Looking to purchase a flashlight? Here's an awesome resource!

[blueice]

Hehe fun world we live in. I am interested in the fenix L1p light just to see what the candle of the year is like. Is it worth it to order the two stage mod as well?

[kwkarth]

LOL! This has been a very entertaining thread to read! Thanks all!

My current favorite EDC is a Surefire A2 Aviator.

You can liken LED flashlights to solid state amps and incandescent lights to tube amps.

The A2 is a hybrid. LED's for low power, close work, and incandescent for high power, long reach lighting. Originally designed for pilots who needed a controled light for reading maps, ets, in the cockpit and a really bright light to do walk around pre-flight check outs, being able to illuminate the top of a 747 tail from the ground in the dark.

http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/.../900/sesent/00

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/rev...urefire_a2.htm

There's just something about a good incandescent light that can't (yet) be duplicated by an LED.

I have a number of good high power (3W & 5W) LED lights, Surfire L2, L4, and the like, but the fully regulated A2 is unique and a favorite.

Sound familiar if you replace torch terms with 'phone terms???

Cheers!

[star882]

I have built and modded many flashlights. I have a homemade combination LED flashlight and battery pack. I also modded a halogen spotlight so it can be left on charge constantly.

[kwkarth]

Originally Posted by kwkarth

LOL! This has been a very entertaining thread to read! Thanks all!

My current favorite EDC is a Surefire A2 Aviator.

You can liken LED flashlights to solid state amps and incandescent lights to tube amps.

The A2 is a hybrid. LED's for low power, close work, and incandescent for high power, long reach lighting. Originally designed for pilots who needed a controled light for reading maps, ets, in the cockpit and a really bright light to do walk around pre-flight check outs, being able to illuminate the top of a 747 tail from the ground in the dark.

http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/.../900/sesent/00

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/rev...urefire_a2.htm

There's just something about a good incandescent light that can't (yet) be duplicated by an LED.

I have a number of good high power (3W & 5W) LED lights, Surfire L2, L4, and the like, but the fully regulated A2 is unique and a favorite.

Sound familiar if you replace torch terms with 'phone terms???

Cheers!

My new EDC:
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/rev...s_edcu60xr.htm

[stevesurf]

Originally Posted by kwkarth

My current favorite EDC is a Surefire A2 Aviator.
You can liken LED flashlights to solid state amps and incandescent lights to tube amps.

A very interesting analogy...so if you were to compare the Surefire A2 vs U2, what would you prefer?

[petery83]

I find that a flashlight is a pretty handy tool to carry around.

I EDC my ARC AAA-P, and almost always have my Fenix L1P and/or SureFire G2 on me or close at hand.

[kwkarth]

Originally Posted by stevesurf

A very interesting analogy...so if you were to compare the Surefire A2 vs U2, what would you prefer?

I like the functionality of the U2, but for one, it's too big physically for an every day carry unless one wears one's bat belt. Secondly, the U2 doesn't quite have the throw that the A2 has.

I ordered the EDC Ultimate 60GTXR sight unseen, based on reviews. It hasn't even arrived yet, but on paper, it looks perfect. Smaller than a Surefire E1e/E1L, and brighter than either, with 20 selectable levels of brightness. On paper, the UDC is almost as bright as the A2. The EDC is rated at (by flashlightreview.com) 38 lux throw/42 output. The A2 is rated 45 throw/57.5 output. The Surefire U2 @ max output is rated 43 throw/ 55 output and quite a bit larger than the A2.

So aside from the EDC, assuming it's everything its cracked up to be, I still like the A2 over the U2 for size. I like the U2 for versatility, but it's just too big to carry everywhere.

[stevesurf]

Originally Posted by kwkarth

I like the functionality of the U2, but for one, it's too big physically for an every day carry unless one wears one's bat belt. Secondly, the U2 doesn't quite have the throw that the A2 has. The A2 is rated 45 throw/57.5 output. The Surefire U2 @ max output is rated 43 throw/ 55 output and quite a bit larger than the A2.

Thanks so much for the comparison; may I ask an additional question? I'm actually looking for the brightest, most compact light and I noticed the U2 has an 80 lumens setting. I'm actually not worried about batteries as I'll be using compatible rechargeable lithiums. With that extra tidbit of info, would you still prefer A2?

[ooheadsoo]

I've used the fenix l1p for a couple months now, and it's a great edc. Unlike headphones, flashlights are easily quantifiable: dimensions, runtime, output, aesthetics. Like bladeforums.com, many of the people there use the stuff on the job and are very familiar, like handymen, police or firefighters etc.

They really have cr123 batteries that are rechargeable? I've never heard of them, nor seen a charger. I'd have gotten a surefire if I had been aware of such a thing. I should say that I mean in that form factor, specifically.

Watch out because the really high output ones will melt if you leave them on too long under the right circumstances.

[jumpinjohn1234]

I've got a surefire g2, with a 61p bulb in it. 120 lumens

Although since it sucks the juice out of my battries, I picked up rechargeable 123a battries. I've seen pretty crazy flashlights at gun ranges, burn holes in chip-bags.