Looking for a basic light.

I work security at a hospital, and am looking for a basic light: one click turns it on, another turns it off. I don’t want to have to constantly cycle through settings to get the “proper intensity.” If there are settings that are accessed another way, that’s fine, but I hate having to click a light four or five times just to get the second or two of high illumination I want. I’d love it to be able to bump flash, too. I was thoroughly disappointed with the G2.

Might I suggest you look into Malkoff Devices


Also SureFire

And StreamLite

Also, if you have an older SF G2, might I suggest that you look into the Malkoff M61 L

How much were you looking to spend ?

Former hospital security guard here. I would look at the Acebeam t35 or the Nitecore MH12GT. That current Nitecore is discontinued but it is still available online. Acebeam has proven to be a pretty good light despite being Chinese. I have not had good experiences with their customer service though. Both lights run on rechargeable 18650's but have the option to use cr123's if you have access to those. The reason I am suggesting these lights is they have a forward "tactical" clicky. They are multi mode lights but you must press a switch on the front of the light to change modes. The rear switch is a simple on off that allows momentary mode. When working night shift I much preferred low mode for general patrols around the halls but found I wanted something brighter for outside in the parking structures. Both lights, when held correctly allow you simply turn it on with your thumb and you can cycle modes with your pinky finger. They are both small enough to carry easily on a duty belt and should the worst happen the light cant really be used as a weapon against you unless the person knows how to use it as a kubaton. Don't specifically look for a light with an easy "tactical strobe" It is useless and will only aggravate any aggressor you might encounter. Avoid Nitecore's "Strobe Ready" lights, they will only infuriate you to no end unless you cut the paddle off.

What ever you do make sure you have an extra cell or two. And always carry a small backup. Your light will have a problem when you need it. It's part of the job. A single cell 14500/AA light is a great option and there are many to choose from.

I carried a Surefire 6P or a Pelican M6 2330LED for much of my security career. I was so much happier when I got my MH12.

Edit* you can also add the Sofirn SP31V3 to that list for a cheaper option, but make sure you buy it directly from the Sofirn website if you want the warranty. This light does not run on cr123's though.

1. Who is paying for the light and what is the budget?

2. Who is paying for the batteries and do you want rechargeables?

3. Do you need a light that could temporarily blind someone or just general utility in a dark area, etc.?

I'll second the Malkoff brand of flashlights which are made for professionals. They make quite a few, need more details as to it's exact use.

As you can read. A little more info. would help. However, the following are my recommendations. YMMV.

Before finding my 5.11 Stryke pants. I wore Jeans. This is how I carried my lights.



You can see the top of a SF Fury (left side of the photo), and a HDS Rotary on the right.

After which, my HDS remained on my belt, and the SFs clipped easily in my right cargo pocket. Easily obtainable.

I carried a backup Fury, 6PX Pro, and a LX2. As well as rechargeable and primary batteries, pens, etc. in my briefcase.

I've owned single beam on-off lights. My preference was the low-high UI, all with a tail cap switch. I found the low-high UI was never a hindrance.

Lights with a similar build like the Fury and 6PX Pro are IMO, compact, and easy to carry. I will ad, aside from my HDS Rotary. All my lights has a pocket clip.

Another aside, from my LX2. If you should try a SF, e.g. 6PX type body. Check out Jason's clips @ Dark Sucks Promethius online store. Best clips IMO: oh well, it looks like his out of them. TI Pocket Clips

Aside from my LX2, the 500 lumens in the Fury and 600 lumens in the 6PX Pro performed well, and was more than adequate.

If I needed more umph. I carried a light which was kept specifically in the Jeep for that purpose. Olight MX3 (?) it's presently in a box somewhere, and an aspheric lens ACE Beam.

BTW, my Furys were all first generation lights. One has a custom 18650 body (the lower light in the photo). Both lights has Jason's TI pocket clip.



Hope this help. Good luck!

BTW, the HDS is (one of) my EDC lights, so it's still carried on my belt.

frankp183 said:

I work security at a hospital, and am looking for a basic light: one click turns it on, another turns it off. I don’t want to have to constantly cycle through settings to get the “proper intensity.” If there are settings that are accessed another way, that’s fine, but I hate having to click a light four or five times just to get the second or two of high illumination I want. I’d love it to be able to bump flash, too. I was thoroughly disappointed with the G2.

Click to expand...

Ironically, I recently bought an SF G2x Tactical version because it got recently discontinued, has one mode, and I have an aftermarket Ti clip for it.

BTW, I work security for a living as well; 3rd Shift.
Take a serious look at the Weltool T2 TAC model.
Though yes, it would help if you mentioned your budget, what the light would be used for. Is it going to be used inside the hospital or outside? Combination of both? That sort of thing.

Do you have a belt with a flashlight loop? If so, I would recommend a Maglite. They come in all sizes.

I would recommend a primary light that uses a rechargeable with the ability to use CR123’s. If you use up the rechargeable or just forget to recharge it you can still run the light. Any two cell 18650 light you like would fit that requirement. A two-cell light will fit in your pocket or on a belt holster for easy deployment. This is critical for having your hands free when spending time de-escalating threats to staff or patients. It would be harder with a full-sized Maglite. If you work daytime and do not use your light much swap in CR123 batteries. They will always work when you need them- now or six months from now. I have worked with others on days who only carried a rechargeable light. They didn’t use it much but when they needed to it was usually dead or near dead. When there is an issue, staff will be looking to you to have the right equipment in working order.

Streamlight Protac 2L-X uses either a rechargeable or two CR-123’s. You can choose to set it up to run on High only, High/Strobe/Low or Low/High only. At the higher end are Malkoff Devices lights. With the High/Low ring installed, you twist the head slightly to keep it on high or low. Surefire has great lights but be careful picking a Surefire because many of them do not use rechargeables. The ones that do use Surefire 123a rechargeables have less runtime than the disposable CR123 cells. Look some of the Fenix PD series as well.

As you are aware, hospitals typically have flashlights and emergency supplies available usually at nursing stations. What kind of lights and batteries do they have? Having a backup light that can use those supplies may become critical even if it lives in your locker. Try to get a light with same user interface as your primary. I have worked at a location where my agency provided D cell alkaline batteries to its employees but the facility worked at only provided AA battery lights and supplies. I ended up having to keep a back up D cell and AA cell light in my locker. It pays to check. Also, if you still own the Surefire G2, a Malkoff Devices M61L would upgrade it very well.

The Hawk said:

Do you have a belt with a flashlight loop? If so, I would recommend a Maglite. They come in all sizes.

Click to expand...

Most institutional settings are dead set against large metal flashlights these days. They are often perceived as a weapon when carried by anyone in a uniform. Just having one on your belt can have an intimidation factor that can trigger the fight or flight response in someone who is "unstable". Here it even against the law for a security guard to carry any flashlight longer than 18" or to use any flashlight as a weapon. Hospitals can be a tricky location to work in. You deal with all kinds of people from drunk to drugged up, mentally ill to just plain scared of the dark. When I worked at the hospital here I found this was the location most likely to have someone try to steal flashlights. Most of the time they wanted a weapon, sometimes to trade for drugs, sometimes because they just didn't like the darkness.

Big flashlights also add pressure points on the hip when carried on a duty belt. This might not seem too bad in the short term but 20 years down the road it will mean chronic back pain. Trust me on that. They bang against your leg while walking, especially when running. They also bang against anything you walk by which can damage expensive hospital equipment. Also if you sit a lot they can fall out of the classic mag belt loop holder.

Another word of advice for anyone new to wearing a duty belt. Do not place anything hard or large on the back of your belt on or close to your spine. Generally between the 5 and 7 o'clock position. One day you will get knocked on your back and anything hard might damage your hip,sacrum, coccis or lower spine. This will take you out of the fight immediately leaving you defenceless.

Streamlight is a good brand for polymer flashlights that can take 2xCR123 cells.
Watson, and SureFire make rechargeable cells that are 3.0v. instead of the more common 3.7v. and can be purchased as a two pack with a charger. If those cells run out of juice, toss them on the charger. Use 2xCR123 primary lithium batteries while the rechargeable versions are charging up.

Can definitely recommend the Streamlight Polytac LED model. Best part, like many of SL's offerings, you can program it to be single output (high mode) ONLY. If you don't like bezel-up carry, the very same model is available with a two-way clip for bezel-down carry.

I saw this in an article recently. If you lost it, it wouldn’t cost much to replace. It seems to have a high rating at amz. Alonefire Led clip on

I saw hospital and thought Nurse. For security, Malkoff Super Hound Dog is bright with throw, but large. The Malkoff bodyguard is bright for its size. Smaller than your G2, more of a pocket light or belt light. Both are a couple hundred though, but Malkoff does offer 20% off codes on their site.

Unfortunately topic-creator is M.I.A.

Ironically, just last night fitted the Ti Prometheus clip onto my very recently arrived SureFire G2x Tactical model. Bit of a headache as you don't get any instructions. Carefully pop off the stock O-ring at the tailcap section. Put one of the two provided O-rings all the way down to the bottom of that section. Place the clip down on top of the O-ring. Then screw down the tailcap as tight as you can! Enjoy your new clip-carried G2x. Only 600 lumens. But those are actual 600 lumens. Not that BS scam from most other flashlight companies that we all tolerate, in terms of output ratings.

No clue why the topic-creator doesn't like the G2. Best part? Unlike some of my so-called lumens monsters in hand-held sizes, the head doesn't turn into an industrial strength hand-warmer if you run the light on the highest setting for over 15 seconds. G2x just keeps on going. Clearly has excellent thermal protection built-in instead of just "good enough" thermal protection.

Yeah, I'm going to be carrying my SureFire G2x Tactical for awhile at my security job.

Monocrom said:

Unfortunately topic-creator is M.I.A.

Ironically, just last night fitted the Ti Prometheus clip onto my very recently arrived SureFire G2x Tactical model. Bit of a headache as you don't get any instructions. Carefully pop off the stock O-ring at the tailcap section. Put one of the two provided O-rings all the way down to the bottom of that section. place the clip down on top of the O-ring. Then screw down the tailcap as tight as you can! Enjoy your new clip-carried G2x. Only 600 lumens. But those are actual 600 lumens. Not that BS scam from most other flashlight companies that we all tolerate, in terms of output ratings.

No clue why the topic-creator doesn't like the G2. Best part? Unlike some of my so-called lumens monsters in hand-held sizes, the head doesn't turn into an industrial strength hand-warmer if you run the light on the highest setting for over 15 seconds. G2x just keeps on going. Clearly has excellent thermal protection built-in instead of just "good enough" thermal protection.

Yeah, I'm going to be carrying my SureFire G2x Tactical for awhile at my security job.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I guess we got ghosted. ... LOL

IMO, a SF is hard to beat. Reason I ended up preferring the low-high UI. I'll use the first click low when I'm writing stuff. As well as when I'm in an area with a low to no ambient light. The low was easier on the eyes.

If I was entering a room (or walking the deck), or if the dogs got into a posture of being alert. A quick half press, and the light is on high. All done with one hand, as in no twisting.

Although I liked the Peacekeeper. I had to do a two press to get the low. Anyways, a friend needed / wanted a light for his home. Bump in the night, sorta thing. I sent him the Peacekeeper. He loves the light!

BTW, I've had mine for quite awhile. But I thought Jason had directions for his TI clip. IIRC it was in the listing, or sent the instructions with the clip.

Fenix PD35 or 36. Tailcap switch to turn on or off, separate button to cycle through power levels.

Unicorn said:

Fenix PD35 or 36. Tailcap switch to turn on or off, separate button to cycle through power levels.

Click to expand...

Speaking from experience, that doesn't always work out. You grab the light in a hurry, you can easily accidentally hit the side-button, taking you to a much lower setting than expected.

Monocrom said:

Speaking from experience, that doesn't always work out. You grab the light in a hurry, you can easily accidentally hit the side-button, taking you to a much lower setting than expected.

Click to expand...

It only changes the light level after you turn it on though.
The TK17 has the brightness switch next to the clicky tailcap switch but I haven't hit it by accident.


If a larger light were ok, the Streamlight Stinger 2020 would work as it's a three position swiitch.

The Strion would work well, but it's a little bigger than a PD35 and not as bright. You have to turn it on then keep holding the button for it to cycle the brightness levels. High is the default.

Well, that's still an issue. You hit the tailcap, you grip the light a bit too hard, your little finger can easily still accidentally hit that side-switch. I've had it happen, and I don't have abnormally large hands. There's a certain model that is the exact opposite. You hit the tailcap switch for Turbo mode and once that happens, the light locks out the side-switch. Preventing the next mode, low, from accidentally getting hit. I have that light. But being exhausted from work, can't remember if it's made by Thrunite or Nitecore.

But yeah, THAT is the U.I. you want when on the job. Though again, single-mode, single output, as bright as possible, I'm still recommending the very recently discontinued SureFire G2x Tactical with its lone tailcap switch. Either with or without the Ti Prometheus clip. Or, the 6Px Tactical since that one is still being made by SureFire; as far as I know. Or, one of the Streamlight Polytac models. Any one that comes with the 10 tap programmable feature. Use it, set the light to only switch on in High mode. Then just leave the programmable feature alone. Two best brands right there. Or, again Weltool T2 Tactical model.

Monocrom said:

No clue why the topic-creator doesn't like the G2. Best part? Unlike some of my so-called lumens monsters in hand-held sizes, the head doesn't turn into an industrial strength hand-warmer if you run the light on the highest setting for over 15 seconds. G2x just keeps on going. Clearly has excellent thermal protection built-in instead of just "good enough" thermal protection.

Yeah, I'm going to be carrying my SureFire G2x Tactical for awhile at my security job.

Click to expand...

Its a good light however for the average person Cr123's just aren't practical for an everyday light. They are expensive and harder to find when compared to AA's and they are generally not rechargeable. Its fine if they are issued to you through an agency and it is nice to have them as a backup option. This is why I really like the 18650 / cr123 options.

Also a hospital is a tricky environment to work. When doing rounds at night you want a dimmer light when patrolling the wards after visiting hours. The patients and staff much prefer it. Bright moving lights make it much harder to sleep. The staff are also used to working in low light conditions and if you walk by with a bright light their eyes must re-adjust after you leave. If the staff are not happy they will find ways to get even with you. On the other hand outside patrols require a brighter light. Responding to a call can be a mixed bag, sometimes lower light is better as it is less intimidating if the patient is just agitated. Sometimes a wall of light is best if you need to go hands on and you want the show of force factor. Many of the longer term security guards and Hospital Peace Officers were carrying 2 separate lights for those reasons as multimode lights weren't really available at the time..