What's your favorite tactical flashlight?

[pacificnwrider]

I'm looking to pick up a small flashlight that I can wear on my belt; have seen many online and they seem to have mixed reviews. Does anybody have a stand alone favorite? I'd like to avoid spending more than about $50.

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[stmcelroy]

Fenix PD20 is a great light for right at $50

 

[wichaka]

Surefire G2ZX Combat 320 Lum., or the P2ZX Fury 500 Lum.

I've got one or the other every time I leave the house.

 

[tmedina]

Got a couple of questions for you:
1. Single cell or double?
2. What kind of batteries do you want? AA? CR123?
3. What kind of output do you want? 320 lumens? 30 lumens?
4. What kind of run time?
5. What kind of modes? Single mode? Multiple modes?
6. You said "tactical" - so you want a tail activation switch, right?

 

[Blitzkrieg]

On Burt's advice I'm going to buy a few of these

Aliexpress.com : Buy TrustFire 13000Lm 12x CREE XM L T6 LED Flashlight Torch 26650/18650 70W 12T6 from Reliable flashlight led suppliers on Online Store 228689

 

[nastybynature]

I carry this Nebo and my wife carries this Nebo.

 

[Burt Gummer]

On Burt's advice I'm going to buy a few of these

Aliexpress.com : Buy TrustFire 13000Lm 12x CREE XM L T6 LED Flashlight Torch 26650/18650 70W 12T6 from Reliable flashlight led suppliers on Online Store 228689

Nice price! $68 inc shipping, I paid $79.00

The 15x-T6 lights will be around that price by January, always improving, always getting less expensive.

For a small tactical light, I still love the Fenix PD32.

I used to despise rechargeable batteries, but am sold on the 18650s. (1 = same space as 2 CR123s) They hold their charge a long time, are pretty cheap, and then I can save my CR123s for down the road (10 year+ storage life).

 

[Mark W.]

I wouldn't call it small but my favorite tactical flashlight is a 5 cell Mag Lite with a Halogen bulb conversion. Blinding and can beat a water buffalo to death if need be,

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Those halogens are seriously weak compared to even moderately powered LEDs. mine are in a box somewhere as antiques

 

[gunfreak]

$50 Streamlight that bimart carry's 150 lumen led.

 

[omenwolf]

this will be my next edc light and I have many. Nothing like having a true almost 1000 lumen pocket rocket.
<broken link removed>
sold here for 59.95
Nitecore P12 LED Flashlight - 950 Lumens - CREE XM-L2 T6 LED - Uses 1x 18650 or 2x CR123A Batteries

 

[tmedina]

Meh. Surefire E1L with a diffuser and a flared tailcap. Not tactical, but covers 99% of any lighting function I need and will run for hours on a single CR123 battery.

You can find them on clearance for $97 or thereabouts since Surefire released the next gen E1L.

 

[flashpan]

Look at the Scrirrako by Extreme Beam...$50.00 ... 320 lumens ... many optios availible including interchangeable green LED, pressure switche, etc...1" dia so it easily mounts to scope or pic rail if needed.

 

[Trailboss]

My vote is for the Novatac Storm. Priced around $50 and quite indestructible. Novatac is military issue and mounts onto your rifle with a simple picatinny to 1" mount. I have one on each of my tactical rifles.

Amazon.com: NovaTac Storm LED Flashlight, Black: Sports & Outdoors

Directions here to unlock the programmable mode:

novatac storm hack/crack/backdoor/easter egg help?

 

[Blitzkrieg]

For small personal lights we have these.. I really wanted a single AA type because they are far more common than 123s.. and BTW there are lithium AAs, have an ammo can full of them

4Sevens/Foursevens Quark Tactical AA/ QTA Black Finish / Cool White LED; 1XAA; 109 Lumens - Amazon.com

They come with very handy lanyard

 

[wichaka]

In the world of dark, there's hardly a situation that you can have too much light.

200 lumens is the absolute minimum I would recommend to anyone for a combat light...with 300-500 being much better.

I understand the cost thing...

 

[tmedina]

Depends very much on your surroundings. Crank up that 300 - 500 lumen flashlight in a white hallway at night, or in the dark, and tell me how your eyes are feeling.

It also hammers the user's night vision - even if you're expecting it, it will still take you seconds to adjust to environmental lighting conditions.

 

[JoeDirt82]

Local and lifetime warranty

https://www.coastportland.com/

 

[Blitzkrieg]

In the world of dark, there's hardly a situation that you can have too much light.

200 lumens is the absolute minimum I would recommend to anyone for a combat light...with 300-500 being much better.

I understand the cost thing...

I dunno, those 109 lumens lights have blown away everyone I've tried them on, they are blinding

 

[wichaka]

Depends very much on your surroundings. Crank up that 300 - 500 lumen flashlight in a white hallway at night, or in the dark, and tell me how your eyes are feeling.

It also hammers the user's night vision - even if you're expecting it, it will still take you seconds to adjust to environmental lighting conditions.

Have done it many times, even in a small bathroom. But I wouldn't go any higher than that indoors in a confined area. With a good lumen light, you don't need to worry too much about night vision. Just light up your world!

But outside, walking the street...I still would not recommend anything less.