Best Flashlight for the Money

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Mos Eisley

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I need a general purpose flashlight with high lumen rating, battery operated, and decent price. I'm talking a good next to the chair or in the truck flashlight. Amazon and Google both are getting to be a nightmare for faked reviews and sponsored sites.
 

sklfco

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Fenix 32/35 PD/UE line is relatively inexpensive, tough and has served daily duty in my pocket for nearing a decade. It runs on 18650 rechargeable, daily use will see a battery last up to a month before it needs swapped out with a freshly charged one. I run orbtronic units in mine that are 3k + mAh. The initial investment will be just a little north of a C note but it will be an investment that will pay for itself. E6154A70-A840-4247-8CCB-D140867CBACE.jpeg
 

mikeyinokc

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Surefire is the Cadillac of flashlights.....I have owned several of them over the years, and still have 3....However several years back I bought a Fenix, and for the money they have much brighter lights.....If you will be using a light in similar harsh conditions as the military does, the Surefire line would probably hold up better.....If not, the Fenix lights are a better buy in my opinion....
 

DSUFLYBOY

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I have been a flashlight aficionado for at least 3 decades. I have flashlights of all shapes, sizes, battery types, you name it.

My every day carry flashlight for the past several years has been the Streamlight ProTac 1L-1AA. It is programmable and can run off of either 1 CR-123 or 1 AA.

Watch some reviews on the Interweb to see how it functions and such. I programmed mine to come on at the low power setting, then the next tap it goes high.

I have had zero issues with this light, and I know several friends that bought many to use as weapon lights, so it can take a beating.

I also bought some industrial glow in the dark paint years ago. It has the consistency of wet sand, dried almost clear, and is though as hell. I take this paint and put a very fine ring around the bezel. If the light should fall and extinguish during use, the ring glows for several minutes. I do this to the majority of my flashlights.

Hope the information helps you.
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"Watch your six, count your rounds, and keep your powder dry."
 

TwoForFlinching

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Since we're talking truck and home use, I have to tell you about this Coast G450
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Coast-G450-1400-Lumen-LED-Flashlight-with-Twist-Focus-21864/305663912

It is ridiculously bright, throws a huge light pattern, works on cheap batteries, and gets a very good amount of time out of those batteries. I have one in each vehicle, one by my chair, one in kitchen, one in bedroom, one at work, and it's the light I give for xmas. They usually go on sale half price around the holidays, but the last 2 I bought, I didn't mind paying full price.
 

Glock 'em down

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I don't own anything but Surefire and Streamlight. And here's a short story about a rechargeable light.

Roughly 12-13 years ago, I was just about to get off shift (2300hrs) when SPD got into a foot pursuit just north of town, that resulted in a manhunt through the woods.

I showed up with my trusty rechargeable Streamlight SL20 and joined in the hunt. I got about an 1/8 of a mile from my cruiser and my torch went DEAD! Sadly, with all the dignity I could muster, I tucked my tail betwixt me legs and ambled back to my car and left.

A few days later, I was at Outdoor America Store (remember that place?) and told that story to a guy working there...might have been Hoov...and he introduced me to the Surefire brand.

Now, I had heard of Surefire, but A) I couldn't afford one and B) the frickin batteries for them were so damned expensive! Regardless, I dropped about 50-60 bucks for me very first Surefire, a 6P.

I've owned several since that first 6P, and I'm sure I'll buy more. They're that good. Of course, Streamlight is about to pass them to the finish line. They just seem to be more innovative than Surefire.

Nowadays, on duty, I carry a Surefire G2X Tactical (600 Lumens) along with a spare mag in a Galco MFP, as well as a Streamlight Microstream as a backup and an extra pair of CR123 batts in a little plastic box made by ASP. Off duty, it's a Streamlight ProTac 1L-1AA, the spare batts and the mighty little Microstream.

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