None of the above.

Magic word, REDUNDANCY

I carry TWO cheap Thorfire flashlights in the car in case one of them gets the gremlins. If it was possible, I would carry one that had a simple slide switch and put out 500 lumens.

At home, I have about 7 cheap flashlights.

When we get an EMP strike by invading hordes of humanoid tripedal hamsters, the simpler, the better.

Zebralight

On me I usually have 4 lights: MH20 in my pocket, clipped; SP32Av2 on my bag; Jet-II in my bag, A7 (AAA) also in my bag.

I’m kinda ready for the Zombie Apocalypse.

My very first non maglight purchase was a fenix PD25UE. As far as durability goes i watched a YT review where he turned it on, submerged it in a glass of water which he then froze solid and to break the ice off he ran it over with his car. I was impressed

mattadores wrote:

My very first non maglight purchase was a fenix PD25UE. As far as durability goes i watched a YT review where he turned it on, submerged it in a glass of water which he then froze solid and to break the ice off he ran it over with his car. I was impressed

None of those things should cause damage to any light that’s at least 1m waterproof. What would matter is if can you drop it a few feet on to the floor and not have electronics pop right off the driver board.

That ice is soaking up all the energy and none is transferred to the components inside the light. I don’t actually know if Fenix uses potted electronics on their larger li-ion lights but I can’t say I’ve heard that they do.

Voting “Other Brand” – PFlexPro ‘

Fenix & Zebra Light – Personally bounced them from heights exceeding stated tolerances and they’re still ticking.

Maybe a potted ArmyTek or Surefire, but don’t really feel qualified in terms of
Familiarity with an array of build quality.

Definitely believe in redundancy!! I normally carry 2 (and sometimes 3) EDC
lights on my person at all times.
The “New York Reload” of flashlights.

I have a few Jetbeams that have taken quite a beating. My Zebralights haven’t really been tested by me yet. They don’t have years of abuse on them yet. I usually carry a Zebralight on me and a Jetbeam in my go bag that stays in the car when I am out and about. I don’t really carry around AA or 16340 lights. Runtimes keep them resigned to light duty “I lost something under the couch” type lights. I have a few potted C8’s that gets mounted on rifles once in a while. They have been through hell and back. Still ticking. Not exactly factory lights though. I mean I guess they once were. Not much factory left in them now. So I guess weapon lights withstanding I would grab my Jet’s and ZL’s if I needed something dependable.

Keeps me safe in my travels

Fenix and Surefire.

moderator007 wrote:

Zebralight

+1

BurningPlayd0h wrote:

mattadores wrote:

My very first non maglight purchase was a fenix PD25UE. As far as durability goes i watched a YT review where he turned it on, submerged it in a glass of water which he then froze solid and to break the ice off he ran it over with his car. I was impressed

None of those things should cause damage to any light that’s at least 1m waterproof. What would matter is if can you drop it a few feet on to the floor and not have electronics pop right off the driver board.

That ice is soaking up all the energy and none is transferred to the components inside the light. I don’t actually know if Fenix uses potted electronics on their larger li-ion lights but I can’t say I’ve heard that they do.’

Makes sense. But it sure looked cool! lol

I found sloppy assembly work in all flashlights that I have opened, including Nitecore, Jetbeam, Lumintop, Jaxman, Fireflies and more that I forgot.

Most durable is the light that I have overhauled myself: checking all parts and connections, fixing present and possible future flaws, and doing a proper assembly. I trust those fixed Convoys, Jaxmans, Thorfires, Sofirns and some brandless budget lights better than any A-brand that I have not opened to check.

mattadores wrote:

BurningPlayd0h wrote:

mattadores wrote:

My very first non maglight purchase was a fenix PD25UE. As far as durability goes i watched a YT review where he turned it on, submerged it in a glass of water which he then froze solid and to break the ice off he ran it over with his car. I was impressed

None of those things should cause damage to any light that’s at least 1m waterproof. What would matter is if can you drop it a few feet on to the floor and not have electronics pop right off the driver board.

That ice is soaking up all the energy and none is transferred to the components inside the light. I don’t actually know if Fenix uses potted electronics on their larger li-ion lights but I can’t say I’ve heard that they do.’

Makes sense. But it sure looked cool! lol

The light will still past those tests and I’ve heard good things about Fenix though, just that a lot of brands will too. Didn’t mean to seem like I’m ripping them if that’s how it came across.

Zebralight for sure

I love my armytek lights, use a wizard daily.

Another vote for redundancy. Stock H03 in the go bag with cr123as, Q8 in the trunk, D1S in the glovebox, modded H03 in my EDC backpack, D4 in my EDC laptop bag, D4 always clipped in my pocket, and a C01 on my keychain. I won’t be without light haha

Zebralight or pflexpro. But if I cared about that aspect enough, I'd build and pot it myself. 

IMO, I’d say a modded 1× 7135+6×7135 SST-20 Convoy S2+ potted with dual BeCu springs and a simple mechanical switch, and a 3500mAh cell, with lubed high quality O-rings, ULCp AR lens, and smooth reflector.

You would be getting an efficient light in general, no standby drain, good usable throw, very low moonlight for efficiency, very good durability.

An EDC for light IMO if you were able to find a good buck-boost driver for a Convoy S2+.

Jetbeam. Not the brightest or fanciest but definitely durable

CREEXHP70LED wrote:

Spartan wrote:

None of the above.

Magic word, REDUNDANCY

I carry TWO cheap Thorfire flashlights in the car in case one of them gets the gremlins. If it was possible, I would carry one that had a simple slide switch and put out 500 lumens.

At home, I have about 7 cheap flashlights.

When we get an EMP strike by invading hordes of humanoid tripedal hamsters, the simpler, the better.

Make your home or at least one room a Faraday cage.

Now that’s a suggestion I can get behind. If you’re going in, go the whole nine yards.

CREEXHP70LED wrote:

I am realizing now that posting this on a budget light forum, I am getting what I asked for.

uh, i usually have 20 or 30 other lights on deck or in the bullpen-at least at home
also in about 3 alternate locations – bedside, kitchen, downstairs

if in the car, 2 more

if on foot or bike, i have bike light, or bike light plus photon keychain light

one thing i might not do is depend on rechargeables that do not get used much
some of my car and home lights are either li primaries, or C cell, or AA, something like that

now you have to ask about b atteries — what batteries WOULD YOU TRUST YOUR LIFE TO????

i have about 25 backups there too

wle

i;d probably say thorfire, i don;t have $100 lights like zebralights
the thorfires are good for their price

also i have a wuben t70 26650 that seems pretty solid
folomov

just saying some cheap ones that i think will last

unlike
dqg
manker
utorch

wle

More parts and more electronics = more failures. If your life depends on light, it’s not a matter of brand but more a matter of diversity : don’t put all your eggs in the same basket.
Driver & LED, incandescent bulb, carbide lamp, kerosene lamp or oil lamp, candle, etc.

Fenix, I’ve had a Fenix PD35 has a daily carry at work for a few years now, been dropped more than a few times. Still going strong!

Myself and my family have never been in a life threatening situation that could be eliminated by having a torch. Like, has SOS mode ever saved anyone? On the occasion we go camping or have a blackout 1 light just won’t cut it. I’m not going to have a dozen surefires or elzettas on hand for that.

Zebralight.

Also feel pretty good about BLF Q8. Straightforward and stout.

Voted “other”. Convoy or MagLite. Simple & reliable in my experience.