This topic contains 24 replies, has 15 voices, and was last updated by 
Todd300 12 years, 5 months ago.
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I’ve got a many year old mini-maglite 2AA LED (3watt I believe) love the size & weight to brightness ratio. After getting borrowed at scout camp and “lost” for several months its been “finicky” at best to turn on and keep it on. I bought the new version which has several light modes, SOS – low power- peak power and blink. I hated it, except for the money spent I wasn’t overly disappointed when the same borrower lost it in the snow this winter.
SO – what’s everyone using now for smaller flashlights?
LED – Multiple LED or single high watt?
Not Led?
Brand?
I use an Inova Emissive Energy flashlight. Nothin better on the planet. Made of titanium. Batteries last virtually forever, and the light it puts out is blinding for it’s size. Puts my LED mini mag to shame.
INOVA
The one listed at the link above is the closest to what I have. Looks like the best one is made of stainless steel now, but the technology is still the same.
We found out the LED lights do not work for the “invisible” markings sometimes used for nightcaches. Not so good for firetacks either. Learned the hard way. LEDs are nice, but I like a regular old flashlight better for caching.
@Curly Girls wrote:
We found out the LED lights do not work for the “invisible” markings sometimes used for nightcaches. Not so good for firetacks either. Learned the hard way. LEDs are nice, but I like a regular old flashlight better for caching.
Very true, which was a deciding factor on my light. EED’s work great for night caching, where LED’s work, but fall short.
Ever since I purchased my first headlamp I’ve had very little use for a flashlight. It’s just so much more user friendly to have your hands free to set up a tent, read, adjust your climbing tree stand as you’re ascending, carry your bow or gun to your tree, search for a cache, paddle, and the list goes on. We have one of these for everyone in the family. Mine did have an LED go out on a two mile night hike in the Porcupine Mountains in a steady rain but I sent it back to the company and they mailed me back a brand new one.
Oh, and it’ll easily light up a night cache reflector from 50-60 yards on the high setting. They do go on sale on occasion also.
I use a Coleman XR-C single bulb LED flashlight. Picked it up from Wally World for a little over $20. This thing is bright (75 lumens.) It uses a Cree X-lamp bulb which I guess is very long lasting. It’s not considered a tactical light, but has many features of one. Being over 60 lumens, it can temporarily blind a person. The lens end also has a raised bezel that could inflict damage in a defensive situation. And to think, I just bought it so I could see in the dark 🙂
Review from Buzzillions.com
Review from Amazon.comWe have the standard 2D Maglite with the focusing beam for night caching, and several red and white LED flashlights to use to poke around tree roots and the like and for use at the observatory. We’re using a new demo that comes with red, blue, green, white LEDs as well as UV. It’s pretty darned tough, not metal, compact, and has a swivel head so it can be used while clipped on a hat or belt. Which is important as metal flashlights in the mouth is not a good thing especially in winter!
Streamlight 67100 2AA ProPolymer LED Alkaline Battery and a couple of Streamlight 66118 Stylus Pro Black LED Pen Flashlight They are all in the $20 range from Amazon and make the mag lite look sick. They also last along time.
The BB and myself have quite a collection of geo-lights. Mag-lights and mini-mags but the BEST light for almost any app IMHO is the
💡 Surfire. 💡We use the G2-LED
“The G2® LED is a compact high-output flashlight featuring a body made of tough, corrosion-proof Nitrolon® polymer and an aluminum bezel. It uses a virtually indestructible power-regulated LED and a precision micro-textured reflector to produce a smooth 120-lumen beam—six times the light of a big two-D-cell flashlight, and more than enough to temporarily blind and disorient an aggressor during a FTF by impairing his (or her) night-adapted vision. The tactically-correct pushbutton tailcap switch provides secure, ergonomic activation control: press for momentary-on, twist for constant-on.”
“The World’s Finest Illumination Tools”
SGH & BB
😯 you paid $70 for a flashlight??
I’m a MagLight “fan” based mostly on value ($$ vs utility) knowing that my flashlight gets lots of use. It’s been dropped multiple times, rain, sleet, snow, run over, you name it and it just seems to keep going (sounds like a Timex tagline).
I use the 2 AA 3 Watt LED version and it’s served me well. I’ve “donated” a few to friends which is OK considering they’re only $20. I’d love to have something high end, but would be beside myself if I lost it. I also keep a cheapy 0.5 Watt in each car for emergencies which has come in handy in a pinch a few times already.
I also had issues with the MagLight with it cutting out and it turned out that a fresh set of batteries was the ticket. It’s apparent because you’ll turn it on and it goes on for 1-3 seconds and then off. Turning it on / off will keep giving you a few seconds light, but it’s generally the clue that the batteries may be the issue.
Keep in mind that LED’s are either ON or OFF. They’re a diode which doesn’t have a middle state. Standard flashlight bulbs use a filament which operates on a variety of voltage levels providing the dimming light as the batteries wear out.
I emailed maglite they said try these two things if they dont work send it in!
The battery was one which I’ve done twice so all that’s left is a eraser trick
I’ve had a couple of references for the streamlight both those and a few others use a lot of words makes one wonder if they aren’t trying to baffle one with fancy words 😉
I bought I new toy today while at the big sports store in Richfield. I told myself I wasn’t going to and had my mind made up on a store brand with great reviews and features. Then the sales guy showed me the “newest” in the Surefire line and after much debate I coughed up the Christmas gift card and plunged in.
G2Xâ„¢ Pro Dual-Output LED
15 Lumens on the low setting (45 hours / battery set)
200 😯 Lumens on the high setting (2.5 hours / battery set)I tried it out tonight at the land and WOW what a light. The 15 Lumens is like the normal 1/2 Watt LED lights I keep for emergencies in the car. The 200 lumen is dang near like a small spotlight and is designed to temporary blind anyone looking into it.
I’m curious about the GX2 dual flashlight. I was thinking about buying it, but without testing in the dark, it’s alot of $$ to spend to find out it doesn’t do what I want.
Does it produce a straight beam of light or a washed out large beam? I want a light that is really bright that is focused over a long distance.
@jbase wrote:
I’m curious about the GX2 dual flashlight. I was thinking about buying it, but without testing in the dark, it’s alot of $$ to spend to find out it doesn’t do what I want.
Does it produce a straight beam of light or a washed out large beam? I want a light that is really bright that is focused over a long distance.
I had an opportunity to try it out last night actually and took a couple of my other flashlights along for comparison. It was a bit foggy last night and the GX2 on low was equivalent to my 2AA 1 watt maglight for distance, brightness, beam size. The GX2 on high amazed me. It was a fairly tight beam (it’s a handheld flashlight with only a short bezel compared to much larger spotlights that hold a tighter beam). I was surprised when I saw a deer at 100+ yards and the light completely illuminated the entire deer easily. With the maglight I could see the eyes and an outline of the head only.
I was going to walk back to the car via the ambient light like I’ve done many other times and was surprised to find my eyes took a while to adjust from the brightness of the new flashlight. I’ve never had this before with the trusty old maglight. The Maglight is still a workhorse and a good value, but the Surefire has the wow factor if / when you need it.
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