Lights...how many lumens?

smousefam5 · July 8th, 2008, 12:08 PM

How many lumens do you consider as minimum for daily carry? I am looking for something that would fit in my Versipack Fatboy so it needs to be reasonable compact. Thanks!

MilitaryPower · July 8th, 2008, 12:36 PM

I wouldn't carry anything less than 60 lumens. I'd check out Fenix LED flashlights. I carry a small one on my keychain that has 20, 9, 60, SOS, and strobe. And two on my belt, one has 10, 40, 80, 140, SOS and strobe, and the other has 60 and 225.

You also need to determine what KIND of light you want, LED or incandescent? Flood or throw? Batteries? Runtime?

Chooie · July 8th, 2008, 01:03 PM

It truly depends on what you want the light for. If you intend to use it for tactical applications then yes, 60 lumens is a good minimum. 60 lumens is a bit much when you're just trying to find the keyhole on your front door, though. I carry 2 lights, one is a 120 lumen Surefire E2DL, and the other is variable from 3 to 130 lumens, and is a NiteCore EX10. The Surefire is now available in a dual mode 5/120 lumen model, and is quite compact and easy to stow in a Fatboy Versipack. The NiteCore is my backup light and my go to light for general tasks. I tend not to use the Surefire as much as it is driven much harder and is almost as much a battery hog as an incandescent.

gddyup · July 8th, 2008, 07:26 PM

I'm going to back up MP above and have you take agander at the Fenix lights. I just purchased a Fenix L2D about 2 weeks ago and it's a really nice light for all around use. It has multiple light modes, has a Cree LED, and runs off 2 AA batteries. Slender, light, and easy to carry with good versatility. Fenix also makes a momentary tac light tyope switch for this model that I may look into, but I'm leaning more towards buying another one of their lights for that specific purpose.

I've used a couple different lights but the Fenix has really won me over.

CajunChuck · July 8th, 2008, 08:23 PM

I received my Fenix TK11 yesterday...man, that is a sweet flashlight. She fits in my hand perfectly. Will throw out light @ 60 or 225 lumens. I hope it lasts!

buckeyeLCPL · July 8th, 2008, 08:28 PM

I like my Surefire 6PLED, which is 80 lumens I think, or my G2 which is 65 (6P has a much better battery life though), either is fine for tactical work. I also have several Photon keychain lights, not sure about lumens, but they work for when the Surefires are too bright.

Ragin Cajun · July 8th, 2008, 10:54 PM

I vote with 60.

Shizzlemah · July 8th, 2008, 11:22 PM

Wow the Fenix guys are coming out ! I have a P3D and typically use the 9 lumen setting for day to day tasks. The 160 lumen setting will effectively blind pesky coworkers.

Last night, 160 lumens was able to illumuinate a skunk at 45 yards, plainly discernable.... If I had my ears handy there would have been one less skunK!

retsupt99 · July 8th, 2008, 11:35 PM

Minimum...E2e, 60 lumens...I still have one, but now I carry the L4 LumaMax, 100 lumens...it will blind you!

Stay armed...stay bright...stay safe!

Skygod · July 9th, 2008, 01:08 AM

I like the both the Surefire E2E and the G2 LED. The G2 LED is an 80 lumen light with 12 hours of runtime on one set of batteries.

My Surefire E2E is 60 lumens, but I've replaced batteries like socks, even using just momentary illumination.

July 8th, 2008, 12:08 PM	#1
smousefam5 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Idaho Falls, ID Posts: 96	Lights...how many lumens? How many lumens do you consider as minimum for daily carry? I am looking for something that would fit in my Versipack Fatboy so it needs to be reasonable compact. Thanks!

July 8th, 2008, 12:36 PM	#2
MilitaryPower Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 917	I wouldn't carry anything less than 60 lumens. I'd check out Fenix LED flashlights. I carry a small one on my keychain that has 20, 9, 60, SOS, and strobe. And two on my belt, one has 10, 40, 80, 140, SOS and strobe, and the other has 60 and 225. You also need to determine what KIND of light you want, LED or incandescent? Flood or throw? Batteries? Runtime? __________________ Gun control can be blamed in part for allowing 9/11 to happen. "Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum" (Latin)- "If you want peace, prepare for war".

July 8th, 2008, 01:03 PM	#3
Chooie Distinguished Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,782	It truly depends on what you want the light for. If you intend to use it for tactical applications then yes, 60 lumens is a good minimum. 60 lumens is a bit much when you're just trying to find the keyhole on your front door, though. I carry 2 lights, one is a 120 lumen Surefire E2DL, and the other is variable from 3 to 130 lumens, and is a NiteCore EX10. The Surefire is now available in a dual mode 5/120 lumen model, and is quite compact and easy to stow in a Fatboy Versipack. The NiteCore is my backup light and my go to light for general tasks. I tend not to use the Surefire as much as it is driven much harder and is almost as much a battery hog as an incandescent. __________________ -Joe Quando omni flunkus, moritati. Virginia Citizens Defense League Rustburg, VA Volunteer Rescue Squad

July 8th, 2008, 07:26 PM	#4
gddyup Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Derry, NH Posts: 918	I'm going to back up MP above and have you take agander at the Fenix lights. I just purchased a Fenix L2D about 2 weeks ago and it's a really nice light for all around use. It has multiple light modes, has a Cree LED, and runs off 2 AA batteries. Slender, light, and easy to carry with good versatility. Fenix also makes a momentary tac light tyope switch for this model that I may look into, but I'm leaning more towards buying another one of their lights for that specific purpose. I've used a couple different lights but the Fenix has really won me over. __________________ Firefighter/EMT "For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected will never know" - T.R.

July 8th, 2008, 08:23 PM	#5
CajunChuck Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 58	I received my Fenix TK11 yesterday...man, that is a sweet flashlight. She fits in my hand perfectly. Will throw out light @ 60 or 225 lumens. I hope it lasts! __________________ *Ca C'est Bon!*

July 8th, 2008, 08:28 PM	#6
buckeyeLCPL VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 2,887	I like my Surefire 6PLED, which is 80 lumens I think, or my G2 which is 65 (6P has a much better battery life though), either is fine for tactical work. I also have several Photon keychain lights, not sure about lumens, but they work for when the Surefires are too bright. __________________ Fortes Fortuna Juvat We're mules lad. Mules that kill. TJR

July 8th, 2008, 10:54 PM	#7
Ragin Cajun Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 665	I vote with 60.

July 8th, 2008, 11:22 PM	#8
Shizzlemah Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 724	Wow the Fenix guys are coming out ! I have a P3D and typically use the 9 lumen setting for day to day tasks. The 160 lumen setting will effectively blind pesky coworkers. Last night, 160 lumens was able to illumuinate a skunk at 45 yards, plainly discernable.... If I had my ears handy there would have been one less skunK!

July 8th, 2008, 11:35 PM	#9
retsupt99 VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 22,392	Minimum...E2e, 60 lumens...I still have one, but now I carry the L4 LumaMax, 100 lumens...it will blind you! Stay armed...stay bright...stay safe! __________________ "That I cannot do." "Give this to, uh, Clemenza. I want reliable people, people who aren't going to be carried away. After all we're not murderers in spite of what this undertaker thinks." *********************************** NRA Life Member

July 9th, 2008, 01:08 AM	#10
Skygod Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 494	I like the both the Surefire E2E and the G2 LED. The G2 LED is an 80 lumen light with 12 hours of runtime on one set of batteries. My Surefire E2E is 60 lumens, but I've replaced batteries like socks, even using just momentary illumination. __________________ Perhaps your sole purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others.

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