You are dispatched to a barren island for a survival game. Among other necessities, what 3 lights will you bring? You are limited to three lights, and you need to go on scouting missions (for at least 2-4 hours each night) at night as part of the game. You can include any type of light (HID, headlamp, big LED, finger-sized LED, etc.). You will be on the island for 2-3 weeks.
Only list three lights (or fewer), and please state the reasons. Ideally they should each perform a different function or should be complementary to one another, but that is up to you.
One other limiting factor: you have a $400 (give or take $50) budget. You can either buy more (or more expensive) lights or buy fewer (or less expensive) lights, and use the rest for batteries, etc.
A couple of months ago I bought 3 D cells at Dollar Tree for $1. I put them in a Mag 3D LED and turned it on to see how long they would last. Maglite claims 70 hours, probably for the best of the best Duracells. Anyway, a WEEK later I shut it off. I was tired of checking on it. It wasn’t very bright at that point, but I could still use it to see around in a completely dark room. Of course a Mag 3D and batteries cost way less than $400 so there would be alot of money left over for other options. So at the least I would include a Mag 3D with maybe $5 for a set of 15 cheap D cells. I could even devote another $50 for 50 sets of D cells and be guanteed continuous light 24 hours a day for a year!
I don’t have enough flashlight experience to make the best guesses, my expertise lies in LED, and i understand a fair amount about halogen technology but only used 2 different halogen based lights and maybe a dozen LED ones and own even less.
Based on my limited actual experience i would take a Convoy M1, an XP-G thrower of some kind that i don’t know of yet and lots of batteries and chargers.
Otherwise an armytek light or two would be very useful i would think, according to their descriptions on their website they are designed for this kind of rugged and life saving usage.
1. modifed Maglite magcharger with OP reflector, glass breaking tail, warm tint lightly driven XP-G2, it could run for hours and it would be always in my hand ready to kill someone
2. Dereelight Nightmaster V2 for distant spotting in backpack.
3. Good quality diving light (I don’t know which) just in case u need to check something under water.
and of course Victorinox swiss tool/Laetherman charge tti
I would take a XinTD C8 with a few Sanyo batteries. You would not need anything else light wise. The rest I would spend on Scotch. Being 3 weeks it would have to be a lot.
So total budget is for lights only, or can be used to select batteries as well?
If we're talking lights only, I'll take the new TK75, the Zebralight S6330 (run time on lowest setting is ~1 year, and it is enough to navigate by in a dark room or say a cave), and a couple of 18650 zoomies. Should be right around $400 total. One flood light with lots of modes for close up work, one larger light with plenty of throw for scouting. Both should also do ok at low depths.
If we're talking about any combo, and batteries have to to included, I'll still take the TK75, and fill in the rest of the budget with sanyo 2600mAh batteries.
Now, if I was stranded on a desert island, my preferred light would be the screen backlight in my Iridium satellite phone… Mommy, come get me… I’m lost (phone has GPS locator in it)
Right angle flashlight/headlamp with an okay low and lots of lumens
Vinh modded K40 ($150)
Good throw, fits the budget
Trustfire TR-S700 ($115)
Amazing flooder for either camp or lighting up an area to complete tasks. Finishes out the budget.
6xKing Kong's, with special pricing for X3 customers, plus $40 for two battery pack of NCR18650's for a total of 12 18650's.
The Wizard Pro would get used the most because is powerful and flexible enough for most tasks, requiring fewer batteries, but it'll be nice to many extras than not enough.
take as much 18650 with you,short-circuit it and voila you get a hand made grenade.
its not important to think what will you eat but what will eat you J)
is good quality headlamp [ZebraLight] w/ multi-modes [perfect night patrol light plus keep both hands free]
is Malkoff MD-4 w/ M91 & H/L ring [indestructible plus “blunt force trama capable]
is one of those waterproof blinky lights that use button cells [night-time fish attractant] to put meat on the table
Oh and a LL Bean Copper Canyon 8 person tent equipped w/ full set of cots, bedding, cooking utensils, a Navy Seal, plus two SYTs [one blonde, one red head] each equipped w/ dual extra-large signaling devices. And some nice beach chairs, w/ a case of sun screen. Plus a case of cr123s and 397 button cells.
Can’t forget keeping hydrated! Guess a full selection of Marshall Wharf Brewing beers w/ be in order
If I’m going to rough it at least I want to be comfortable….
Hmm… alright since we get budgets of $400 each, you can either get a buttload of cheap read label, or something more expensive like a bit of chivas?
My 80 cells should be enough for the both of us.
