https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...ashlights.html


So 10 years later...






I am looking for some information on flashlights.

I know there are real expensive ones out there and cheap ones that are claimed to be bright enough to burn holes in stuff...

I am looking for a few LED flashlights for the house and would like to keep the price at or under $35 each. Something somewhat compact and the wife wants ones that have a strobe function.

What would you guys recommend?

Thanks in advance.

 

cheap magnetic ones that go on fridge at costco say cat on them, work for general use

 

Check out Cree brand led flashlights. The ones I have were like $3 a light and have the strobe function. They are SUPER bright and work well. Never would have dreamed they were that cheap. Don't know about longevity, havent used them that much yet.

 

Since I own nothing but Milwaukee power tools I use their M12 Series of flashlights complete with long lasting rechargeable batteries. They're not exactly small, about the size of an older 2 D-cell light.

They're more than bright enough for my needs, durable and hard to destroy even if unintentional.

Naturally if you don't own or use battery powered tools this sort of idea isn't useful.

Just another idea............

 

Technology has advanced a bit-



I use a cheap rechargable 60LED trouble light at work, there is a smaller version as well and these are great for walking at night but don't have the greatest battery life.

 

That is an awesome cartoon Jared!

 

I tested out a 1300 lumen unit from costco. That sucker will seriously warm up your skin if you focus it on one spot for a bit. Way less than $35 too.

 

ya costco had quite a selection, even led garage lights.

 

I have one of the Duracell 1300 lumen lights and that thing will out shine my headlights.

 

Compact, around the house LED flashlights available with a strobe function?

I just buy the little Ultrafire flashlights with Cree diodes and lithium rechargeable cells from Amazon.
They are cheap enough to leave a bunch around (glove box, tool box, coat pocket, hall table, etc.)

I have 18650 and 14500 versions and either of them are TOO bright on high for close in work.

Lithium rechargeables are key for brightness in a single cell light and they have very low self-discharge rates.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EO...3vL&ref=plSrch

http://www.amazon.com/Ultrafire%C2%A.../dp/B00G0JT10K

 

Xckd.com is one of my regular stops, new ones every Monday Wednesday and Friday.

 

I'm a concealed carry guy so having a bright white light with me is second nature. Although I carry a Surefire E2D Defender, I am a fan of the Fenix line. I always have the Fenix E05 in my pocket. Three brightness levels and it runs on 1 AAA. I use Sanyo Enloops and swap it out every Sunday and Wednesday nights. I love that light and recommend it to anyone who's looking for an everyday light.

 

I bought a cheapie under hood work light rechargeable from Harbor Freight, looks just like the Snapon and Matco ones but just costing $39.95. This one also has two settings low and high. Low setting will last 6 hours on a charge and high will last 4 hours. Works great only down side is the LEDs do not cast a wide beam so hanging on a hood it is kind of useless unless you angle it where you need it.


Now on the note on flashlights, I have a Streamlight Stinger that I purchased oh 3 or 4 years ago for work. Batteries are just now starting to go dead a little quicker than they used to, batteries can be had off amazon for $30 or $40 same streamlight batteries. You can also purchase just the flashlight if you already have charging station for under $100 off Amazon. I gave $130 and Matco our new guy has them on his truck for the low low low price of $180. If I replace my aging orange one I will get just the light from Amazon and pick up a couple batteries and use my old batteries till they wont work anymore and use my charger that came with my orange one.


Regular battery powered LED lights like using AA or AAA batteries, I have a couple as backups at work when my main one goes dead and they are horrible. They are no where near as bright as my Streamlight even on low setting.

 

LED'S need 3.2V or so just to function.
So that means lots of cheap lights with 3 alkaline batteries, or they have a step up transformer (neither works too well)

This is why I recommend li-ion cell batteries (at a nominal 3.7V) and only Cree diodes.

LED flashlight technology has grown by leaps and bounds recently.
Prices have come WAY down.
Hell, I remember when Maglite mods were 'the next big thing'....
Then in the '90's there were Streamlight and Fenix rechargeables.

If all you need is a thousand lumen pocket flashlight to keep in your glove box, walk the dog or take out the trash, forget the pricey 'Tactikool' brands.
You can get 5 from Amazon for under $30. They will do all you want, and seem to hold up kicking around in my truck, Toolbox, etc..

 

I haven't tried out the 1300 lumen Duracell I picked up for Dad yet but my older 1000 lumen Duracell will light up varmints a 1/4mile away like daylight and both were under 20$, if you are looking more for an indoor utility flashlight the sky is the limit for your possibilities, the best advice I can give on those is don't settle for super cheap multi LID but get one that has a good quality single LID that uses 3 AAA or AA batteries.