My wife complained to me today that I have too many flashlights on my desk and wondered why I needed them all. I know it might be asking too much to have her understand that they all cover different bases or needs for different situations. To help keep peace in the family I decided to clear off some or even most of them. I found that I did have lights that cover the same bases. I have to say that I probably keep them close at hand because I like to play with them.
I started thinking about which light I could leave on the desk that pretty much does it all. There are different catagories that we look for but which light covers the most?
SIze.
Useable modes.
Brightness.
Throw.
Spill.
Battery type
Weight.
Ease of carry.
Reliability.
All are important in a light. After thinking about each of my lights, I pretty much found that all of them have something that I either don’t like or they need something more to make them perfect.
After going over the whole bunch, the one that covers the most bases for me is my Sunwayman D40A. The only real disavantage for me with this light is it’s just a little to big to be a every day carry light. It really does everything else fairly well including a very low moonlight mode.
The D40A is the light I decided to leave on the desk. If I need a light to carry in a pocked with a clip when I go out on a walk or I’m outside doing something where I want to put it in my pocket, I just grab my Nitecore EC25. Just about as bright as the D40A but much easier to pocket and has a good clip.
I know there are other lights out there that would cover many bases well, but I don’t own them right now.
I could do most everything with a few lights
Klarus P1A 1AA with decent output, constant brightness, and a decent EDC
Convoy M1 good balance of flood/throw
Convoy S2 Flooder that runs on 18650 (overheats quickly)
C8 for throw, i have a cyclone C88 but everyone says the Convoy C8 is a great light
You also want something you can loan to people, say a sipik SK68 or perhaps another Convoy M1 with protected battery, or a second Klarus P1A
And i don’t have one so i can’t vouch for it, but something like an HD2010 or A60 for 26650 and long throw
If I had to choose one light to keep to cover as many needs as possible it would probably be my SC52W or a p60 light as it I could always use different drop ins.
I have to say my Solarforce Lights. Quality built, waterproof, drop-ins really change the character from throwy to floody, any modes you want and if they break a new module is very inexpensive. They can lego for different assemblies and form factors and even become dedicated throwers with the Masterpiece heads.
I don’t really know how many lights I have now. I gave a bunch away and most of them are at home so I can’t count them now. I’m guessing somewhere between 30 or 40. Most of them I rarely use or play with anymore.
If you don’t use most then it should not be a problem parting with them (little joke there)
I just realized you were asking for one light and i gave a list to cover most situations, when i have to do with one i would pick the Convoy M1, but unlike most BLFers i don’t have experience with enough models to give a good recommendation for just one.
Now… where have I heard that one before? Ha ha ha….
Seriously, I think it would be my SRT6. The ability to dial-in any power level instantly is a real boon; from about 2 lumens up to full power.
I think it’s useful both indoors and outdoors, whereas some of my lights I would classify as for indoor or outdoor use.
Stock it comes with an xre ..... Mine just has an emitter swap. modded with a Nichia 219.
The reflector is a little tiny bit bigger than a p-60 is orange peel and tosses out a prefectly usable beam .U.I. is two mode Programable via ramping that happens very quickly and is well thought out. It has an electronic tail switch that uses your basic micro-switch .I've always liked the feel and speed of these switches.It has a Stainless steel bezel and a really strong clip screwed into the body with two screws . Ha3 anodized and lastly a 1 lumen low .It's about as good as it gets ..For a whopping 25 $ it will give the zebralight sc600 a run for it's money .
Sportac P60 3x Nichia 219 dropin inside Solarforce L2P host with an upgraded optical coated lens from KD. This thing is PERFECT. 1 mode no fuss. Lots of high CRI light
It’s a good question. I have a lot of lights and most of them are for specific uses. I guess if I had to pick one that covers most of the bases it’s a UF-T20 that I modded (de-domed XP-G2). It’s hopped up so it throws about 110kcd, but when in flood mode it’s got a great flood with a perfect tint. 3 modes. 5% 35% and 100%. I find myself grabbing it all the time. It fits nice in a coat pocket too.
Still if I had to pick one budget light that I think everyone should own it would be the ZY-T08. I have five of them all modded differently. XP-G2, XM-L2, XM-L2 with Aspheric, MT-G2 and XP-G2 with aspheric. However for a dirt cheap light stock they still rock pretty darn well.
