Last week, I was browsing the web to buy a few lights and landed on BLF, which I didn’t even know existed. I am amazed by the wealth of information all of you have been sharing regarding lights, batteries, chargers, and vendors. Thank you.
I would appreciate some advice on a couple of items I would like to buy. I apologize for the long post in advance.
My shopping list had seven items.
- Tiny keychain light. To leave attached to the zipper head of my backpack so I can see inside the backpack easily.
- Small EDC light. To carry in my backpack for emergency use and also to strap to my helmet during my daily bike commute to work (just 20 minute ride one-way).
- Helmet mount / band. To mount my EDC light to my helmet.
- Bike light. To help me navigate suburban streets which are not always well lit.
- General purpose flashlight. To keep around the house.
- Batteries. 18650 Li-ion that I can use in both the EDC light and the general purpose light.
- Charger. For 18650 Li-ion.
With the immense help from BLF posts, I have already ordered the keychain light, the EDC light, the bike light, two batteries, and a single battery charger.
I am looking for help in deciding the following.
- General purpose flashlight. Here are my likes and dislikes. I like less expensive, but well made products that feel good when you operate them. I don’t mind paying a few bucks more if a product is better built. I like the style of SR King and Black Shadow Darth, rather than the long lights with a fat head. They seem compact to hold in your hands and throw in your jacket pocket when you are out and about. As I have no technical background with flashlights, I don’t know how many lumens will be “enough”. I need a light to shine in my backyard if I hear some sound, or find my way in a dark alley, or use to feel safe during occasional nighttime hikes. I also want my wife and kids who don’t have huge hands to hold the light comfortably. I am seriously torn between black SR King ($49.50 shipped per lightmalls.com emails to me), and Darth ($70 shipped per manafont site). I like the cheaper king and it appears to be a lot brighter than Darth. But I like Darth’s thinner body, color, and three modes. I don’t want to buy two lights
Can you play flashlight therapist and lead me to one or the other? Or do you have a completely different light to suggest? I really can’t see myself spending more than $70 or thereabouts on a light.
- Charger. Although I already bought a single 18650 charger when ordering my EDC light, I assume I’m going to need a 2-4 battery 18650 Li-ion charger if I get a general purpose flashlight that uses 3-4 batteries. From what I gather a sysmax/nitecore i2 or i4 would be a good choice. Would you agree?
- Batteries. Should I buy more 2600mAh Sanyo UR18650FM from intl-outdoor if I get a Darth or SR King. They are kind’a pricey. Are there better / cheaper choices?
- Helmet mount / band. Can you suggest an easy on/off mount or helmet band to mount my EDC 18650 XP G2-R5? I see some “headbands” on the web. But none of them say that they can be wrapped around a helmet. Does anyone have any experience with them?
Thanks for reading through this long post.
