There's a lot to be said for an LED flashlight that runs off of AAs. A modern unit with lithium primary batteries sits in my wife's emergency kit bag and performs very well for its size and price. This is an excellent recommendation for many flashlight users.

For myself, I frequently avail myself of the longer runtimes and higher output that other battery chemistries allow. Do I always need those things? No. But I've needed them before, will almost certainly need them again, and they're sure nice to have at other times.

Of course we are. Such obsession is implicit in "equipped to survive," the very title of this forum. What kind of heresy are you promoting?

A lot of our discussions tend to remind me of wine connoisseurs, delving endlessly into minute differences that really have no great practical value. Instead of wine fragrance, we can discuss endlessly the virtues of this or that variety of knife steel, or the different tints or CRI of flashlight beams, etc., but it is fairly harmless fun.

But your point is well taken. I was hiking toward camp a couple of weeks ago after a nice productive day in the field as sunset occurred. I pressed on through civil twilight, and then nautical twilight. Approaching astronomical twilight, it got really dark and it was time to get a light. I had two very nice headlamps in my pack (total investment exceeding $100) but it was easier to just reach into my pocket, grab the EDC light on my key ring, giving me about 100 lumens,(quite sufficient) and continue on my way for the final mile.

The important thing about any flashlight is that when you mash on the button, it will turn on so you won't have to curse the darkness. Everything else is details and secondary.

i believe those negative comments were mostly about the lens o-ring and LED not being perfectly centered/mounted, plus some flickering issues, in early versions. i'm under the impression the surefire has since fixed those problems and replaced all problem units.

the other major complaint is that the 300-lumen burst mode doesn't give a full hour run time as stated in the sale literature (not that i've ever needed that much power for more than a few seconds/minutes).

here's a link to a good 12-page CPF thread on it: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?407689-TITAN-PLUS

I am finishing up my review and, yes, the initial QC issues appear to have been addressed. I am liking the light overall.

It is worthwhile to consider battery compatibility and/or the ability to transfer power across all the electrical gadgets you might be using. My GPSr is powered by two AAA batteries, which inclines me toward a light powered by AAAs, since I could mix and match, if the necessity arises. Power packs and rechargers (Goal Zero Switch 8 and 10 come to mind - I am sure there must be others) are available which can be fitted with accessories so that they can serve as lights, and also recharge one's cell phone, etc. - something that can be rather useful.

Of course one must deal with the profound disadvantage that none of this gear could in any sense be termed "tactical." None of them are even available in camo....

Absolutely! The similar light is only for price comparison. I've got the Nitecore chargers for charging at home. Travel charger is a USB charger that also works as a phone charger. It won't be charging 18650's on normal trips.

I don't think it's really a "gear obsession." Well, there is a boys-and-their-toys factor, I'll admit. But speaking just for myself I finally learned that sometimes the best is the cheapest in the long run. And I've learned through hard knocks, having gear fail and really inopportune time. One story that I have probably relayed here before, but I'll repeat it now: Many years ago I was fishing at a very remote lodge in northern Canada. The place had cabins but no plumbing, etc. There were outhouses a good ways from the cabins. One very very dark and moonless night I had to visit the privy and grabbed my flashlight to negotiate the tangled and overgrown path. All was well until I got to the door of the outhouse and had my bulb break/burn out! The whole way back to camp in the dark I was sure I could feel the black bears right behind me!

I'm not trying to convince anyone to spend $250 on a light but I'm strongly of the opinion that you get what you pay for. At ETS we discuss being prepared; this takes on many meanings. It can be training and skills, it can be gear and equipment. Ideally it's both. Just as a wise person carries a PSK when out and about I think it's prudent to select quality gear. Do you need an HDS Rotary or $500 McGizmo Haiku? Strictly speaking, no, probably not. But there's a lot of ground between the $500 objets d'art and a $2 Rayovak.

BTW I'm glad to hear the QC issues with the Titan have been addressed, but I am still bummed to that's not infinitely adjustable like the original Titan. I think I'll probably get a Peak Eiger instead.

Quality items generally are nicer to use and stay good for a very long time. Cheap stuff are generally not as nice to use and break more quickly (plenty of exceptions).

People just want more and more. More lumens, more bells, more whistles and more in general. The thing with quality items is that you buy once and don’t have to replace it for a very long time. In practise I see people talking about quality and durability and then they replace them in a few months’ time, because the next thing came out…

Personally I think its good practise for your wallet and the environment to do proper research and then buy a quality item, which you will use for years. Buying thing which uses common available batteries, will keep it going for years to come. I’m still using the same Fenix light I bought in early 2009, loaded with Eneloop batteries which are even older. Worn out one of the holster for the light, but just replace the holster.

occasionally I purchase an item just to "check it out"... examples would be the Goal Zero 7w panel, and the Nitecore charger and 18650s cells....compared to some previously required classes, the education is cheap...the switch to AA Eneloops for my emergency hurricane electronics and lighting came from lessons learned...I don't really need an SBR, but it was fun to build ... while I have a Malkoff module for an old 6P, the rest of my P60 lights are G2s off the prize table, or Solar Force hosts, with XM L2 or XP-G (for the 18650) modules (foil wrapped)

on the practical side, I'm a retired high school teacher, and still like to attend athletic events at school...as a gun free zone, a mongo candlepower pocket light is a legal deterrent option... if you have accidentally flashed yourself, you know how disorienting it is for a couple of minutes