==================Flashlight Recommendation Checklist================
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
Online or in store or anything
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
____I don't know yet
____Up to $25.
_X__Up to $50. If the perfect light is a little more I'd consider it
____Up to $100.
____Up to $200.
____Up to $300.
____Essentially unlimited.
3) Format: Any of these would work except the area lamp. It's for home use only
____I am not sure, please help me decide.
____I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
____I want a self-contained headlamp.
____I want a headlamp with an external pack/power source.
____I want a mounted light (typically for a bicycle or vehicle)
____I want a lantern/area light.
____I want a portable spotlight (it may have an external power source).
____Other ____________________________________________
4) Size:
____MICRO - Keychain size.
____TINY - Every day carry (2-4 inches).
____SMALL - Every day carry (4-7 inches).
____MEDIUM - Holster/belt ring carry. (>7 inches)
____LARGE - Big enough to need its own travel case.
_X__I dont know/I don't care. but it has to have enough lux so I'm not expecting a small light.
5) Emitter/Light source: 6500K CCT Accept no substitutes.
_X__LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
____Incandescent (known for superior color rendition)
____HID (known for max output, but often at the expense of size)
____I don't know.
6) Manufacturer: Don't care, needs to be inexpensive and reliable
____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).
____I am interested in assembling my own components. (for example a host or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a drop-in emitter from another source).
7) What power source do you want to use?
Greatly prefer NiMH AA, C or D. Will consider LiIon 18650. Integrated battery pack is OK if they're replaceable and not proprietary.
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
____I want a light that plugs directly into the wall (literally with prongs built into the light)
____I want a light that has a recharging adapter (your typical "wall wart")
____I want a light that snaps into a cradle (usually mounted on a wall)
____I want a separate/stand-alone charger (this involves removing the batteries to charge)
_X__I don't care
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).
Lux is the issue. I need 10K lux over a circle at least 8-10" in diameter from 3' away. A larger circle is better. A light that will give 30K lux and can run at 1/3rd power is great. The more levels the better. Runtime has to be min of 30 min, an hour is *much* better.
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
10 K lux minimum over an 8" or more circle at 3' away.
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
2-4', will need to produce at least 10K lux as above. More is fine.
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)
_X__30-60 minutes (more is better. It needs to hold the 10K lux at least 30 min)
____90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
____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_Not Important (A night-stand light).
An accidental drop is possible. I don't want to have to buy a new one every 3 months. It is not *intended* to leave the house. We all know how that goes.
____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood).
____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
____I dont know.
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
_X__Any size switch will do. Levels would be nice
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
One level would be fine, 2 or 3 would be better. No blinkies needed but no problem if they exist.
14)Material/Finish/Coating
____Plastic/composite body (this may limit your choices significantly).
____Anodized Aluminum either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for todays higher end flashlights).
____Stainless steel (durable, but much heavier than aluminum)
____Titanium (durable and nearly as lightweight as aluminum, but can be moderately to significantly more expensive).
_X__I dont care.
____I dont know.
____Other, please specify____________.
15) Water resistance
_X__None needed
____IPX4 (Splash resistant)
____IPX7 (Waterproof to 1 meter/30min)
____IPX8 (Submersible to greater than 1 meter for 4 hours)
16) Storage conditions
_X__In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
____Emergency kit (long standby periods)
____Automobile glove-box (wide temperature swings, long standby periods, critical reliability)
____Other_________________________________________ ____
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
None
Thanks for your help, this is not the type of light I look for so I'm clueless.
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
Online or in store or anything
2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest!
____I don't know yet
____Up to $25.
_X__Up to $50. If the perfect light is a little more I'd consider it
____Up to $100.
____Up to $200.
____Up to $300.
____Essentially unlimited.
3) Format: Any of these would work except the area lamp. It's for home use only
____I am not sure, please help me decide.
____I want a flashlight (hand held/self contained).
____I want a self-contained headlamp.
____I want a headlamp with an external pack/power source.
____I want a mounted light (typically for a bicycle or vehicle)
____I want a lantern/area light.
____I want a portable spotlight (it may have an external power source).
____Other ____________________________________________
4) Size:
____MICRO - Keychain size.
____TINY - Every day carry (2-4 inches).
____SMALL - Every day carry (4-7 inches).
____MEDIUM - Holster/belt ring carry. (>7 inches)
____LARGE - Big enough to need its own travel case.
_X__I dont know/I don't care. but it has to have enough lux so I'm not expecting a small light.
5) Emitter/Light source: 6500K CCT Accept no substitutes.
_X__LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
____Incandescent (known for superior color rendition)
____HID (known for max output, but often at the expense of size)
____I don't know.
6) Manufacturer: Don't care, needs to be inexpensive and reliable
____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).
____I am interested in assembling my own components. (for example a host or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a drop-in emitter from another source).
7) What power source do you want to use?
Greatly prefer NiMH AA, C or D. Will consider LiIon 18650. Integrated battery pack is OK if they're replaceable and not proprietary.
7a) If you have selected a rechargeable option
____I want a light that plugs directly into the wall (literally with prongs built into the light)
____I want a light that has a recharging adapter (your typical "wall wart")
____I want a light that snaps into a cradle (usually mounted on a wall)
____I want a separate/stand-alone charger (this involves removing the batteries to charge)
_X__I don't care
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).
Lux is the issue. I need 10K lux over a circle at least 8-10" in diameter from 3' away. A larger circle is better. A light that will give 30K lux and can run at 1/3rd power is great. The more levels the better. Runtime has to be min of 30 min, an hour is *much* better.
9) Flood vs Throw: Flood covers an area, Throw reaches out to a distance.
10 K lux minimum over an 8" or more circle at 3' away.
9a) Distance: How far away will you typically need to see with this light (check all that apply)
2-4', will need to produce at least 10K lux as above. More is fine.
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)
_X__30-60 minutes (more is better. It needs to hold the 10K lux at least 30 min)
____90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
____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_Not Important (A night-stand light).
An accidental drop is possible. I don't want to have to buy a new one every 3 months. It is not *intended* to leave the house. We all know how that goes.
____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood).
____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
____I dont know.
12) Switch Size, Type, and location (choose all that apply):
_X__Any size switch will do. Levels would be nice
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.
One level would be fine, 2 or 3 would be better. No blinkies needed but no problem if they exist.
14)Material/Finish/Coating
____Plastic/composite body (this may limit your choices significantly).
____Anodized Aluminum either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for todays higher end flashlights).
____Stainless steel (durable, but much heavier than aluminum)
____Titanium (durable and nearly as lightweight as aluminum, but can be moderately to significantly more expensive).
_X__I dont care.
____I dont know.
____Other, please specify____________.
15) Water resistance
_X__None needed
____IPX4 (Splash resistant)
____IPX7 (Waterproof to 1 meter/30min)
____IPX8 (Submersible to greater than 1 meter for 4 hours)
16) Storage conditions
_X__In house (temperature/climate controlled environment)
____Emergency kit (long standby periods)
____Automobile glove-box (wide temperature swings, long standby periods, critical reliability)
____Other_________________________________________ ____
17) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any/all below.
None
Thanks for your help, this is not the type of light I look for so I'm clueless.
