As long as we're on the subject, here's a video link that Tad posted at Planet Isuzoo a while back...

http://extreme-geek.blogspot.com/2006/11/fire-starter-flashlight.html

Now THAT'S a flashlight!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />


<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'm kind of a flashlight geek too. Ever since I went to LED, I can't stand regular lights. And now that you can get LEDs in 3Watt for relative cheap, there's no reason to ever have to carry a standard battery, standard light.

The light output of a white LED, is uniform and has none of the black spots you see with regular bulbs. The bulbs last forever and they don't get hot. They're also more effecient and even as the battery drains, the lights will still work some long after a regular bulb would has stop burning. And in pitch dark, an LED light really does look like sunlight hitting the ground. It's just amazing. I don't ever want to go back.

I've converted all my D cell mag lights to the 3 watt LEDs and they work awesome, but they're still just back up lights.

I have the 2 AA mini-mag 3 watt LED and it's nice, but I would imagine it's not going to last very long on a single set of batteries if my double 123A battery 3 watt light is only rated for less than 2 hours. Still, for a back up mini-mag, it's nice.

For work, I've carried a rechargable stinger on belt for last 14 or so years. Same flashlight all that time. I've had to replace the battery 3 times and the bulb several times, and case looks like it's been through hell and back as many times as I've dropped it, but it's been a dang good flashlight and I still rely on it

In my truck I have a Rechargable maglight, equivilent in size to about a 3 D cell Mag light, but much brighter of course.

For hiking around I bought a Coast 1 watt LED headlamp and absolutely love it. 3 AAA powered. Lasts forever, provides more than enough light for hiking or biking around at night.

My latest light is one that I will probably carry with me everywhere I go. It's a Streamlight TaskLight 2L. My first light powered off Lithium 123A batteries (except for my Glock weapon light) and has a 3 watt LED. It's a little bit smaller than my stinger and a good bit lighter. What I like most about it, is that it has two settings that allow you run the LED at a full 3 Watts (which lasts about 1.5-2 hours) or at about 1 watt (which last about 9 hours).

3 Watt LEDs are nice, but it's really nice to able to lower the output to conserve power.

As for Lithium 123A batteries, they are extremely expensive at retail stores, anywhere from $5-10 a piece, but I found an online source for $1 a piece and bought a whole bunch of them.

My next flashlight will likely be a super powerful LED rechargable, roughly the size of a maglight. Something will way more than the equivilent of a 5 watt LED if I can find it.

I built a similar underwater light, used a 12V 50watt MR-16 bulb and 8 NI-MH AA. Burn time was only 12 minutes, but dam bright <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mrt.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

2 d-cel Mag under the drivers seat. LED headlight in the center console,3,000,000 Candle power spotter, 6-volt lantern, and the original mitsu OEM flash light in the back door. All of which are kept in the truck. Yea,I'm a flashlight-geak too. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Lithium batteries work better in the cold. When I camped San Gorgonio Mtn at 11,500 feet my alkalines leaked.

And they last longer in storage too, and are much lighter for the amount of energy they store. You can buy lithium AA batteries and they're amazingly lighter than alkaline or rechargables, but I don't know what the difference in capacity. 123As are awesome. Compact, light, but good capcity. Just expensive and hard to find, unless you go online.

All your flashlights suck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79Aw8nH9IrM <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

I took my son camping this weekend and, on the way there, I bought the 4D Maglight LED. I LOVE it and will probably buy the various other size C and D cell lights to keep around.

Good luck with the search!

Ya, that's pretty cool, but I actually burned a hole in an old car seat by accident with my rechargable mag light. In fact, I had a strap on a backpack instantly catch on fire, the moment I set the maglight next to it, while left turned on. It has to do more than just with the power output of the light. If it were just output, the headlights and spotlights on our trucks would set the woods on fire as we drove down the trail, but that doesn't happen.

What is likely causing that light to set things on fire is what caused my Mag light to burn up my seat and backpack strap...the focus beam of a small lens. Essentially the same thing as using a magnifying glass and the sun to set things on fire.

That is still an impressive light, because focus beam or not, it still packs a lot of power. I would imagine it gets pretty hot and isn't very practicle to hold for even brief periods of time.

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews_index/reviews_by_mfgrs.htm

This guy knows his lights. Far too many reviews to read them all but he seems objective and actually shows what the beam patten looks like and battery life is tested first hand.

Spot light I use a Surefire M4 Devastator.
Pocket light I use a Surefire U2.
Headlamp Pelican Duo LED,Xenon.
Trucklight the good old Maglight 4D and a minimag in the glovebox.