Hello all. I know I should be searching for this but my time on the net is limited, so I am going to ask for some patience. I am finding myself in need of a good flashlight. I have a Maglite with an LED bul replacement, but I want to take it up a notch. I want a surefire type light (bright) around the same size as a MagLIte. I also want to have one thing, and that is a tail cap click switch.

Any suggestions would be great, and price is an option (under 100$)

Thanks in advance

Garrett

It depends on what you want it for...but as you say you have limited net time so I will give you a start. Try these:

1xCR123A $29.00
http://www.amondotech.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=973

2xCR123A with a 2 stage switch low/high $42.50
http://www.amondotech.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=816

or its brighter brother without the 2 stage $64.50
http://www.amondotech.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=981

Although, if you want to burn retinas, I am told surefires are the best. Check out http://www.flashlightreviews.com for some excellent reviews.

P.S. I have no association with the linked sites in anyway shape or form.

Marc

Hi Garrett,

Marc is right. To give a good answer It depends on how you plan to use the light.

Do you have access to 123A batteries for example? Do you plan to use this for utility, or for combat? With a longarm?

The answers can be pretty different based on your use.

Please check out this thread on Candlepowerforums.com: IRAQ/Military Deployment Lights.

Also check out: Need help w/ light for Iraq

If pushed to make a recommendation w/o information, I'd probably suggest the Surefire G2. It is a good, rugged, basic but bright light that takes 2x123A batteries. It has a very good beam pattern and you can't go wrong for the price ($35). With the saved cash, I'd consider getting some accessors and batteries as well as perhaps a spare light.

Let us know more details and we can give you a better recommendation.

Be safe!

-john


Edit: Oh, I didn't see your request for a "clickie" type tailcap. The SF Z48 and Z49 tailcaps will fit the G2 and are high quality clickie style tailcaps. The only difference is the color. Note they aren't cheap, so they will add to the price of your light. But, I would avoid getting one for your spare light. I know this is pushing your budget, but consider:

$35 (1) SF G2
$37 (1) SF Z48 "clickie" tailcap
$11 (1) SF Z33 Lanyard kit
$28 (1) SF FM35 Red "tipoff" Filter
----------------------
$111


A spare bulb is $17 (P60 spare lamp assembly) but the light is $35. You should get a spare bulb at the very least, but as I was saying, at the price you might as well get a second light if you can swing it.

You should take some batteries. The SF SC1 spares carrier is top notch and will VERY securely (and it's waterproof) provide storage for 6 batteries and a spare bulb, however you might want to take more batteries than that.

Batterystation.com has deals with their brand batteries combined with storage cases which might be a good way to go.

Either way, make sure you buy your 123A batteries online. Surefire brand are $15 for qty 12 and the Batterystation brand are near $1 ea. If you buy them locally you could be looking at $6 ea!

Edit2: Oh, check out this thread as well: Operation Enlightenment it sounds like some folks are trying to get GIs lights at reduced prices.

Garrett,

You may want to consider the Inova T3. Here are the specs:

Battery Type - 123 Lithium
Battery Number - 2, 3V Lithium included
Dimensions - 6.25" L x 1.25" head dia.
Lamp Type - 3 Watt LED, White
Light Output - 85 lumens
Weight w/ Batteries - 4.8 ounces
Run Time - 2 hours full brightness
Focus Type - Wide
On/Off - Tailcap Switch
Material - Aluminum
Made in USA

They're great lights if the battery type and LED suit your needs. They're available from brightguy.com for 62.95. I hope this helps.

Steve

How about a Surefire 6P ($56):

http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/prrfnbr/889/sesent/00

Only problem I could see with a Surefire G2 is that it doesn't have the lock-out tailcap (to prevent the light from coming on by accident), while the 6P does. Not sure how the "clickie" style tailcap would affect that on either model.

Stay safe over there.

All new G2s have a LOTC.

The Z48/Z49 tailcaps can be used on both the G2 or the 6P.

-john

Hey Garrett,

Check the PX. I think I saw they are carrying the G2 Nitrolon in stock for like $25 or so. It has the tailcap switch you are looking for. I am down in the "Impact Zone" in Baghdad. I'll say I'd rather be here than Fallujah. I hate that area. I have to go to Tikrit and then Taji over the next two months.

All I have is a Dorcy 1 Watt Luxeon head lamp, a pair of 3 LED wind up flashlights, an Innova red LED on my Badge holder around my neck, and a 3 LED back up 2AA palm light. I had a Surefire L2, but gave it to another soldier because I didn't need anything that bright and I think he did. You won't find an L2 for less than $100 I think.

Stay frosty up there. The BGs are everywhere.

Benjamin: They have the G-2 here, but the tail cap is not click on and off. If I am going to get something like this, then I am going to get exaclty what I want. I saw them in the PX and a friend bought one and let me play with it. It is nice and the price is right, but I really would prefer the tail cap that allows you to lock out and has the click on and off. ALthough, I have throught about getting the light and then getting the additional tail cap becuase it will still be less than some of the other models.

EVERYONE else: THanks for the help. I am going to look into some of the suggestions you guys have given me, although I am definately leaning toward a surefire, I just dont know which one.

Has anyone looked at the new gerber lights with the different color filters in the lens area? I dont know what they are called.

Thanks again, you guys are the best on the net.

Garrett

Regardless of which SF light you get, you are probably going to have to purchase the clickie style tailcap seperately. Most lights like the 6P and the G2 do not come with a clickie, you have to purchase it seperately. There are a few exceptions, but they are very few.

One exception is the SF E2e which now comes with a clickie. This light is as bright as the 6P and G2, but has a more diffuse beam. Since the clickie tailcap is a new feature on that model, there are lots of them already in the retail channel that have the non-clickie tailcap. Make sure you handle the light in question to confirm it has the correct tailcap.

There is also slip-on red filter for this light, the SF F05 red filter.

The E2e is a nice light, but it will eat up your entire budget (perhaps they are a bit cheaper at the PXes) and I suspect the "full sized" lights like the G2 and 6P might be easier to handle and more robust. If you click the tailcap on the E2e vs the Z48 tailcap, you'll see what I mean. The Z48 feels really nice and robust and the E2e is kind of corse and chinsy feeling in comparison.



Keep in mind that the G2 and the 6P have exactly the same lamp assembly and thus the same brightness and beam pattern. The only real difference is the 6P is aluminum and has a glass lens and the G2 is "Nitrolon" which is a glass filled polymer with a lexan lens if I recall correctly. Nitrolon has proven itself to be very tough stuff. G2=4.1 oz, 6P=5.3 oz.

Both are considered very robust and reliable lights and the beam quality is top notch and the lights are quite bright.

Even the higher end combat lights like the M2 have about the same brightness beam and the main difference is the construction is more robust. For example, the M2 has a "shock-absorber" built in to protect the lamp assembly. This light has slightly different beam pattern but not by much. In the end, it is the same brightness, but more robust.

The SF E2e is also about the same brightness, but because of the smaller form factor, it has a smaller reflector and thus has a less focused beam.

So in general, all the SF two cell lights have similar brightness and beams. The main differences are in constructions and features (like the shock isolation of the M2). But this considered, it does make the G2 a killer deal.

In general, you there are no "bad" choices with the SF lights.



I think you are refering to the Gerber Recon. In the IRAQ Military Deployment lights thread, ob1 writes:



If you are looking for a supplimental red light and you don't want to use a red filter for your primary light, you might consider the Gerber Infinity, Red LED ($17.50). Small, robust and long running.

Is there a need for a color other than red?

Garrett, if you could tell us how you plan to use the light it would be helpful in giving you better advice.

Be safe,

-john

I just wanted to expand on this a little bit to make sure there is no confusion.

LOTC stands for lock out tailcap. This simply means the ability to prevent accidental activation. The way Surefire implements this typically (I can't think of any exceptions) is to allow the tailcap to be unscrewed enough so that it cannot be activated.

As far as I can tell, all current Surefire models have this feature, including all the models we having been talking about: G2, 6P, and E2e.

However, until semi-recently, the G2 did not have this feature. While Surefire has been shipping the revised G2 units for quite a while now, it is possible there are some in the retail channel that still do not have this feature.

This thread talks about how to tell if a given G2 has the older, non-LOTC model or the current LOTC model. The easiest way to tell is to remove the tailcap and press the button. If the guts of the tailcap fall out, it is the old, non-LOTC model. The tailcap of the LOTC model is also slightly longer, but this doesn't help unless you have both models side-by-side to compare.

The other issue is the click-on-click-off feature. Most flashlight geeks call this a "clickie" tailcap. Only a very few SF models come with this feature (E2e, U2), but almost all of the models can be retrofitted with an optional tailcap (the main exception are the two stage lights like the L1, L2 and A2 which are incompatible with the clickie style tailcaps).

The SF G2, 6P and M2 lights can be fitted with the Z48 or Z49 tailcap to provide this feature (only difference is color) and older E2e or E1e lights which shipped without this feature can be retrofitted with the Z57 or Z61 tailcaps (again, only difference is color). All can be seen on SF's website.

-john

Don't overlook the Streamlight Scorpion. The tailcap has a positive click on/off, but no lock out. The Scorpion is as bright as the Surefire, and the Scorp. is only $35-40. I have found the Scorpion's lamp more robust than the 6P's.

Hi Natch,

As the owner of several Scorpions, I specifically would not select this light as a life-depends-on-it kind of tool. While the rubber grip is nice, the bi-pin bulb can pop out of it's socket, leaving you in the dark unexpectedly. Worse, it stays stuck in the head which you can't open. I've spent more time than I like fishing bulbs out of the head with needlenose pliers.

The rubber can also get torn up pretty easy with rough use which allows water and dust to get in.

There were some reports from Afghanistan on CPF which indicated the Scorpion didn't hold up well over there.

The SF G2 is also only $35 and I consider it much more dependable.

-john

Hey Garrett,

you're right about the G-2s. I went back and checked here and they don't have the click on/off tailcap. I guess the only thing I can suggest is buy one anyways, order the right tailcap, and at least you will have a good light for now. I can't imagine the tail cap taking any longer to ship than another flashlight would, but it's up to you. I was just thinking that, since it is here, it is handy, and can be upgraded. The best solution I can come up with for immediate need. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Now if I had to order one, I would probably just order the M2 or the Streamlight Scorpion.

They may have something more at the Taji Base PX. That is the biggest PX in country I think. I dunno if you can get down there or not. I won't be there again for a month, but if you want I can look for you and see what they have. Probably would be quicker to order something now, though.

I heard Tadji was a nice place, even the IA side is supposed the be pretty nice. Unfortunately, Tadji is a haul for me, but if I am up there I will take a look. Last time I was at Victory, I saw quite a few at the PX there, so I may try down there next time I head up.

To the rest of you guys, thanks for your answers. I am probably looking at getting one of the E2 series lights, I just dont know which one.

Garrett

The E2e is a nice light. Just make sure you try it out before you buy to make sure it has the newer, clickie style tailcap.

Note there really aren't many different E2 lights. The main differences are 1) finish and 2) hex or round head.

The main finishes are silver satin and "natural" HA III. The HA (hard anodize) is a stronger finish and looks sort of green-brown.

The purpose of the hex head is so it doesn't roll if you set it down.

In general, the satin/round lights are not nearly as common (I actually thought they discountinued them, but SF put them back on their web site).

Almost everyone perfers the hex head with the HA finish.

-john

Yep, Tadji base reminds me a lot of Reese AFB in Northern Texas. Flat and scrubby, but relatively quiet. The coalition side gets mortared regular, but I think that's because KBR likes to keep the area well lit all night long. I've heard they have to make bunker runs during lunch hour at the DFAC off and on. Nothing big on the IA side, except for an occasional sniper incident (likely from ING anyways, go figure). The locals take anything that isn't under observation or locked down there. Victory always seems so crowded up. but they have a pretty big PX there as well.

I'd say hope we cross paths, but you know how unlikely that is out here these days. Just stay safe, practice safe sex, and watch your six if you go out on patrol.

And any of the E2 lights are a good choice. Good luck.

Many of you have asked me what I plan on using the light for, so I asked myself that. Here, in the dusty place, I plan on using it as an edc, utility light. The ground here is full of potholes and ankle breaking ruts, so I will primary use it for quick shots of light to see where I am going around camp, not outside the wire. At home, it will go in my camelbak for use in the field or camping, along with a generous supply of extra batteries.

So that being said, I went ahead and picked up the G2. Its a pretty good light. I dont know how I feel about switch quite yet. BUT, for the price, it could not be beat, even if I decide to get the switch I want, which I probably will get sometime soon. PLus, as hard as I am on gear, this shouldlast me through this deployment and longer, as long as I dont lose it.

I know, I know, I should have just done this earlier, and I am lucky that I did, as the PX was almost sold out.


THanks for your help,

Garrett

Garrett,

I suspect the G2 will serve you well.

The reason I kept asking about the use of the light was there are some practical issues using lights with longarms for example. This is much less of an issue for utility type use. Also the accessories like the red filter and lanyard are much more importaint if you are using the light for combat.

Hey, let me know if you have a problem getting one of those Z48 tailcaps.

In any case, I appreciate the incredibly dangerous and challenging job everyone is doing over there.

Thanks and be safe,

-john

Hey Garrett,

Glad you reconsidered. The E2 would be fine, but for the money that G2 is in your hands right now, and that kinda situation has changed my mind more than once here in acquiring stuff. Get that other tail cap ordered and enjoy your new light.

Hope to see your posts here often. See you around.