I need to replace my Black Diamond Cosmo headlamp with the new Petzl Tikka XP2. The Petzl has a separate red led too. I really like having both hands free. For a flashlight, I've always liked the Surefire Z2, but cant justify the expense until some of my other maglites die.
Best $50-$75 Flashlight
- Thread starter d1driver
- Start date
Currently in my gear bag I have:
2 Magchargers
streamlight stinger xt
streamlight stinger ds led
surefire G2
Streamlight twintask 3c uv
I HATE the G2. It seems everytime i goto use it, it's dead. I have to leave the tail just about all the way unscrewed, or it seems to drain. I also now buy 123's by the dozen, so that I'm not forced having to goto walgreens in the middle of a shift, and spend $15 on batteries.
My new favorite is the Stinger DS LED. Lasts forever, Bright as shit, holds a charge, and it has a cool strobe effect if you hit the button 2x.
2 Magchargers
streamlight stinger xt
streamlight stinger ds led
surefire G2
Streamlight twintask 3c uv
I HATE the G2. It seems everytime i goto use it, it's dead. I have to leave the tail just about all the way unscrewed, or it seems to drain. I also now buy 123's by the dozen, so that I'm not forced having to goto walgreens in the middle of a shift, and spend $15 on batteries.
My new favorite is the Stinger DS LED. Lasts forever, Bright as shit, holds a charge, and it has a cool strobe effect if you hit the button 2x.
I agree the stinger is a great light.
I also have a Streamlight Scorpion that I have had for 6 years. Also a great little light, also a little cheaper.
I have used if any where from working on an ambulance for a few years and now I carry it around with me while working in tunnels, an environment that usually takes its tole on most things after a little while.
I also have a Streamlight Scorpion that I have had for 6 years. Also a great little light, also a little cheaper.
I have used if any where from working on an ambulance for a few years and now I carry it around with me while working in tunnels, an environment that usually takes its tole on most things after a little while.
Fenix- great quality, many are waterproof, have rechargeable batt kits, & cost much less than Surefire.
I've got a Pelican Pocket Sabre 2C, a Surefire 6P LED, a Surefire G2 LED, a Maglight 3D converted to LED, a Streamlight LED Tasklight, two pencil Streamlights, a hand-crank LED lamp, a Petzl E+Light, a C Crane CC Treklight (the original LED), a Princeton Tec headlamp, I used to have a Princeton Tec somethingorother, but it was broken, some other brand headlamp, a couple of Coast lights, and some other odd lamps here and there.
All of them are pretty darned good except the broken Princeton Tec, which was never impressive to begin with.
The Maglight, which burned batteries like crazy with a normal bulb, flickers a bit with the LED and makes noise. It came in a truck I bought. It is unreasonably large nowadays. I never liked Maglights.
I haven't used the Pelican yet, I only bought it because the my favorite gun store was going out of business, and I couldn't find anything else I liked.
The Surefires are nice, but even the LED models chew up batteries like there will be no tomorrow. They are best suited as weapons or weapon-lights, due to their high brightness. I haven't seen much point to step up from the plastic version. I own both, and both work fine. I wouldn't spend the extra money unless you just have to have aluminum for some reason or another. I bought the plastic version for use on my AR, as the aluminum model stuck out like a sore thumb, and I thought the plastic might absorb a bit more shock before transferring it to the weapon.
The Coast lamps are simply not up to the standard of the rest. They are fine for light use, however.
Everything else has worked well for a long time with no apparent drawbacks. I like flashlights a lot. I'm a huge fan of LEDs, and I'm always up to squeeze the wallet a bit and try out a new model that I think might be a step up from current technology.
The Streamlight is incredibly miserly with batteries for it's brightness.
The CC Treklight has worked flawlessly for over a decade, and I haven't been careful with it. It isn't as bright as the others, but it bright enough for most uses, and the batteries last so long that I replace them only as a preventative measure.
For blinding light, the Surefires, and the Streamlight are my choices. The Streamlight is more than sufficient for that task. For anything else, I'll use the C Crane most of the time, and the Streamlight, as both are bright enough, and both of them are easy on batteries.
Cheers,
Kennith
All of them are pretty darned good except the broken Princeton Tec, which was never impressive to begin with.
The Maglight, which burned batteries like crazy with a normal bulb, flickers a bit with the LED and makes noise. It came in a truck I bought. It is unreasonably large nowadays. I never liked Maglights.
I haven't used the Pelican yet, I only bought it because the my favorite gun store was going out of business, and I couldn't find anything else I liked.
The Surefires are nice, but even the LED models chew up batteries like there will be no tomorrow. They are best suited as weapons or weapon-lights, due to their high brightness. I haven't seen much point to step up from the plastic version. I own both, and both work fine. I wouldn't spend the extra money unless you just have to have aluminum for some reason or another. I bought the plastic version for use on my AR, as the aluminum model stuck out like a sore thumb, and I thought the plastic might absorb a bit more shock before transferring it to the weapon.
The Coast lamps are simply not up to the standard of the rest. They are fine for light use, however.
Everything else has worked well for a long time with no apparent drawbacks. I like flashlights a lot. I'm a huge fan of LEDs, and I'm always up to squeeze the wallet a bit and try out a new model that I think might be a step up from current technology.
The Streamlight is incredibly miserly with batteries for it's brightness.
The CC Treklight has worked flawlessly for over a decade, and I haven't been careful with it. It isn't as bright as the others, but it bright enough for most uses, and the batteries last so long that I replace them only as a preventative measure.
For blinding light, the Surefires, and the Streamlight are my choices. The Streamlight is more than sufficient for that task. For anything else, I'll use the C Crane most of the time, and the Streamlight, as both are bright enough, and both of them are easy on batteries.
Cheers,
Kennith
We just got these at work and they are great. They are heavy duty and charge fast.
http://www.511tactical.com/browse/H...ht-UC3400/D/30100/P/1:100:10000:11300/I/53000
http://www.511tactical.com/browse/H...ht-UC3400/D/30100/P/1:100:10000:11300/I/53000
I have several Fenix flashlights. There is a big difference in them though.
1. P2D CE (single cr123a batter) runs forever, stays bright right till the end. Perfect light.
2. P3D CE (twin cr123a batteries). Goes into flicker mode near the end of its life to tell you it is low. I find this extremely annoying, and it seems to happen too soon, no-where near the end of the battery's lifetime.
Also Powerlight AE sells a "personal searchlight" which is fab - pricy but lasts around 90 minutes on a recharge. Great lumens too.
1. P2D CE (single cr123a batter) runs forever, stays bright right till the end. Perfect light.
2. P3D CE (twin cr123a batteries). Goes into flicker mode near the end of its life to tell you it is low. I find this extremely annoying, and it seems to happen too soon, no-where near the end of the battery's lifetime.
Also Powerlight AE sells a "personal searchlight" which is fab - pricy but lasts around 90 minutes on a recharge. Great lumens too.
Another vote for fenix flashlights.
And battery station for batteries.
http://www.batterystation.com/cr123a.htm
And battery station for batteries.
http://www.batterystation.com/cr123a.htm
most of the ones in your range are single mode, ie, 200lumens, and thus eat batteries
get a dual mode one, for edc...I splurged and just got the surefire LX2($160 on fleabay sealed and new), far nicer than the Fenix and the Olights I own, but twice the cost too, by far, lumens, throw, scatter is smoother from hot spot. Its also the most expensive I own.
get a dual mode one, for edc...I splurged and just got the surefire LX2($160 on fleabay sealed and new), far nicer than the Fenix and the Olights I own, but twice the cost too, by far, lumens, throw, scatter is smoother from hot spot. Its also the most expensive I own.
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My job just bought me a Streamlight Stinger. With the charger , Second battery, and cig lighter cable to bring the charger in the car
I like that face I can change the briteness by holding the power button and the strobe funtion is pretty sweet too.
I am a Fleet mechanic so I use it every night for Yard checks and if I have to go on road calls at night. I use to use a Mag light with a Led bulb upgrade but the stinger has to be the best light I have ever used
I like that face I can change the briteness by holding the power button and the strobe funtion is pretty sweet too.
I am a Fleet mechanic so I use it every night for Yard checks and if I have to go on road calls at night. I use to use a Mag light with a Led bulb upgrade but the stinger has to be the best light I have ever used
I have been happy with the Coast P7. Batteries do last a long time and it is very bright. Haven't got it wet or anything, but it has worked just fine for my needs to this point. I still love the fact that is runs on regular AAA batteries.
just picked up a mag lite xl100 .... for 35.00 great light and uses aaa bats...
http://www.maglite.com/maglite_xl100_led.asp
http://www.maglite.com/maglite_xl100_led.asp
i like the big ol maglite. I picked up a 3 pack of tac lights from costco thinking they'd be great to beat up around the shop, but i find myself changing the batteries in one of them once a week so I'm going to take them back.
I'd say it is virtually impossible to buy a flashlight unseen.
While for many reasons LED is a clear winner, many of them have ridiculously high brightness temperature (bluish light), and very poor beam pattern.
Surefire 6P/9P LED head has a very nice "super-Gaussian" beam, with no obvious bright and dark spots.
I also love Pelican divers' flashlights in yellow plastic cases - the beam may suck, but the flashlight is much easier to find in dark twilight than the black "tactical" units.
But some - random in name, brand, size, cost - LED flashlights in $30-$60 range from Target are remarkably good as well.
While for many reasons LED is a clear winner, many of them have ridiculously high brightness temperature (bluish light), and very poor beam pattern.
Surefire 6P/9P LED head has a very nice "super-Gaussian" beam, with no obvious bright and dark spots.
I also love Pelican divers' flashlights in yellow plastic cases - the beam may suck, but the flashlight is much easier to find in dark twilight than the black "tactical" units.
But some - random in name, brand, size, cost - LED flashlights in $30-$60 range from Target are remarkably good as well.
My name is gem, and I am a flashaholic
I own:
edc: Surefire LX2 or a Quark 123-s2
spot: Olight M31 Triton(home) and a Quark Maelstrom G5(keep this in the rover)
keychains: PD10, Nitecore EZ 123 and a few of those small streamlights
glovebox-3 cars:Olight T20 R5,Solarforce L2, ITP SC2
The chinese stuff by ITP and Fenix feel a notch below Olight; all of which is a bit below the HK made solarforce and none compare in color rendition to the Quark or the Surefire stuff; really lets you see greens and reds as they ought to appear in daylight.
Solarforce L2 was sweet for $30
I own:
edc: Surefire LX2 or a Quark 123-s2
spot: Olight M31 Triton(home) and a Quark Maelstrom G5(keep this in the rover)
keychains: PD10, Nitecore EZ 123 and a few of those small streamlights
glovebox-3 cars:Olight T20 R5,Solarforce L2, ITP SC2
The chinese stuff by ITP and Fenix feel a notch below Olight; all of which is a bit below the HK made solarforce and none compare in color rendition to the Quark or the Surefire stuff; really lets you see greens and reds as they ought to appear in daylight.
Solarforce L2 was sweet for $30
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NJROVER said:
It wasn't until you posted that that I realized that was a feature. I was getting mad because I thought the battery was going bad already, with the led dimming. I do like the strobe thoughn also.
I vote for a fantastic all round light
streamlight polytec $35 ish
it uses 2 "123"'s (but i buy them buy the hundred's from battery shop )for less than a buck a piece ..
they are one one of the few lights i have found to hold up to the extreme cold -32 to -40 deg F with 70 mph winds for hours (don't try at home kids)
streamlight polytec $35 ish
it uses 2 "123"'s (but i buy them buy the hundred's from battery shop )for less than a buck a piece ..
they are one one of the few lights i have found to hold up to the extreme cold -32 to -40 deg F with 70 mph winds for hours (don't try at home kids)
My coast light from home depot....LED, amazing distance, insane battery life, lightweight, AAA batteries. about 50 bucks.