Hello... anybody free to advise a newbie?

[Halo]

@carrot

Budget… I’d happily have bought the Coast A25R if it did the job so around there is my budget.

Looks to be about $100 amazon link
So that others don’t have to google it.

[eebowler]

Anyone knows what LED the T7 has? Would a simple LED swap make a worthwhile difference?

[Emma]

@carrot

Hello everybody!! I am new here and would value the opinions of those with more knowledge on the subject than I have. I need a new flashlight / torch. I use it mainly for work. We are going around at night to medical calls and very often finding the address can be an issue in the dark. I already have to carry quite a lot on the job so do not want to go down the route of carrying more than one torch. Quite often I’m having to check notes in the car while the other person is driving, a so I need a “low level” mode that won’t run the risk of dazzling the driver. One of the most frequent uses for it will be looking for house numbers from inside the car. For this the torch needs to have a very bright, bright, BRIGHT mode and the ability to focus the light to a very tight narrow beam so that I can pick out house numbers from a distance without “spill” dazzling the driver. When we are out of the car it’s more a case of needing to light the way so I’d be wanting to use the bright etc mode but more of an “area” beam. Since I’m often having to write / balance maps / use phone at the same time I want the focusing to be a one handed operation. It needs to fit in the jacket pocket, so something 5 1/2" to 6" long would be perfect. I’d like the torch to be reasonably robust as something that is out of action after falling from my top pocket to the concrete is no use to me. Waterproof is also a necessary feature, although by that I mean “puddles / ponds / rain”, not “scuba diving / deep sea exploration”. If we can keep the weight down it would be nice as I’m already carrying loads. The old T7 did the job well and was about right for size but could have done with being ever so slightly brighter. I just tried out a Coast A25R but it was too big (just) and too heavy (just). It was very bright, but the beam couldn’t be focused narrow enough for our needs and it lacked range. Budget… I’d happily have bought the Coast A25R if it did the job so around there is my budget. I don’t mind having to purchase special rechargeable batteries as long as they do the job. So there we have it. Does anybody know of a flashlight / torch that is available in the UK that ticks all the boxes? Or even the US, could pick one up when on holiday. Thanks in advance for any advice!!

Are you sure you just need a small size？take a look of this light.The size it fit you and also bright bright bright at nighthttp://www.brinyte.com/product/1440491407.html

[tenohfive]

Carrot, at which ‘end’ could the T7 have done with being brighter - when zoomed out or zoomed in? Or both?

Having chopped in my T7 for a Nitecore EA11 for work I’d give that some consideration - it’s quite a throwy light, and much more output than the T7. I was after something lighter but brighter with the emphasis on a throwy light and it ticks all boxes, and so far I haven’t missed having flood to throw. A friend of mine having tried the EA11 is getting one to replace his T7.2 - he was completely sold on it. Use for both of us is anything from close work to picking things out at distance, certainly houses in the UK from the roadside aren’t difficult. But if you want more throw than the EA11 there are other options as the EA11’s big strength is it’s size and weight - if you can live with the T7 there are other similarly weighted options that’ll give you more lumens and more throw. Nitecore MH20 springs to mind, though I’ve no personal experience of one.

The BLF A6 is a cracking torch but if you don’t feel the T7 has enough throw then I’m not convinced you’ll be satisfied with it - when I first got mine I took it out into the countryside and the Lenser did have a bit more range (but was blown away by the A6 at short-medium distance.)

Most lights will have a moonlight mode that you’ll be able to jump straight into, and a quick route to turbo so you’ve got plenty of options.