Info. On LED MagLites

[manxman]

For claymore and anyone else who has had problems:

About 1-1/2 years ago, some kits showed up on the market saying: "Modernize Your Mini-Mag Lite with Ultra Brite LED Bulb and Convenient On/Off Switch". The kit consisted of a new bulb housing and lens, with 3 LED bulbs, and a replacement tail cap that had a spring-loaded push-button on/off switch. I bought two of these kits from my local Lowes store. The kits were fantastic! The new head unit could not focus the light the way the original high-intensity halogen bulb could, but the LED light beam was extremely bright, and very white compared to the halogen yellow colored beam. The advantage of the mod of the mini-MagLite was, longer battery life, almost "lifetime" bulb life, and an on/off switch that the original flashlight did not have. So, everything's just GREAT. UNTIL-------------

the LED bulbs start to dim after not very much use, and you try to unscrew the tail cap and cannot do it without two pairs of pliers. After you get the tail cap off, you see that it is full of white powdery corrosion, the batteries are surrounded by the same corrosion, and you cannot get the corroded batteries out of the flashlight body.

Keep in mind, this LED adapter kit did not come from the MagLite company. Now I have had to throw away two MiniMagLites. The foregoing was the bad news. Do Not Buy this 3-LED adapter kit, and you won't have this bad news happen to you.

Now, the Good News!!!

If you need a new flashlight of any size, MagLite makes the best. And now they offer all sizes of lights with LED bulbs. The beams are pure white, very bright and powerful, and only use about 1/3 of the battery life that the older halogen bulbs used. There is absolutely zero battery corrosion that was caused by the off-brand adapter kits. And the even better news is: if you already have an older model of MagLite, any size, the company is now selling their own LED bulb that will not corrode the batteries. The new bulbs are called "[B]NightEyez LED Bulbs". One size LED bulb fits all C or D battery MagLites- two, three, four or five cell lights. There is another size LED bulb for all MiniMagLites.

In my previous post, I referenced a web site where I had ordered replacement LED bulbs for my existing, older MagLites. The new universal-fit LED "NightEyez" bulbs are what I ordered from that site. I saw exactly the same upgrade LED bulbs, at a higher price, at my local Ace Hardware store today.

Once again, here is the link to the site with the lower price on MagLite "NightEyez" LED bulbs:

http://www.flashlightz.com/

FYI---------If you have any size of MagLite, and you use any LED bulb that does not come from that company, you will probably kiss that flashlight goodbye in the near future.

[claymore]

The ones I used in my mini mag were from MagLite but it was awhile ago so maybe they are better now

[macbuddy]

Hey Dave,
Just curious, how many lumens do those put out? Also, what is the burn time? Those D cell Maglites must burn for hours!
I kind of recently gotten interested in flashlights because of my little brother. It seems like every time I see him, he shows me his "newest, latest, greatest" flashlight. He must have at least a couple dozen, maybe more, high tech tactical flashlights in his collection. About a year ago, he introduced me to this incredible new technology!

Anyway, here is my small collection:
This is the one he got me started with. This gift came as a set bundled with a Leatherman multi tool, flashlight and Nylon combo sheath. This is the flashlight that came in the set. Leatherman 831140 Monarch 400 1 AA LED Flashlight. (http://www.leathermanstore.com/leatherman-831140.html)

For a powerful 200 lumen torch, this is a good one. It is called an F-NF015: 3-Watt LED Flashlight with CREE XLamp LED (http://www.goldengadgets.com/f-nf015-3-watt-led-flashlight-with-cree-xlamp-led.html)

My favorite flashlight, the one I keep on me at all times is the Tank007 E07: 120 Lumen LED Flashlight AA with Osram LED Bulb (http://www.goldengadgets.com/led-lights/led-flashlights/high-power-led-flashlights/tank007-e07-120-lumen-led-flashlight-aa-with-osram-led-bulb.html) It is small, light and packs a punch. I also like the fact that it uses a common AA battery.

This is the one I keep in the car because of the CR123 lithium battery, RC-C3: Romisen C3 LED Pocket Flashlight with CREE Xlamp LED (http://www.goldengadgets.com/led-lights/led-flashlights/high-power-led-flashlights/rc-c3-romisen-c3-cree-led-pocket-flashlight.html) Hopefully this will work whenever I need it. Supposedly these batteries have a 5 year shelf life.

-macbuddy-

PS- BTW, I also have the 2-AA Maglite, with the Nighteyez LED upgrade!

[manxman]

Maglite does not specify lumens for their flashlights or for their bulbs, but the LED bulbs are 3 watts. There probably are other brands and styles of LED flashlights that are somewhat brighter than the big Maglites, but we use only this brand for these reasons- they have a lifetime warranty, repair parts are available at several local stores, and the D cell lights can serve equally well as weapons.

On a day to day basis, I use a powerful flashlight to scan my back yard for skunks before letting my dogs out at night. The skunks will run from light that is bright enough, and Maglites are bright enough. I have always carried either a 4 or 5 D cell Maglite in my cars and trucks. I have a 4 cell clipped to the inside door panel of my GE8, and it is the same light that I had in my GD. When I was forced off the road in my GD wreck, I wound up in the bottom of a small canyon, surrounded by trees to the point where the doors couldn't open. My car was about 20 feet below the surface of the road that I had been driving on. So I am trapped in the car, and can't be seen from the road by the rescue squad. If the crash had torn the battery cables loose and the windows were not operational, I would have used the heavy flashlight to smash out the driver side window. However the windows did work, but I could not crawl out because of 3 broken ribs and a cracked breastbone.

So I told the 911 operator about my approximate location, and told him that when I heard the siren of the rescue truck, I would shine my light back toward the road. They found me from the flashlight beacon, and chain-sawed the trees away from the doors so that I could get out. The headlights were completely smashed and did not work, so the flashlight was the only sign that the rescue folks had to find me.

The weapon effect of the Maglite comes into play when we walk our dogs at night. Some of our idiot neighbors allow their own dogs to wander on unfenced yards at night. We carry bear-strength pepper spray, but in one case a few years ago, the spray didn't stop a German Shepherd. A blow across the muzzle from my trusty Maglite-billy club did.

BTW, the name Maglite comes from the first three letters of the last name of the inventor. It's a Slavic name and I don't remember the whole thing, but the manufacturing plant is still in Ontario, CA.

[manxman]

P.s. macbuddy-
The price on that 200 lumen Cree light is too low to pass up and I will get one. It won't work as a club, but would probably blind anything/anyone that might be a danger. I'll find out. Thanks for the reference!

[manxman]

P.p.s.

Sometimes ultra-bright light does more harm than good. We have about 3 acres of forest on one side of our house. After some homeless wanderer let his campfire get away from him and almost caused a disaster, I investigate any sounds or other signs of visitors in the woods. I use a 10 million candle-power searchlight. Brightness and distance are fantastic. BUT--- there is so much light reflecting back from leaves and tree trunks, it is very hard to see people, animals, or anything smaller than a car. The nice thing about that one negative effect is, any living thing has a tendency to get the hell AWAY from the bright light.

[claymore]

One word of caution with any of these high powered flashlights that have a switch that stays on when you let go. On some of the flashlight boards there have been more than a few FIRES started unintentionally by setting the turned on light down on some surface that can burn and they are so powerful that fires can start just from the heat of the light or contact with the hot lens. :eek:

If you have one of these badboys they recommend using the momentary on switch position so when you let go of the switch it turns off.

[manxman]

One word of caution with any of these high powered flashlights that have a switch that stays on when you let go. On some of the flashlight boards there have been more than a few FIRES started unintentionally by setting the turned on light down on some surface that can burn and they are so powerful that fires can start just from the heat of the light or contact with the hot lens. :eek:

If you have one of these badboys they recommend using the momentary on switch position so when you let go of the switch it turns off.
Excellent advice- thanks John. A lot of people have the mistaken belief that LED bulbs do not create heat. Not true- they just create a little less than the high intensity incandescent bulbs. Until I started looking this stuff up, I did not know that today's high power LED's were invented by a company in San Jose, CA. And the CREE company not only makes ultra bright bulbs, they also make circuit boards, diodes, switches, and every part that goes into many LED flashlights.

[manxman]

More Info.:

I went back to the www.flashlightz.com site, and found that the 4 'D' Cell LED "Nighteyez" Maglite is rated at 122 lumens, and that is fine for my needs. But if you are really crazy, and want to bring down aircraft by blinding pilots with your flashlight, this site sells one with a LED bulb rated at 425 lumens. This light probably could set a house on fire from 20 feet away. No surprise, their discount price for it is $425.00 . You want bright, they got bright! They also give you easy ways to compare lights by manufacturer, brightness, rechargeable, price, etc.

They also offer a "TerraLUX 600 Lumen" LED upgrade bulb for Maglite 'D' cell 4-5-6 cell flashlights priced in the $71.00 area. I may pop for that product for my 4 cell light in the car. With that, I can break skulls and fry eyeballs at the same time. Whoopee!

One other bit of advice, LED flashlights don't dim slowly as the batteries run down (as all incandescent bulbs do). They provide the rated lumens until the batteries are dead.

[manxman]

Aaaagghh! I couldn't resist a bulb kit with that much brightness that would fit the flashlight that I already carry! I ordered it- will report results. If this is as good as I think it is, I will buy 3 more. My new addiction: frying eyeballs! (the 600 lumen 3 LED bulb for the Maglite, not the 425 lumen light- that one is scary and too expensive!).

[claymore]

Look out Dave is hooked on them now. I got interested in them and there are a couple of sites about REALLY high power ones. These guys mod their flashlights like we mod our cars... always MORE POWER just like on tool time.

[manxman]

Don't watch out for Dave, watch out for the guy with the plutonium powered flashlight!

[manxman]

New Info. for the MORE POWER!!!! flashlight crazies (like macbuddy and/or claymore)

I just received a new Quartermaster catalog. This is a supplier of equipment for Law Enforcement- clothing, footwear and gear. They are advertising the brightest LED flashlight in the world----------- 1070 lumens!. Uses 4 'D' cells. Battery life is 600 hours, and effective light range is 1540 feet. This is the "Coast LED Lenser X21 Light Cannon". Length is 16", and the head diameter is 3.6".
Here's a link:
http://www.coastportland.com/product.php?prodid=1034&prodnums=%C2%BF1087%C2%A11088%C2%A11022%C2%A11023% C2%A11024%C2%A11025%C2%A11026%C2%A11017%C2%A11021% C2%A11018%C2%A11028%C2%A11027%C2%A11034%C2%BF&mastCat=3&catid=12

My 600 lumen LED bulb for my 4 cell Maglite is in transit. If I am at all disappointed with the performance of that item, I will save my pennies and buy the Light Cannon to carry around in my Fit. I am already betting that the battery life using the 600 lumen Maglite bulb will be extremely short compared to the Light Cannon's 600 hour battery life. But, even considering paying $200. plus for a flashlight makes me one of the crazies too.

This one is made by www.coastportland.com in Oregon. Cost is $359.99 in the Quartermaster catalog- They are cheaper elsewhere--- on Ebay it's $299., but on Amazon it's $271.00. Strange- I just checked the price at the manufacturer's preferred on-line vendor, and it is also $299. I think that I will not consider ever buying anything at all from the Quartermaster catalog.

^^^^^^^^Claymore, this would easily fit in your suitcase on your next trip back to CT.^^^^^^^^


In the same catalog (Quartermaster), they also have another ultrabright LED flashlight that uses capacitors instead of batteries. It completely recharges in 90 SECONDS, and burns for 90 minutes.

[claymore]

Bet you could bounce the light off the reflector that was left on the moon with that monster.

[manxman]

Not quite. But a range of five football fields is completely amazing to me. And, a 600 hour battery life is 25 whole days of continuous use. This light sounds like a total impossibility.

[manxman]

Wow! This will teach me not to mention stuff like the Light Cannon on forums until AFTER I HAVE BOUGHT IT. Now, the Ebay prices run from $350-550., and even the Amazon price went up to $289. CRAP! Well, maybe prices will fall a little by the time I have the budget to actually buy it.

[manxman]

For anyone who is interested in the 600 lumen LED bulb for Maglites, it looks as if I will not be able to review it. Flashlightz.com ships with a combo. of UPS and USPS, and UPS can't figure out what they are supposed to do with the package. The vendor would just ship a replacement via UPS Ground, but they are out of stock and won't have any until April. I told them to cancel the order, unless the "lost" package shows up so that they can re-ship it.

The real solution to my needs is the 1070 lumen Light Cannon, so I will just use my refund on the missing LED to apply to the cost of the Cannon.

[manxman]

And of course, the minute I posted the last bit of info., the 600 lumen LED showed up. This actually has three 200 lumen LED's in a housing that you screw into your 4-5-6 'D' cell Maglite. It replaces the original bulb and reflector. The beam is very white in color, but you lose the ability to focus the beam that you used to have with the halogen bulb. It is definitely BRIGHT. In broad daylight, you can see the beam on a tree trunk 40 feet away. I will add a comment to this after a test in darkness.

I am still going to buy the 1070 lumen monster light to carry in my Fit, but this one will serve that purpose until I can afford the monster.

EDIT: This upgrade for the big Maglites works well enough, but if you want a really bright LED light, I would suggest not spending $70. or more on this part. Save up for the monster light. This one is brighter than the standard Maglite with the "Nighteyez" LED at 122 lumens, but because you can't focus the 600 lumen LED to a sharp pencil beam (as you can with the standard "Nighteyez" LED flashlight) the 600 lumen LED has a more diffuse beam that does not seem to have very much more usable distance than the 122 lumen LED. I won't ask for a refund, but I can't recommend such an expensive light because its performance does not equal the expense.

[claymore]

No wonder everybody says Manxman is so BRIGHT :rolleyes:

[manxman]

No wonder everybody says Manxman is so BRIGHT :rolleyes:
Thanks, but not everybody says that, and nobody will be right until I buy THE MONSTER! If I had had one of those in September of '08, I could have prevented the wreck of my GD3. It is that thought that is pushing me into buying a $300.00 flashlight.

And, every vendor that I looked at before mentioning its existence on these forums is now out of stock and on back order on this item, and all have raised their prices up to $200.00 over their previous prices, making it a $4-500.00 flashlight. I'm not going to pay THAT much- we'll see what happens over time.

[manxman]

Sign up here: http://www.coastportland.com/x21.php
(You can keep re-entering every month).

I ordered mine today- could not resist after I found a killer deal on Amazon. One of their vendors is selling the X21 for $299., with a FREE Coast "T7 Tactical Spot Light". 200 lumens, one hand focus, sells for $89.00. That brings the actual cost of THE MONSTER down to $210..:eek::eek::eek::eek:

Now, manxman is TRULY BRIGHT!!!:D

[manxman]

^^^ The Light Cannon and the free smaller tactical flashlight are due for delivery between 3/3 and 3/5.

But along these same lines, here is another bargain from Costco------ High power tactical LED flashlights-- here is a link to a good description. The lights are advertised in the March issue of the Costco Connection magazine, and the lights can only be bought in the warehouse stores, not on-line. Two for $20.00.

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1584697

CuTeBoi (Anthony)--this is not SPAM. I pass along good deals to anyone interested, whenever/wherever I find them.

[claymore]

Dave finds the deals.

[claymore]

Found a new page for you flashlight guys to check out. Nice and small ones but still BRIGHT.

http://www.streamlight-flashlights.com/police-equipment.html

[manxman]

Thanks for the link claymore. The Streamlight brand is featured in a lot of law enforcement gear catalogs as well as sportsman's supply catalogs. That would seem to indicate good quality and high performance. Your linked page looks like a nice family of flashlights.

[manxman]

Thanks for the link claymore. The Streamlight brand is featured in a lot of law enforcement gear catalogs as well as sportsman's supply catalogs. That would seem to indicate good quality and high performance. Your linked page looks like a nice family of flashlights.
I just found another site, with the highest power flashlight so far- 1800 lumens! See the "Wolf Eyes" brand for the 1800 lumen HID flashlights.

http://www.luxolite.com/?gclid=CJm8wcj_saACFRJWagodMFo-Tw

[EXWRX]

On that same site, what about the HID Helios!?!! ONLY 4200 lumens at about .50 a lumen! :eek:
http://www.luxolite.com/products/polarion-ph40

[claymore]

Wow those are some serious lights and very pricey.

[manxman]

On that same site, what about the HID Helios!?!! ONLY 4200 lumens at about .50 a lumen! :eek:
http://www.luxolite.com/products/polarion-ph40
Wow! I missed those. Now my monster LED light doesn't seem to be so outrageously priced.

[macbuddy]

Dave,

My brother thought that you might be interested in this measly 2200 lumen light for a paltry $455!

Olight SR90 Intimidator (http://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=86&products_id=2211)

[manxman]

Dave,

My brother thought that you might be interested in this measly 2200 lumen light for a paltry $455!

Olight SR90 Intimidator (http://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=86&products_id=2211)
Thanks Mike, that one is interesting. But too expensive compared to the monster from Coast. Same distance also. The combination of benefits make the Coast Light Cannon a better buy- 600 hour battery life and 1540 foot distance, at a much lower price.

I do think that ultra bright flashlights is a field that is rapidly expanding, and we will see even more powerful lights in the future. I just hope that the prices don't keep climbing. The only thing that would make the Light Cannon perfect would be the addition of the strobe feature that you get with the Olight.

Thanks for mentioning this product, and thanks to James (the right brother?) for finding it..

[claymore]

Yep it's funny I was just following links from a cop site and the amount of sites and forums for ultra strong flashlights is amazing. Lots of people interested.

[manxman]

Yep it's funny I was just following links from a cop site and the amount of sites and forums for ultra strong flashlights is amazing. Lots of people interested.
Based on the specs of a lot of the lights that I have looked at, it seems that both "camps"-- LED "bulb" and incandescent bulb flashlights, are constantly trying to make more light. From the light that EXWRX found on my last link, and the one that macbuddy's brother found somewhere else, the incandescent folks can make a little more light than the LED equivalents. But when you look at the power consumption (battery life), unless you NEED the extra thousand lumens of the highest power incandescent, the highest power LED is the most practical for the dollar spent.

My Coast LED Lenser X21 gives me as much usable light as my incandescent 10 million candlepower rechargeable spotlight, and the LED Light Cannon actually has more perceptible range, weighs 3 pounds less, the beam can be focused, and can burn for 25 full days non-stop. I don't have enough room in my Fit to conveniently carry the gigantic incandescent spotlight, but I do for the Light Cannon- it is clipped to the bottom of my driver's door. At five pounds and 16" long, it is a weapon in light output and as dangerous as an aluminum bat or billy club ("baton" for the cops and Military Police).

Also, the Coast T7 Tactical LED flashlight arrived today. I have to give it a very high rating as well. 200 lumens bright, tail cap push-button switch, four AAA batteries that last 78 hours (and are held in a frame attached to the tail cap). Both this small tactical light and the Light Canon are made for the military and are as heavy duty as they come on the market. Of course, with a price to match.

When I buy anything, I try to buy the very best. I thought that the Fit was the best small car when I was shopping for small cars, and so far, I have been right (at least for my own needs). I don't think that I will regret buying either of my two new Coast LED lights, aside from having to wait a month or so to buy my smoked tail lights and trans. cooler.

[manxman]

P.s.

For anyone with an old-style big (3-4-5-D cell) Maglite, the 600 lumen TerraLux upgrade LED bulb is worth the $70.00 sales price. If you equate a standard flashlight to a garden hose, what you get with a high performance LED upgrade is a fire hose volume of light. The only thing that you don't get with the 600 lumen TerraLux is the ability to focus the beam. You get about a 4-5" tunnel of bright white light from the 2" diameter head of the big Maglites.

[macbuddy]

On that same site, what about the HID Helios!?!! ONLY 4200 lumens at about .50 a lumen! :eek:
http://www.luxolite.com/products/polarion-ph40

Jeff, when I showed your link to little brother, he replied with this:


That's the old dim model, this one is 5200 lumens:

http://www.tacticalleds.com/product-p/polarion-ph50.htm

If you want a light bar this one is 9000 lumens:

http://flashlightnews.org/story2754.shtml

[manxman]

Holy crap! The price on that "Polarion" would make any Fit owner choke. "Tim, the Tool Man Taylor" would be pleased. And he would have the LED light bar on his '66 Chevy Nomad wagon.

[claymore]

Found a nice small LED light for only $24.95 And it runs on two AA batteries. can't post the whole thing here but here is a snippet:

As I mentioned previously, I received a box from Gerber Tools a few weeks back and inside were two knives and two lights. Last week in the recreational section I reported on my test of the Gerber Epic knife. This week on the tactical side I'm reporting on my test of the Gerber Onyx 60 LED flashlight. Any LED light that runs on two AA batteries starts out with some benefit of the doubt.

Now I'm not bashing lights that run on CR123 3V lithium batteries, nor the batteries themselves, but this Onyx60 LED has something in common with only one other tactical light I'm familiar with: it runs on two AA batteries. For the cost of one pair of the 3V lithiums, you can buy about two dozen AAs. And while the 3V lithiums can only be found in certain department stores, camera shops or electronics shops, the AAs can be found in every convenience store, grocery store, drug store, etc. My point is that convenient availability of the AAs far exceeds that of the 3V lithiums and the price is lower by about 75% on avarege in my experience.

for more info see http://www.officer.com/web/online/On-the-Street/Gerber-Onyx60-LED-Light/21$53896

[claymore]

Found another light but it runs on the CR123 batteries. Here's a snippet from http://www.officer.com/web/online/On-the-Street/Gerbers-Expert-M-LED-Flashlight/21$54146

FRANK BORELLI
Equipment Review
Officer.com

In the past couple of weeks I've been steadily testing the collection of knives and lights I received from Gerber. This week's review of the Expert-M LED Light is the last of those reviews. Specifically designed for military use, the light is also (obviously) equally suited for law enforcement and other public safety personnel. Reportedly producing over 100 lumens of light for more than an hour, the Expert-M (for Military) is a handy sized package that performed well through the testing. Let me tell you about it.

Measuring right at 5.5" long and with a body manufactured out of aircraft grade type III aluminum (aren't they all?), the Expert-M's published material says it produces over 100 lumens of light for more than an hour. It runs on two CR123 3V lithium batteries and a set came with the light, so my first test was to see how long it would run on them.

The tailcap switch on the Expert-M allows for two functions:

1. Touch pressure activation: you push the button and the light stays on as long as you hold the button, and
2. Hard on activation by turning the tailcap clockwise all the way in.

If you turn the tailcap far enough counter-clockwise you reaach a point where pushing the button won't turn the light on anymore - a safety disconnect if you will.

So, with a stopwatch handy I turn the light on by turning the tailcap all the way in, set it down and started the stopwatch. I checked on it every ten minutes or so and didn't notice any appreciable dimming until about 77 minutes had been counted off on the stopwatch. The light was toasty warm by then but still working. Across the span of the next 20 minutes it got even dimmer but still stayed lit until it seemed to "bottom out" and hold a low level of light - I'd estimate about 10 lumens (just guessing) for several hours. As far as I was concerned, it had lived up to the claim of over 100 lumens for more than an hour.

[claymore]

Got a powerful one for you super flashlight lovers.

http://www.wickedlasers.com/lasers/The_Torch-74-41.html

Currently being reviewed by The Guinness Book of World Records, The Torch is the world's brightest and most powerful flashlight. This flashlight is easily capable of melting plastic, lighting paper on fire within seconds, and if you want, frying an egg or a marshmallow on a stick! At 4100 lumens, The Torch is 100 lumens more powerful than The Polarion Helios, the former most powerful flashlight. Looking to buy a bright flashlight? This flashlight torch will not disappoint you.

So how did we make such a powerful, bright flashlight? The Torch uses an incredible halogen light bulb rated at 100 Watts and runs on a custom built high voltage rechargeable battery. To keep the front lens from shattering due to the immense heat generated, The Torch flashlight is equipped with a specialized heat resistant glass lens and is encased in a durable, military grade aluminum case.

[EXWRX]

but with a battery life of 5 minutes, not very useful. . .

[manxman]

Now THAT'S NICE! I was expecting to faint at the price, but for the extreme performance, $200.00 is a bargain.

[manxman]

That's true too. Didn't catch that in skimming the ad. Oh well.

[claymore]

The ultimate cigarette lighter

[manxman]

Hah! And if you're not bald now, you will be. Use this to light a butt, and POOF goes your hair. And your nose.

[claymore]

Found a nice flashlight that you can use AA ,AAA, or 3 V batteries. Nice to have in emergencies when battery supply is iffy.

short sample of the article;

A few years back, after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast states pretty hard, I did some security work in New Orleans. Everybody and their brother had cool lights that required CR-123 3V lithium batteries. The challenge? Supplies in that area were limited and getting new supplies of such items in wasn't easy. I remember having a conversation with a Chief of Police after the fact and he expressed his wonderment that no manufacturer was producing an LED-driven light that used AA batteries. It was almost as if the battery companies pushed for lights that ran on CR-123 3Vs.

read the whole thing at:
http://www.officer.com/web/online/On-the-Street/Gerber-Option-60-Flashlight/21$56969

[claymore]

Got a smaller BRIGHT flashlight today.

"Given the concealed-carry licensee’s enduring love affair for small, lightweight handguns—snub-nosed revolvers and subcompact semi-automatics—it was only a matter of time before the flashlight shrank in size, too.

Without question, it’s easy to subscribe to the less-is-more philosophy—especially concerning compact and subcompact pistols. Despite understanding the allure of snubbies and pocket pistols, my heart will always belong to the 1911. Still, the SureFire E1B “Backup” has its place.

First concerns those who subscribe to the principle of “redundancy,” the notion you need critical gear backed up since everything breaks or eventually stop functioning at the worst possible moment and validates the “one is none and two is one” philosophy. No matter if your primary light utilizes a Picatinny rail or is a second hand-held unit, the E1B delivers a maximum output of a darkness-destroying 110-lumens, should your initial source fail."

read the whole thing here

http://www.shootingillustrated.com/7049/surefire-e1b-backup-flashlight/

[claymore]

Wow just the thing to carry in your Fit. You could signal low flying planes with this bad boy.

4Sevens Maelstrom S18

To say that the new Maelstrom S18 from 4Sevens is bright would be an understatement. The baseball bat sized flashlight that your grandfather keeps under his bed is bright. The Maelstrom S18 is face meltingly, eye searingly, hair singeingly bright and yet it still fits easily into your hand.

So how bright is it really? Well, it uses a cutting edge SST-90 LED that puts out 1200 lumens! Keep in mind, that is 1200 lumens after the losses to the lens and reflector – not the less honest lumens at the emitter that some other brands advertise. 1200 honest to goodness out the front (OTF) lumens. Perhaps the most impressive part is that the Maelstrom S18 can put out those 1200 lumens for .6 hours or a 1200 lumen strobe mode for 1.5 hours!

Read the whole thing here:

http://jerkingthetrigger.com/blog/2011/08/13/4sevens-maelstrom-s18/

[macbuddy]

Haha! John, you got me all excited! I was reading your post on the tiny screen of my iPhone, and thought, "Wow, all that power for only $18!" I better get some new glasses!

[claymore]

Ha wait until you get a old as I am and have to wear glasses to read everything. It's terrible I still can see an ant walking on the wall across the room but bring print close to my face and it gets blurry. Been like this since I was about 45 and sitting on a plane going back to the states and was having a hard time reading because I couldn't put the book far enough from my face to get it clear because of the seatback of the seat in front of me.