Best flashlight?

[PonchoTA]

Thought I would turn to the resident experts here!

Looking for the best flashlight to get for under $200. Something that I can use in my hand as well as clip onto shotgun or rifle, for hunting whatever goes bump in the night. (not "hunting" hunting!)

I probably won't need to use it a lot, so something that can use rechargeable batteries, and that can keep a charge for a long time.
If I DO need to use it for awhile, would like to have a long 'on' time capability.

I like a lot of light too, something that will blind an assailant, have a pretty even spread and fairly wide swath, not pinpoint.

I know this seems like I'm asking a lot, but my only experience with anything that approaches a higher end flashlight is my MagLite, but it's only the $8 AA version that I used for inspecting equipment cabinets on the ship, and maybe looking under the bed for something.

Thanks!


Paul

Edit: Where are good places to shop for some of these? Sales? And batteries?

[hooookup]

I love my Surefire 6P. It's been through hell and back with me over the years.

[maxicon]

Rechargeables aren't much good at holding a charge. Your best bet is lithiums (like the standard CR123), which have a 10 year-ish shelf life and aren't prone to leaking.

For tactical usage, you'll want a tactical switch, which you can turn on momentarily with a partial press, rather than having to click it on and off, like you do with task lights like your Maglight.

For long run times, LEDs are the best bet. More output = less run time, though, so there's a tradeoff. One compromise is an LED light that has low and high output modes, but some people (like me) don't like tac lights that have complicated operations.

For brightness, it's another tradeoff. Too much brightness (200+ lumens) will dazzle someone completely, but I find they're too bright to use indoors at night if you vision is dark adapted. One bounce off of a light colored wall or door and you wipe out your own night vision.

If I wanted the best of both worlds, I'd get something like the Fenix TK10 or its Surefire equivalent, if you want better quality assurance. It's got a low and high output mode, and operation is simple for a multi-mode light.

For a basic simple tac light, the Surefire 6PL (if you want metal) or G2L (plastic body with metal head) are great single mode lights, easy to use, with a good bit of output and good runtimes, but not the extreme 200+ lumens so many of us want.

[FlyingPen]

Fenix TK10 seems the best value. Super bright, nearly indestructible, has momentary and click on, has two modes, long life or super bright.

[PonchoTA]

Ah! Great info here guys! Keep it coming! Where could I find such a light as the Fenix? Or the Surefire? Any good discounters? That you trust?

[Creampuff]

If you get a surefire 6p, try getting one of these drop in LED bulbs. 200+ lumens. I have a couple of these and they are pretty bright, with decent runtimes.

http://www.pts-flashlights.com/products/product.aspx?pid=1-25-114-125-6494

For fenix lights, I always purchase them through lighthound.com

http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=PRODSEARCH&txtSearch=tk10&Page=1

[FlyingPen]

Use cpf8 coupon code at the Fenix store. If you buy through the Fenix store, you have a lifetime warranty.

[PonchoTA]

Use cpf8 coupon code at the Fenix store. If you buy through the Fenix store, you have a lifetime warranty.

What's that coupon code for? Is that for the warranty? Or a discount?

[NorCal MedTac]

Go with Pentagon Lights "X3".* 135 lumens, weapon grade.* I use them on duty at night and I have them attatched to ARs and AKs that have made it through 5,000 round weeklong training courses and just beat to ****.* They also run slightly less than surefires.* http://pentagonlight.com/

[Kelvrick]

Best place in my opinion to get fenix stuff is from:

http://www.fenix-store.com/

There is an 8% coupon but I won't just give it to you. I'm going to make you join candlepowerforums to get it.

I've also ordered from light-hound before and have had great experiences if you need other stuff as well. But, for only fenix, fenix-store is where its at.

CPF forums also has a coupon for lighthound.

You might want to wait for the tk11. Its an upgraded tk10 that will take 18650 batteries as well as traditional cr123a batteries.

[Rob454]

I have a couple of surefires and I have a couple of cheapie Dorcy that I got at walmart. The surefire is great except they dont last long either the bulbs or the batteries. The corcy is great for work. i use that thing all the time and it looks liek it got run over by a tank but it still holds up great and I havent had any problems with it at all.
Rob

[redcliff]

Sometimes the best light isn't 1 light, it's two lights. I like carrying a high intensity light (with corresponding limited battery life) and also one of these little Molle lights that use a single aa battery, led and burn for hours: http://www.pentagonlight.com/products.cfm?id=5&fig=5 I've given a few of these Molle lights to friends and they fall in love with how versatile they are; you can clip them on your gear or set them down in a number of different positions and they don't roll around. They provide plenty of illumination for a lot of different tasks and are easy on the wallet when you need to replace batterys. The Phantom has become my favorite cause it glows when you shut it off and it's easy to find again in the dark.

[Wonderwhippet]

I like the Surefire rechargable. It's twice the size of the battery model, but puts out the same bright beam. It recharges in less than an hour and burns for at least an hour on acharge.

[packnrat]

i kinda like my 4D mag light, sure there are others but they are smaller.

the new led light is only $40.00 and it will spot light up anything up to 1/4 mile away. and if needed you can point it at them and then whap them with it if they attack you.

can be driven over with a semi. and live.
can be droped and still work.
can be used as a hammer in a pinch.

all the little pocket lights can light up things, but will not work for self defence.

in with the pistol i have a small 2 aa cell light that works good. just not as big a beam though.

[PonchoTA]

Best place in my opinion to get fenix stuff is from:

http://www.fenix-store.com/

There is an 8% coupon but I won't just give it to you. I'm going to make you join candlepowerforums to get it.

I've also ordered from light-hound before and have had great experiences if you need other stuff as well. But, for only fenix, fenix-store is where its at.

CPF forums also has a coupon for lighthound.

You might want to wait for the tk11. Its an upgraded tk10 that will take 18650 batteries as well as traditional cr123a batteries.

Ok, I did that! Same username as on here! I've got the TK11 in a shopping cart now, looks like a good deal, especially with that coupon
Are you sending the coupon to me or do I need to hunt around for it?

Also, I don't know much about those batteries, what's the difference, and why are they better than the standard AA cells?

Thanks!!


Paul