[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Best flashlight under $75 (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 10/30/2009 4:45:52 PM EDT
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I'm starting my Christmas shopping and looking for a good flashlight.
The requirements are: - battery operated - decent brightness level - compact size - not too hard on batteries - strike bezel if possible for the money Best ideas? Thanks! |
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Nitecore Defense Infinity
This is a great light and just a little over your price range. It has a slight strike bezel. You might also want to look at the Fenix lights at the website linked above. You can check out several options in my thread in the outdoor section in the survival gear forum. |
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For $50 you can get into a SSC-P7 based light with a claimed 900 lumens (500 is probably more realistic). Here's a mini review I did of the one I ordered: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=20&t=461408 The flashlight, two 18650 batteries and charger came out to about $50 delivered from dealextreme.com. The flashlight is constructed very well IMO. Should run about an hour on high, and 6 hours on medium. |
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Quoted:
Nitecore Defense Infinity This is a great light and just a little over your price range. It has a slight strike bezel. You might also want to look at the Fenix lights at the website linked above. You can check out several options in my thread in the outdoor section in the survival gear forum. Yep, Nitecore is good. I got the smart PD D10 for just under your price and it AWESOME. Runs AA's on the most advanced CREE LED (as far as I know). I've dropped mine several times and used it all the time for about 6 months now. They are less expensive than similar lights because the machining is done in China; it is well-built though. Solid warranty. They are good to go. |
I bought the 1w version about 2 years ago... of course, a month later they release the 3w   Model: SELUX2AA3W-B Features:
Uses 2 AA Batteries (included) IIRC it was $28 at both Menards and Wally Mart. ETA - carried this light every day on shift at the FD. Been through several fires, dropped in a drainage ditch (ewww) in the mud, and the only problem has been the rear o-ring failed. Having never owned a Surefire, I won't say that it would stop a bullet... but I know even the 1w will light up a room and has served me very well these last months. And at <$30, I won't be too pissed if I wind up losing it. |
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The day I spend $75+ for a flashlight is the day I spring for a lifer membership here for someone. If your job depends on one of these, I can see it. 1. I'm spending less than $75, not more. 2. It's not for me, it's a gift. 3. I know the person I'm buying for won't spend the $ for a good flashlight for himself. 4. I've owned lots of cheap crappy flashlights and won't trust my (or anyone elses) life on one. Your "job" has little to do with valuing your life. 5. I've learned my lesson and buy quality, long lasting stuff for myself and others. Buy once, cry once as they say... 6. A good flashlight is everybit as important to carry as some decent OC and an extra mag. If it's just going to sit in the kitchen junk drawer, I might agree with you about the $... |
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Fenix TK10 / TK11 series are quite nice. Currently running mine as a weapon light with a VTAC mount.
http://www.fenixoutfitters.com/flashlights/series/t-series/ 
Daniel @ Fenix Outfitters will hook you up. |
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I bought the 1w version about 2 years ago... of course, a month later they release the 3w
http://www.rayovac.com/flashlight/images/Flashlight_product_selux2aa3w-b.jpg Model: SELUX2AA3W-B
Features:
Uses 2 AA Batteries (included)
IIRC it was $28 at both Menards and Wally Mart. ETA - carried this light every day on shift at the FD. Been through several fires, dropped in a drainage ditch (ewww) in the mud, and the only problem has been the rear o-ring failed. Having never owned a Surefire, I won't say that it would stop a bullet... but I know even the 1w will light up a room and has served me very well these last months. And at <$30, I won't be too pissed if I wind up losing it. I have several of those. Bought a bunch when Wallyworld put them on clearance for $9. Anyway I use one at work. It has been dropped, kicked, soaked in skydrol and keeps on ticking. I did have a 1w that just stopped working. They have a lifetime warranty. Sent it back to Rayovac and they sent me a 3w. |
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Fenix TK11 2 cr123 OR 1 18650 rechargeable 220 lumens for 1.5 hours, or 80 lumens for 10 hours. Nice tight beam. Yep, I'll second this. I just picked one up from LAPoliceGear and it is very sweet for the cash (paid $65 with free shipping). I also got a PD20 which puts out 180 lumens in a small, small package. So far I really like these Fenix lights. 
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I picked up a LED Lenser from on of the local pawn shops, and this light is bad ass! Has an ajustable lens (spoot/flood), made of aluminum, and uses 3 AAA batteries. I never thought any light using AAA batteries would be impressive, but this one is. Its easy on batteries, is extremely bright, and seems to be well made. I was able to pick up a fox the other morning at 80 yards, and would not hesitate to buy another.
I think they are sold at Lowe's, with a shelf price of around $50. |
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For $50 you can get into a SSC-P7 based light with a claimed 900 lumens (500 is probably more realistic). Here's a mini review I did of the one I ordered: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=20&t=461408 The flashlight, two 18650 batteries and charger came out to about $50 delivered from dealextreme.com. The flashlight is constructed very well IMO. Should run about an hour on high, and 6 hours on medium. I second this recommendation! Just about any flashlight which uses the Seoul Semiconductor P7 LED is going to be stupid bright. At 500-900 lumens, it's pretty much in a class of its own. |
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Best ideas?
Get a multi level light (4 levels; under 5 lumens, 30, 80, and 150+ lumens) plus a strobe, takes one CR123 battery. This will allow you to use only the amount of light that is necessary for each task. No need to blind yourself when you want to keep your night - adapted vision intact. Consider a warm or neutral tint LED if you will be outside mostly. High output (brightness) and long battery life are inversely related, choose one. (thus the multi-level suggestion) Try to find one that tail stands too. The strike bezel thing is I guess a marketing gimmick, you may disagree. I think the NiteCore Extreme is ideal except for price, (customized low setting, and 220 lumens high + strobe) and about $85 if you use the coupon cpf8 at 4sevens dot com... HERE'S A LINK TO A REVIEW OF THE NITECORE eXTREME I also like Novatac 120T
Ra Clicky Tactical Fenix P2D Quark 123 (regular, not the Tactical) NiteCore EX10 NiteCore Defender Infinity (uses AA batteries) EagleTac P10C For an exhaustive list of very thorough and impartial reviews of various EDC and Bigger lights, along with good photos and side by sides, go to Self-built's database, don't be intimidated by the graphs, they really help to identify brightness and run-time factors. SELF-BUILT'S REVIEW DATABASE I settled on the NiteCore EX10 with the Osram Golden Dragon emitter; about 130 lumens on high for 110 min, and a very low low setting, with the ability to set anywhere inbetween. I paid $38 used. The Ra and the Novatac are the best built, but are north of $100 for the 120-140 lumen models. You can get a Novatac 85T for your price at lighthound right now, awesome light that fits every one of your requirements (85 lumens is very decent)... GO HERE FOR THE 85t let us know. |
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Quoted: Fenix....then buy another Fenix. I use the L1D (1 AA) and L2D (2AA) both Q5 lights. Can't go wrong... I have a few Surfires around but I love these AA LED's...better than sex. Well no, but you get what I mean... Fenix - go do a search on Candlepower.com This. I personally dislike having CR123 powered lights. A light running on AA is just so much more convenient (especially in SHTF). LD20+ http://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=362 ETA: TK20 (great general purpose light) http://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_85&products_id=531 |
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For $50 you can get into a SSC-P7 based light with a claimed 900 lumens (500 is probably more realistic). Here's a mini review I did of the one I ordered: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=20&t=461408 The flashlight, two 18650 batteries and charger came out to about $50 delivered from dealextreme.com. The flashlight is constructed very well IMO. Should run about an hour on high, and 6 hours on medium. I second this recommendation! Just about any flashlight which uses the Seoul Semiconductor P7 LED is going to be stupid bright. At 500-900 lumens, it's pretty much in a class of its own. +3 I use this one a lot: 
$40. But get a plastic G2 if you want to follow the uninformed koolaid drinkers here. |
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You beat me to it. I have a T2 and I think it's under rated. |
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Quoted: I have 3 of these, 2 3W and 1 1W. I bought the 1w version about 2 years ago... of course, a month later they release the 3w http://www.rayovac.com/flashlight/images/Flashlight_product_selux2aa3w-b.jpg Model: SELUX2AA3W-B Features:
Uses 2 AA Batteries (included) IIRC it was $28 at both Menards and Wally Mart. ETA - carried this light every day on shift at the FD. Been through several fires, dropped in a drainage ditch (ewww) in the mud, and the only problem has been the rear o-ring failed. Having never owned a Surefire, I won't say that it would stop a bullet... but I know even the 1w will light up a room and has served me very well these last months. And at <$30, I won't be too pissed if I wind up losing it. I LOVE these lights! They are plenty bright for my purposes and use AA batteries you can find everywhere. I have an Inova X5 and never use it now. These are WAY better, and a lot less expensive. For the price of some of the real expensive lights, you could buy one of these and enough batteries to leave it on for a couple of months straight. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: For $50 you can get into a SSC-P7 based light with a claimed 900 lumens (500 is probably more realistic). Here's a mini review I did of the one I ordered: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=20&t=461408 The flashlight, two 18650 batteries and charger came out to about $50 delivered from dealextreme.com. The flashlight is constructed very well IMO. Should run about an hour on high, and 6 hours on medium. I second this recommendation! Just about any flashlight which uses the Seoul Semiconductor P7 LED is going to be stupid bright. At 500-900 lumens, it's pretty much in a class of its own. +3 I use this one a lot: http://www1.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_15692_1.jpg $40. But get a plastic G2 if you want to follow the uninformed koolaid drinkers here. These lights have sparked my interest, anyone have any good brands/models to go with? |
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For $50 you can get into a SSC-P7 based light with a claimed 900 lumens (500 is probably more realistic). Here's a mini review I did of the one I ordered: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=20&t=461408 The flashlight, two 18650 batteries and charger came out to about $50 delivered from dealextreme.com. The flashlight is constructed very well IMO. Should run about an hour on high, and 6 hours on medium. I second this recommendation! Just about any flashlight which uses the Seoul Semiconductor P7 LED is going to be stupid bright. At 500-900 lumens, it's pretty much in a class of its own. +3 I use this one a lot: http://www1.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_15692_1.jpg $40. But get a plastic G2 if you want to follow the uninformed koolaid drinkers here. These lights have sparked my interest, anyone have any good brands/models to go with? When dealing with sub $50 P7 lights, it's better to go with the reviews than brands, which don't mean much. Search for P7 on the DX site and check it out. |
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G2 LED or 6P LED if staying within a reasonable budget.
Personally I'd say go for the gusto and get a badass SF which have never let me down. I have 3 Surefire E2D's. They are a bit more, but they handle abuse very well. I go thru batteries quite often as I use mine regularly. They now have the updated E2D LED which puts out 200 lumens! (Mine are the older 120/5 lumen LED's and the 60 lumen halogen<––which sucks batteries dry real quick) |
