Hi folks!
I currently carry a Sunwayman V11R most of the time. I love that little light! However, I have some developing needs, so I think it is time to get something more suited to a particular use-case.
Heres the deal: I have an injured cerebellum, and this makes navigating in the dark somewhere between difficult and impossible! So any time I am out at night, unless I am on a well-lit level street, I am using a flashlight. As you can imagine, my light is a truly critical part of any evening out of the house. While my current EDC is a great little light, I would like to have something for walking around with that is 1) bright 2) wide-beamed, 3) runs on one, or possibly 2, AA batteries, and 4) has NO modes! Just on and off!
Maybe this kind of simplicity doesn't exist, but if you have recommendations, let me have em! I am willing to spend a bit, so budget isn't a primary consideration, but I would love to not go flat broke buying a little light, so be reasonable.
I have filled out the checklist below to be as specific as possible, but I have mentioned the really crucial stuff.
Thanks so much!
-JJH
(EDIT: I know my hope and dreams re: batteries and output are a stretch. I want alkaline because I can buy them everywhere and I have to be able to make this thing run in a pinch by stopping into a gas station. So maybe 2 AAs is more likely!)
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
____This will be mail-order or Online (location mostly doesn't matter, but I am in Canada...).
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
____Essentially unlimited.
3) Format:
]____I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
4) Size:
____SMALL - Every day carry (4-7 inches).
5) Emitter/Light source:
____LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
6) Manufacturer:
____I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
____I would like a light from a specialty manufacturer (Possibly limited run/Custom).
7) What power source do you want to use?
____I intend to use "Primary"/Disposable Alkaline batteries based on the usual AAA/AA/C/D sized cells common to most stores.
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).
____I want to confidently walk around an unlit/unpaved rural area (60-150 lumens).
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
____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)
____Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
____5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
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).
____90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
____I need a BIG switch (I'll be using gloves or have very large hands or coordination issues).
____I want a forward clicky (Helpful for momentary activation and signaling).
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
____A simple on-off with only one output level is fine for me.
14)Material/Finish/Coating
____I don't care.
15) Water resistance
____None needed
____IPX4 (Splash resistant)
16) Storage conditions
____In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
____Recessed tail switch, but this is not crucial
I currently carry a Sunwayman V11R most of the time. I love that little light! However, I have some developing needs, so I think it is time to get something more suited to a particular use-case.
Heres the deal: I have an injured cerebellum, and this makes navigating in the dark somewhere between difficult and impossible! So any time I am out at night, unless I am on a well-lit level street, I am using a flashlight. As you can imagine, my light is a truly critical part of any evening out of the house. While my current EDC is a great little light, I would like to have something for walking around with that is 1) bright 2) wide-beamed, 3) runs on one, or possibly 2, AA batteries, and 4) has NO modes! Just on and off!
Maybe this kind of simplicity doesn't exist, but if you have recommendations, let me have em! I am willing to spend a bit, so budget isn't a primary consideration, but I would love to not go flat broke buying a little light, so be reasonable.
I have filled out the checklist below to be as specific as possible, but I have mentioned the really crucial stuff.
Thanks so much!
-JJH
(EDIT: I know my hope and dreams re: batteries and output are a stretch. I want alkaline because I can buy them everywhere and I have to be able to make this thing run in a pinch by stopping into a gas station. So maybe 2 AAs is more likely!)
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
____This will be mail-order or Online (location mostly doesn't matter, but I am in Canada...).
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
____Essentially unlimited.
3) Format:
]____I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
4) Size:
____SMALL - Every day carry (4-7 inches).
5) Emitter/Light source:
____LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
6) Manufacturer:
____I want to buy a light from a large/traditional manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
____I would like a light from a specialty manufacturer (Possibly limited run/Custom).
7) What power source do you want to use?
____I intend to use "Primary"/Disposable Alkaline batteries based on the usual AAA/AA/C/D sized cells common to most stores.
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).
____I want to confidently walk around an unlit/unpaved rural area (60-150 lumens).
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
____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)
____Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
____5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
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).
____90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.
____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
____I need a BIG switch (I'll be using gloves or have very large hands or coordination issues).
____I want a forward clicky (Helpful for momentary activation and signaling).
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
____A simple on-off with only one output level is fine for me.
14)Material/Finish/Coating
____I don't care.
15) Water resistance
____None needed
____IPX4 (Splash resistant)
16) Storage conditions
____In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
____Recessed tail switch, but this is not crucial
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