Should have Li-Ion battery, with good life, and be rechargeable. Saw a nice bike light, but would like this to be hand-held. Would prefer flood to spot, high lumen. Recos much appreciated. Thank you! Frank
- posted
14 years ago
Should have Li-Ion battery, with good life, and be rechargeable. Saw a nice bike light, but would like this to be hand-held. Would prefer flood to spot, high lumen. Recos much appreciated. Thank you! Frank
I don't know what's best but this one has a hand crank so that you can charge it or your cell phone by hand.
I have a 3 watt Cree, believe it is called, from Lowes, although not sure it is still there. Uses 2 C batteries but I guess you could use rechargables. Cost $30. Rated output is something like 170 lumens. All the multi led's I've seen are OK for close use but are anemic on light output.
Cree is the name of the led bulb, they are bright, Ledlenser has one with 7 Cree leds, it sells for something like 400$
Yes, I would look for the led and look for watt, candlepower or lumen output. I bought a 12 led lantern for my wife's use during power failures and it does not even give off enough light to read by. She bought me one with 20 leds focused in one direction and you can read by it. I have several other led lights and, as I said, they are adequate for close work. What I really like about led's is that they get much more effective power out of a battery.
My main use is hunting and just this week I was out at 5am in an area I was somewhat familiar with but needed a light to find the public stand and the Lowes light was great illuminating trail markers 200 yards away.
My do all light is a single cell with a CREE lamp. I wanted a small form factor. I have a belt holster for it and also a velcro mount for the bike. It gets used a lot and has excellent battery life because it has variable intensity. The pattern is also really good for biking. The lowest intensity is brighter than the full output of a big box quality light.
I like the variable output offered, but on output you are wrong, you can easily find 100 lumen-3watt Cree Led lights at box stores, sure they cost maybe 30$, but output more than Fenix.
Rather than sticking exactly to your specs, I'll tell you what I have
- Lowe's sells a 3W LED "Task Force" flashlight that is excellent. Much brighter than my slightly older LED Mag-Lite and much smaller and lighter. Takes two C-cells. I actually use one as a secondary bicycle headlight, I use rechargeable NiMH C-cells with it and it'll last at least 6 hours or so on a charge (longest I've let it go, it was still bright) it's strapped to the handlebars of my touring bike with a Twofish mounting block. I also got a collimator from DealExtreme that changes the beam pattern from a spot pattern to a horizontal line - neither is optimal but the horizontal pattern keeps me from blinding traffic. It's actually noticeably brighter than my Lumotec halogen headlight that is driven from a dynohub, but I'm saving up for a B&M IQ Cyo to replace the Lumotec. Anyway, the Lumotec and the Task Force together provide enough light for me to ride on even completely unlit roads well after dark. I'm not a racer type but I don't ride slowly either.
I like the Task Force so much I bought another one that I keep next to the front door (still with the included alkaline batteries in it) so if I come home and the power is out I just use that to see. No need for candles except in the case of a very extended power failure. It cost about $30 apiece when I bought mine last year.
I can think of several different reasons for having a light. If you search the archives of alt.survival you will find that I've posted a bit too much, on the subject.
We're just guessing, at this point. We don't know what your intended purpose is. Do you want a pocket size light? Belt sheath light? Tool box light for big light needs? Task light, or area light? Close up, or seeing at a distance? Do you want to light up an entire room? Blind attackers? See a racoon in a tree at night? Read books? Light to walk around a room?
Each of these tasks will take a different light.
General Purpose Survival Flashlight
Let there be light. In cities and towns, we're bathed in light all day. Street lights at night, and all the electrical devices in the house. We take light for granted these days. But in the woods on a dark night, during a power outage, or--most importantly--in a long-term survival situation, you'll quickly learn just how important light is, and how important it is to be prepared.
Here are my opinions about what makes for a good survival light.
First, there is no "one light" that will do every thing. Any more than "one gun" or "one knife". You wil need several.
A smaller flash light is the one you have with you at all times. A squeeze light on your key ring is there when you need it, or a light to put in your pocket. I carry a 2AA mini mag with LED conversion. It is a compromise between size, convenience, and light output. But, it's with me all day.
Some are bigger due to marketing, or poor design. Many rubber flash lights run on two AA cells, are twice the bulk of a Mini Mag, and don't work as well as the Mini Mag. Bigger flashlights are heavier. They may or may not have longer runtime.
That leaves AA- or AAA-cell lights are the most convenient for pocket carry. C and D cells for in the truck. For occasional use when more light power is needed.
Using a common battery size is important for price, and for getting more batteries if you need them. Depending on the scenario, the easiest battery to find at stores is C. You may be able to buy or barter for AA, AAA or D cells. I just don't know about the lithium photo batteries. They may be in stores after a crisis, or may not.
It's OK to also take along a super-bright light for "tactical" use (e.g., disorienting or disrupting the night vision of a potential threat), in most cases these lights will not be used very often.
Q: What about headlamps? Can these be used as survival lights? A: Very handy items to have. The light shines right where you look. Including smack dab into the face of the person you're looking at. Maybe it's just me, but I don't much care for light in my eyes when I'm trying to preserve my night vision. They might also make a handy head-shot target for hostiles. Let's put it this way. While most small flashlights can usually be rigged to serve as makeshift headlamps (with the aid of a pocket clip or headband, for example), most headlamps cannot readily be used in the same manner as one might use a flashlight. Headlamps could possibly serve as back-up survival lights (if they use only one or two batteries), but I would not recommend them as primary survival lights. A flashlight will, in most instances, prove more versatile. Resources
if you decide to transition to LEDs, save those original incandescent light bulb components. You never know when someday you may need a lot of light--for example for impromptu surgery out in the field.
The other exception is truly SHTF tactical use. While I do not advocate using a visible light flashlight or rail-mounted weapon light where you are up against and armed opponent. (Since they provide your opponent with a convenient point of aim.) They are fine for shooting marauding bears.
I also keep a
50 piece box of the standard Panasonic brand CR-123 lithium batteries in my refrigerator, as a "tactical reserve." These have a 10+ year shelf life.Regarding lanyards, I recommend using a long, stout lanyard that is a full loop, preferably with a ball-shaped spring button slider. I mainly use olive drab paracord. The longer the better, for the sake of versatility. If the lanyard is too short, then there is not enough slack to loop the flashlight through (in a Girth Hitch--a.k.a. Lanyard Knot) to be able to hang a light from a branch, belt loop, tent d-ring, or other object.
Subject: Flashlights for every purpose Date: Monday, October 20, 2008 9:05 PM
Please be sure to add any I missed.
Photon squeeze light. Carry on keyring for occasional light needs. Like when you drop your mini mag outdoors at night.
Mag or Garrity 3 or 4 D cell light. Slice the night. Read house numbers. Beat off muggers and burglars. See what is that noise in your chicken coop.
Tactical Xenon light. Expensive light with expensive bulbs and expensive batteries. But it does a terrific job of lighting house numbers for night service calls. Also good for spotting racoon in trees. Actually small enough to put in pocket.
Closet light. Runs on D cells, some run on AA cells. Can be fluorescent, filament bulb, or LED. Stationary applications, for short term light. Many closet lights are bright enough to light up an entire room enough to walk around.
Camping lantern. I have one which is fluorescent and runs on D cells. But doesn't work when it is cold. LED, or filament bulbs work when cold.
Dorcy single AAA LED light. Fits nicely in the coat pocket, and provides light when everything else is broken.
Spotlight that plugs into the lighter socket. Light up the entire side of the house. Make burglars go into V-fib. Spook the horses. Signal alien space ships, and confuse airplane pilots. A bit too bright, some of them. And plenty fun to play with.
Mini Mag light. My daily work horse. Use it several times a day, every day. Nite Ize and Terralux conversions are an excellent idea.
Headlamp. Used when working, so as to keep both hands free.
I'm Christopher Young and I approved this message. . .
Several Survival Flashlight
Let there be light. In cities and towns, we're bathed in light all day. Street lights at night, and all the electrical devices in the house. We take light for granted these days. But in the woods on a dark night, during a power outage, or--most importantly--in a long-term survival situation, you'll quickly learn just how important light is, and how important it is to be prepared.
Here are my opinions about what makes for a good survival light.
First, there is no "one light" that will do every thing. Any more than "one gun" or "one knife". You wil need several.
I propose that the following list of lights will do most of the jobs a survivalist needs.
A smaller flash light is the one you have with you at all times. A squeeze light on your key ring is there when you need it, or a light to put in your pocket. I carry a 2AA mini mag with LED conversion. It is a compromise between size, convenience, and light output. But, it's with me all day.
Some are bigger due to marketing, or poor design. Many rubber flash lights run on two AA cells, are twice the bulk of a Mini Mag, and don't work as well as the Mini Mag. Bigger flashlights are heavier. They may or may not have longer runtime.
When you're trying to figure out what is that noise on the far side of the field, you need a bright light that shines at a distance. I've found few lights that are better than a
4D cell Mag light with a Krypton bulb. Until they came out with the Mag light with the LED bulb, that is. The Garrity LED bulb is no where near as bright as the LED original equipment bulb.
When you'r eating dinner, or walking down a trail, or walking around the living room. It's not convenient to hold a flashlight in one hand (or between your ear and your shoulder) while you use two hands to cut and eat your food. At t his moment, an area light is what's needed. I like the fluorescent camping lanterns from Walmart, that run on 4 D cells. These lights don't work well in cold weather, which is when the Jeep lights come in handy. 20 LED bulbs, and runs on 3D cells. Not as bright as the fluorescent lantern, but it does work when it's cold.
Uses a common battery size Currently, the most common flashlight battery sizes are AAA, AA, C, and D cells. A few lights use 9-volt batteries or lithium photo batteries.
That leaves AA- or AAA-cell lights are the most convenient for pocket carry. C and D cells for in the truck. For occasional use when more light power is needed.
Using a common battery size is important for price, and for getting more batteries if you need them. Depending on the scenario, the easiest battery to find at stores is C. You may be able to buy or barter for AA, AAA or D cells. I just don't know about the lithium photo batteries. They may be in stores after a crisis, or may not.
It's OK to also take along a super-bright light for "tactical" use (e.g., disorienting or disrupting the night vision of a potential threat), in most cases these lights will not be used very often.
Q: What about headlamps? Can these be used as survival lights? A: Very handy items to have. The light shines right where you look. Including smack dab into the face of the person you're looking at. Maybe it's just me, but I don't much care for light in my eyes when I'm trying to preserve my night vision. They might also make a handy head-shot target for hostiles. Let's put it this way. While most small flashlights can usually be rigged to serve as makeshift headlamps (with the aid of a pocket clip or headband, for example), most headlamps cannot readily be used in the same manner as one might use a flashlight. Headlamps could possibly serve as back-up survival lights (if they use only one or two batteries), but I would not recommend them as primary survival lights. A flashlight will, in most instances, prove more versatile. Resources
The crank up lights with the silver "tornado funnel" in the middle, I find them to be useless. The crank is noisy, and the light spreads on a single plane, hardly lights the room.
Kmart has a "Jeep light" with 10 or 20 LED, and three D cells in the base. Looks like a creature from STar Wars. I've got a couple of these, and really like them. Long run tme on D cells. and you can point it to the ceiling, to light the entire room. These work nicely when it's bitter cold.
For area light, my favorite is the Ozark Trail fluorescent camping lantern from Walmart. Ten bucks, and takes four D cells. Hang from the ceiling, and light the entire room. Walmart also has fluorescent "closet lights" in the hardware section which are very good. Fluorescents do not work when it's cold.
The round "tap lights" are OK for finding the bathroom at night, but not much more than that. They have either LED or filament bulb types.
Pocket carry. For me, the minimag with LED conversion is good. Nite Ize makes a convesion for $4.97 at Walmart. I went with the Teralux for $25 and very pleased with it.
Harbor Feight has a 15 LED light that takes three D cells. Very blue light, and very short range. It has its uses, indoors, but I'e never bring it camping.
Mag makes a LED 2D through 4D light with the mag brand LED bulb. I got a couple 3D, when Lowes had them on sale. They are super bright, and the batteries last a long time. Brighter than my Garrity light that had 3D cells. I even swapped out the batteries on the Garrity, I thought the batteries were low, the Garrity was so dim compared to the Mag LED.
Garrity LED bulb from Walmart, replaces 2D through 6D bulbs. Blue light, dim, not worth the cost of the bulb. Turns a good flash light into a nightlight.
For thirty bucks, that's a bit pricey. But, I guess the LED Mag lights are up around thirty bucks.
It sounds like a good combination of factors. Small enough for short term pocket carry, if needed. Belt sheath provided. Bright enough to be useful.
C cells are likely to be at the stores long after the other sizes sell out.
I may be looking for something more than many of you think. (Thanks so much for your ideas.) To clarify, this is the light that caught my attention:
Had something like that with a squeezy thing for the switch - the squeezy bit wore out very quickly. Not impressed.
Similiarly unimpressed with my 3-cell LED Mag; light output is crap. My
2-cell Mag with a conventional bulb is just awesome, though. Only issue I have is that there's no provision for a strap so it can be hung from things - I'm tempted to see if I can drill the base and add a small eye-bolt.Had some of those, too (3xAA, incandescent). Utter shit. They never made it as far as the closets, and I don't know what I even did with them now :-)
I have a big ol' oil lamp for that, and so far have managed not to burn the tent down ;)
Talking of which, I had a homebrew lamp made from a car headlight grafted onto the body of a cordless drill - it gave a huge amount of light and would run for quite a long time (just less useful for 'distance' work). I finally killed the battery in it though, so it went the way of the dodo :-(
cheers
Jules
3w is bright for a Led , the 100 would be lumen which is bright for a focused flashlight beam.
The only lights I have ever seen in big box places are total junk. Usually they seem to offer lights with multiple cheap LEDs etc.
The particular model I have has 175 lumen output on high and 100 lumen on the third setting from the bottom so maybe you misread the specs.
The variable output is fantastic. You really get a very long battery life because I find if I need to use it for long periods of time such as biking I really don't need full intensity.
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