Flashlights

What are your thoughts about headlamps?

Between the lights on our phones and the prevalence of headlamps, I haven't bought a new flashlight in years.

dedmiston wrote:
What are your thoughts about headlamps?

Between the lights on our phones and the prevalence of headlamps, I haven't bought a new flashlight in years.

This ^^^^. After using mag-lites for years, I've about completed the switch entirely to headlamps in the 5 (!) wheeled vehicles, the 23' riverboat, and the ol' PA-12. One of the headlamps is actually a band that holds a mini-mag mag-lite, but the rest are a variety of Princeton makes from our local hardware chain. Between $29 - $39 each depending on the season and the features.

After 25 years, it's finally sunk in with me that I don't do well with rechargeable stuff. Now all the headlamps use the same battery, so I just once a year make a sweep through the vehicles and replace batteries.

You can't go wrong with a Maglite.

I buy about 10 of those $1 things at Wal Mart and toss them when they dim. Can't buy batteries that cheap

Harbor Freight specials, even have one hanging on the linen closet door handle at home, just in case I can't find the cell phone.

Ken

I am a flashaholic. I have dozens of flashlights, and they're not the cheap two-buck variety either. I've always liked good, bright lights.

One of my favorites is the Sofirn Sp36. 5000 lumens (no exaggeration), mostly floody but it will still punch out a good distance. Good, solid build. You can recharge the 3 lithium batteries right in the flashlight via a USB cord, and the batteries are easily replaceable if they ever go bad. $67 on Amazon. I love having a flashlight that's brighter than my vehicle's headlamps! :)

If you prefer something that takes AA batteries, the Nitecore EA42 puts out 1800 lumens on 4 AA cells. It's $70. They make less powerful lights for lower prices, if you don't need that much. Other brands I've had good luck with are Fenix, Zebralight, and Eagletac.

I think you can find good headlamps in almost any of the above brands, too. The Zebralight headlamps are a right-angle flashlight in a headband rig, and you can take it out of the headband very easily to use as a handheld.

I do have a 4D Maglite with a LED drop-in, but honestly it's so much heavier and more dim than my other stuff, the Maglite just sits in a corner.

For something tiny, inexpensive, and always at hand, look at a keychain AAA light. Either the Sofirn C01s or the Lumintop EDC01 will give you around 100 lumens; twist the head to turn on, loosen to turn off, or a quick loosen-tighten changes brightness (no switch to go bad, ever). Hard to beat for $10.

I recently bought this pair of COB flashlights. They are stupid bright on full, have both a magnet and a hook, and are USB rechargeable. $20 for the pair. They're so bright that one of them is now permanently attached to the hutch on my toolbox in the garage and plugged into the USB socket in the power strip. It allows a great view into the drawers including the cavernous bottom drawer. I have 2 big LED tube lights, 200W of led bulbs in the garage door opener, and this little $10 flashlight easily outshines them all. I couldn't be happier.

I just bought a 3-pak of flashlights today at Costco. $14.00 and change. Had them before and they work great. Uses 4 AAA batteries. Great for camping. If one of the grandkids drops one, no big deal. I'm through with expensive flashlights.

I have quite a few led flashlights that are 2500 lumen and run on 9 AA batteries. Every vehicle, boat, and the camper have one. I bought them at Menards on Black Friday. While on vacation, I carry a 1000 lumen light that I carry in a holster.
I admit to being a flashlight addict. My name is Bob.

Years ago my wife bought a Costco pack of flashlights. One of them is amazing. It takes C cell batteries but it has an adjustable lens that can tighten up the beam of light which is already amazingly bright. I rarely use this light. It is just way more powerful than needed.

For walking in the dark the flashlight that really works is the one you have with you. I second the recommendation for Harbor Freight flashlights. You can get them for about $1. They put out plenty of light and I have never had one fail. They run for a great many hours on a set of batteries. I also like the fact that they are simple. One click and the light goes on. Click again and it turns off. Sounds simple but it seems a great many LED flashlights are way more complicated with low beam, high beam, and intermittent settings. You need to push the switch many times just to get the unit to turn on and then off.