how many lumens for a tactical flashlight? - Page 3

jwhite75 · September 8th, 2009, 03:16 PM

The LED seem to be a little better on batteries. I personally have found the Surefire E1L to be the perfect balance. I agree with Sixto it can be too bright especially indoors as it will reflect off of white walls back to the user to a degree. It is a 45 lumen. Sure it may be better to have a little higher lumen light...but I can light up my back yard pretty well with it. 60-65 isnt bad. my 45 works fine for me for everyday use. There are lots of companies out there selling these now, but Surefire just consistently does it best. IMHO.

RMD · September 8th, 2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmb

Interested in a flashlight... how many lumens and such? Recommendations?

I'm happy with my Streamlight PolyTac LED. Nothing fancy - 120 Lumens for under 40.

Gunsmoke16 · September 9th, 2009, 07:15 PM

How much do you want to spend? I have a Rayovac $20 Walmart penlight that's LED 80 Lumens I replaced my Mini-Maglight with. It's extremely bright at night but not so much during daytime...runs forever on two AA batteries & I never leave without it. On duty I have a Surefire 8AX Commander that's 110 Lumens. It is as bright as one of the brightest car headlights and will light up a whole field. Cost about $200 for the light, 2 batteries & dual charger system.

If you need to depend on it, buy a Surefire. Streamlights are good also, but better buy an extra bulb or so. The Surefires are rated and clinically, technologically proven as the brightest lights in the world. If you don't want to spend a fortune, get a Surefire G2 Nitrolon light for $39. It's 60 Lumens, but you can get a replacement upgrade bulb for about $20 that brings it to about 120 lumens. They are really light-weight. The Original 6P in metal is also 60/120 lumen capable. Those little batteries are expensive though, unless you buy them in bulk, so might want to look at a rechargeable like the G3 Nitrolon, although it is bigger at about 7" to 1ft long. (Is it for everyday carry? Need a pocket clip?) Run time on rechargeables is about 1 hr. unless you get an LED head for it.
The quality of the light is another factor. 80 lumens from a Rayovac and a Surefire is like night & day. Surefire uses computer laser control to produce the best light projectors and longest burn time for the device available. They even have specialty lights that are 500+lumes that can signal a satellite in space, and most of our military rely on Surefire. They have defensive lights with sharp edges you can poke with and a neat one called the Aviator that has adjustable settings and a red map light built in. I personally wouldn't pay over $100 for any light that you could lose or break, unless you put it in your pocket every day and use it every day. I called Surefire once to ask how much a bulb was for my 8AX and the guy was shocked...said hold on...$28...HUH..., well, did you blow one...nope, just wanted a spare. Well, the Seals and combat forces are really rough on these things, but I've never sold a replacement bulb...yet. I've had it about 4yrs now and use it all the time. Replaced two rechargeable batteries, but still the same bulb. Had a friend that has a Streamlight Stinger & he has gone through about 6+bulbs at $7 ea. (you have to replace them with gloves or the oil in your fingerprints will reduce the life of ANY bulb) I would choose an LED, just to never have to worry about it croaking when you need it most. Call Surefire (on web) and they will send you a big color catalog with all their stuff. I'm confident that you can beat the thing till the paint is gone from it and it will still work. I wouldn't try that with any other light & depend on it. (and if you do, Sharpie pens touch up the nicks nicely...btdt).

LM2024 · September 10th, 2009, 01:23 AM

Love my Fenix LD20 and it uses 2 AA batteries which is a HUGE plus, especially on night shift where the only place I can get batteries if I need them is a gas station. I normally use rechargeables.

It can throw out 180 lumens in turbo mode/strobe light mode. Turning the bezel gives you three out put options: 9 lumens (71hrs) -> 47 lumens (13hrs) -> 94 lumens (5hrs)

Even has an SOS mode if you're lost somewhere and want to flash SOS in morse code.

It beats the hell out of my old Surefires.

mercop · September 10th, 2009, 01:41 AM

The vast majority of cops I know are used Surefire 6Ps and G2s with 60 lumens. There is little you cannot accomplish with it. When you are using a light for work and doing car stops and searching building you need a light to last, not reheat pizza.

dwyermw · September 10th, 2009, 04:40 AM

The Fenix LD 20. Runs on two AA batteries, 180 lumens, a blinding strobe light, 6 different illumination settings; amazon.com for $57. Simply awesome.

zacii · September 12th, 2009, 03:30 PM

Here is a chart comparing the lumen output on flashlights.

roadsiderob · September 13th, 2009, 09:28 PM

I use a Surefire G2 LED everyday working on cars. Actually, I have 3 of them, as they grow legs from time to time. Great light at a reasonable price. I probably use my light more than most people. They've been dropped, kicked, used, and generally abused to the point that the aluminum bezels have lost most of their paint and aren't round anymore. Still work great. I get about 10 days to 2 weeks out of a pair of CR123 batteries.

Dal1Celt · September 13th, 2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackeagle

Agreed. Keep in mind that flashlights are bullet magnets. The best way to employ them in most cases is going to be to briefly illuminate the target to ID it, then turn the light off, move, and shoot the threat using ambient light. If your light is powerful enough that the reflection off a white-painted wall messes up your night vision, those extra lumens may end up hurting more than they help.

This reminds me of one of the Laws of Combat, Murphy style.

"Tracers work both ways"!

pirate · September 13th, 2009, 11:48 PM

I used Surfire for years but now I like Fenix, more power/lumins for the money and quality is top notch also.

September 8th, 2009, 03:16 PM	#21
jwhite75 VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,306	The LED seem to be a little better on batteries. I personally have found the Surefire E1L to be the perfect balance. I agree with Sixto it can be too bright especially indoors as it will reflect off of white walls back to the user to a degree. It is a 45 lumen. Sure it may be better to have a little higher lumen light...but I can light up my back yard pretty well with it. 60-65 isnt bad. my 45 works fine for me for everyday use. There are lots of companies out there selling these now, but Surefire just consistently does it best. IMHO. __________________ Friends don't let friends be MALL NINJAS. "May God have mercy on my enemies...because I won't." -Gen. George S. Patton.

September 10th, 2009, 01:41 AM	#25
mercop Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PA Posts: 608	The vast majority of cops I know are used Surefire 6Ps and G2s with 60 lumens. There is little you cannot accomplish with it. When you are using a light for work and doing car stops and searching building you need a light to last, not reheat pizza. __________________ 2010 MCS Calander http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgb7wjh3_299f8tncbcz

September 12th, 2009, 03:30 PM	#27
zacii Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: arizona Posts: 317	Here is a chart comparing the lumen output on flashlights. __________________ Trust in God and keep your powder dry Superduper Snubbie Thread Why 1911?

September 13th, 2009, 11:48 PM	#30
pirate Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Eastern NC / Pirate Country Posts: 624	I used Surfire for years but now I like Fenix, more power/lumins for the money and quality is top notch also. __________________ When I leave the home port: S&W 642 Airweight, Ruger SP 101, Colt Detective Spec., CZ RAMI, Springfield XD 9mm, Kahr PM9, Kahr CW40, S&W Model 10-7, Glock 19, Glock 26, Browning Hi Power, CZ82, Colt Commander

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September 9th, 2009, 07:15 PM	#23
Gunsmoke16 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 44	How much do you want to spend? I have a Rayovac $20 Walmart penlight that's LED 80 Lumens I replaced my Mini-Maglight with. It's extremely bright at night but not so much during daytime...runs forever on two AA batteries & I never leave without it. On duty I have a Surefire 8AX Commander that's 110 Lumens. It is as bright as one of the brightest car headlights and will light up a whole field. Cost about $200 for the light, 2 batteries & dual charger system. If you need to depend on it, buy a Surefire. Streamlights are good also, but better buy an extra bulb or so. The Surefires are rated and clinically, technologically proven as the brightest lights in the world. If you don't want to spend a fortune, get a Surefire G2 Nitrolon light for $39. It's 60 Lumens, but you can get a replacement upgrade bulb for about $20 that brings it to about 120 lumens. They are really light-weight. The Original 6P in metal is also 60/120 lumen capable. Those little batteries are expensive though, unless you buy them in bulk, so might want to look at a rechargeable like the G3 Nitrolon, although it is bigger at about 7" to 1ft long. (Is it for everyday carry? Need a pocket clip?) Run time on rechargeables is about 1 hr. unless you get an LED head for it. The quality of the light is another factor. 80 lumens from a Rayovac and a Surefire is like night & day. Surefire uses computer laser control to produce the best light projectors and longest burn time for the device available. They even have specialty lights that are 500+lumes that can signal a satellite in space, and most of our military rely on Surefire. They have defensive lights with sharp edges you can poke with and a neat one called the Aviator that has adjustable settings and a red map light built in. I personally wouldn't pay over $100 for any light that you could lose or break, unless you put it in your pocket every day and use it every day. I called Surefire once to ask how much a bulb was for my 8AX and the guy was shocked...said hold on...$28...HUH..., well, did you blow one...nope, just wanted a spare. Well, the Seals and combat forces are really rough on these things, but I've never sold a replacement bulb...yet. I've had it about 4yrs now and use it all the time. Replaced two rechargeable batteries, but still the same bulb. Had a friend that has a Streamlight Stinger & he has gone through about 6+bulbs at $7 ea. (you have to replace them with gloves or the oil in your fingerprints will reduce the life of ANY bulb) I would choose an LED, just to never have to worry about it croaking when you need it most. Call Surefire (on web) and they will send you a big color catalog with all their stuff. I'm confident that you can beat the thing till the paint is gone from it and it will still work. I wouldn't try that with any other light & depend on it. (and if you do, Sharpie pens touch up the nicks nicely...btdt).

September 10th, 2009, 01:23 AM	#24
LM2024 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Nebraska Posts: 204	Love my Fenix LD20 and it uses 2 AA batteries which is a HUGE plus, especially on night shift where the only place I can get batteries if I need them is a gas station. I normally use rechargeables. It can throw out 180 lumens in turbo mode/strobe light mode. Turning the bezel gives you three out put options: 9 lumens (71hrs) -> 47 lumens (13hrs) -> 94 lumens (5hrs) Even has an SOS mode if you're lost somewhere and want to flash SOS in morse code. It beats the hell out of my old Surefires.

September 10th, 2009, 04:40 AM	#26
dwyermw Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 100	The Fenix LD 20. Runs on two AA batteries, 180 lumens, a blinding strobe light, 6 different illumination settings; amazon.com for $57. Simply awesome.

September 13th, 2009, 09:28 PM	#28
roadsiderob Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 158	I use a Surefire G2 LED everyday working on cars. Actually, I have 3 of them, as they grow legs from time to time. Great light at a reasonable price. I probably use my light more than most people. They've been dropped, kicked, used, and generally abused to the point that the aluminum bezels have lost most of their paint and aren't round anymore. Still work great. I get about 10 days to 2 weeks out of a pair of CR123 batteries.