Need a new LED(?) flashlight... recommendations?

[mrchan]

I need a new flashlight, but I know very little about the LED flashlights. I've been reading a bit, I know Dorcy makes good 1 watt ones, but they are a bit pricey. Ebay has everything from 1 LED to 100 LEDs, no idea if they are any good or how many LEDs I would need.

So I need a flashlight to keep in my car and use while camping for things like walking to the restroom at night, etc.

Would like it to use AA, C or D batteries. Something like the Dorcy 3D but maybe a bit smaller/cheaper?

How many LEDs would I need to compare to say a normal flashlight with 2 D batteries?

As far as price goes, something in the $20 range I suppose, but the cheaper the better 🙂.

 

[vi edit]

I say spend an extra $15 and just get a surefire G2 Nitrolon.

 

[Rubycon]

Text

Text

Text

That should keep you busy for a while. 🙂

 

[jumpr]

Inova T3 FTW

I've got one and love it.

 

[mrchan]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I say spend an extra $15 and just get a surefire G2 Nitrolon.

Well, I need two of them actually, and I dont think I can justify spending $70 on two flashlights to myself, heh.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I keep a Lightwave 3000 in my car, it uses standard C-size batteries and is pretty rugged. Not the best beam, but has a long battery life and can be expected to light up when I'm in a place where I really need something to light up.

 

[axnff]

A couple options here. If you're looking to keep it in the car, I would spring for a good headlight, like the Princeton Tec EOS. A headlight is indispensable while changing a tire at night, or snooping around under the hood. If you must keep it closer to $20, or just want a cheap, decent, normal light, you could try a Nuwai which runs on 2AA.

If you're willing to spring a bit, and don't mind that it's not made in the USA, the Fenix L2P should fill your needs nicely. In fact, you may actually be concerned with it being just a bit too bright for some things (i.e. walking through your house at night, you really only need a pinch light).

 

[mrchan]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Text

Text

Text

That should keep you busy for a while. 🙂

Reading LED museum at the moment, lots of good reviews there. For some reason mcds arent listed for each flashlight though. How many mcd is say a 3D Mag lite?

 

[mrchan]

Originally posted by: axnff
A couple options here. If you're looking to keep it in the car, I would spring for a good headlight, like the Princeton Tec EOS. A headlight is indispensable while changing a tire at night, or snooping around under the hood. If you must keep it closer to $20, or just want a cheap, decent, normal light, you could try a Nuwai which runs on 2AA.

If you're willing to spring a bit, and don't mind that it's not made in the USA, the Fenix L2P should fill your needs nicely. In fact, you may actually be concerned with it being just a bit too bright for some things (i.e. walking through your house at night, you really only need a pinch light).

I already have a headlight 🙂

That nuwai is tempting..... why is the fenix so much brighter than the nuwai? they both say 1 watt?

 

[0roo0roo]

dunno, they all seem overpriced for what u get still. gimmic in most cases. one of those 1-2 million candle power gun grip type lead acid battery flash lights for ~12-20 bucks blows any led flashlight out of the water. and rechargable too😛 its like carrying around a freakin car headlamp u know.

 

[sao123]

Not that LED lights are bad, because they have great battery life...
but if your really looking for a bright light...
check out the Xenon flashlights like the Dorcy Spider.
its a $20 light that is the brightest flashlight ive ever seen. It has a solid metal jacket so its virtually unbreakable.

 

[mrchan]

Got a blue INOVA X5 at Target for $9 on clearance!! White one was still $34.99. Bright enough and batteries should last a LONG time.

How are the ebay 8/12/21/etc LED ones compared to my X5?

 

[0roo0roo]

damn wish my target had such a clearnace🙁

 

[HaxorNubcake]

i got an invoa xo3

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

I'm getting buring with my Surefire L2. Damn I love that flashlight.

 

[mrchan]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
damn wish my target had such a clearnace🙁

It's probably the same price @ your target if you can find them in stock. Just scan them at the price scanners, it was marked regular price.

 

[0roo0roo]

sweet!🙂

 

[DaWhim]

get a spotlight. i got one with 2million candlepower spotlight. it is just bright 🙂

 

[Conky]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I say spend an extra $15 and just get a surefire G2 Nitrolon.

Listen to this guy. 😉

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: mrchan

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
damn wish my target had such a clearnace🙁

It's probably the same price @ your target if you can find them in stock. Just scan them at the price scanners, it was marked regular price.

heh found this review http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=114085 obsessive heh

didn't pick one up, probably none left i bet. i dont want to pay for the lithiums to power it

 

[slayer202]

what, no one likes mag-lites? atleast for your car, cuz you can use it to beat the ****** out of someone also

 

[mrchan]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: mrchan

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
damn wish my target had such a clearnace🙁

It's probably the same price @ your target if you can find them in stock. Just scan them at the price scanners, it was marked regular price.

heh found this review http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=114085 obsessive heh

didn't pick one up, probably none left i bet. i dont want to pay for the lithiums to power it

Understandable. But there are places online where you can buy the batteries for slightly over $1/each. Plus, it's my emergency light, so I only plan to replace the batteries once every 10 years, heh.

 

[Kelemvor]

For something that will be used really infrequently, I'd get one of those flashlights that you shake to charge them.

We have a couple and they work fine. Only a few bucks a piece too.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Dorcy 3D is $22

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: mrchan

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: mrchan

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
damn wish my target had such a clearnace🙁

It's probably the same price @ your target if you can find them in stock. Just scan them at the price scanners, it was marked regular price.

heh found this review http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=114085 obsessive heh

didn't pick one up, probably none left i bet. i dont want to pay for the lithiums to power it

Understandable. But there are places online where you can buy the batteries for slightly over $1/each. Plus, it's my emergency light, so I only plan to replace the batteries once every 10 years, heh.

be careful though. in the link i posted theres another link to a lithium battery explosion. cheap ones might not have the safety features necessary to prevent such things from happening.