Hello All!
I’m looking for recommendations for a duty light for a Park Ranger up in Canada. Similar duties to a game warden. Some of the job: Lots of work in remote outdoor locations, lighting up campsites, problem Wildlife, tracking, directing traffic.
Preferred options: waterproof, belt holstered, rechargeable without disassembling. Budget is around $75 USD.
Some options I’ve come across so far are the fenix PD35Tac, and the Streamlight PolytacX.
What do yall think?
Maglite ML150 or something from the Streamlight Stinger series, both charge in cradles without removing the battery and you can get traffic wands for directing traffic and duty belt holsters.
I don’t have any Fenixen, but I heard good things about ’em.
Question is if you need throwy or floody. Might wanna consider 2 lights, for that reason as well as “two is one, one is none” if you’re out in the sticks.
Take a look at Streamlight, unless you’re a flashlight hobbyist. Convoy single cell light should be fairly fool proof and very durable.
I think you’re on the right track with fenix. I would probably prefer the tk16, unless you want the two mode groups of the tac model (weapon mount or high stress situations).
If you use it a for long periods on high, you will end up wanting a light with more mass for heat dissipation, but I guess space on the belt is probably at a premium and you could leave a search light in the vehicle.
For professional use lights, can’t go wrong with Fenix. PD36 Tac, Tk16 V2 are both good quality lights with awesome battery life and output. They are a little spendy though, aroud $100 US, but totally worth it. I reviewed them both. The Cyansky K3 is also really nice for longer distance around $90 US.
What are you using now? The problem with Fenix, some/most are only cool white. Apparently they do have some that are neutral white.
I also subscribe to the “Two Is One, One Is None” philosophy. I suggest you buy two Sofirn SC31 Pros from the Sofirn store and carry them both. Well reviewed and solid, reliable, 18650 lights with a ton of features. Each one could be set to a different set of “First Light” settings and carried on different sides of your pants or belt. You will also double your runtime with this setup without having to actually carry and swap a second battery for a single lamp. Pricing is awesome also, two with shipping and a decent battery for $53. There are 3 colors now available and two tints so that could be used to have easy ID for different setup by color. It’s nice to have options.
You might have to double your price requirement for most of the suggestions so far.
Personally I think the the Streamlight Protac HL5-X would be awesome for these things but it’s a little too big and heavy for belt carry, and the batteries must be charged outside of the light.
I might suggest the Nitecore MH25S (don’t have that model yet but have 3 of the “i” lights and am impressed). You might want to have the dealer check for a properly centered LED since I read one or two posts suggesting they received one that was off center.
I’ve been happy with my two Fenix lights, too.
Streamlight’s HPL-USB is a little big for a single 18650 but it has onboard charging and at the “lowerish” 1000 lumens takes much longer to get uncomfortably hot from prolonged use on high… plus 10 tap programming with the corresponding modes gives some customizability for simplistic mode options (sometimes preferred for work environments). It will also work with CR123’s if/when necessary.
Is this for yourself or somebody else? The two lights you mentioned have to be disassembled to be recharged. Others seem to be missing that point also. That does limit the options. And one light won’t do it all. A general purpose beam to scan 360° in the darkness on his person at all times and a thrower of some sort kept in the vehicle.
You can get two Lumintop D2’s for that budget, and still maybe have money left for batteries. Takes a 21700 or a 18650 cell. Has a throwy beam.
The Thrunite TC20 V2 can be had for that budget, with coupons, although it might be a bit heavy with the 26650 battery. Has an all-purpose beam mixing throw and flood. Comes in Cool White or Neutral White versions.
Another vote for the Streamlight.
I did a review here. The more I use it the better I like it.
And depending on use, it’s perhaps just a little bit too big.
But we used to carry 2 and 4 D cell lights all the time before the new wonder batteries came to be.
A headlamp should be included in the mix too. Never can tell when having the use of both hands - comes in - errr. handy.
All the Best,
Jeff
TC20V2 is another good choice. More output than the Fenix lights and surprisingly more throw. The driver in that light is fantastic, bu the way. Great runtumes and the included battery is awesome.
For $75, also consider lightly used if you’re fine with buying on eBay (know how to scrutinize sellers). You can get a $100+ light for around $75 if you shop around enough. Generally I find this the best way to go if on a fairly fixed budget. Because after a few uses of a brand new light, a couple of scrapes/nicks here/there, you couldn’t tell the difference.
I don’t believe for a second that anybody “today” carries a 9.5 inch light on their belt ALL day or night at work. Why would anybody recommend that streamlight? It seems to me you’re trying to Haze a new guy. He wants to carry it on his belt. Not mounted in the vehicle and take it out of the mount and put it on the belt every time he gets out of the vehicle. Maybe as something you keep in the vehicle for when needed, but there are still so many better lights to do that. Also, to recommend a light that requires two batteries to somebody that you don’t know seems irresponsible to me.
Just get the surefire G2X and be done with it. Tactical for high mode only or Pro for low-high of preferred. Not sure if the LE version as made anymore, that was high-low but the only one I have is the old 320lm.
You loose the rechargeable function but cr123 last a while. Or pick up a couple 16650 cells and a portable charger.
Take a look at the Convoy M21D, should have enough throw as a primary light (side switch only, USB C charging). A similar model with a tail switch would be the L21A/B but no on board charging. These both run off the 21700s, so you’ll get fairly decent run times on em and can carry spare batteries if you aren’t able to charge on the go.
The newer Wurkkos FC12 (thrower), Sofirn SC31T (floodier), Wuben C3 (floodier as well) are decent both are tail switch lights that are fairly floody, but have decent throw. They also come with on board USB C charging and run off of ubiquitous 18650s, so you can carry spare batteries in your war bag.
Maybe also take a look at the Sofirn IF22A and the ThruNite Catapult mini. Both have TIR lenses set to a relatively narrow beam for decent amounts of throw.
They’re all about half the price of your budget of $75, so you could pick up a convoy for your primary and a wurkkos/sofirn/wuben as a back up.
If you’re ok with the double cell format, take a look at the Sofirn SF47T (21700), Sofirn SP70 (26650) and the Convoy L6/7 (26650). They’re gonna be a little bigger and have longer run times, and will definitely throw a bit more than the others above. If you usually use a bianchi style flashlight holder on your belt, the 21700s should fit fine and the 26650s might be a bit too large for em. The belt mounted flashlight rings may work better.
Dan