A really good flashlight

[BnRidge]

My latest flashlight purchase was this "Floodlight" from Harbor Freight. Rechargeable, and good for a few hours.

The ICON version is bigger, heavier, and appears to include a port to use it as a cell phone backup battery. The Braun version is small and compact (3 colors).

The handle can be used to prop it up at different angles, and includes a magnet to snap it to a car hood. I find they are convenient to carry, and I can use a couple of fingers through the handle, and still carry stuff with my hand. Overall I find both versions to be impressive. And, folded up, the smaller Braun fits in a coat pocket. I haven't dunked mine in a bucket of water yet, but they appear to be very water resistant. And, even reasonably rugged.

It is called a flood lamp, and has a fairly wide beam. Shining it at a white ceiling will illuminate the room. Unfortunately it doesn't have a lantern mode.

https://www.harborfreight.com/lighting/flashlights/2100-lumen-led-rechargeable-magnetic-compact-floodlight-black-59170.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/lighting/flashlights/750-lumen-rechargeable-ultra-compact-magnetic-led-floodlight-blue-59225.html

I've only been using them for a bit under a month, but was impressed enough that I gave several away for Christmas.

My son likes to buy things. Usually they're blingy and usless. So he buys another, sometimes equally useless, sometimes better. Then another, etc. I got to go through his inventory and form my own reviews, then buy once cry once things for my own. The braun puck light was tops on the list.

 

[Panik]

So about 10 years I got sucked into reading a bunch about the high-end "every-day carry" trend. Thankfully, I didn't get drawn into the purchasing and accumulation part of that.

However, it did lead me down memory lane and the flashlights dad had when I was growing up - at one point in the 80's he did a fair bit of diving and had what were for the time a couple high end dive flashlights that he kept around the house for general & emergency purposes. Between that and the desire to have a couple decent flashlights around the house I ended up purchasing a:

4Sevens Malestrom

4Sevens Quark

Both have been amazing, simple interface flashlights and are still going strong. The Maelstrom stays on the safe at the house and when the power goes out automatically turns in moonlit mood. If necessary also has enough power to pretty much illuminate the yard and/or blind someone with a click of a button. The Quark stays at work and has been my go to for everything from looking in animals' mouths for exams or trying to figure out what fell behind the furniture at work.

4Sevens used to be GA based, but sadly sold out; however the quality of that line seems to have remained the same.

 

[ultrarunner]

Ray-O-Vac Sportsman Lantern is my go to lamp but the battery is getting hard to find locally...

My grandfather gave it to me over 50 years ago and he had it maybe back in the 1950's?

 

[oosik]

I have three different lights. Fenix - Makita - Maglight. I use the Makita the most. The Fenix will tear the shell right off a coconut. It turns the far side of my little lake ( 1000 feet away ) to near broad daylight. The Maglight is one of those aluminum "cop" type.

Brownie and I go outside - every morning/every evening. So he can do his business. It's always dark when we are out. The flashlight will reveal any "eyeballs" and let me know it's time to go back in the house.

 

[ultrarunner]

I like Maglights but have run into damage from leaking battery corrosion at times… all given to me because of corrosion.

The aluminum construction isn’t a good mix with leaking Duracell batteries.

But… make a great billy club!

 

[Hay Dude]

Ray-O-Vac Sportsman Lantern is my go to lamp but the battery is getting hard to find locally...

My grandfather gave it to me over 50 years ago and he had it maybe back in the 1950's?

View attachment 2115448

That flashlight brings back memories. Local farmer had an old Deere 44xx series open station and he used to put it on the left side fender when roading in the dark for a headlight and tail light.
Great man cave piece, too.

 

[Sigarms]

I consider myself a flashlight connoisseur. Used various lights in my 30 year firefighting career, and liked the various Streamlight brand lights, favorite being the "Survivor" series 90 degree lights.

I've used various lights over the last 30 years, and since we've been married for over 20 years, my wife will tell you the last thing I need is another flashlight LOL

Streamlight by far is the best brand I've used.

My two favorite

ProTac® 1L-1AA | Handheld Flashlight | Streamlight®

The above for small physical size that can easily clip to a cap for you wearing it on your head. Can easily see a tree line 80 yards away on the high setting.

PolyTac® X | Rechargeable Handheld Flashlight | Streamlight®

For the above, even though larger than the 1L-1AA model, distance is phenomenal for the smaller size vs some of Streamlights larger lights.

Just love the plastic feel of the Polytac series vs the metal, particularly cold and you aren't wearing gloves. Could never figure it out, but there is a difference in the design between the black and yellow light. Prefer the black due to being able to be more easy to activate with your thumb.

Both lights cost around $40

I've gone the cheap road on lights, never seems to work out after a year or two. Also prefer to stay away from rechargeable lights.

Generally buy a case (100pk) of CR123A batteries from Battery Junction (generally has good deals on both lights and batteries from past experiences). 100 pack will generally last a couple of years as we do take the dogs out for night walks out back and a good flashlight is indispensable.

 

[dieselscout80]

I've used various lights over the last 30 years, and since we've been married for over 20 years, my wife will tell you the last thing I need is another flashlight LOL

Streamlight by far is the best brand I've used.

My two favorite

ProTac® 1L-1AA | Handheld Flashlight | Streamlight®

The above for small physical size that can easily clip to a cap for you wearing it on your head. Can easily see a tree line 80 yards away on the high setting.

PolyTac® X | Rechargeable Handheld Flashlight | Streamlight®

For the above, even though larger than the 1L-1AA model, distance is phenomenal for the smaller size vs some of Streamlights larger lights.

Just love the plastic feel of the Polytac series vs the metal, particularly cold and you aren't wearing gloves. Could never figure it out, but there is a difference in the design between the black and yellow light. Prefer the black due to being able to be more easy to activate with your thumb.

View attachment 2123931

Both lights cost around $40

I've gone the cheap road on lights, never seems to work out after a year or two. Also prefer to stay away from rechargeable lights.

Generally buy a case (100pk) of CR123A batteries from Battery Junction (generally has good deals on both lights and batteries from past experiences). 100 pack will generally last a couple of years as we do take the dogs out for night walks out back and a good flashlight is indispensable.

Have you tried the stream light rechargeable batteries in your polytac?

 

[Sigarms]

Have you tried the stream light rechargeable batteries in your polytac?

No.

I'm kind of getting old and it's no different than when I go to a gas station and they ask me if I want their "savings card". I've got too many cards in my wallet as is, and I've got too many flashlights LOL

Just keep things simple (other than having too many flashlights in my wife's opinion LOL).

That said, perhaps I'm missing the boat on something

 

[Sigarms]

Have you tried the stream light rechargeable batteries in your polytac?

Have you, and what is your own experience with them?

I made me look. For what I pay for a 100 pack of batteries, I could get a 8 count battery charger with 8 batteries.

Generally speaking, I don't have faith in rechargeable flashlight batteries holding up over time.