(Scroll down for the "checklist")
Firstly, I want to say I am sorry for this post - you all must get 1000 of these a week. Huge thank you in advance, already learned alot from just browsing reviews and posts on Candlepowerforums :thumbsup:
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I have been searching for days but can't really find a light that matches what I am looking for and hence this post. There are so many lights that I am now unsure of what I even want but here are the cliff notes:
I am deploying overseas to a harsh environment very soon (non-military), I need to make a decision and purchase something no later than Monday (3 days) so waiting for something from China is not feasible. I went to my local outdoor shop but nothing really fit the bill.
I am also afraid to buy something that is going to break or be of garbage quality - I am going to be in Africa for 6+ months and will be using this light 90% of the time. I have an ATactical A1S already but it is just a touch too big to carry at all times, but will be my primary night time light.
I need something thinner (14500 battery), very portable & streamlined for easy pocket ingress/egress, reversible clip or that will clip to a hat, short distance flood (task?) light, have a moonlight mode, and ideally neutral white. Required feature is something that won't turn on in my pocket all the time, nor will it be a pain to turn on one handed at the drop of a hat.
Highly desired features are a magnetic base, onboard charging of some sort (though I will have a battery charger)
It will be a very frequent use light, and when I need light I dont want to have to fumble around to get it to turn on or fumble through settings
Firstly, I want to say I am sorry for this post - you all must get 1000 of these a week. Huge thank you in advance, already learned alot from just browsing reviews and posts on Candlepowerforums :thumbsup:
--
I have been searching for days but can't really find a light that matches what I am looking for and hence this post. There are so many lights that I am now unsure of what I even want but here are the cliff notes:
I am deploying overseas to a harsh environment very soon (non-military), I need to make a decision and purchase something no later than Monday (3 days) so waiting for something from China is not feasible. I went to my local outdoor shop but nothing really fit the bill.
I am also afraid to buy something that is going to break or be of garbage quality - I am going to be in Africa for 6+ months and will be using this light 90% of the time. I have an ATactical A1S already but it is just a touch too big to carry at all times, but will be my primary night time light.
I need something thinner (14500 battery), very portable & streamlined for easy pocket ingress/egress, reversible clip or that will clip to a hat, short distance flood (task?) light, have a moonlight mode, and ideally neutral white. Required feature is something that won't turn on in my pocket all the time, nor will it be a pain to turn on one handed at the drop of a hat.
Highly desired features are a magnetic base, onboard charging of some sort (though I will have a battery charger)
It will be a very frequent use light, and when I need light I dont want to have to fumble around to get it to turn on or fumble through settings
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1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
Online, USA Shipping
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
~$60 max ideally
3) Format:
14500 cell pocket friendly "EDC" flashlight. I will carry this all day every day, and use it probably once an hour for a few seconds to a few minutes.
4) Size:
TINY, STREAMLINED BODY
5) Emitter/Light source:
LED, NEUTRAL WHITE PREFERRED BUT NOT MANDATORY
6) Manufacturer:
DON'T CARE
7) What power source do you want to use?
- RECHARGEABLE, 14500 probably
- AA compatibility as a backup would be nice
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
USB RECHARGEABLE IDEALLY, NOT A DEAL BREAKER
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).
- Moonlight mode (sub 1 lumen) to ~300+ Lumens OTF.
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.
- More modes are good I guess, but too many modes are a detriment to a daily light
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
- Wide to Narrow Flood (task/inspection lighting)
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
- 1-5 meters
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).
- The longer the better?
- I guess 1+ hour of runtime on the medium setting at least
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
- CRITICAL, stationed in a very remote area for 6+ months
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
- Reverse clicky tail mounted switch ideally with a dedicated mode button is nice.
- That may not exist in a small, slim 14500 package so I may be stuck with a side button light
- The big thing for me is I don't want it accidentally turning on in my pocket/bag, nor do I want to have to fumble through settings every time I pull it out.
- Not really sure, I am a flashlight n00b but just need something dependable and kind of simple in operation - it is a tool and not a toy for me.
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
4-5 Levels ideally
Firefly (moonlight), low, medium, high
Strobe feature is nice, turbo mode and beacon modes would be nice I suppose, SOS not needed
14)Material/Finish/Coating
- Any, the less "flashy" the better, I don't want it to draw too much attention or get stolen. Should survive bumps and mild drops.
15) Water resistance
- IPX7 at a minimum
16) Storage conditions
- Daily use, hot weather, wet weather
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
- Reversible pocket clip, I want to clip it to my hat
- Magnetic mount preferred, tail stand-able at a minimum
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
Online, USA Shipping
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
~$60 max ideally
3) Format:
14500 cell pocket friendly "EDC" flashlight. I will carry this all day every day, and use it probably once an hour for a few seconds to a few minutes.
4) Size:
TINY, STREAMLINED BODY
5) Emitter/Light source:
LED, NEUTRAL WHITE PREFERRED BUT NOT MANDATORY
6) Manufacturer:
DON'T CARE
7) What power source do you want to use?
- RECHARGEABLE, 14500 probably
- AA compatibility as a backup would be nice
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
USB RECHARGEABLE IDEALLY, NOT A DEAL BREAKER
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).
- Moonlight mode (sub 1 lumen) to ~300+ Lumens OTF.
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.
- More modes are good I guess, but too many modes are a detriment to a daily light
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
- Wide to Narrow Flood (task/inspection lighting)
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
- 1-5 meters
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).
- The longer the better?
- I guess 1+ hour of runtime on the medium setting at least
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
- CRITICAL, stationed in a very remote area for 6+ months
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
- Reverse clicky tail mounted switch ideally with a dedicated mode button is nice.
- That may not exist in a small, slim 14500 package so I may be stuck with a side button light
- The big thing for me is I don't want it accidentally turning on in my pocket/bag, nor do I want to have to fumble through settings every time I pull it out.
- Not really sure, I am a flashlight n00b but just need something dependable and kind of simple in operation - it is a tool and not a toy for me.
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
4-5 Levels ideally
Firefly (moonlight), low, medium, high
Strobe feature is nice, turbo mode and beacon modes would be nice I suppose, SOS not needed
14)Material/Finish/Coating
- Any, the less "flashy" the better, I don't want it to draw too much attention or get stolen. Should survive bumps and mild drops.
15) Water resistance
- IPX7 at a minimum
16) Storage conditions
- Daily use, hot weather, wet weather
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
- Reversible pocket clip, I want to clip it to my hat
- Magnetic mount preferred, tail stand-able at a minimum