I just can't believe that the average Joe and walk into Costco these days and buy a decent 1,000 lumen flashlight at all, never mind for $50. And it runs on common AA batteries, so no "strange" or expensive batteries for Joe & Jane homeowner. It just amazes me that I might actually have to pull out a flashlight more powerful than 1,000 lumens these days to have the brightest light on my block! LOL
It almost seems like some hallowed ground has been crossed over, and now the average consumer can buy the level of flashlight that would seem "reserved" for Flashaholic territory. Let's face it if you turn on a 1,000 lumen flashlight the average person is going to be blown away by how bright it is. And while a 2,500 lumen flashlight is just that much more impressive - how much is really overkill at that point to a non flashaholic? Both are going to make the average person say WOW when they turn on. - it is kinda like have a 600 horse power car, or an 800 horse power one. Yeah the 800 is faster, but both are going to make the passenger crap in their pants - and once you've crapped your pants what else matters. LOL
Anyway it just seems to me like this just might be the first light to enter into this "hallowed ground" territory. ...An ANSI rated 1,000 lumen flashlight running on common AA batteries, available just down the aisle from the toilet paper and Captian Crunch cereal! - funny thing is, I bet if I look back on this post 2 years from now this light will not seem "out of the norm" at all.
Enough of my rambling...
The Coast HP550 from Costco is ANSI rated at 1000 lumens! Runs on 9xAA (which it comes with), and sells for about $50.00
It has a zooming feature which allows for a spot to flood beam, which works pretty well.
It has two output levels 1000 lumens and 40 lumens - not sure what they were thinking about with that spacing - which seems kinda wide to me, but actually after thinking about it - it is a super bright light when you need it, and when the power is out for extended periods, you can just use the 40 lumens for long runtime. Anyway it's 1000 for 2.5 hours and 40 for 40 hours. Beam distance of 325m at 1000lumens.
The packaging comes with a free flashlight offer for filling out some kinda survey, just pay S&H. I haven't done it yet.
Worth noting - the packaging allows for the light to be tested while still in the package. Of course I tested about 20 of them for what seemed like forever, and found one with the tint and beam pattern I wanted. Not all were the same, but all were decent. I only came across one with a kinda wacky switch.
Initial impressions: Decent build quality, bright & useful beam with zoom, can run on enelopes, or alky, not sure about lith. Feels good in the hand, well balanced, has memory mode. About the same size as a 2-D mag. My personal feeling - I think I would prefer a side switch and not the tail switch on a light this size.
After taking it camping last weekend I can confirm that it works very well. It has good throw, but the super wide flood is the key to this light in my opinion. It lit up the whole cabin with nice spill light and when walking down the trail i could see everything around me - just not that deep into the woods, but of course if I wanted to get some reach - I just slid the head to spot mode. It worked well. I can also confirm that I would rather have a side switch on this size light than a tail cap switch. It can tail stand, which is nice. --KartRacer31
But don’t be too taken with the ANSI measuring system. I once thought they were great, but have had lights they clearly goofed on. They underestimate lights like the TK35 and 41 and overestimate the TK40 and Coleman MC-E “500 lumen.” And I’ve seen other examples which make me not trust them so much. The one thing Surefire, Inova, and to a lesser extent, Olight, have going for them is that they don’t exaggerate lumen claims.
And then, if this is a standard zoomy, 1,000 lumens isn’t getting out the front. Maybe 500 (assuming it’s an XM-L). And those don’t utilize the light very well.
Third, yep, at $49, not too many takers will invest in one, as the non-flashies will glance over on the shelf at what is cheapest and says “SUPER BRIGHT” for $5 or less and will buy that (still all the better for us).
Wow, I’m bummed to hear about ANSI - I was hoping this was “the answer” for a level playing field.
True about the zoomie stealing lumens - but it has to be more than 500. I have a bunch of 500-600 lumen lights that the Coast smokes.
Beam shots on my cell phone really stink. I’m hoping to get a camera from Mrs Claus for Christmas. If so I’ll do a direct comparison between this Coast, the Defiant (Home Depot) 550 lumen 3xC, and the Dorcy 6Xaa XML.
Now Coast makes some really cool lights, so it may be bright, but a single emitter zoomie I doubt is 1,000. And with regard to ANSI, I dunno. Guess they are better than nothing. But it’s good to compare them to other known lights and see how they stack up.
it took me a while before i venture the $50 mark… as soon i passed it… now no turning back… can’t buy them $10 lights anymore… unless it’s says 1000 lumens on it :bigsmile:
I felt the same way in the late 60’s. Up until then if you wanted a fast car, you had to build it. Then came the muscle cars, GTO’s RoadRunners, 442’s etc. Suddenly ANYONE could just buy and drive a fast car. “The veil was rent in twain”
However the general public first has to overcome several obstacles before they are willing to buy one. First is price, most people are used to paying $5 or less, especially now that there are alot of $1 lights. Secondly and because of these cheap $1 lights, that are usually LED, they equate brightness with large numbers of LED’s. A light with only 1 LED in it? forget it! I remember, again back in the 60’s, that the first question soneone had about a transistor radio was, “how many transistors does it have”. Today with cameras it’s “how many Mega Pixels?” or with camcorders “How much zoom?” And a lot of people looking at that light, if they actually notice, will pull back at the fact that it requires 9 AAA batteries. To get 9 you have to buy 3 - 4 packs, that will cost you close to $16 in a drug store. If they go to the dollar store and buy the cheapy’s they will get about 10 minutes run time, then put it away, and never use it again. In the near future suitable batteries will be a limiting factor on how powerful our flashlights can become.
Very good points dchomak, I’m feeling much better about the Coast light. Now the $20 Defiant light at Home Depot that runs on 3xC batts, may make its way into more hands. Granted it’s not 1,000 lumens or the quality of the Coast, but it is still pretty bright and easier to feed power, and at $20 well within the range of most people.
There’s also this other little thread ya might wanna ping to get some further skinny on it too. Which reminds me I should update that thread with observations of remaining stock I saw today.
I have my eye on that Black Shadow Terminator - early guestimates put it at 3500 lumens for $150. That might be a Christmas gift…to me, from me. - usually the best type of gift because I get exactly what I want. LOL
I actually did LOL as I was typing it! Funny as it is… it is sooo true! (or so I can only assume) 
Which reminds me I should update that thread with observations of remaining stock I saw today.