TexasCHLforum.com

kahrfreak wrote:This is the brightest flashlight I've ever used that runs on 3 AA batteries...160 lumens:

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_ ... ockType=L3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's outrageously bright...$25 as well. (The head screws off and attaches like a conventional flashlight)

Now that is a cool light. I might have to add to the collection this weekend.

MoJo wrote:The Coleman and Rayovac lights I have are all tougher than woodpecker lips. I am a retired electrician, at work I dropped one of the Rayovac lights from on top of an 8' step ladder onto concrete the only damage was a scrape on the finish.

I don't know anything about ANSI ratings for flashlights, but the larger plastic one is tested to ANSI FL1 standards. It says that it's impact resistant to 3 meters, which is almost 10ft. That must be dictated by the FL1 standard.

jester wrote:What's the UI like on these? Momentary on? Click on-off? Click through different modes? Is it a tail switch or on the side?

These things make a difference if you're using it as a tactical light, and not just looking for animals in the back yard.

The larger plastic Coleman is a side button...on/off. Nothing fancy. The smaller aluminum on is a push button tail switch, but there's a ring on the body to switch between white, red and blue lights. I'll post pics later.

Ok, I've seen some of the reviews of the really expensive tactival flashlights, but I simply can't bring myself to lay down that kind of dough for a flashlight. I was at WallyWorld last weekend looking at getting a flashlight for my daughter for a Girl Scout camping trip coming up, and I spotted a Coleman light that caught my attention. It's a high impact plastic model, but equipped with a Cree LED element. It's rated at 137 lumens, which is extremely bright. It uses 6 AA batteries (which it comes with) and the handle is the size of a light that would use two C-cell batteries. It says it will last 26 hours of runtime, has a beam distance of 248 meters...OK, that's 813 feet!!! I took it in the back yard last night after dark, and I could easily spot a coon in the top of a 80ft pine tree. Wow it was bright!

So, okay, you can't carry it in your pocket like one of those small tactical lights, but this fits on the nightstand next to the XD just fine.

Cost? $24

Coleman also makes a small aluminum Cree LED light rated at 115 lumen that you can carry in your pocket. It is equally impressive. It uses 3 AAA batteries. I now own one of each...oh, $24 also.