Ladies and Gentlemen, Hello!
Long time lurker, first time poster here. Now that I'm finally posting here let me first thank all of you serious flashlight aficionados for your unintentional help in the past. This site has been invaluable when it comes to resolving problems I have had in the past. This site has turned me onto some pretty cool pieces of gear.
Having served in the military, I always believed that Surefire was the way to go. I carried one for years (and still do) until I realized I was paying more for a name more than anything. I've been experimenting with other brands lately, looking for something to fit all my needs, but I keep coming up short. Its close but not perfect.
So now I come to you for help; I'm looking for MY perfect EDC light.
I've thought about what I want long and hard, and conveniently there is a checklist stickied at the top of this forum so I'll start there.
It doesn't matter to me where I get the light from. I'll likely order online regardless. Budget doesn't matter. Cheaper is better, but I payed for surefire for years and I know you get what you pay for.
I'd like it to be self contained, and somewhere near 4.5-5 inches long overall. I understand diameter changes with the battery type, but it doesn't really matter to me as long as it doesn't look like I have a banana in my pocket.
LED emitter. I don't know enough about sizes or operating power to specify.
I don't care who makes it as long as its reliable/durable. I'll pay extra for American. I can Frankenstein one together if I have to.
I'd like to have the option to use multiple battery types (primary and rechargeable) but would use the rechargeable almost exclusively. Something with a 18XXX footprint, but again I don't really know. I also don't care how it recharges, assuming its not something that makes the light awkward to carry.
I will accept a wide range of OTF light. Turbo/high/low/whatever is all good. I don't care about the actual number so long as I can use it "tactically" if the need be. Beam pattern specifically doesn't matter as long as its balanced (think malkoff M61 or streamlight protac) Range isn't super important either. I feel like the protac 2AA and malkoff m61 drop in I have begin to loose their effectiveness around 50 yards or so so that should be the benchmark. The reflector shouldn't be massively larger than the body, if at all.
Runtime isn't super important as long as its reasonable. 2-5 minutes on turbo before stepping down, 45-60 at 300-500 lumens, 10's of hours (or days) on low seem like reasonable expectations.
This light will be an EDC. I'll drop it, ding it, bang it and generally abuse it. I've broken car windows with a surfire striking bezel before, the light still worked fine. Think that type of durability.
The switch is what is hanging me up. I'm not sure if this exists out there. I'd like a rubberized tail cap, ideally protected so it won't activate in my pocket. The hard part is what I want the switch to do. I'd like the switch to come on at the highest power, when I mash it, regardless of the power setting its on at. I'm not sure that tech exists. Think of sneaking around your house in low/moonlight mode, then mashing the tailcap and having the light jump to turbo/high when a raccoon/burglar jumps out at you. I'd also like to do all the mode selection from the tailcap one handed if possible, but a twist bezel or something will do. I'd be most impressed if someone knows of such a tailcap.
Specific modes don't matter, I think I covered that before. Turbo/high/low/whatever as long as it has a high and low setting. Don't care about strobe either way.
Material or coating doesn't matter. Metal. I'll creakote it if I have to.
Moderate waterproofness. IPX7 or so I think? just in case it rains or I drop it in a puddle.
I'll edc this thing. Storage doesn't matter a whole lot. Lets just say automobile glove box to cover all the bases.
As for special needs, the only thing I really want is a stout pocket clip with good retention (preferably replaceable) that lets the light sit tailcap up, and very flush with the top of the pocket. I hate it when the flashlight sticks out. (I have 2 Surefire C2's The pocket clips are so worthless I question surefire's logic.) I should have made this item number one, because its that important to me. Every other special feature is just an added bonus. Striking bezels are cool, and a lanyard attachment point would be too.
Anyhow I think thats it. I didn't mean to go on so long, thats a hellva first post. I realize getting all this is nearly impossible, so I'm willing to compromise as need be. I'd say clip, followed by tailcap, followed by rechargeable and output are the priority.
Right now the closest I've come to finding a factory light thats perfect is the Olight S2R baton. It comes so close, other than the body switch position and functionality. Also the clip ruins it.
Anyhow thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings, and share your expertise. I look forward to your recommendations.
Best.
Also, I don't have full posting privileges yet. I'll be here and respond to everyone, so sorry in advance for the delay.
Long time lurker, first time poster here. Now that I'm finally posting here let me first thank all of you serious flashlight aficionados for your unintentional help in the past. This site has been invaluable when it comes to resolving problems I have had in the past. This site has turned me onto some pretty cool pieces of gear.
Having served in the military, I always believed that Surefire was the way to go. I carried one for years (and still do) until I realized I was paying more for a name more than anything. I've been experimenting with other brands lately, looking for something to fit all my needs, but I keep coming up short. Its close but not perfect.
So now I come to you for help; I'm looking for MY perfect EDC light.
I've thought about what I want long and hard, and conveniently there is a checklist stickied at the top of this forum so I'll start there.
It doesn't matter to me where I get the light from. I'll likely order online regardless. Budget doesn't matter. Cheaper is better, but I payed for surefire for years and I know you get what you pay for.
I'd like it to be self contained, and somewhere near 4.5-5 inches long overall. I understand diameter changes with the battery type, but it doesn't really matter to me as long as it doesn't look like I have a banana in my pocket.
LED emitter. I don't know enough about sizes or operating power to specify.
I don't care who makes it as long as its reliable/durable. I'll pay extra for American. I can Frankenstein one together if I have to.
I'd like to have the option to use multiple battery types (primary and rechargeable) but would use the rechargeable almost exclusively. Something with a 18XXX footprint, but again I don't really know. I also don't care how it recharges, assuming its not something that makes the light awkward to carry.
I will accept a wide range of OTF light. Turbo/high/low/whatever is all good. I don't care about the actual number so long as I can use it "tactically" if the need be. Beam pattern specifically doesn't matter as long as its balanced (think malkoff M61 or streamlight protac) Range isn't super important either. I feel like the protac 2AA and malkoff m61 drop in I have begin to loose their effectiveness around 50 yards or so so that should be the benchmark. The reflector shouldn't be massively larger than the body, if at all.
Runtime isn't super important as long as its reasonable. 2-5 minutes on turbo before stepping down, 45-60 at 300-500 lumens, 10's of hours (or days) on low seem like reasonable expectations.
This light will be an EDC. I'll drop it, ding it, bang it and generally abuse it. I've broken car windows with a surfire striking bezel before, the light still worked fine. Think that type of durability.
The switch is what is hanging me up. I'm not sure if this exists out there. I'd like a rubberized tail cap, ideally protected so it won't activate in my pocket. The hard part is what I want the switch to do. I'd like the switch to come on at the highest power, when I mash it, regardless of the power setting its on at. I'm not sure that tech exists. Think of sneaking around your house in low/moonlight mode, then mashing the tailcap and having the light jump to turbo/high when a raccoon/burglar jumps out at you. I'd also like to do all the mode selection from the tailcap one handed if possible, but a twist bezel or something will do. I'd be most impressed if someone knows of such a tailcap.
Specific modes don't matter, I think I covered that before. Turbo/high/low/whatever as long as it has a high and low setting. Don't care about strobe either way.
Material or coating doesn't matter. Metal. I'll creakote it if I have to.
Moderate waterproofness. IPX7 or so I think? just in case it rains or I drop it in a puddle.
I'll edc this thing. Storage doesn't matter a whole lot. Lets just say automobile glove box to cover all the bases.
As for special needs, the only thing I really want is a stout pocket clip with good retention (preferably replaceable) that lets the light sit tailcap up, and very flush with the top of the pocket. I hate it when the flashlight sticks out. (I have 2 Surefire C2's The pocket clips are so worthless I question surefire's logic.) I should have made this item number one, because its that important to me. Every other special feature is just an added bonus. Striking bezels are cool, and a lanyard attachment point would be too.
Anyhow I think thats it. I didn't mean to go on so long, thats a hellva first post. I realize getting all this is nearly impossible, so I'm willing to compromise as need be. I'd say clip, followed by tailcap, followed by rechargeable and output are the priority.
Right now the closest I've come to finding a factory light thats perfect is the Olight S2R baton. It comes so close, other than the body switch position and functionality. Also the clip ruins it.
Anyhow thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings, and share your expertise. I look forward to your recommendations.
Best.
Also, I don't have full posting privileges yet. I'll be here and respond to everyone, so sorry in advance for the delay.