Howdy! Please recommend a flashlight for my Jeep. I'm thinking of mounting it vertically on the inside A pillar along the drivers side windshield. A light approximately 6" to 9" long would fit there well. It will live a hard life of varying temperatures, from cool to very hot. Some direct sun. And it will get shaken around a lot while mounted. Open to your ideas.
This will be used for general truck light purposes - from changing a tire to choosing a late night campspot in the remote wild, investigating stuff at night. 2 or more brightness settings would be great. Water resistance is not important.
Here's a twist: If possible/practical, I'd like it to live mounted vertically in a recharging cradle so it is always topped up & ready for action. And that cradle needs to hang onto the light securely so it doesn't bounce out on a rocky road. The recharging cradle is not a must-have, but it would be nice. If the light takes ordinary non-rechargeable batteries, that is also acceptable. I also welcome your ideas for mounting.
Thanks very much, looking forward to your ideas. My FRC is below.
K
==================Flashlight Recommendation Checklist================
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
__X__This will be mail-order or Online (location doesn't matter).
2) Budget:
__X__I don't know yet.
3) Format:
_X_I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
4) Size:
__X__MEDIUM - Holster/belt ring carry. (>7 inches)
& Up to 9.5" long.
5) Emitter/Light source:
__X__LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
6) Manufacturer:
__X_ Doesn't matter to me. I'd prefer a light ready to go, but I can assemble something if it is that much better.
7) What power source do you want to use?
I'd like the light to be mounted in my Jeep, recharging itself as necessary, always ready.
__X__I intend to use "Primary"/Disposable Alkaline batteries based on the usual AAA/AA/C/D sized cells common to most stores.
__X__I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery pack.
__X__I don't know/I need more information on power sources.
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
__X__I want a light that snaps into a cradle That can be charged from 12vDC
8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is not a happy experience).
__X__I want to confidently walk around an unlit/unpaved rural area (60-150 lumens).
__X__I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
__X__SPECIAL NOTE: Burst/Turbo mode Category - There are several lights that will run at a super bright maximum for a very limited period (usually 5-10 minutes) and then will "step-down" to a lower level for thermal control. Check here if this is acceptable.
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
__X_ Optional; variable zoom between flood/spot is nice too.
__X__All Flood: I am doing "arms length" tasks like reading and campsite cooking.
____Wide Flood: I want a defined flood area for semi-close tasks like after-dark campsite tasks or working on a car.
____Narrow Flood: I want a sharply defined flood area that will project some distance for tasks like trail walking.
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
__X__Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
__X__Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
__X__5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
__X__30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
__X__50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
____150+ yards (I am searching from a helicopter)
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum continuous output).
____Up to 30 minutes (I want the brightest [and potentially smallest] light for brief periods)
____30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
__X__90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
__X_3 hours + (I critically need this light to run on max for extended periods in between battery changes/charges).
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
__X__Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
__X__I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
__X__I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today's high end lights).
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
__X__A simple on-off with only one output level is fine for me.
__X__I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
__X__I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
14)Material/Finish/Coating
__X__Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today's higher end flashlights).
__X__I don't care.
15) Water resistance
__X__None needed
16) Storage conditions
_X___Emergency kit (long standby periods)
_X__Automobile glove-box (wide temperature swings, long standby periods, critical reliability)
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
_X__ Vertical mount recharge cradle(12v), secure hold in for off road Jeep.
Open to ideas here, I just want a light that is always ready to go, even when ignored for months.
This will be used for general truck light purposes - from changing a tire to choosing a late night campspot in the remote wild, investigating stuff at night. 2 or more brightness settings would be great. Water resistance is not important.
Here's a twist: If possible/practical, I'd like it to live mounted vertically in a recharging cradle so it is always topped up & ready for action. And that cradle needs to hang onto the light securely so it doesn't bounce out on a rocky road. The recharging cradle is not a must-have, but it would be nice. If the light takes ordinary non-rechargeable batteries, that is also acceptable. I also welcome your ideas for mounting.
Thanks very much, looking forward to your ideas. My FRC is below.
K
==================Flashlight Recommendation Checklist================
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
__X__This will be mail-order or Online (location doesn't matter).
2) Budget:
__X__I don't know yet.
3) Format:
_X_I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
4) Size:
__X__MEDIUM - Holster/belt ring carry. (>7 inches)
& Up to 9.5" long.
5) Emitter/Light source:
__X__LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
6) Manufacturer:
__X_ Doesn't matter to me. I'd prefer a light ready to go, but I can assemble something if it is that much better.
7) What power source do you want to use?
I'd like the light to be mounted in my Jeep, recharging itself as necessary, always ready.
__X__I intend to use "Primary"/Disposable Alkaline batteries based on the usual AAA/AA/C/D sized cells common to most stores.
__X__I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery pack.
__X__I don't know/I need more information on power sources.
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
__X__I want a light that snaps into a cradle That can be charged from 12vDC
8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is not a happy experience).
__X__I want to confidently walk around an unlit/unpaved rural area (60-150 lumens).
__X__I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
__X__SPECIAL NOTE: Burst/Turbo mode Category - There are several lights that will run at a super bright maximum for a very limited period (usually 5-10 minutes) and then will "step-down" to a lower level for thermal control. Check here if this is acceptable.
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
__X_ Optional; variable zoom between flood/spot is nice too.
__X__All Flood: I am doing "arms length" tasks like reading and campsite cooking.
____Wide Flood: I want a defined flood area for semi-close tasks like after-dark campsite tasks or working on a car.
____Narrow Flood: I want a sharply defined flood area that will project some distance for tasks like trail walking.
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
__X__Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
__X__Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
__X__5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
__X__30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
__X__50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
____150+ yards (I am searching from a helicopter)
10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum continuous output).
____Up to 30 minutes (I want the brightest [and potentially smallest] light for brief periods)
____30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
__X__90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
__X_3 hours + (I critically need this light to run on max for extended periods in between battery changes/charges).
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
__X__Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
__X__I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
__X__I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today's high end lights).
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
__X__A simple on-off with only one output level is fine for me.
__X__I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
__X__I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
14)Material/Finish/Coating
__X__Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today's higher end flashlights).
__X__I don't care.
15) Water resistance
__X__None needed
16) Storage conditions
_X___Emergency kit (long standby periods)
_X__Automobile glove-box (wide temperature swings, long standby periods, critical reliability)
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
_X__ Vertical mount recharge cradle(12v), secure hold in for off road Jeep.
Open to ideas here, I just want a light that is always ready to go, even when ignored for months.
