so im into edc gear. i carry a keltec pf9 and a spyderco persistance. i want to add a light to my daily system. so of course i did what anybody would do and searched for a “flashlight forum” and i find my self here with yet another screen name on another forum lol.
once i started looking around on this site my mind was thoroughly blown. so many options for lights size, intensity, brand, battery type, where to buy. not to mention ive read about people modding and building light from scratch. is there a primer or faq section i can read to learn the basics of all this stuff?
i currently own a surefire e2 deffender. its a nice light, brightest iver ever owned, but dang it if it dont eat up cr123’s. i also dont like how flared the back end of it is. makes it hard to holster or carry in the pocket. its found a home clamped to the rem 870 next to my bed.
my question is this. i have 25$ to spend. what light would you all recomend for a good edc light? i like the idea or different modes including stobe. i also dont have a preference as far as batteries go. i didnt know they even made rechargable cr123s until i started reading here. also where to order from? i dont mind buying from over seas but if it takes longer to get a light then to get a concealed carry lisence ill order local
Hello Matt. For around $25 you get a Xeno E03, which takes any AA size battery (including 14500 lithiums for extra kick). For EDC I would recommend the xp-g version in neutral:
This is slightly less bright than the surefire, but much more convenient to carry and uses a wide range of batteries. I have ~100 lights and this is the one I probably end up using the most.
Welcome. Getting into trouble is how/why many are here. As for me, I’m into popcorn, B-movies, and DIY whatever. So go ahead and get into trouble and you’ll fit right in. Just be polite and have fun.
I have that same gun and knife (among others) so I take it you like a lot of bang for your buck. The UF-2100 is hard to beat for less than $15. It is 18650 which is rechargable and puts out 4v. You can salvage a lifetime supply from a couple of old laptop batteries.
Oh, and e1320 is quite legit! I was worried about buying from forum members myself at first, but after a while, you definitely realize, most people are legit, and actually have better customer service than those overseas companies. (In fact, I haven’t seen an legitimate seller on this forum)(Only bad thing I’ve seen is someone just making a thread with a link to a website trying to sell crap)
This thread is pretty recent and has a decent list of many of the vendors you’ll run across here.
Good recommendations so far. Another common one is a Sipik which is very inexpensive. I was originally inclined to follow my son with CR123 lights (rechargeable), but have gone mostly to 18650 for carry/household lights (AA for backup).
Personally, I recently went with E1320’s modified 2100 for my own EDC light. It was in your budget range, but plus shipping. I’ll end up getting a better battery, but I had one available and a charger.
Pros
——-
Very bright XML (mostly flood but a lot of light for decent distance)
Large enough to handle heat for several minutes
Small form factor for an 18650 light
18650 has very good storage capacity
Rechargeable good for EDC
Firefly mode <1 lumen good for ~1500 hours, 4 other well-spaced modes
Very bright turbo
Cons
———
Larger than AA/AAA lights (I carry a small AA Thrunite T10 also)
18650 not common, so backups needed (I carry extras in day bag)
Turbo needs good quality battery for high draw (Erik/E1320 will recommend)
No strobe (in group buy - may be possible on request)
Does not tail-stand
Clip is extra
Whether you go NiMH or L-ion, I’d recommend having good chargers for home/car/solar.
The unmodified 2100 saves a bit, but I think the turbo, firefly, and spacing are worth the extra coin for an EDC.
I don’t own that version but it’s likely the same…someone will chime in. You can get the Ultrafire version in 3 and 5 mode for less at dinodirect 大龙网_跨境电商B2B商机平台_移动端跨境贸易新体验 …yesterday it was $11.99 shipped. I modded my own with one of Erik’s drivers and it is an awesome light…but for $14 delivered, you can hardly go wrong…you’ll get a wall of light that’s almost impossible to beat for that kind of money…but if you can get a modded version, go for it…and get a pocket clip.
im looking for batteries and a charger from DX to go with it.
im seeing a lot of different versions of 18650 looks like different brands and mah ratings. should i just go with the highest MaH?
also for a charger the first one that pops up is 6.99 any reason i should spend more on another?
is there any other accessories i should think about before ordering? since the wait is so long i dont want to have to wait on a second order
Be a little more discretionary with your battery selection…so many batteries you see online are pure junk. I’m not a battery snob at all, but know you need to choose carefully. There are some less expensive options that aren’t bad, such as 2400 mah Trustfire flames from manafont - decent price and performance. In any case, you’ll want to get protected batteries, at least initially. There are many charger choices, you could search this forum and find some great budget options. Xtar comes to mind as being very popular and affordable.
Welcome Matt. I’m a pf9 guy myself.
