What was your first loved flashlight?

[defuse kit]

I've always liked lights, but because it meant having a light. No love for the flashlight in and of itself. The first flashlight I really loved was my first Surefire E2D. Showed me how amazing a good light can be.

 

[Howecollc]

I think a bump is appropriate after having been shelved for 4 years.

 

[zulumoose]

First flashlight I loved was a red Eveready 2xAA side by side light, no lens, no reflector, just a U-shaped white plastic piece to hold the bulb, you slid the whole side off to change the batteries. Must have been about 1975 when I got it, and I used to read under the covers until it was so dim I could not even see a whole word at a time.

I have checked the flashlight museum, cannot find a reference to it.

Another one I loved at that time, which I was not allowed to use, was also a plastic Eveready light, which took a 6V lantern battery underneath that screwed on to two pillars. I inherited that and still have it. You cannot get those batteries and my daughter dropped it and broke the reflector but I now run it with a 600 Lumen 12V downlighter mounted against the glass, and a 12V 7Ah battery strapped onto a slightly shaved body with Velcro. It was a powerful spotlight in its day, now it is a rechargeable floodlight.

 

[EseriesModder]

An inova X5 that I bought for $20 with money I earned at my first after school job. It was indestructible. I carried it in my pocket everyday until my lifestyle required something brighter, but even then it came along with me in my backpack as a vampire, because 123s were too expensive to waste.

 

[bykfixer]

I think a bump is appropriate after having been shelved for 4 years.

Agreed. And this one being 10 years old it is fun to see the changes as the industry has.
It is also a charm to see how much folks have not changed as the industry has as well.

 

[vadimax]

This is the beamshot of my first loved flashlight that was the reason to buy it:

 

[gurdygurds]

Same here

This guy is what made me love flashlights. Saved my butt many times.

 

[Newlumen]

My first good light was pelican 7060, just a year ago.. i discover this forum, and buy more lights... i now have 40 something light....

 

[richbuff]

Four Sevens MMU-X3.

Before that, for me, was junk that would not turn on due to malfunctioning switch, internal corrosion, etc.

The MMU-X3 was my first nice quality, nice performance flashlight. I discovered it when I searched Sears online for a powerful flashlight.

This is an ultra classic item, of course. Size/power/throw classification, emitter configuration, beam profile/beam performance to size ratio: these items are an enduring milestone as offered in the MMU-X3.

 

[chainsolid]

My first loved Surefire A2
Not my first flashlight, This my EDC Flashlight

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

I liked the Inova X5, the Princeton Tec Quad headlight, the Gerber Infinity Ultra, but the first one I loved was the Fenix P3D Q5. For the first time, 100 lumens/watt had been achieved and brightness was quadruple that of one watt Luxeon l.e.d.s. For the first time, you could have a high power l.e.d. light with long runtimes and high brightness. This light went from 5 to 200 lumens and ran at over 40 lumens for 16 hours straight and only weighed 3 ounces. A 2 D maglight would run at under 20 lumens for less than 10 hours and required bulky D batteries. This was the first light I took a week backpacking without ever changing the batteries, and I used it on low for a nightlight all night, every night. Once you have a light that is bright enough to comfortably hike all night long without swapping batteries, anything past that is usually just an unnecessary bonus.

 

[harro]

A TK11Q5 Fenix. Its now a bit battered and bruised but still going strong. I remember being absolutely blown away by those mighty 185 lumens on high, and how a small twist of the head would engage low. And the runtime on my first ever 18650 cell ( a decent Ultrafire before they turned to crap ) was amazing, i think in the region of about six hours, on high. These days, we buy a 5,000 lumen light with programable modes and flashy modes and oled displays and usb charging and multi colour outputs, and think, ' thats nice '.

 

[bykfixer]

Loved? Like my wife or chocolate? There aint one.

But the one that caused me to say "holy-cow this is the one for me" for the first time was the PK FL2 LE. It's still my benchmark today.

 

[jamesmtl514]

Surefire E2D Incan. Still sees regular use. Only now it has a Tana Tripled.

Most loved now. BB MCGIZMO MULE 119 WITH tritium

 

[jamesmtl514]

You EDC a black A2? Wow you're brave. Those are crazy rare

 

[Rstype]

very first truly loved flashlight that got me into the more powerful stuff and my love for flashlight is a surefire 6p. Had a maglight 2x aa that was good until i ented a pitch black basement to look for a plumbing problem, and i gotta say i was really yearning for something much more powerful. looked up durable , military grade flashlight and surefire was the first link with a review about a surefire 6p. i got it and was immediately impressed compared to the maglight. The addiction began there.....

 

[Chauncey Gardiner]

Loved? Like my wife or chocolate? There aint one. But the one that caused me to say "holy-cow this is the one for me" for the first time was ......

Many years ago The Lovely Mrs. Gardiner and I purchased a preowned Cadillac. It was the nicest car we'd ever owned. A retired pastor that worked with me asked, "How do you like the Cadillac?" I answered, "Robert, I love that Cadillac." He seemed a little disappointed and gently retorted, "I thought we were supposed to love people and use things." Me being a quick tongued smart-*** replied, "Robert, I love using that Cadillac. :devil: "

With that being stated, here's the first flashlight I ever loved using.

~ Chance

Surefire G2 with a metal head, Darksucks heat treated Ti. clip and a SS bezel ring. It has been home to many different drop-ins.

 

[gilson65]

4 d cell maglite

 

[tech25]

A 1xAA heavy duty plastic version of the top of the line minimag that was available, it had a similar beam type as the minimag and had spot to spill. If I could find the same one I would get it now as a nostalgic piece.

 

[chainsolid]

You EDC a black A2? Wow you're brave. Those are crazy rare

For now, I'm using Surefire A2 Black for my EDC.I know it rare, But I like it.
Today my A2 Black go to an operation,