Looking for decent flash light and head-lamp........

[JPMacG]

candlepowerforums.com The guys there are insanely obsessed with flashlights.

Personally, I like the little AAA cell LED flashlight from Harbor Freight. I use two rechargeable Eneloop batteries and an external charger. For $7 the thing has held up amazingly well. And when the contacts start to become intermittent I will just get a new one for $7.

If you want a super bright light, look at the bicycle lights. They run around $100 but they are blindingly bright and well built.

 

[C-Bag]

I feel your pain Brino, been there done that, especially tossed them to break on purpose! For any kind of work I don't use anything except a headlight anymore. I buy all my stuff in outdoor stores as they seem to be better quality. I have a Petzl that's over 15yrs old and while all my Maglites have quit, everytime I pick up that Petzl it works. It's super tiny, funny little thing. Folds and wads up in a little plastic pod. I guess Petzl was the inventor of headlights for backpackers and climbers. Mine uses a button battery and has a funny little switch with different modes but seems to get amazing light and time.

Also have a bulkier Princeton Tec that hasn't failed me yet and uses AA's. Like has been noted if you want painfully bright and rechargeable bike lites are the bomb. I have a NR Lumina 550 that on the low setting you can't look at from two blocks away during the day! Expensive but ruggedly made, waterproof and BRIGHT! I've used it for a flashlight a couple of times, wow.

 

[Nogoingback]

Like dlane, I have a Fenix LED flashlight. Best flashlight I've ever owned. It's smaller than a two cell maglite but the light
output is MUCH greater. I bought one that takes double A's, not a proprietary rechargeable battery so that I can take
it camping and not depend on outlets.

 

[Aaron_W]

I've owned several Maglites, never had an issue with them, well except for the tiny AAA ones. Those don't seem to hold up so well. I wouldn't go as far as Mikein OR and call them obsolete C and D cell flash lights are becoming specialized, perhaps useful for aircraft spotting at night... The last AA Mini-Mag I bought was an LED version and it outperforms my older 2 and 3 D cell halogen lights at probably 1/8 the size and weight.

For a Headlamp, I started using a Black Diamond Icon for work about 10 years ago, and it is a great headlamp. In fact I still use the first one I bought. It uses 4 AA and has a low and high settings, low is more than sufficient for more than 90% of my needs. The batteries last for weeks of extensive use when primarily used on the low setting. It is on the large side though, it goes onto a helmet at work. A smaller model might be desirable for casual use camping or around the house.

 

[darkzero]

candlepowerforums.com The guys there are insanely obsessed with flashlights.

Screwed up 15+ yrs of my life! I sure do miss it but glad I was finally able to kick the addiction.

 

[westerner]

streamlights are good and rechargeable

Good enough for the first responders in my world, good enough for me. Warranty cannot be beaten either.

 

[TakeDeadAim]

I have been so frustrated by cheap flash lights and head lamps over the last week.

At work I was using a flash light (and an old hard drive platter as a mirror) to inspect some fans and my light kept blinking.
I would turn it off then on and it was okay for a bit, but then intermittent again.
I could bang it or lightly touch the switch and it was okay for another few minutes.

In the shop the other night I was using my head lamp for close-up spot lighting on a task. It too was intermittent.
I could bang it it was okay for a few minutes.
Then when I tried to turn it off I could not....it was stuck on.
I ended up throwing it on to the concrete floor where it did finally turn off as the AAA cells scattered off in various directions.

I need suggestions on some good flash lights and head lamps.

Are the Maglites still made well?
I see Lee Valley now has a number of Cree lights...has anyone tried those?
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/sho...lights-and-headlights/67596-cree-led-headlamp
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/sho...ghts-and-headlights/70631-suprabeam-headlamps
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/sho...eadlights/74771-suprabeam-q7defend-flashlight

What I would like to find is high-end ones with great switches and great battery terminals.
I would pay for gold plated contacts in the switch and battery area, but no one seems to claim/advertise that.

Rechargeable (USB or wall-wart) would be ideal.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Frustrated in the dark
-brino

I have carried a flashlight in my pocket daily for over 25 years. I worked as a paramedic and the need for a light is a daily affair and it has to be one you can rely on. I tried several of the cheap ones and finally spent some money ($100 range) about 15 years ago. I have had that light in my pocket daily since then and its still going strong. It takes the 123 3 Volt batteries and I maybe use two per year. The light I have is a JetBeam and I have several friends who have them as well. I also have a NiteCore light which I don't like as well but it sits next to my bed and gets frequent use as well. I would not shy away from a well-made light. The JetBeam have a lifetime warranty and that's hard to beat

 

[brino]

I would not shy away from a well-made light.

Agreed. Me too. It's finding the source of a good one that's difficult.

The JetBeam have a lifetime warranty and that's hard to beat

Thanks for the strong recommendation. I will take a look at them!

-brino

 

[ACHiPo]

Brino,
This is on you, you enabler you! (MikeInOr, DeadAim, DarkZero, Aaron, DLane you have some culpability too)

Ok, so being delivered this week is a dual 18650 flashlight from Nitecore Nitecore EC4S because I NEED 1800 lumens when walking my dogs!

Oh, and of course I NEED some 3500 mAH 18650 Samsung batteries.

Oh, and since I'll have batteries to rotate, I need to try out one of those "cheap" Bangood Flashlight

Man and I thought the Hobby Machining rabbit hole was deep. I had NO idea people got so into flashlights!

 

[brino]

Brino,
This is on you, you enabler you! (MikeInOr, DeadAim, DarkZero, Aaron, DLane you have some culpability too)

Okay, I will shoulder my share of the blame!

I recently picked up a Coast brand head light and small flashlight as I needed something immediately.
They were available locally, were decently priced and have a lifetime warranty.
They do NOT say gold-plated contacts (which was one thing I wanted) but I'm hopeful that if they start flickering I can use the warranty.

I did do some searching on 18650 stuff, but there's just so many....I had no idea how deep this particular "rabbit hole" was.

-brino