Posted: 2/3/2015 9:36:30 AM EDT
| Have owned some of the Surfire G2's.. picked them up when they were about $35 bucks. Now they are pushing $55 and looks like an online order only. Most stores said they dropped them due to the price increase. I see that Streamlight is sold just about everywhere. Just about the same price. Has anyone used both? Recommendations? Thanks |
| Recently Psa had gen 1 polytac for 15. Check if they still have any. @130 lumen they are plenty bright. The gen 2 is like 280lm and multi mode at still the normal retail of 35-40 I believe. I've had a gen 1 mounted on my fire helmet for years and it has withstood all the bumps along the way. I edc a fenix ld15 however. |
|
I used to be a 100% surefire whore. I still love the lights however I've bought more and more Streamlights for everyday use. In my opinion its going to be hard to go wrong with either, they are both first class products. I will probably use Surefire for weapon lights simply because I like them a little more however for traditional small and medium sized handheld lights I can't pick a clear winner. For the huge handheld lights I give the edge to Surefire but who the hell has than kind of money.
My newest light is a Streamlight Stylus Pro Pen light which is awesome for everyday non tactical uses. Its actually in my pocket right now. |
|
Quoted:
I used to be a 100% surefire whore. I still love the lights however I've bought more and more Streamlights for everyday use. In my opinion its going to be hard to go wrong with either, they are both first class products. I will probably use Surefire for weapon lights simply because I like them a little more however for traditional small and medium sized handheld lights I can't pick a clear winner. For the huge handheld lights I give the edge to Surefire but who the hell has than kind of money. My newest light is a Streamlight Stylus Pro Pen light which is awesome for everyday non tactical uses. Its actually in my pocket right now. I actually recently got 2 stylus pro china knock offs from eBay for 15 shipped for both. Some of the best clones I've ever seen and they are rating a solid 90lm. Since we brought up some utility knock around lights. |
you guys that have 4sevens, klarus, high end fenix and lights from established companies.... how do the Solar Force lights compare in your estimation?... I have replaced several of the G2 with Solar Force modules, and a purchased a couple of the L2 bodies with XM-L2 U2 modules... a couple of multi mode, but mostly single mode versions... my Surefire P6 does have a Malkoff module.. L2M can be adapted to a single cr123 compared to a Streamlight ProTac 1L
|
|
I have surefire (6p & 9p with LED heads), streamlight (protac 1aa, 2aa, microstream, and Tlr-1), fenix (ld12 & ld22), and recently picked up a klarus XT12
My favorite currently is the klarus and I use it for work mostly, mixed in with some low light training. I really like the second momentary switch for instant strobing, and it is plenty bright with good battery life (3.5 hrs. @ 930 lumens, more with the extended capacity battery). I also like the rechargeable aspect for work, since I do use the light a lot. I feel it is great for outdoor defensive use @ 930 lumens, but for indoor use (especially with light/white walls) it is too powerful. Hitting the wrong surface while searching can also temporarily blind you as well. My protac 1aa is one of my EDC lights because of the size. I also have multiple streamlight microstreams that I use for EDC and various administrative tasks. The protac 2aa is used as an indoor low light use light (night stand along with handgun), along with the surefire 6p (different locations). Since streamlight came out with their ten tap programming, I really like their actuating mechanism (very difficult to click on when under stress, momentary use is silent and quick). In addition, the protac series is very affordable for good quality. Tlr-1's are on all my long guns that have any intention of HD capability. They've gone through many classes without issues before, during, or after. The Fenix LD22 and 12 I used at work for a while (2 years or so), however have moved on from them. They are great lights, but I am not impressed with how easy it is to click the tail cap on inadvertently. They were also a bit finicky when it came to the multi stage brightness settings. The surefires are also great lights, but the price point isn't attractive for me at least. While I do like not being able to "click" them on, many of the newer lights described above have tail caps that are very difficult to click on (next to impossible unless intentionally applying pressure directly down IMO), and suit my purposes better. I bought the 6p and 9p originally, and after running through several low light classes with surefire as well as other brands of lights, I began to feel there were better options out there at a better price point. That is just my opinion though, and by no means makes surefire any less of a great quality light. Another company to look into is Elzetta. They pot their entire electrical circuitry, making it virtually indestructible. When I have some extra funds, I would like to pick one of these up as well. I hope this is somewhat helpful :) |
|
Quoted:
you guys that have 4sevens, klarus, high end fenix and lights from established companies.... how do the Solar Force lights compare in your estimation?... I have replaced several of the G2 with Solar Force modules, and a purchased a couple of the L2 bodies with XM-L2 U2 modules... a couple of multi mode, but mostly single mode versions... my Surefire P6 does have a Malkoff module.. L2M can be adapted to a single cr123 compared to a Streamlight ProTac 1L <a href="http://s825.photobucket.com/user/LesSnyder/media/001_zps2a950f77.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz180/LesSnyder/001_zps2a950f77.jpg</a> I have a number of the Solar Force lights, and find them more than acceptable. I also have a couple of 4Seven lights, and a couple of Surefire G2s. I bought a couple of the Solar Force forward clicky tailcaps as insurance. Solar Force's lamp accessory is very worthwhile. It requires a complete Solar Force light, which can be easily and quickly dismounted, if desired. IMHO, it also requires at least a three way element to be truly useful, as such allows a dim mode. Add a 1/2" or larger key ring to the top for easier hanging, and you're in business. http://www.lighthound.com/Solarforce-Lantern-Head-for-L2-flashlights-Type-II-Black-Anodized-Finish_p_2813.html |
| Like others have posted, I was a SF junky for many years. Still keep a few around for those special moments. I switched to Streamlight for my EDC light because a job change required me to keep my light in my pocket instead of on my belt. Went with the Stylus Pro and mated it up with the single battery version as well. Both of them had the tailcap switches go bad within 6 weeks. Streamlight was kind enough to replace ONE of the tailcaps for my trouble, but told me switches were not covered under their warranty. Now I EDC a Fenix LD22. 2 years and still going strong. |
|
Quoted: Fenix PD35 should serve you very well. Best fuckin light I've ever owned, and I've owned plenty of over priced (IMO) surefires. I say they're over priced because when you can get a light like the PD35 for 70 bucks, then 300+ for a surefire that doesn't even approach its output and features is just stupid. Again, IMO. If surefire is your thing, more power to ya. Justin |
|
I also have gravitated away from SF to a variety of Fenix, 4sevens, Jetbeam, and Nitecore lights. The value is outstanding, quality is very very good, and the price of course makes itself known when you can easily have 5-7 of the listed lights for the cost of a single SF.
Disclosure: I am the owner of a couple of G2's, an E2E, and a 6P so I have plenty of firsthand experience with SF. |