The Tactical Flashlight

[joe817]

Ever since I saw an episode of "Tactical Impact" that had a segment on the tactical flashlight, I've had the desire to have one. I immediately saw the advantage of having one. Prior to that episode if someone would have asked me if I had a tactical flashlight I would have said "Yes I do. A real good one.....A MagLite 3"D"cell one." Well it's not the same...not by a long shot.

At night or in low light situations, they are something next to mandatory in defending yourself successfully. It becomes even more critical in having one for a senior citizen, who begins to lose night vision due to the onset of cataracts. It's just a fact of life that happens as we grow older. I'm in that category. Don't get me wrong...I see fine...I've just lost a little clarity and sharpness in low light situations. Thus my desire to have something like this.

But to decide on one is the dilemma. I've spent the last week educating myself on them...the specs, phew. Watts, Candlepower, Lux, Lumens. Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my! The bigger the number the better...in most cases.

I checked into the forums for flashlights, mainly the candlepower forum. Talk about people in their own little world! They get embroiled in debates between the benefits of a CREE Q2 LED versus a CREE Q5 LED. Geez Louise, I just want to know what's the best tactical flashlight for my money! I don't want an education in quantum physics! They are worse than we are in debating if the .45 is a better s.d. round than a .40 S&W! It's endless.

I know some of the more popular tactical flashlight makers out there: SureFire, OLite, UltraLite, Fenix, Pelican, etc, etc,etc ad nauseum. I know I want a t.f. that goes into the 220+ lumen range. I know that I want a strobe feature(it's very disorientating to a bg). I want 4,5,or 6 illumination settings. With those requirements, I know it will probably require 2x CR123 batteries.

I also know I'm working in a budget. $45-$75, and no more. But that's all I know.

In closing, can anyone recommend a t.f. make and model that has those features? Do they have sales on those things? If so, where can they be found?

[USA1]

you're asking for a lot of features for that price range .

but if there's one out there i would be interested myself .
i have a great little one for the pocket with a clip , but i'm assuming you're
looking for something for the house with plenty of power .

[joe817]

Yes I am. For the house primarily. But also when I go on the road.

KeithB made a great review on his back in January for his OLite T-20 Tactical:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 13&t=21450" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That one has REALLY caught my eye. Another one is a Fenix TK-11, but the price is a little to high. I'd love a TK-12 but out of budget. *sigh*

[apostate]

I don't know any name-brand lights that meet all your requirements, including budget, but here's two to consider.

Fenix TK10 Flashlight ~ $70
Two modes of output, selected by turning the bezel:
General Mode: Constant 60 Lumens, 10 hours
Turbo Mode: Constant 225 Lumens, 1.5 hours

Quark 123² ~ $70
Typical Output Levels and Runtimes + (LED drive current)
Eight modes, selected by bezel and switch
Loosened Bezel: Moonlight -> Low -> Medium -> High -> SOS -> Beacon
Tightened Bezel: Max -> Strobe
Moonlight: 0.2 lumens for 30 days, (1ma)
Low: 3.5 lumens for 5 days (10ma)
Medium: 18 lumens for 20 hours (50ma)
High: 70 lumens for 4.5 hours (250ma)
Max: 190 lumens for 1.8 hours (990ma)
Strobe: 190 lumens for 3 hours
Beacon: 0-190 lumens pulse for 23 hours

Both available from 4sevens. (No connection except as a happy customer.)

[joe817]

Thanks apostate! That's EXACTLY the kind of info I'm looking for.....plus the best pricing avail.

[KFP]

I don't know much about them at all, but you may want to take a look at the Nitecore Extreme. It's a hair higher than you wanted to spend ($88 shipped), but I think it meets most of your requirements pretty well.

http://www.nitecore.com/products/nex/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.pinnacleflashlights.com/nite ... -p-96.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[killerfly128]

IMO my go to flashlight is a modded Surefire 6p I got for $40 from CDNN. I threw a $9 Cree R2 LED in it and left it. It by far is my favorite flashlight. It only has a on setting and thats it but I find that I don't want to be staring at a room that is flashing because of the strobe. It throws out a wonderful 290 luminun. Reaches out like no other. If I can find some way to do it I will take a photo of its range.

[A-R]

I'll second the recommendation for the Surefire 6P, but I paid a bit more (on eBay) and got the LED model. I'm still unsure on a lot of the tech specs and features, but I know that my 6P LED mounted on my AR-15 is absolutely BLINDING at night.

Also have a Streamlight TLR-1 mounted on my bedside Glock. Again, absolutely BLINDING at night if you even pulse it on toward someone's eyes for a nanosecond. Also bought this one on eBay.

I've popped myself by shining each of these into a mirror and my eyes actual sting with pain for a few moments and my vision goes completely white (I don't recommend trying this - I know I won't be doing so again - it's like looking directly into the sun. )

I know there are better/more expensive/more tactical/professional lights out there. But each of these was less than $75 and is brighter than I can possibly imagine needing in a situation in and around my home. Of course, if I'm infiltrating a meth lab or Iraqi insurgent stronghold at night, I'm sure I'd need something bettter. But for protecting my 1/8th of an acre of typical suburban residential real estate, these two lights will do just fine.

[stevie_d_64]

Wow, and to think my $20 Brinkman I bought at Target a couple of years ago, is a piece of horsehockey...

I'll put those lumens up to anyones lumens anyday...It even has a fancy schmancey push button momentary or full on/off switch in the back...Wayyyyy coollll!!!

Uh ohh, I have an admission to make, I have two of them...One is on the nightstand, and the other is in...the truck...





Yeah, I know what yer thinkin'...It's the meds...

Some are saying, "up the dosage!!!"

[Lodge2004]

Unfortunately, like firearms and holsters, once you start down that path you may have difficulty staying with just one. My first "tactical" flashlight was a Surfire 6P. It was so good I bought another, then another, then another....

I've had good results from http://www.lighthound.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My most recent purchase was the Fenix P2D. It's a great pocket light. Only a couple inches long, uses one CR123 battery and puts out 180 lumens with a strobe mode.

[Keith B]

Still love my T-20 and would buy another one in a heartbeat!!!

[lrb111]

Joe, here's another source for the Fenix TK-10 $58.00 A review quote says it has a high and low mode. There are two versions that I see.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13007" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13481" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mike from Texas]

About the only ones I know of that will have all the features you are looking for in the price range you are looking for are going to be ones from dealextreme.com

I have one of their lights and it's basically a 6P clone and it is ok. If I still had to choose one or the other to depend my life on, I would grab the Surefire every single time.

[killerfly128]

I'll second the recommendation for the Surefire 6P, but I paid a bit more (on eBay) and got the LED model. I'm still unsure on a lot of the tech specs and features, but I know that my 6P LED mounted on my AR-15 is absolutely BLINDING at night.

Why splurge on the LED model when you can just order a new LED unit for the regular 6P for $9.10 shipped?



http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11836" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[snorri]

My stock 6P is plenty in a house but outdoors or in a warehouse I might want more light.