Choosing my first flashlight

Okay, so I figured it’s time to buy myself a good (definition: better than a bike light) flashlight, but I have no ideas what brands are good and what throwers even are and so on. Could anyone just explain a tiny bit of basics to me? Also, I’d be happy if anyone has any particular lights that comes to mind when I say that I want a light that’s:

- cheap (preferably not over 35 usd)

  • able to withstand some minor rough treatment, like some rain/moisture, minor shocks (falling to the ground) and so on

(I’m sorry. You probably get a lot of these around here.)

Throwers, tend to have a tight beam that throws a long way, flooders flood a closer in area with light. You’d be best hunting down some of I like flashlights thrower threads for beam shots.

For a general purpose kit, I find it hard not to recommend the keygos m10 set up, good tested cells, acceptable charger, small ish light package - about 150mm long, 40mm head, 30 odd mm body tube, useful combination of flood and throw, cyberport888/cwtco on eBay or keygos themselves on eBay do the lot for about $40 delivered unless someone knows better.

Welcome, hope you have fun here.

no need to be sorry, that’s what an internet message board (a.k.a. forum) is for.

First off, ask yourself what purpose you’ll want the torch for. Merely short bursts, or prolongued use?

How far would the light beam really have to reach?

What kind of cells do you have in mind?

AAA and AA cells are widespread around this wonderful planet; and nowadays we are blessed with low self-discharge rechargeable nickel-metal hydride cells (LSD-NiMH), which hold their charge considerably longer than those old rechargeables most uf use were used to. The widely preferred brand seems to be Sanyo eneloop. Even a generic charger from your local hardware store or cheapo outlet center can take care of those, albeit there are better chargers around.

Lithium technology, however, has a considerably higher “density” of electrical energy. There are primary cells, which cannot be recharged, and also rechargeable Li-Ion cells. The latter, however, are not as forgiving as your average NiMH cells, as far as abuse or mistreatment is concerned. A special charger is called for! Those, however, do not break the proverbial bank, either.

Are you looking for another bike light, a head torch, an unobstrusive pocketable torch (EDC = “Every Day Carry”), something which can be carried with a belt holster, or a handlamp with a carrying handle, even?

oh, and bicycle flashlights can be pretty decent (and expensive!), too - just take a look at the Lupine lights.

Anyways, welcome to BLF, glad you joined us!

Is that $35 including batteries and charger?

Most high powered lights run on li-ion rechargeable batteries. Although most will run on non rechargeable batteries too, but often expensive to buy batteries all the time and reduced run time. Or you could stick with regular AA/D cells, either disposable or rechargeable.

Basically there are a lot of choices and some brilliant lights available.

First thing, you may wish to learn about Lithium-Ion cells and decide if you want to invest in those cells and charger or stick to NiMh AA's (or whatever other size). Forget alkalines, for the most part they won't deliver enough current for "high-power".

I don't know that I can recommend a good AA light under $35 - others can, but it depends on the output and runtime you want.

-Garry

First off, welcome to BLF, Adrian. Like has been mentioned previously, never hesitate to ask.

Second, everyone has made good points and I too think you need to ask yourself some very basic questions like…

What batteries? How much performance do I need? Etc.

I personally like p60 style lights that run on cr123a primary batteries. That said I did just pick up two 4sevens Quark AA from Going Gear thanks to a tip from our own Woody, I don’t consider 4sevens to be such a great value at full MSRP, but at 60% off with the coupon code (winteriscoming), it gets to your stated price point, though I guess shipping and custom issues would increase that. For that price, I think those lights are great. Little Sipic 68s are great starter lights, too. Plus you could buy five or six for your $35.

But that would be crazy to own that many, right guys?

Ah, guys?

Hello?

Not at all crazy, 15 A60s is crazy though.

DonttellFoy

For a great first light, I’d recommend the 4sevens quark’s that are on huge sale at goinggear.com right now. They use 2 AA’s, make around 400 lumens on turbo mode, have a great user interface with many choices in levels…

They are IPX-8 so you can swim with them basically, type III anodizing means the finish will resist lots of wear and tear, and I wouldn’t worry about dropping one. Plus the warranty is great.

http://goinggear.com/clearance/4sevens-quark-x-aa-cree-xm-l-led-flashlight.html

Use the winteriscoming coupon code for another 10% off and you’ve got a laughing good deal.

You could get alot more brightness out of some cheap chinese lights, but then you’re dealing with cheaper quality, no warranty, and having to purchase lithium ion batteries and a charger.

For the money-quality ratio, at the sale price, those quarks are top notch and a great first light.

+1 (I would not bother with the ins and outs of Li-ions for a first light, this one is great, or else for a bit more throw the quark aa2turbo that is also still available there)

As a first flashlight i would always recommend something popular, a well-known torch which "everyone" has or knows: Xeno, Quark, Zebralight, ITP. All of them can be had for <35$ if you ask the right k or dd! ;)

Thank you so much for all the answers!

- I guess a combination between a flooder and a thrower would be the most useful to me.

- It has to be kind of all-round. Sometimes I’ll use it for a couple of minutes, but I think I may use it occasionally for an hour or so.

- The reach is not very important. I want more flood than throw, I think.

- I think I’ll maybe go for some kind of NiMH cells. It sounds somewhat affordable.

Anyway, I think I’ve decided to go for the 4Seven AA². It seems to fit my needs well. I’m just wondering, since it is IPX8, for how long can it remain in water? Are they going to continue with that special offer for a while?

And again, thanks so much for responding!

IPX8 is a bit misleading. Basically it doesn’t mean anything specifically and it’s down to each manufacture to define it.

I think the wording is:

“IPX-8 Protected against water submersion - The equipment is suitable for continual submersion in water under conditions which are identified by the manufacturer. ”

So IPX8 will mean different things from different manufactures, even from model to model. Unless you have a specific requirement where you’ll be submersing the flashlight I probably wouldn’t worry too much. If you do, then you may want to spend more time researching lights that are know to be robust against water ingress.

IPX8 is "Immersion beyond 1 m" So it is working at least 1 m submerged... doesn't have to be waterproof, just work without damage.

Oh, thanks for clearing that up. It isn’t really something that is very important to me. Just curious.

The offer will last as long as the lights do. Once they sell out, the lights are gone and you’ll have to buy them full price (the new logo version). So I would act fairly quickly on them:)

as far as water resistance is concerned, most of the torches of better quality offer a fairly good kind of “waterproofness”.
The test conditions for an IPX-8 rating are chosen by the manufacturer, and therefor may vary.

The standardised IP ratings of the European Union, however, seem strict (and probably over-regulated, like a lot of administrative decrees from Brussels). IP68, in that case, has to meet or exceed testing procedures according to EN 60529 and/or DIN 40 050/9

On the other hand, IPX-8 has a fixed depth - one meter. IP68, whilst only stating water resistance in case of “permanent submersion”, but not mentioning any depth or water pressure, still ensures that moving parts may be operated under such conditions.

Foy has stated he has put his Solarforce lights to a proper Real-world test in both the kitchen sink and the shower, IIRC, with no ill effects. While bathtub duty might be ok (as is cleaning the lights with soap and tap water), I remember one posting on the other forum where a P60 did not hold up all that well after being used for hours in a swimming pool. Eventually, operating the light and switching it on and off under water, or changing modes repeatedly under water, might leak water past the tailcap switch. I just wanted to point that one out; I don’t know whether or not this can be applied to all flashlights with proper O-rings and a rubber tailcap switch.

Like Foy’s tests, mine confine themselves to the kitchen sink and the shower, and so far only the Tank 007 E09 has failed. Then again, I cannot remember anything about it being water resistant, so it was probably my own stupidity to leave it submerged in the sink for two hours.

Other than that, the 4Seven AA² you have chosen seems to be a well-made light, in fact, so interesting I might eventually buy one as well while stocks last.