Batteries? Form factor? Multiple brightness/runtime modes? Strobe? Interface?

For just a leg, the FourSevens Maelstrom MMS has a max of 350 lumens out the front. It's a dual mode light with the user selecting the two output levels from a minimum of 1 lumen to a max of 350 lumen. By some standards, 350 lumens is fairly illuminating.

Other lights in the Maelstrom tactical series will go up to 1200 lumen, but those would cost you the arm too.

I own a Maelstrom X7 (what they're now calling the MMX). I like it enough and trust it enough that it's mounted on my home-defense shotgun. I have a ridiculous number of FourSevens' lights and all of them have been excellent. No affiliation.

Yep, I have a few FourSeven lights myself. What they now refer to as the Quark Pro QP2A is IMO one of the best all-around lights on the market. 2xAA batteries and light output from moonlight (0.2 lumens) to fairly bright at 205 lumens. The 1xAA version (max of 109 lumens) is clipped inside my EDC backpack. I use lithium primary batteries in these lights. One of their brighter 2x123A tactical versions (Quark Pro QP2L-X) is in my survival vest.

No affiliation.

I'll look into the FourSevens lights. I have not tried that brand before. I don't need a large number of fancy options.
I use the light primarily as a security device - for checking for prowlers. Hence the ability to see into dark spaces in an alley, and to blind an intruder's night vision is good (sounds like 350 lumens should be fine - based on comments here). I also depend upon the flashlight as a back-up baton, which is why I like the case to be rugged.

cheers,
Pete2

My back-up baton is a 3 x D-cell Maglite retro-fitted with a 3 watt LED emitter.

Pete,

Take a look at the HexBright and FlexBright lights at www.hexbright.com

HexBright FLEX
Powerful 500 Lumens!
USA Made
CREE XM-L U2
Rugged Aluminum Construction
USB Rechargeable and Programmable
High Mode - 500 Lumens/1 Hour
Endurance Mode - 150 lm/8 Hours
Blinky Mode
Arduino Compatible and Open Source!
5.7" long by 1.3" diameter, 7.6 ounces (145mm by 34mm, 215 grams)
$99.00

I have two comming for my son and I.

The flex is rechargeable and I think the hex use cr123 batteries.

It will be a few weeks yet but I'll post a review when they come in.

Jim

Jim,when you get that light will you do me a favor? I wonder if its bright enough to shine light thru hand or maybe sideways at oblique angles in arms to see veins?I might be able to use it to help start IV's.

Could you check that for me?

I have two Hexbright Flex lights coming. I'll be glad to post my evaluation.

With regard to ruining an intruder's night vision and other tactical uses, lumens won't tell the whole story. A lumen is the unit with which we measure the total amount of light output. Candela is the unit for measuring the peak luminous intensity.

A 90 lumen light with a tightly focused hotspot can be blinding and entirely adequate for tactical use. Four hundred lumens of light where it's mostly spill may not work for that purpose.

I had posted about these flashlights about a year ago - it's not a pocket flashlight, but it's cheap and definitely "good enough" for a junk drawer flashlight, or a loaner you won't cry about if it doesn't make it back to you:

Eveready LED Econoy 1D flashlight

I first saw these in a local grocery store, and since have seen them in Target and elsewhere. Under $6 for a pair, and they're also sold singly, for about $3.50. Uses 1D battery, in a body size of a 2D flashlight. Same cheap body as a 2D incandescent light, but it has a LOOONG spring to take up the space, and the LED gives adequate (not fantastic) brightness. It comes with a sticker over the positive terminal of the D battery, so it won't come on accidentally and is perhaps less likely to leak.

Great value light.