Flashlight Recommendations

Supermatch

Supermatch

That's my purse!
Life Member
Multi-Factor Enabled
Joined
Jun 29, 2022
Messages
3,618
Location
NC
Rating - 100%
8   0   0
Since the wife and daughter are complaining they can never figure out what to get me for holidays/birthdays, I'm trying to start accruing some more BOB gear. On the agenda is a good flashlight.

Preferences are:

-Tail cap buttons
-Can use both CR123's and 18650 rechargables
-Red light equipped or has filters readily available
-Potted electronics
-Prioritizing durability and run time over peak lumens
-Under $150

Right now, I'm leaning towards a Fenix TK26R. While Malkoffs are seemingly indestructible, they are a bit behind with respect to brightness and run time at their price point.

Are there any others I'm overlooking?
 
G2 and 6P Surefire series. May not check all your boxes but for EDC, BOB, etc you dont want 18650's anyway because they will invariably be dead when you dont want to be. I have a ton of flashlights and flashlight brands over the years and the only brand I'll bet my life on is Surefire.
 
Streamlight HL/X. Super bright. Streamlight makes red filters that slide on, not sure if they’ll fit these or not.

I have 3 of these. I’ll not own another light. I’ve worn the paint off of one carrying it and it’s never met me down
As far as 18650 and CR123, it’ll take both. In my experience unlike the post above, CR123 batteries are shit.
Streamlight makes their own battery that’s rechargeable and will charge in a regular 18650 charger, but also you can use a micro usb phone charger to charge them. Haven’t seen any others that have that capability for dual charging.

Streamlight 88085 ProTac HL-X USB 1000-Lumen Multi-Fuel Rechargeable Professional Tactical Flashlight with USB Battery, USB Cable, and Holster, Box, Black https://a.co/d/8Wqvu9C
 
I have edc various flashlights over the years and this streamlight always i mean always makes it way back as the primary pocket light. Runs on AAs( find anywhere when shtf) or cr123s. Very durable as well to drops and daily pocket beatings. Does have high low and strobe, no red light as you mentioned.

I prefer the AA so i dont fly through batteries. The 123s will make your light get warm fast in a little light. I avoid rechargeables for lights like this as Id rather grab a new battery.

If you go CR123s Streamlight and Surefire are the best batteries IMO.

Streamlight 88061 ProTac 1L-1AA 350-Lumen Dual Fuel Professional Tactical Light, Black https://a.co/d/bzC1BGH
 
Last edited:
jimmyjames8 said:
G2 and 6P Surefire series. May not check all your boxes but for EDC, BOB, etc you dont want 18650's anyway because they will invariably be dead when you dont want to be. I have a ton of flashlights and flashlight brands over the years and the only brand I'll bet my life on is Surefire.
Click to expand...
The only reason I like the 18650/CR123 option is because it would let me recharge for "regular" usage, but then use the CR123's when power to recharge is no longer available. I wasn't aware that any Surefire lights came in at that price point, though, so I will take a look, thanks.

Burt Gummer said:
Streamlight HL/X
Click to expand...
While I don't have anything bad to say about my Protacs that are my go-to for weapon lights (or my Microstream, which I have two of), they are at a big disadvantage vs. some of the other options with regards to battery life.

BloodRunsThicker said:
Streamlight 88061 ProTac 1L-1AA
Click to expand...
While I probably wouldn't use that as my go-to, I would like some backups and lights for the wife/daughter that can take a CR123 or an AA, and that looks like a good choice. Thanks
 
BloodRunsThicker said:
Streamlight 88061 ProTac 1L-1AA 350-Lumen Dual Fuel Professional Tactical Light, Black https://a.co/d/bzC1BGH
Click to expand...
I have been carrying the 1L1aa for over 5 years now. I like that you know when the 123 battery is about to die because it drops to AA brightness. If no 123 batteries are handy, a quick AA (available absolutely everywhere) means it will keep running for a long time - just a bit dimmer.
The other day our security guard reminded me that he got one based on my recommendation a year or two ago and is surprised at just how much he uses it, and that it's been great for him too.
 
123's have been good to me.
some have lasted over 10 years.

18650's are what i am "trying out" now.
so far, they hold a good enough charge.

Fenix flashlights are my favorite.
 
I know you said no Malkoff, so I'm going to disregard that and recommend Malkoff. 🤪

..but actually yea. He has been an innovator in LED torches for 20 years, American made, fantastic quality. I have my chinese lights, but they don't make me feel warm and fuzzy like my Malkoff stuff.

Also, you get 20% off for signing up for a newsletter.
 
Frack N Cylons said:
I know you said no Malkoff, so I'm going to disregard that and recommend Malkoff. 🤪

..but actually yea. He has been an innovator in LED torches for 20 years, American made, fantastic quality. I have my chinese lights, but they don't make me feel warm and fuzzy like my Malkoff stuff.

Also, you get 20% off for signing up for a newsletter.
Click to expand...
I haven’t sworn them off, I just have a hard time justifying the price (for me) given the lack of features. No doubt they’re reliable and punch above their weight somewhat in actual output vs advertised output.
 
Fenix PD36R has been great for me, have several. 1600 Lumens of 'I can see that'. Great throw too
 
I’m a Streamlight fan. Have maybe a half dozen of them. Only failure was a battery that leaked and welded itself inside the flashlight.

Protac 1L. My favorite. Uses a CR123. I also have the model Burt Gummer mentioned that takes a CR123 or AA. It’s slightly larger. I also have a couple that take two AAs.
IMG_3121.jpeg
 
Last edited:
ppirate said:
Fenix PD36R has been great for me, have several. 1600 Lumens of 'I can see that'. Great throw too
Click to expand...
A friend sent a pic of his 36R yesterday when we were discussing flashlights. It looked like it had survived a carpet bombing and was still functioning perfectly.
 
For years I have daily carried a Streamlight 1L, 2L, 1L-AA, micro, macrostream, etc. Great lights for the money, but the clips kept bending on me. They would mail me replacement clips, but it made me start to look elsewhere.

A year ago I decided to pick up a Surefire EDCL1-T and have carried it daily since. 500 lumens on a single cr123, great pocket clip, better anodizing, and a gas pedal switch. Press softly for momentary low, press hard for momentary high. Turn the tailcap for low, turn it further for high. Made in USA.
It's only $15 over your budget.

20230615_210110.jpg

The new turbo edc lights should be shipping soon.
The edc1 turbo has 650 lumens & 95,000 candella on an 18350.
The edc2 turbo has 700 lumens and 100,000 candela on an 18650.
 
Last edited:
I've been a stream light fan for a long time, with the exception of my Wedge, theyve all been amazing, especially the polytacs considering how stupid cheap they are.

That said, and maybe this off topic, my cloud MCH is the most amazing edc light I've ever tried and has definitely made me a believer.
 
This post is a bit techy but ... the engineer in me sees the portable lighting need as a system and not just a flashlight.


I use a Nitecore D4 to maintain a 'stash' of properly charged cells, for rapid swaps, and also managed rotations.

Amazon product ASIN B00KGKEQ1S
Doing this removes the 'the light was dead when I needed it' issues. That isn't acceptable to me.

I also test the cells for internal (source) resistance to make sure I am not using cells that are substandard in performance.

Amazon product ASIN B081JGZ554
 
mostly22lately said:
This post is a bit techy but ... the engineer in me sees the portable lighting need as a system and not just a flashlight.


I use a Nitecore D4 to maintain a 'stash' of properly charged cells, for rapid swaps, and also managed rotations.

Amazon product ASIN B00KGKEQ1S
Doing this removes the 'the light was dead when I needed it' issues. That isn't acceptable to me.

I also test the cells for internal (source) resistance to make sure I am not using cells that are substandard in performance.

Amazon product ASIN B081JGZ554
Click to expand...
Any rechargeable battery preferences? I’m accustomed to eneloops from my photography days.
 
Seems to me that BOB gear means compactness is a priority.

Try the Acebeam Pokelit AA rechargeable light.

It's a very powerful, ultra compact pocket flashlight about 3 3/4" long and a bit less than 3/4" in diameter.

I like mine so much I bought a second one, plus several others as stocking stuffers.

Perfect space saver in my car.

ACEBEAM Pokelit AA Rechargeable Mini Flashlight with Clip, 550 High Lumens Pocket EDC Flashlight, Super Bright Small Flashlight, 90+ High CRI Led Flashlight for Camping,Hiking,Everyday Use(Dark Green) https://a.co/d/6mUqP7T
 
Supermatch said:
Any rechargeable battery preferences? I’m accustomed to eneloops from my photography days.
Click to expand...
Eneloops are nickle-metal hydride. Like with anything else, an engineering evaluation of pros and cons is needed.

Your question probably is better answered by reviewing the chemistries available .... assessing the voltage curves, power density, number of charge cycles, temperature related efficiencies, ideal storage-state charge, self-discharge rate, cost, and ... probably #1, what cells your target devices can use.

Lithium ion versus lithium ferrophosphate for example.... I use both, and also Eneloops, and AGM, and a variety of primary cells, it all depends on what the cells are powering.
 
Another streamlight lover here. This has been my edc for the past few years. These modlite batteries work well. Made in China not sure who the vendor is for modlite.

Fresh batteries go in my rifle, rifle battery goes in my edc and old edc battery goes to get charged to restart the cycle.

20230616_092343.jpg
 
Last edited:
The lights that charge up using a usb plug...have they been tested for water resistance? Would suck to have a back up/edc light that died because it was raining or it fell in a puddle.
 
Timfoilhat said:
The lights that charge up using a usb plug...have they been tested for water resistance? Would suck to have a back up/edc light that died because it was raining or it fell in a puddle.
Click to expand...

The water incursion issue for the lights with the 'built in chargers' is one of two issues.

For a variety of reasons, the charge circuit inside the light is not ideal. It's convenient, maybe, but that is it.
 
Timfoilhat said:
The lights that charge up using a usb plug...have they been tested for water resistance? Would suck to have a back up/edc light that died because it was raining or it fell in a puddle.
Click to expand...

The Acebeam Pokelit AA in my previous post comes with USB-C equipped battery. The battery itself has the charging port, not the flashlight.

So there's no waterproof concern with respect to a charging port on the light itself.
 
This thread and some other crap got me looking at Fenix, ended up with an E28R and think it’s a great flashlight for everyday use (and affordable to boot especially with included 3400mah 18650), especially going out at night for trash, dogs whatever. I have a few other lights, not much high end aside from an older Olight. Anyway I really like the E28R for its spill, great at hot spotting a point but showing me what’s at my feet. If I’m looking for snakes at night it’s nice not to have a hotspot but a wide area. Plus the newer chip is brighter than the Olight anyway. I’ll be buying more.
 
Last edited:
Mathieu18 said:
This thread and some other crap got me looking at Fenix, ended up with an E28R and think it’s a great flashlight for everyday use (and affordable to boot especially with included 3400mah 18650), especially going out at night for trash, dogs whatever. I have a few other lights, not much high end aside from an older Olight. Anyway I really like the E28R for its spill, great at hot spotting a point but showing me what’s at my feet. If I’m looking for snakes at night it’s nice not to have a hotspot but a wide area. Plus the newer chip is brighter than the Olight anyway. I’ll be buying more.
Click to expand...

I had one Fenix and it was great until it just died. It was weird. Never used it much or hard. Just died. Did not inspire confidence. Maybe a one off, but left a bitter taste.
 
I just got a Micro and a Macro Stream flashlight off Amazon’s Streamlight store.
The micro came in a plain white box, I expected packaging like the macro. Do any of y’all know if streamlight packages them that way?
IMG_1936.jpeg
 
Get Off My Lawn said:
I just got a Micro and a Macro Stream flashlight off Amazon’s Streamlight store.
The micro came in a plain white box, I expected packaging like the macro. Do any of y’all know if streamlight packages them that way?
View attachment 649630
Click to expand...
I've never seen any not on the blister pack
 
I'd reach out to them. The Streamlight store on Amazon should be legit, but if Amazon is doing the fulfillment, someone could have pulled a switcharoo with a knock-off.
 
Looking at the tag I notice the spacing on the words. I'd think a tag created by Streamlight on a factory box would spell out their product name Microstream without the space. I say knockoff.
 
FWIW, I've had two Microstreams from their Amazon store as well, and both came in retail packaging. Granted, they were the bronze/FDE-ish colored ones.
 
Get Off My Lawn said:
I just got a Micro and a Macro Stream flashlight off Amazon’s Streamlight store.
The micro came in a plain white box, I expected packaging like the macro. Do any of y’all know if streamlight packages them that way?
View attachment 649630
Click to expand...
Yes, the microstream usb models started shipping in those boxes a year or two ago. Thats coming from distribution, not from online consumer sites.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom