new light I’ll actually carry

[admin]

Hey all,

looking for some help to pick up an EDC light that I will actually have on me all the time, instead of just sitting on the counter. I’m pretty up on weapon lights (running sure fires and stream lights) but I don’t know too much about the little guys for carry. I stock cr123s but I think those are too fat. I work in an active office, so pretty stripped down during the day. I just carry a pen, key smart with 3 keys and a glow tube, and bench made. Would love a small light to have for emergencies, power outages now that we have earthquakes every stupid day, and other low light situations.

1) Short Essay Question: What do you intend to use this light for?
see above
2) What Region/Country/State will the light be purchased in?
[ x] I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn’t matter.

3) Price Range: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! :broke:

[ x] I have no limit! but prefer on the cheaper side of things.

4) Format:
PART A
[ x] I want a flashlight.

PART B
Length:
[ x] 1-2 inches. (Keychain sized)
[x ] 2-4 inches. (Pocket carry)

PART C
Width:
[x ] I prefer a long narrow light. the skinnier the better!

PART D
Weight:
Lights of a similar size can be very different in weight and may turn the perfect sized light into a paper weight. In general a lights of the same size will stack up like this; plastic and aluminum will be your lighter choices brass, stainless steel, bronze will be heavier. I won’t put numbers here because everyone has a different weight sensitivity. For the purposes of EDC specifically I’ll limit the choices here to the more easily carried sizes pick 2 sizes to represent a range of weight.
[x ] Very light, can’t tell it’s there.
[x ] Light, no heavier than a few keys or a small car remote.
[x ] Medium light, about the weight of a AAA MiniMag
[x ] Medium, slightly heavier than a AA MiniMag

5) What kind of “bulb”.

[ x] Don’t care, just want the best fit for my needs.

6) What batteries do you want to use? Alkaline batteries are easier to find and less expensive but don’t pack as much stored energy and are don’t work well in cold temperatures. Lithium batteries have long shelf life (10+ years, great for stored emergency lights) and are not as affected by cold but must be kept dry and are more expensive. Rechargeable start expensive, but if used frequently pay off quickly.
[ x] I want common Alkaline batteries. (AA, AAA, C, D)
[ x] I want lithium batteries. (coin cells, CR123, AAA, AA…)

7) How much light do you want? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).
[ x] I want to read a map, find a light switch/keyhole, or get around the house at w/o disturbing anyone. (5-10 lumens)
[ ]x I want to walk around a generally paved area. (15-20 lumens)
[ x] I want to walk unpaved trails. (40 lumens)
[x ] I want to do Caving or Search & Rescue operations. (60+ lumens)
[x ] I want to light an entire campground or dazzle an intruder. (100+ lumens) (do they make that in tiny?

8) Throw vs Flood: Which do you prefer, lights that flood an area with a wide beam, or lights that “throw” with a tightly focused beam? Place an “X” on the line below. Sometimes a flood is better particularly closer up or indoors. You won’t have to “sweep” the light back and forth to see what you need to see. You can also just set it down pointing the general direction rather having to point it right at that which you are working.

Throw (distance)———-x————|———————-Flood/close-up

9) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims (like some LED lights). but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries. Understand that runtime is a function of brightness and capacity of your batteries. If you want 6 hours you’ll either have big batteries or dimmer light, they haven’t made a setup yet that lights up like the sun, runs all night, and fits in your watch pocket. 
[ x] 20 min. (I want the brightest light for brief periods)
[ x] 60-240 min. (1-2 hours)
[ ] 240-360 min. (4-6 hours)
[ ] 360+ min. (More than 6 hours)

10) Durability: Generally the old phrase “you get what you pay for” is very accurate for flashlights.
[ ] Not Important (A “night-stand” light.)
[ ] Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood.)
[x ] Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box.)
[x ] Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Self-defense, Survival.)
If i need it, i need it to work

11) Switch Type:
[ ] I don’t care.
[ ] sliding switch (Stays on until slid back.)
[x ] clickie switch. (Stays on until pressed again.)
[ x] momentary switch. (Only stays on while held down.)
[ x] rotating switch
I’m used to tail switches on rifles and flip switches on pistols, so whatever doesn’t go off in my pocket.

12) Switch Location:
[ x] I don’t care.
[ ] I want a push or sliding switch on the body near the head.
[ ] I want a push switch on the back end of the body.
[ ] I want a rotating head switch.
[ ] I want a rotating end-cap switch.
[ ] I want a remote control.

13) Operational Modes: Check all that apply.
[x ] A simple on-off is fine for me.
[x ] I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
[ x] I want multiple light levels. (some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
[ ] I want a strobe mode. (blinks to show location.)
[ ] I want a tactical strobe. (Flashes rapidly to disorient an opponent.)
[ ] I want S.O.S. flashing

14) Is it important whether the body is metal or plastic/composite? In this case “plastic” and it’s variants does not mean “cheap” or poorly made. In many applications a plastic bodied light is preferable, hard use and water resistance comes to mind; think caving or lights that get dropped or abused.
[x ] I don’t care.
[ ] I want a metal-bodied light.
[ ] I want a plastic/composite light.

15) Special Needs: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn’t been mentioned? Circle any below or write in your own comment(s).
I want a pocket clip, to secure into a pocket.
[x ] Belt/Jacket clip

thanks for all the help!

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