For true EDC, I prefer Aluminum. I want to keep my pockets as light as possible.
For flashlights, I usually like aluminum because it's cheap, it's not heavy, and it dissipates heat well.
Sometimes I like copper, which dissipates heat better than aluminum, but it's kinda pricey and quite heavy.
If I don't care about heat dissipation, then stainless steel is sometimes nice.
Aluminum. Wicks heat well, light, strong, durable. Titanium is cool, but the thermal properties are bad. Brass and copper are pretty, but heavy and expensive. I th8nk a mix of copper and aluminum is best
Aluminum body, copper head, stainless bezel.
Personally, I don’t like mixing copper with my aluminum lights.
- I don’t like lights like the Manker E14 with copper pill and aluminum body/bezel.
- Copper is so heavy the light does not feel balanced in the hand.
- It is heavy enough that I no longer notice one of the main benefits of aluminum.
- Unlike titanium with copper, I do not think copper with aluminum looks blingy. It just looks cheap.
- Heat transfer is slightly better than aluminum, but not by enough to make a noticeable difference. Definitely not enough in my opinion to counter the inherent disadvantages.
For aluminum lights, I prefer all-aluminum for maximum weight savings. Including the pill.
Titanium or copper for AA and CR123A based lights. Normally aluminum for anything larger for the weight savings and good heat dissipation.
Titanium. However, I can afford aluminum so that’s what is generally in the pocket:-) EDC18 and D4’s
Thanks, RC, that sums it up pretty well for me too. :+1:
Cooper.
I couldn’t imagine edc’ing a 21700 light, much less a brass one. I have a tiny titanium 1xLR44 light on my keys and usually edc a 1aaa light. These days aluminum but I had a stainless steel one for a while and the weight was ok, in my watch pocket. I don’t like the idea of a copper light because of tarnish, but I’ve never had one. Brass looks nice but is too heavy. I do like titanium.
Idk I think if Zebralight ever made a tube-style 21700 light that it might be small enough to pocket carry. Not for me necessarily but for some people who already carry monstrous 18650 lights that have built-in charging and are like 6 inches long.
one word: plastic(s).
We could all carry 21700 lights in principle, but why would we want to? It’s like carrying a brushless impact driver everywhere you go. It’s one thing if you’re going on a camping trip or if you work outdoors or something, but most of us office schlubs rarely have a requirement for a 1000+ lumen light. That’s equivalent to two car headlamps more or less. The 2AA incandescent Mini-Mag of yesteryear, the most popular flashlight of its day, was about 5 lumens although its directional beam gave it more throw than today’s typical 5lm keychain led. An edc is for everyday or unexpected use, and you have other more specialized lights at home for when situations call for them.
To misquote Bill Gates, 64 lumens should be enough for anyone. And a nothing-special 1aaa budget light can do that easily.
Not everyone works in an office though.
Sure yeah, but if I were carrying a 21700 light for work, I’d consider it a work light rather than an edc.
I’m going to have to call that True. I EDC an aluminum 18350, but carry bigger at work. Total EDC is a Glock 43X, Coldsteel Spartan and a BLF A6 XP-L 3D 18350. Add a belt, wallet, cellphone and a glasses case not much room left. Colder weather with a jacket gets a little bit of an upgrade on some items.
Unless you want MORE POWER!!! Ahr-ahr-ahr…
Titanium. I like the durability.
I use my edc’s mostly on lower levels.
Tubo is for short blasts.
