It's 2020..... if you had to pick TWO flashlights from your collection to make your gear bag... which ones would you chose?

For my small collection, one would definitely be the D4S vn. I carry it every night with a thrower no one else on this forum would suggest, ThruNite Cat V6. Not my best thrower, but it can take a beating and just plain works for my use in the woods or brush. The other throwers can be fickle. Still, I would have to leave it behind and take the BLF LT1 lantern. All those single 18650 lights are for the city folk, LOL. But whatever works for you!

Does the BLF LT1 lantern count? If so, that and the BLF GT4. The lantern will give me long runtimes and lots of light at close distance. The GT4 will give me tons of light long distance if needed with long runtimes at lower levels. And I can use the lantern to recharge the GT4 batteries!

Sofirn Q8 (with XPL-HI emitters) WITH a factory diffuser; and Boruit D-25 twin led headlamp- All loaded with Panny B’s

It’s all about getting the most functionality and run-time out of the two lights. Using interchangeable (true and tried) batteries with higher capacity helps with all aspects of what the “BOB” (Bug Out Bag) is all about. The Q8 can run on lower levels using one ONE 18650, and the headlamp is a hands free tool that no hand-held light can replace for function as it gives me TWO hands.

My headlamps ARE my MOST used lights by FAR. My first led light WAS a good old C8 head on the floppy head-set- about 8 yrs back. I still own and USE it every hunting season as it has TWO 18650s- so run time rocks! Also has killer throw and hum… maybe that would be the headlamp I’d take after-all?

Now that said, I’ll never have a BOB as I’m not leaving my rural location in ANY case. That IS where ALL the lights, guns, ammo, food, dynamite (and scotch) is :smiley:

Not a prepper, but I reload a lot, shoot a lot, can a lot of garden (and meats as well). Just put up some pickled sausages made last week with some of last year’s left over deer meat I had a shank of. Good thing I had to move about 70 lbs of fresh frozen back-strap to get to that shank :beer:

Zappaman what time is dinner? lol

Definitely my 3000k Convoy M3, it`s a rock solid build with a no nonsense UI. Next would be the Manker E03 MkII also a solid build with a very simple UI, between the two I`d be able to cover sub-lumen levels to light up the whole room levels and lots in between that I can use in any weather.

I had to work on both of them to make them reliable; my LT FW3X and NC D11.2. The FW for its powerful beam and the D11 for its easy to find battery.

Ouch. This is making me feel vulnerable. My headlamps (skilhunt and ArmyTek) use special cables to recharge, which isn’t very useful to have to bug out with. My USB-C flashlights are too big (sofirn sp36) or use battery that can’t share with headlamp (IF25A). My only portable 18650 USB C rechargable flashlight is a wurkkos FC11 that acts up sometimes.

I guess I’d bring my ArmyTek headlamp and zebralight AA headlamp.

I would take one of my AA-battery size lights, it would be Lumintop EDC05 or Jetbeam Jet-I MK and one of my AAA-battery size, either the Olight i3T or Jetbeam SE-A01, for backup. I think AA/ AAA battery are easier to get in the market.

Even with my small collection this would be a difficult choice. Does the Ti3 count? It is so small and always with me. Don’t think I could give it up. That would only leave one light. C8? SC31 Pro? TN4a? Tough choice. OTOH any combination would be a solid choice.

Only two is really tough but if that’s all I get then it would be these two.

I would carry 2-18350’s, and 2-18650’s. To be used in the Sofirn SC31 Pro, and Sofirn SP40. They can share the SP40’s 18350 tube, as an option.

I figured that I would need a right-angled light for its versatility, complemented with a compact thrower for long distance.
Both needs to come with integrated charging, and good waterproof.

Attribute ArmyTek Elf-C2 Lumintop ODL20C Comment
Role Flooder, Headlamp, Work light Thrower Covers most use cases
Lumen 1050 2000 Acceptable
Intensity 4.5k cd 185k cd Covers most use cases
Size length 112mm Diameter 29mm length 147.5 diameter 59mm Both compact
Battery 18650 26650 Common Li-ion battery type
Charging MicroUSB USB-C Build-in charger for both, covers most USB chargers
IP rating IP68 (10 meter) IPX8 (2 meter) Good waterproof

Emisar D4S
Manker MK36

MK36 has built in charging and can double as a power bank. Wall of light.

If I knew I would need a big thrower: (and only if)

Convoy L6
Manker MK36

Tool AAA w spare eneloop, and Jetbeam Rotary w 18350 and 16340

Olight S2R II and Olight M2R.
Or if I need a very floody light, Olight Baton Pro instead of the S2R II.

I’m thinking your answer would be my answer. It would be nice to have 2 headlamps, but having the AA or Lion option would be nice. So a SP10S and something like a Sofirn SP40 or Sofirn D25S both of which are 18650 headlamps with USB charging capability.

Well, kinda missed the year, but.. I'd take the Manker U22 III for throwing (I know, it's already 2021, U22 III was not yet available - it would've been the U22 II in 2020, thus maybe, just maybe.. the Thrunite Catapult V6 instead) and the Wurkkos WK30 for flooding in various situations with 3 types/colors of light, white/red/UV.. (just in case.. )

Reasons for going with these:

  1. Efficient buck drivers with very low parasitic drain (decent run-times and of course, they can also be mechanically locked for transport if needed be)
  2. High capacity cells (21700/26650 - 18650 looking at the overall package would really not be much of a space saver to take it into account.. )
  3. Compact enough (I probably would've gone for a 2D Mag - ML300L for ex. otherwise.. But those D's.. kinda heavy bastards.. and that's only talking about two of them.. Spares.. ? You must be joking.. )
  4. Good UI (it's not Anduril, but still.. And as far as the UI on the WK30.. well, it could've been better, but for 3 types of light.. it's quite ok as it is. U22 III and Catapult V6 have some of the best basic UI's)
  5. They should be more idiot proof (just in case again.. ) compared to an Anduril based hot-rod

I guess that should be it (of course I won't count the AA Tool in my pocket.. that would make 3 lights total.. and we can't have that.. )

I actually made that choice last summer when I headed off into the boonies for several days on a solo boat trip.

I took a Convoy L1, for its bulletproof ruggedness and two-cell runtime, and a Manker E03H (with an 8 pack of lithium primaries) in case I needed to fix something in the dark.

I love my rechargeable lights, but the light weight and availability of AA’s dictates that I always keep one handy.

(O.K., so I cheated on the “2” limit with an IYP365 in my shirt pocket, but I won’t tell if you don’t.)

Many have mentioned the availability of AA/AAA being a deciding factor to their choice of flashlights. But I feel that the importance of battery availability is diminishing, as built-in USB charging is becoming a trend for flashlights, getting a portable solar charger will guarantee infinite power supply for all your USB compatible gadgets. Powering your lights with light, how neat is that.

Nitecore MH20/MH20GT, ’cause it’s small, has a great UI, has built-in charging, and hasn’t yet been dethroned as my EDC since I got any of ’em.

Airpro DC7, basically a Q8 but with built-in charging, too. The UI is basically a lobotomised Narsim, even most of the shortcuts. Assloads of capacity with the 4 cells.