salparadise
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2018
- Messages
- 8
I'm new to the forum, new to modern flashlight technology, and ready to acquire a few good lights. I want to make some choices with the larger strategy in mind. I recently discarded a bunch of mini-mags and other cheapos due to alkaline battery leakage, or just not being something I wanted to keep around. I'm over the mini-mags.
What I'm left with is an older Surefire G2, a 3D Maglight, an older Princeton Tech 4C diving light, and a Klutch 3-AA LED light (cheap). The Surefire G2 is a P60 incandescent, 65 lumens. The 3D Mag was upgraded to LED at same point but it's output and beam are pitiful for a thing of this size.
My plan is to choose four lights in different categories, and decide whether to upgrade the old Surefire and Mag. I'd appreciate suggestions for any or all of the following:
1. Primary light. I would not call it an EDC because I probably won't actually carry it, but I will keep it in utility bags for work and travel. I want a quality build, floody beam (neutral, not cool white), nice fit and finish. I'm thinking 80-150 bucks more or less. I don't need programmable, fancy or finicky electronics. I don't want strobe. Two or three modes would be plenty. I want to feel the quality in my hand, and I want it to be supremely reliable, by a company known for the same.
2. A smallish floody with a smooth, neutral beam and overall quality that I can clip to a baseball cap and use like a headlamp, or stick in a pocket and hardly know it's there.
3. Powerful larger light, perhaps up to soda can size with multiple emitters. Only thing is, I don't want to pay $350. It doesn't need to be the bestest or the mostest, but a good beam, reliability, and overall quality are always appreciated.
4. An inexpensive but pretty good light to buy several copies of to stash in various places (cars, tankbag, etc.). Maybe something like the Convoy S2, but I'm open to suggestions.
*What would you do with the Surefire G2? Malkoff drop-in? It uses 2 CR123 batteries, so does that mean 18650 would automatically work?
**What would you do with the Mag 3D. It's in perfect condition, but the output and beam are awful. The Malkoff LCD conversion is rated at 325 lumens, which seems not-so-great for the size. What other mods would redeem this light and make it fun and interesting... or would you just spend that money on something else?
What I'm left with is an older Surefire G2, a 3D Maglight, an older Princeton Tech 4C diving light, and a Klutch 3-AA LED light (cheap). The Surefire G2 is a P60 incandescent, 65 lumens. The 3D Mag was upgraded to LED at same point but it's output and beam are pitiful for a thing of this size.
My plan is to choose four lights in different categories, and decide whether to upgrade the old Surefire and Mag. I'd appreciate suggestions for any or all of the following:
1. Primary light. I would not call it an EDC because I probably won't actually carry it, but I will keep it in utility bags for work and travel. I want a quality build, floody beam (neutral, not cool white), nice fit and finish. I'm thinking 80-150 bucks more or less. I don't need programmable, fancy or finicky electronics. I don't want strobe. Two or three modes would be plenty. I want to feel the quality in my hand, and I want it to be supremely reliable, by a company known for the same.
2. A smallish floody with a smooth, neutral beam and overall quality that I can clip to a baseball cap and use like a headlamp, or stick in a pocket and hardly know it's there.
3. Powerful larger light, perhaps up to soda can size with multiple emitters. Only thing is, I don't want to pay $350. It doesn't need to be the bestest or the mostest, but a good beam, reliability, and overall quality are always appreciated.
4. An inexpensive but pretty good light to buy several copies of to stash in various places (cars, tankbag, etc.). Maybe something like the Convoy S2, but I'm open to suggestions.
*What would you do with the Surefire G2? Malkoff drop-in? It uses 2 CR123 batteries, so does that mean 18650 would automatically work?
**What would you do with the Mag 3D. It's in perfect condition, but the output and beam are awful. The Malkoff LCD conversion is rated at 325 lumens, which seems not-so-great for the size. What other mods would redeem this light and make it fun and interesting... or would you just spend that money on something else?