Flashlights

[KevDen2005]

I thought I read something about the Fenix LD01 on here before but couldn't find it so I thought I would repost it. Recently picked up one and really enjoy it for an extremely lightweight flashlight for my survival pack (to help lighten the load) and for my daily loadout. It is so small it can fit right in my pocket.

[StagLefty]

Fenix flashlights are affordable and GTG in my book.I have several and most recent is the Quark 123 Tactical. Great small light !!

[TriggerHappy]

What is your thoughts on use for weapon lights? How do they handle recoil? I have been a bit of a surefire whore in the past. I see fenix runs cree set-ups, and I wouldn't mind finding a cheaper option.

[StagLefty]

Haven't used any for weapon lights but the ones I used for work took a helluva beating and stood up to it. Go to 4sevens.com that site may be able to give you more info

[KevDen2005]

What is your thoughts on use for weapon lights? How do they handle recoil? I have been a bit of a surefire whore in the past. I see fenix runs cree set-ups, and I wouldn't mind finding a cheaper option.

I don't mind weapons lights for duty, since I am already carrying a bunch of crap on my batman belt. I have a Surefire X200 (I think) on my pistol. Off duty I try to go as lightweight as possible. I know that I shouldn't be responding to a call rather than trying to find an exit if something happens. But a flashlight is something good to have and again the LD01 is lightweight and very small.

[DOC]

Surefire is a good company. Although their LED's only last 4 hours when you need them for 8 hours. But its still pretty good.

[hurley842002]

I purchased a Fenix LD-10 a few months back, and it's been my favorite daily carry light so far. Very bright for it's size, has a pocket clip, and carries very comfortably in my back pocket.

http://www.fenixlight.com/viewnproduct.asp?id=65

[DeusExMachina]

Streamlight TLRs are great for weaponlights. Cheap too.

I have a cheap Surefire I've never gotten around to upgrading that I carry on my pocket.

[TriggerHappy]

I was looking at doing a new scout light type set up for a shotty and maybe a new AR build. I have been told some of the Streamlights change outputs from recoil. That could be a bad thing, in a home defense type scenario.

[ldmaster]

In comment to the streamlight recoil thing... I wouldn't say it's true in my case, I use the TLR1-C4 model on my carbine, pistol and my shotgun. never had a change in output from them.

OTOH, I have broken a couple of surfire X200's and know a few guys that have broken theirs as well, surefire replaces them, but hey - once the confidence is lost you just dont get it back.

I do carry, exclusively, streamlight flashlights now. The rechargeable ones and the battery powered ones - they just dont break and they are SUPER reasonable. Lately I've bought their little military style light with multiple color LED's in it. Tried to abuse mine a bit, and it doesnt' burp. Multiple levels of white.blue.red.green and strobe function and they run on AA's.

There are, in my experience, occasional problem with ALL heavy use flashlights - the biggest questions to answer are:

1. Will the manufacturer replace them no questions asked (yes to streamlight and surefire)
2. Can I buy spare parts in case I break them and need them NOW. (again, yes to streamlight and surefire)

They serve a HUGE segment of the public safety market and with that size market they just dont mess with you on warranty claims - and the added benefit of local uniform supply stores carrying repair kits for most of their stuff. Usually it's a switch that wears on on a streamlight, or your lens gets scratched and yellowed and they replace it no charge and hand it back.

Can't get better than that.

EXCEPT for the nifty new light in my arsenal. The 5.11 "Light for Life"... It doesn't use batteries, it uses a new type of capacitor and recharges (I am not kidding) in 90 seconds from a full discharged state. I got the medium one (came out last year) and I am thinking I need a second one. A bit larger than the Centurion from surefire, but slightly smaller than a 2D cell maglite. If the other guys start using capacitors (I think they will within five years) then the flashlight game is a whole new deal, it will revolutionize flashlights the way LED's revolutionized lighting.