Oneheadlite
01-12-2018, 12:52 PM
In another thread recently, I saw Accumulator mention it`s been a while since there was a flashlight thread. The timing works out perfectly, as I`m looking to upgrade my current flashlight situation for work. Working on cars, a good light is about as important to me as my thumbs and index fingers. Throughout my career, I`ve had a TON of different lights.
TLDR Version - Please share with me small penlight style lights you`ve had good luck with (and your use case), or front-pocketable higher intensity (tactical?) lights.
Quick list for my requirements - Brightness, click/press style power button (no spin cap style), good warranty is preferred.
The Long Version - To get a feel for where I`m coming from, my recent lighting history:
My daily go to for a long time was the basic Streamlight Pro pen light. 2x AAA`s, approx 50 lumens (I`m sure the last one I used was an older version; looks like new ones are 90?). Adequate, but since it lives in my shirt pocket, a bit long. I also tended to keep an extra power switch in my box as these would fail.
Next I moved to a Coast HP2 - 85 lumen, single AAA, adjustable focus beam. Definitely liked the smaller size. The only knock against it is that it`s not that bright once you get spoiled by other lights.
I briefly used a Snap On 2x AAA penlight - 144 lumens (30 on low), but the biggest drawback - Twist on VS push/click button. I hated this interface so much, despite having cost $50+, it sits in my drawer. When twisting on, part of the time it would register being spun on as a double press on the momentary button which triggers the low beam. Hugely inconvenient.
Enter LED Lenser. My Matco guy brought in a 1000 lumen F1R to demo, and I was hooked. This was obviously going to be a pants pocket light (no belt clips for me - can`t risk scratching a car), at about 4.5" long and an inch or so in diameter. I bought one, and used it in tandem with my HP2 light (depending on whichever was closest, length of time on, brightness needed, etc). Run time on high wasn`t quite as long as advertised, but I`d usually run it on medium. Unfortunately, one of my pairs of work pants has unusually shallow pockets, and it slipped out unbeknownst to me in a customer`s car and I haven`t seen it since. :facepalm:
Having had such good luck with the F1R, this led me to replace my HP2 coast light with an LED Lenser M3R - Single AAA size, but uses a rechargeable Li-ion battery. 220 lumens, adjustable focus beam. This light I like so much, I bought a second to have as a spare in case my primary had to get sent out for warranty (5 year warranty, have had to use it a couple times). My only complaint is that you pay for the lumens - battery lifespan seems to be pretty low. The warranty covers the batteries as well, but it`s a bit inconvenient now that we lost our Matco guy (now I have to contact LED Lenser directly). That level of brightness in such a small package has really spoiled dimmer lights for me.
Historically, I`ve always done off-the-shelf lights. I would consider modifying one if there`s a can`t-be-beat setup I`m missing out on.
Thanks for reading!!! Looking forward to lights to check out.
TLDR Version - Please share with me small penlight style lights you`ve had good luck with (and your use case), or front-pocketable higher intensity (tactical?) lights.
Quick list for my requirements - Brightness, click/press style power button (no spin cap style), good warranty is preferred.
The Long Version - To get a feel for where I`m coming from, my recent lighting history:
My daily go to for a long time was the basic Streamlight Pro pen light. 2x AAA`s, approx 50 lumens (I`m sure the last one I used was an older version; looks like new ones are 90?). Adequate, but since it lives in my shirt pocket, a bit long. I also tended to keep an extra power switch in my box as these would fail.
Next I moved to a Coast HP2 - 85 lumen, single AAA, adjustable focus beam. Definitely liked the smaller size. The only knock against it is that it`s not that bright once you get spoiled by other lights.
I briefly used a Snap On 2x AAA penlight - 144 lumens (30 on low), but the biggest drawback - Twist on VS push/click button. I hated this interface so much, despite having cost $50+, it sits in my drawer. When twisting on, part of the time it would register being spun on as a double press on the momentary button which triggers the low beam. Hugely inconvenient.
Enter LED Lenser. My Matco guy brought in a 1000 lumen F1R to demo, and I was hooked. This was obviously going to be a pants pocket light (no belt clips for me - can`t risk scratching a car), at about 4.5" long and an inch or so in diameter. I bought one, and used it in tandem with my HP2 light (depending on whichever was closest, length of time on, brightness needed, etc). Run time on high wasn`t quite as long as advertised, but I`d usually run it on medium. Unfortunately, one of my pairs of work pants has unusually shallow pockets, and it slipped out unbeknownst to me in a customer`s car and I haven`t seen it since. :facepalm:
Having had such good luck with the F1R, this led me to replace my HP2 coast light with an LED Lenser M3R - Single AAA size, but uses a rechargeable Li-ion battery. 220 lumens, adjustable focus beam. This light I like so much, I bought a second to have as a spare in case my primary had to get sent out for warranty (5 year warranty, have had to use it a couple times). My only complaint is that you pay for the lumens - battery lifespan seems to be pretty low. The warranty covers the batteries as well, but it`s a bit inconvenient now that we lost our Matco guy (now I have to contact LED Lenser directly). That level of brightness in such a small package has really spoiled dimmer lights for me.
Historically, I`ve always done off-the-shelf lights. I would consider modifying one if there`s a can`t-be-beat setup I`m missing out on.
Thanks for reading!!! Looking forward to lights to check out.