstream streamlight. Works of 1 double a so it's nice if your buying that batteries.
byoungblood
Well-known member
I think for a pocket flashlight people aren't too wrapped up in CRI. Yeah, I don't want something with an awful bluish light or has a really bad beam pattern, but if it works for the guy, not everyone needs an $80 SureFire.
FWIW, I do have an $80 SureFire, and I love it.
Snapped-off
Well-known member
Not to hijack, but does anyone know of a decent light that I could easily switch to a red output?
I know they make filters, but I'm looking for an all-in-one I guess. I use a light daily and I don't want to have to add/remove a filter every time I need white or red.
I know they make filters, but I'm looking for an all-in-one I guess. I use a light daily and I don't want to have to add/remove a filter every time I need white or red.
rice rocket
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2011
- Messages
- 3,175
Something with variable brightness. It makes your light 100x more useful.
I have this thing from Jetbeam, it's never blinding, 500 lumens when you need it.
I have this thing from Jetbeam, it's never blinding, 500 lumens when you need it.
Farmall 1066
Well-known member
Streamlight ProTac 2AA.
I love my micro stream
Streamlight 66318 MicroStream C4 LED Pen Flashlight https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00143JZ08/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Streamlight 66318 MicroStream C4 LED Pen Flashlight https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00143JZ08/?tag=atomicindus08-20
mikehaugen
Well-known member
I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I always have an issue with led's flickering. I have tried about a half dozen different ones (including a couple mag 2aa) and they all do it eventually. I have one like this one pictured, but I don't think it was a pro+. Did they solve this problem with the pro series?Everyone likes to rag on Mag Lite these days but this one is sure nice. (super brite and simple interface - no confusing modes to cycle thru.)
mikehaugen
Well-known member
Oh yeah, and I have a streamlight 2d which you have to cycle through 3 modes all of the time. I hate cycling modes. I like having the different modes, but why can't they just put a seperate selector swith and on/off switch?
Right now my favorite is the stylus pro. I've had 2, got new one and my boss lost his, so he has my old one now. Both c4 48 lumen (old is 24 lumen, newer is 48, newest is 65 USB being 70). I've only had this new one for few months and it just stopped working the other day. Thankfully I just got a Stinger HL DS 640 lumen a few days ago.
So I've wanted to try a few out to see what I think is best. I have a Preon 2 192 lumen ($50) and Terralux 80 lumen ($17) on their way currently. I've had a lot of maglites, the mini mag pro being the last, so that pro + 245 looks pretty good. And I just got my reply email from Tooltopia. They have the stylus pro ($20) listed as 24 lumens, but they confirmed that they have the newest 65 lumen so I'm gonna try that too of course:
"We have gotten in contact with the warehouse and have been informed that our stock of all of the Stylus Pros that we have are of the newer 65 lumens variety that have been out for the last couple of years. This also includes the various color varieties including the item #STL66129. We have never received an updated listing from Streamlight and have not been able to accurately update this information correctly. We apologize for the inconvenience and confusion of our misinformation."
I'm no light expert, just a mechanic that likes a good light; but I'll try to make a review thread once I've used them all a bit.
So I've wanted to try a few out to see what I think is best. I have a Preon 2 192 lumen ($50) and Terralux 80 lumen ($17) on their way currently. I've had a lot of maglites, the mini mag pro being the last, so that pro + 245 looks pretty good. And I just got my reply email from Tooltopia. They have the stylus pro ($20) listed as 24 lumens, but they confirmed that they have the newest 65 lumen so I'm gonna try that too of course:
"We have gotten in contact with the warehouse and have been informed that our stock of all of the Stylus Pros that we have are of the newer 65 lumens variety that have been out for the last couple of years. This also includes the various color varieties including the item #STL66129. We have never received an updated listing from Streamlight and have not been able to accurately update this information correctly. We apologize for the inconvenience and confusion of our misinformation."
I'm no light expert, just a mechanic that likes a good light; but I'll try to make a review thread once I've used them all a bit.
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NAPPY
Well-known member
I have a Coast A9R. Rechargeable. Comes with a standard, a 12v and a USB plug. I use it all day and It hasn't gone dead on me.
Huh, I bought a Mag 2aa Pro (SP2P01H) last year and has always been unusable due to flicker.
I didn't know this was a common problem. I just sent them an email, hopefully they have a fix, it would be a good flashlight if it worked reliably. Haven't tried the Pro+.
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http://budgetlightforum.com is the place to find best deals and best lights.
My EDC, every day carry, is an Olight i3s, 1xAAA works fine with 10440. Its about $20, which if you have a hint at how cheap I am, means this light rocks. It does get hot within a minute on high using a 10440 Lion, and I wish it had low voltage detection for use with a Lion battery, but not happening at that size and price point.
Zebralight SC52 is the best non insane priced pocket light, 1xAA runs fine on 14500 Lion, its very bright, full of features, very small, around $65 shipped.
I'm cheap so when I need more light than the i3s, I use a $7 SK68 clone with 5 modes running off a 14500 Lion.
If you plan to infrequently use any of these light Eneloop low discharge rate cells are good for months and still recharge well.
My EDC, every day carry, is an Olight i3s, 1xAAA works fine with 10440. Its about $20, which if you have a hint at how cheap I am, means this light rocks. It does get hot within a minute on high using a 10440 Lion, and I wish it had low voltage detection for use with a Lion battery, but not happening at that size and price point.
Zebralight SC52 is the best non insane priced pocket light, 1xAA runs fine on 14500 Lion, its very bright, full of features, very small, around $65 shipped.
I'm cheap so when I need more light than the i3s, I use a $7 SK68 clone with 5 modes running off a 14500 Lion.
If you plan to infrequently use any of these light Eneloop low discharge rate cells are good for months and still recharge well.
Stooge
Well-known member
damnit, i hate this site! i was all ready to order a new stylus pro to replace the no name ive been carrying and now theres all this!
the foursevens preon 2 looks pretty appealing, although i dont think i like that it sets itself to the low function when turned on and you can't set it to turn on at a specific level.
the foursevens preon 2 looks pretty appealing, although i dont think i like that it sets itself to the low function when turned on and you can't set it to turn on at a specific level.
kf4zht
Well-known member
I have the Preon origional and really like it. Lots of light in a small package and takes normal batteries. Mine has no issues with remembering what setting it was on when you turn it back on. Maybe they changed something, but if you can find the old one you may be in luck