Best flashlight

[prairiefire]

I am looking to purchase a small flashlight to use for "what was that noise in the middle of the night" episodes. Any suggestions?

 

[Velocity Chad]

I have a couple of the fenix tk15-ue lights that are very impressive. Well made, incredibly bright, and midway has good sales on them on occasion. Bought one for my old man and now several of the guys on his PD have replaced their much more expensive big name lights with them after comparing them.

 

[Gray Squirrel]

I really like Streamlight. I own several but would recommend the ProTac series. For around the house, the ProTac 2AA is pretty good, and it uses AA. If you want to carry it around too, I would get the ProTac 1L. Super bright in a small package and comes with a pocket clip. The 1L can also be a good weapon mounted light too if you purchase a mount.

I use Fenix lights as well. I use the PD35 at work and have an LD12 for home use/EDC/weapon light. Fenix is another really good brand.

I bought a rechargeable setup for the CR123s since I have a bunch of lights (both handheld and weapon) that use them and they are expensive to continuously purchase. AA/AAA rechargeable setups are super affordable if you want to go that route.

You can always go the Surefiure route, but honestly, after using them for several years, I think they are overpriced for what they are. The market is saturated with really good quality lights at better prices.

 

[Mike 556]

Second the Streamlight Pro tac series. A lot if light for the money. I have the Pro Tac 1L at 350 lumen. Great bedside light.The Streamlight Poly tac lights are around 275 lumen and can be had for around $40.00 Another good light that I have is the Surefire G2X, 400 lumen and can be had for around $50.00. The Surefire Fury is another good light at 600 lumen, but considerably more money.

 

[Gray Squirrel]

I forgot about the PolyTac series of lights. I've owned a couple of those as well over the years. Great value there too. I've even seen them on rifles too.

I melted the lens on a Surefire G2X by accident when it turned on in my pouch (the push button is unprotected, easily activated unintentionally). The lens was deformed but it still worked as intended. Ended up giving it to a buddy. Its about the only reasonably priced Surefire in my opinion.

 

[Tnc]

Fenix pd35.

 

[Velocity Chad]

I have a fenix pd35 as well. It's a little smaller than the the tk15, but not quite as impressive of a beam. Both are like mini spot lights though really. No way you'll be disappointed either way.

 

[Clearlight]

Surefire coz it’s Murican . There are other brighter lights , but after
several years , 2 of of them have been utterly reliable .

 

[Spblademaker]

Fenix LD41 and ProTac HL3 have both served the family well. The Fenix is actually the workhorse. It gets used multiple times a day. Have had it for quite a few years. Was skeptical because it wasn’t “Mutican”, but have since changed my mind about the brand. ????

 

[ratton]

Check out Malkoff Devices. Awesome quality flashlights. Made in Alabama and guaranteed for life.

 

[Rerun7]

I’m a fan of the surefire G2 for a no frills bedside light. It’s bright, reliable and easy on the wallet.

I’ve also got a Fenix which had been good. Surefire just has a great reputation and I’ve been using them for years with no issues.

 

[Roddd]

Streamlight Stinger has been a good duty light for me. It's lasted 10 years, being used every night. I just have to replace the rechargeable battery every 3 years or so.

 

[DSD413]

I have personally purchased a Fenix PD35 and Streamlight ProTac lights and can recommend them both. My department has issued me both older Streamlight Stingers and an SL20 (which is considerably too large for what you're wanting) as well as more recently, a Nightstick rechargeable.

My only reason to recommend a Stinger (newer model) over the Fenix or ProTac are that the Stinger is rechargeable, but I'm fairly certain there are ProTac models that are as well - and heck, maybe some Fenix lights are too. While I haven't had any issues with the Nightstick that I am issued, other officers in my department have so I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[MotorOilMcCall]

Vote for the Pelican 7600 here... Super bright (900+ lumens), multiple power modes, fully USB rechargeable, plus it has a small red and small green LED that you can switch to for night vision use (won't kill your night eyes when you turn it on and then off).
Plus, you can find them for about $85-$100 new.

 

[FCS]

O-light S15 Baton has been my daily use flashlight for last several years. I use rechargeable AA NiMH, just haven't gotten Li rechargeable to optimize brightness. Plenty bright with NiMH battery for 98% of my use, hence my procrastination on getting the Lion batteries.

O-light S30 Baton is beside bed, use a 18650 and have a spare 18650 that is charged, ready for swap.

Bang for the buck, O-light has been hard to beat.

 

[Trx498r]

Fenix pd35 or Fenix tk15 awesome little lights

 

[MilDot1960]

I am running a Klarus XT11 and a Klarus XT 30, The XT11 is a good weapon mounted light with a fairly wide Beam and the XT30 is a good long range narrow beam light and it is about the same size as the larger Surefire,

 

[man32ahan]

I’ve used Nitecore flashlights for a while and they are very bright and great bang for the buck lights.

 

[STROP]

Surefire if it's in the budget.

Streamlight duty grade if not.

The rest of the Chinese stuff may/may not last. I'm done with them.

 

[JMGlasgow]

I also like the Stinger. My first one has lasted over 10 years. Streamlight now offers lithium batteries for them, I'll be upgrading to those when the ni-cad batteries wear out.

I just bought my third Stinger today, it's my first LED model and I like it so far.

 

[KWilson]

I've used Fenix for years with zero issues but at the moment Nitecore have an impressive array of flashlights.

 

[cav has been]

O-light S15 Baton has been my daily use flashlight for last several years. I use rechargeable AA NiMH, just haven't gotten Li rechargeable to optimize brightness. Plenty bright with NiMH battery for 98% of my use, hence my procrastination on getting the Lion batteries.

O-light S30 Baton is beside bed, use a 18650 and have a spare 18650 that is charged, ready for swap.

Bang for the buck, O-light has been hard to beat.

I bought an S30 last week. I was underwhelmed. Switch was glitchy to say the least. They must have their own lumen scale as the advertised 1050 lumens seemed closer to 2-300. Fussed with it a couple of days and then returned it.

 

[360moa]

Another +1 for Fenix. Been carrying one daily for many years with no problems. The only thing I wish SOME maker would do is put in a small LED or indicator when the battery gets low.

 

[fx77]

In depth flashlight information

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forum.php

 

[Early Cuyler]

Fenix PD35. Bought one in 2013 for weld inspection in dark places (still way too powerful, could only use lower two settings, but we love our toys). Went on the annual camping trip in Spring 2014 and lost it. Come the camping trip in 2016 and my cousin asks around the campfire if anyone lost a flashlight. I ask if it's a PD35 as a joke. Yup. Turned it on and worked.

Two years outside, same battery, no corrosion. Works to this day though it sees more duty as a coatings inspection tool. Really can't say enough good things about it.

Nowadays they have weapons mounts and pressure switches and all that. If I were in the market for any sort of light, it's Fenix from now on.

 

[Langford]

I got tired of buying cr123 batteries, so I switched to a Fenix E25...been an excellent light for the price.

 

[Lionsbreath]

I like my Surefire, but I love my LED Maglite it’s big enough that you don’t lose it, heavy, American-made, affordable, who needs 14,000 lumens, and hell on someone’s noggin in the middle of the night.. make sure to buy the 4 D-cell Maglite, cuz they don’t sell D batteries in packs of 3??

 

[Velocity Chad]

I still have a 25 year old 4-D maglight next to the bed. My dad always had his duty light next to the bed my entire childhood. I've done the same my entire life. It's about as bright as a candle relative to my little lights, but i just hang on to it for some reason. Only thing it's good for is a night stick. Lol

 

[silentnswift]

I carry a streamlight protac 1L daily. Got from work, Feel naked without it. Only downside is short battery life. I get batteries at work, so it doesn't bother me too much. It replaced a stinger that I no longer use.

 

[Strike_out]

i thought the title read "best FLESHlight"
anyway...1AAA streamlight in the pocket has saved my butt many times. best one is the one you have with you...

 

[texag0842]

Lenslight or Surefire

 

[Luke]

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In all seriousness though. I have a Fenix PD32 that works great, and the PD35 is even better. Would recommend.

 

[McNamara0851]

I carry this one everywhere. It’s big enough to really be useful and small enough to carry in a pair of gym shorts. Battery life is decent if you remember to turn it off.

 

[Sig Marine]

I've got 3 of the Fenix PD35-TACs in the house and vehicles and have been very happy with them.

 

[alfack]

Just ordered a Nitecore P12GT. We'll see how it performs in a few days.

 

[predator308]

I have A Fenix PD35 but i find my self using the Klarus XT11S lately.