Surefire flashlights

Ken_CT · Feb 24, 2008

In another thread someone mentioned that Surefire made excellent flashlights, so I went onto their website and looked at the lights. The Titan looked like a nice battery powered LED flashlight, about the size of a finger. I seem to be having a problem, though, with justifying $499.00 for a flashlight

.

They did have other lights for under $100.00 though.

GaryM · Feb 24, 2008

Surefire makes nice lights, no question about it. I do own two of their lights. A 9P incandesant I've had for at least 9 years, and a E2L (LED) that I've had for 2 years or so.

This website https://www.fenix-store.com/index.php?cPath=22
has some nice Chinese made lights that are good and reliable at considerably lower cost. Take a look, you might find one you like.

RonMar · Feb 24, 2008

Surefire built their name making tactical lights and I have used several of the incandescents over the years and own a Z2(under $100) for personal use. Another good quality incandescent along the lines of the surefire incandescent is a Streamlight Scorpion, at about 1/3 the current price of a Z2. I have 2 of those(one for the wife). It has a rubber armored grip to help maintain a firm grip in wet conditions if you should encounter those. Both are excellent choices to light up your world and dazzel an uninvited guest. Both have the same limitations of the ultra bright compact incandescents. About 50 minute run time on a set of batteries and about a 5 hour overall bulb life, although I have yet to wear one out with years of intermittent use.

I have only looked at some of their LED lights and the higher end ones are expensive, but I am sure the quality is there... As I mentioned in another LED thread, I recently got a machined aluminum light from Gerber called a Firecracker that runs on a common AA cell, fits easily in my shirt pocket so I always have it, and casts a 160' beam. About $19...

JB4310 · Feb 24, 2008

Yup, in that other thread I mentioned that they are coming out with new ones everyday, better and cheaper. I'm a flashlight nut and will impulse buy when ever I see one I like though I never broke down and bought one of those super premium shooters lights, almost did but now with all the very good ones out now I doubt I would spend that kind of money on one.
Got a very good one at Home depot of all places that cost under 30 bucks and is tactical bright, uses 3 triple A's. and is very small.
Last month I went the opposite route and bought a large lantern style fire mans light that is rechargeable and very sturdy but still lite, it's very bright and lasts for hours before needing recharge, came with AC and DC charger, cost around $80.00 on a deep discount at an industrial supplier. Wasn't sure I'd like it but for doing inspections in peoples basements it's perfect.

Ken_CT · Feb 24, 2008

RonMar,
I have the streamlight Stinger. After having it a couple of years I bought the head upgrade for it. I mounted it in a cabinet next to the back door and it was an excellent flashlight...until it broke

. The bulb is good, the battery is good, the charger is good, so I suspect the switch went. I know it has a lifetime warrantee, I just have to get it together and take it to the dealer. I don't know where the receipt is, so I expect this to be a pain in the neck to get fixed/replaced.

Sigarms · Feb 24, 2008

Ken_CT said:
until it broke. The bulb is good, the battery is good, the charger is good, so I suspect the switch went. I know it has a lifetime warrantee, I just have to get it together and take it to the dealer. I don't know where the receipt is, so I expect this to be a pain in the neck to get fixed/replaced.

Send if back to Surefire, I'm certain they will take care of it for you. Their flashlights are expensive, but their a top notch company who stands behind their product (just like Kershaw knives).

Used to have some older ones (Surefire), but didn't like the average run time under an hour (the time can go by quick if you really use one at night). However, picked up their new 6PLED light and love it. 80 lumen output with close to an 11 hour run time.

bigshovel · Feb 24, 2008

I have an E2L. Super product!!!!!!!!!!

frank_f15 · Feb 24, 2008

Ken_CT said:
In another thread someone mentioned that Surefire made excellent flashlights, so I went onto their website and looked at the lights. The Titan looked like a nice battery powered LED flashlight, about the size of a finger. I seem to be having a problem, though, with justifying $499.00 for a flashlight.

They did have other lights for under $100.00 though.

i did not go to their website, once i saw the prices in the threads i had to take another heart pill

thatguy · Feb 24, 2008

I have an A2 Aviator (LED/xenon hybrid) that I love.. the xenon will run about 60min at VERY bright level, but the LED will run about 20 more hours after the incan stops.. I also have a G2 that I got my wife after she saw my A2..

I would love to have a LED only light, but in the price range of the G2.. Low and behold - they are showing an LED G2 on their website now...

Frank_f15 - SF does have some lower prices 'illumination tools' that are in the $40 range.. they make an excellent product though... The lithium batteries have a very long shelf life - and lately I have had to replace 3 mini-mags AA lights due to batteries leaking.. SO after dropping about $12 3x, I would have been close to the price of a SF and gotten a much better light..

brian

JB4310 · Feb 24, 2008

I was just at Lowes today and was surprised to see they now have Surefire lights, one was priced at $60.00 for 80 lumen's, another tag said $80.00 but they were out of that one. Didn't see if they took the special batteries or not.
Coast is a company that makes decent quality lights for a moderate price

. Tactical Use Lights :: Coast LED Lenser Lights :: Discount LED Lights & Knives

Tractors4u · Feb 25, 2008

JB4310 said:
I was just at Lowes today and was surprised to see they now have Surefire lights, one was priced at $60.00 for 80 lumen's, another tag said $80.00 but they were out of that one. Didn't see if they took the special batteries or not.
Coast is a company that makes decent quality lights for a moderate price

. Tactical Use Lights :: Coast LED Lenser Lights :: Discount LED Lights & Knives

I saw them at Lowe's as well. I believe most of them use the CR123 battery at about $5.00 each. I have one. I use it sparingly. Pelican also most some similar to the Surefire M6.

newhorseguy · Feb 25, 2008

All off Surefires lights use CR123 lithium batteries except for a handfull of lights that are rechargable. You can purchase the Surefire battery's directly off their website for about $1.75 plus shipping.

Ken - the $499 Titan light you were looking at was a limited edition light that was made out of titanium. An aluminum version will be offered latter this year.

Althought $499 is more then a little spendy for a flashlight keep in mind that with Surefire you are getting what you pay for and Surefire offers a lot of other more cost effective models. I'm a flashlight geek and used to be a First Responder. I've have had enought cheaper lights and some not so cheap lights fail when I needed them that I just stick with Surefire products. I currently have more then a dozen Surefire lights.

If you just looking for a flashlight to use around the garage just about any brands light will do. But if you need a light that will work in extremious, regardless of the temp or rain and need it must work every time, then Surefire is one of the few brands that you can bet your life on.

thatguy · Feb 26, 2008

Tractors4u said:
I saw them at Lowe's as well. I believe most of them use the CR123 battery at about $5.00 each. I have one. I use it sparingly. Pelican also most some similar to the Surefire M6.

You can get the CR125 batteries for under $2/each at a place that sells police supplies or directly from surefire for $1.75 (order of 12) .. DO NOT buy them at walmart or other retailers, you will pay too much..

Brian

YanmarFever · Feb 27, 2008

Surefire makes the best lights hands down, they are the leader.

When your life is on the line you want the BEST, I bought mine on ebay for 1/2 the price of the local cop shop. $50.00

When things go bump in the dark, you want to make sure of your target or path ahead.

If you want a light just to see in the dark the leds are the way to go.

sunspot · Feb 27, 2008

Ah, flashlights. I have about 20 in my small collection. I am a long standing member of Candle Power Forums. Five of my lights are Surefire. I find a Streamlight Apex headlanp works great when you need both hand free. It has a 3W LED and 4 small LED's that can be run on high or low power. I run it with the new Sanyo Eneelop batteries. They are a new technology low self discharge rechargeable battery.
I'm big on high power LED flashlight.

GaryM.
You are right about Fenix. It's a good quality light that comes in many configuration. Some have the latest Cree Q5 leds. Up to 240 lumans on the new Cree's.

CR123 can be had for $1.00-1.25 if you know good internet sites and there are rechargeable versions now.

I have a 3D Mag that I modded to 800 lumens out the front. Some of my friends have made flashlights that can set paper on fire.

My EDC (Every day carry) flashlight has been, for the last 6 years, an Arc AAA powered light. 9 lumens output, military grade hard anodizing (HA III), waterproof to 100 and a no questions asked lifetime warrenty.

JB4310 · Feb 28, 2008

Dana,
Sounds like your kinda a flashlight guru,
Whats the true measure of a lights brightness/output is it the lumens or the watts or a combination of the 2, I just picked up an led lenser from coast it says 3.44 watts and 60 lumens, 3 AAA's, cost around 30 bucks. How do those specs rate in the flashlight realm.

We use the streamlight headlights with the 1, 3, or 10 led position switch, they work well for our work in basements, I just picked up another SL HL with 3 leds and 1 reg bulb have not tried it yet.

Thanks, JB.

sunspot · Feb 28, 2008

Geez, that's a tough one. In general, lumens are the best measure. Candlepower is measured in a globular pattern whereas lumens are measured at a target 1 from the source.
Watts aren't too bad to use as a general measure but not nearly as good as lumens. I could have an older 3 watt LED that puts out 50-60 lumens and put that up against a new Cree XR-E Q5 LED that can put out 240 lumens at the source.
That's because the technology of LED's is improving at a fast rate. LED efficiency measured in Lumenius(sp?) Flux. Three watts of power is now brighter in the latest LED's compared to the older ones at the same power draw.
Compare it to vacuum cleaners. "My vacuum has an 11 amp motor" Mine has a 12 amp motor? The one with an 11 amps may be the better one due to the efficiency of the motor. Clear as a bell, huh?
Even the little 5mm LED'S have improved. The latest ones are 40% brighter at the same current. I have a flashlight in my pocket that uses the new Nichia DS and now the GS is out that's 10% brighter than the DS.
Link to Arc Flashlights

When you get into incandesint lights, watts are a little better to compare with but not always. I have a Streamlight Ultra-Stinger that is 10W and a Pelican Surge that is 7.5W. The stinger is brighter at the source. If the Pelican had a tighter focus, it would seem brighter to the eye.
My 3D Mag has a 20W bulb and a tight focus. It's what I call a barn burner.

As for headlamps, I will only use LED's. Way brighter, less heat and a longer battery life. A great headlamp is the Princeton Tec EOS. A 3 watter with 3 levels of brightness, 3AAA batteries on the front.
A rear battery, 4AA, is the Princeton Tec Apex. And it can be modded to twice as bright for $14. See this thread Princeton Tech Apex Mod - Step by Step - CandlePowerForums

I really like my flashlight hobby.

JB4310 · Feb 29, 2008

Thanks, I checked out the links, didn't realize there were flashlight freaks like that, very interesting.
What would your choice be for an all around best light, If you could only have 1 light.

kossetx · Mar 3, 2008

Wow, thanks for the info on batteries. My son gave me a surefire but I don't use it because of the 6.00 battery. If I can find em for 2 I would use it more.