This isn't a new gadget, but it may be new to you, so what the heck.
I'm a huge fan of the flashlights from Surefire. These guys take their flashlights very seriously. They are mostly aimed at military and law enforcement applications, so the stuff is very tough, insanely bright (they have a light that can blind you through your eyelids), and super functionally designed.
The 6P is the granddaddy of their lights and a personal favorite. It's a good size, bright (see above), and happens to be a good fighting light if you find yourself in a shootout in lowlight. (Doesn't everyone?)
They have very slick LED and weapons-mounted lights too. Their website and catalog are glorious and really show off their passion for excellence.
I love companies who really care about what they build, are honest about what they can and can't build (e.g. they don't claim their LED flashlight is visible at 20 miles and can last a lifetime on a single battery), and build great products.
Great, great stuff.
ryan Reply
no the Night-Ops Gladius is the best
Kaare Reply
Try to take a look at this review - It seems as if the world could have a new titelholder !
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=135633
andy Reply
@ the previous posters.
if you are a collector, geek or glowing things afficionado, both the lights you mentioned might be of interest to you. however the police departments are NOT stupid when choosing between those fancy memory-electronic-I don't know how many functions-strobe-low beam-yadda-yadda crap.
let me get this clear - we need ON and OFF and GOOD BEAM and POWER. and that's it. the last thing you would care for when a guy jumps at you with a needle or a knife would be fumbling around with the buttons, making a fool out of yourself (or risking your life) and going "how the f*** does this operate?"
to add to this, the less fancy memory and settings the light has, the less prone to breaking down it is.
so yeah. in my opinions whatever you might want to make your choice out of other than Streamlight and Surefire (not necessarily in that order) is only expensive crap. there's a reason these two providers are supplying armies and law enforcement agencies around the world and for sure it isn't geekness.
sam Reply
Yeah no kidding my dad has that flash light and the shit is bright. we found a buck (6 pts) 100+ yards away with it
Eko Reply
Thanks for the info... I just looking the right flashlight at the moment and this will be my reference too: Streamlight and Surefire.
Skier88 Reply
Kaare, you're certainly correct, you need something as simple as this Surefire when in a dangerous situation. However, consider that there are many flashlights just as simple and many times as bright. Take, for instance, a single mode Wolf Eyes Sniper. Same batteries, better regulation, better runtime, better optics, better price, and over THREE TIMES as bright. Those things do matter, even to the police.
Additionally, NO, more modes does not make it more likely to break. It is necessary to use circuitry in flashlights of this quality no matter what; adding modes will add only a tiny bit more circuitry, if any. Besides, you're overlooking the basic fact that quality easily makes up for complexity. Consider the Ra flashlights at ralights.com. They are one of the most complicated flashlights around, and are also THE TOUGHEST and MOST RELIABLE flashlights around. It all comes down to quality.
Last, there is one extra feature that really does help - a low mode. These flashlights often run out in an hour and a half or less, which means those people who need reliable light will have NOTHING. 90% of the time full intensity is entirely unnecessary, and you can get 10-15 hours of light at around 50-60 lumens. That's also useful when the batteries are $3 to $10 per set. Two modes can be easily implemented in the style of the EagleTac T10LC2 or the Fenix TK11 - loosen the head slightly for low, and keep it tight for high. So just keep it tightened, and you can get 100% output just as fast and with as little thought as if it were a 6P.
Then again, these flashlights weren't in production in 2004 - the ultra-efficient LEDs they use didn't even exist yet. Maybe the 6P was the best choice 5 years ago, but now it is far from it.
Skier88 Reply
Oh, and BTW Tony, congrats - this is FFX3's pick for "world's best flashlight" (and google's top result).
Skier88 Reply
last edit - sorry, that was andy, not Kaare.
Tungsten Rings with Inlay Reply
you're overlooking the basic fact that quality easily makes up for complexity. Consider the Ra flashlights at ralights.com. They are one of the most complicated flashlights around, and are also THE TOUGHEST and MOST RELIABLE flashlights around. It all comes down to quality.
Patrick Reply
Only problem with Surefire flashlights is that they are overpriced.
ted Reply
second most important factor in choosing a flashlight:
it doesn't leave you unexpectedly in the dark!
all ligts should have some sort of indication when the battery
is about to run out!