Re: Pelican, Streamlight, Surefire

Hey guys, how do these 3 brands compare with others? Say Olight, Nitecore, Thrunite, Fenix, Eagletac, etc… Some of these look nice and very interested. Any of you ” PROS ” have suggestions? Please advise. Thanks.

Yes, just genuinely curious what makes a stock light with 1000-ish lumens worth a bill and a half.

The gun guys love um.

Curious what makes you think that flashlight prices should depend only on lumens…?

Price is important if light is great build, and good lumens. Some lights have higher lumens and less priced and NOT as bright.

Well, here’s my thoughts. Lights illuminate. Brighter is probably better. I’m sure reliability is also a factor. Besides that, I have no idea. That’s why I’m asking.

Is there anything else that factors in?

Your thread title doesn’t jibe with what you are are actually asking advice on……

I can say that quite a few LEOs I know carry some of those brands because I believe they offer warranties/guarantees on their products which is very important if you aren’t into modding. I have opened both Streamlights and Surefires, and the ones I opened were not made to be opened or modified. I recall the Streamlight actually seemed to be made very cheaply inside. However…it was manufactured in such a way that it could take quite a bit of abuse and still function. For those that may purchase those brands, dependability might be their top priority.

-throw distance
-spill angle
-CRI
-tint
-corona
-waterproofing
-aesthetics
-brand reputation
-potting
-dust proofing
-lens quality
-battery life
-battery compatibility
-driver features
-driver quality
-body material
-user interface
-and a lot more that I’m probably forgetting.

I’ve not have any problems with Pelican, Thrunite and Eagletac. I have had minor to serious problems with the other names you listed.

Ok, now another question. Does it mean a higher end light is better than a budget light?

That depends on
-does that light have the features you want
-is that light’s performance satisfactory for your use case
-how much money you currently have
-how much income you get from your job
-what kinds of hobbies do you prefer spending your money on
-what your personal definition of “better” is

For me User Interface is as important as quality. Surefire is not the highest quality, such as when my Aviator-AM amber low faintly flicker. Or my C3-BK had a clip curve protrude above the body so the head could not be tightened.

However, Surefire has the best tactical UI. A good example of the need for a tactical UI is the human performance under fatigue, stress or both. I experienced this two days ago when the cruise control in my car was activated. Despite my close familiarity with the two buttons and two toggles on either side of my steering wheel, I was fatigued and could not think which of the four to squeeze to deactivate my cruise control. Thank God because I remembered the giant single brake pedal does it. Whew!

The Surefire M6 Guardian is the greatest large tactical flashlight ever designed. Why? Because of its giant single button. Totally fail-safe tactical UI.

I see. So there’s no fixed line between better. I should stop now before I’m considered a troll. Thanks for the patience.

:+1:
Some people spend $1000 on a tiny flashlight made of exotic metals just because it looks unique and they can afford it.
To them it is “better”, so there’s nothing wrong with buying it since it also supports the manufacturer :slight_smile:

I totally understand unique or exotic materials. I think I mentioned stock or production in my first post.

What I really mean is performance but there you go, the question stops when the answers are qualified with a “for me”.

I do not have any of the brand as mentioned.
Can only share Pelican durability as i am a user myself.

*How is Pelican now in 2018, i totally got no idea.

In the 90s, only use pelican… cos i go fishing, diving, caving, exploring…
(Pelican light somewhat says its safe to use at places that have certain gases or what, waterproof.)

That time, dun think there are much “all rounder” light ; or i am not exposed to it.
*Only know maglight, surefire, some recharageble million candle power searchlight…

Till today, my pelican still works, altho its not as bright as my current LED lights…

*However, if compared to my current workhorse T6 light (trustfire 3T6), if it goes through what i throw at my pelican in the 90s.
Example: I bring pelican into sea, snorkelling, act as light to lure fish in the water etc…
Maybe it might not have survived?

Of course, its a budget light from trustfire comparing to pelican of yesteryears, not O-light those league.

I came to BLF looking for a gun light. Everyone in the gun forums always recommended Surefire and Streamlight . A lot of that was people with law enforcement experience. Their department used them and their experience with them was good. That said, a lot of this came from before the LED golden age , back when MagLite also was big. Surfire treated the departments very well but also charged a good buck . I could not see paying half what I payed for the weapon for the light. As the4ds9 said, simpler is better when TSHTF and fancy electronics aren’t recoil friendly. My guess is a good Convoy is just as reliable for a fraction of the price.

I own lights from Surefire, pelican, Thrunite, Fenix, Eagletac. No complaints with any of them really… but the key is knowing the pros/cons of every design, evaluating overall value and how much I am willing to spend for those strengths.

Of those I find thrunite to be the best value… best features, best performance/reliability, best materials for the $ spend.

The fire dept (volunteer) uses streamlight. They hold up to our abuse really well and the few times we have had any issues their warranty was great. The thing is we get grants to replace them every X years so we do beat on them pretty bad. By the time that X years is up they are ready to be replaced. We also get price cuts when you’re on a limited budget that talks a lot.

In the past I do remember having some pelicans sent to us to test and very few were impressed with them. That was back before LEDs so I can’t speak of modern ones.

My personal edc is a convoy. Cheap but quality and easily modded.