What flashight do you recommend?

[caver]

Princton Tech Apex is still my go-to headlamp. I prefer hands free headlamps. With voltage regulation it will pull every bit of juice out of those batteries before it dies.

 

[MrWhippy]

For headlamps, I've found Zebralights are topnotch. All metal construction. AA or CR123 lights. They come in a regular beam or floody beam and are virtually indestructible. I agree, on the farm, headlamps are extremely handy for late night repairs.

Zebralight

 

[MacLawn]

Since I like me stuff to last, I use Maglites. Mine are over 25 years old, good as new. I just put that newfangled LED bulb in one of them, love it, and makes batteries last longer. And, I'd rather be able to use batteries than those recharge lights. It's easy to have spare batteries in boondocks, but hard to recharge ye batteries. Yep, get a Maglite, ye're done buying flashlights.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

I just put that newfangled LED bulb in one of them, love it, and makes batteries last longer.

I'm on the same page as you, MacLawn.

Mind sharing make/model info on the LED bulb? Amazon lists several, some with poor reviews, some with hardly any, none that people rave over...

 

[MacLawn]

RedNeck, oh me, I bought that LED bulb about --------- 10 years ago! Finally got around to putting it in me Maglite. I think I got it at Lowe's, but, whew, canno' remember. Knowing me, that's probably where I got it. Anyway, I can tell you that it stores good! Lasted in package for 10 years.

 

[dmccarty]

...
Mind sharing make/model info on the LED bulb? Amazon lists several, some with poor reviews, some with hardly any, none that people rave over...

This is what I bought from Amazon to replace my old Maglite bulbs with LEDs. Just make sure you buy a bulb that works in the right Maglite. Some bulbs are for new flash lights and others are for older ones. Two of my Maglites are 20 and 25 years old with one that is younger. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Years ago I bought some LED upgrades for my Maglites. I bought a few of these for about $20 to replace the old bulbs in a few flash lights. TerraLUX TLE-6EXB MiniStar5 140 Lumens, Led Conversion Kit for 2-3 Cell C&D MagLites - Led Household Light Bulbs - Amazon.com Pretty sure I replaced the old bulb in a rechargeable Maglite as well as a 2D Maglight.

I splurged and bought this danged thing, Terralux(TM) TLE-310M-EX MiniStar31M-EX LED Conversion Kit for 4-6 D Cell MagLiteｮ - - Amazon.com for about $70. It will toggle through three light power settings or can be switched to just go full power. Full power on this thing is amazing. I walked down to our road to see how far the light goes and it is at least 900-100 feet. The road curves before the light ran out. The light is very bright to say the least and it is, pun intended, a difference between night and day with the old bulb and this LED package.
...

Later,
Dan

 

[JRobyn]

I'm with Al Mac; I like a small light that can disappear in a pocket so that one ALWAYS has it on them. Just like your carry gun, ANY light that you have on you is better than one too bulky to carry constantly. Once I found these (Gerber Tempo Microlight Flashlight 22-80107) I rarely use any other flashlight. Super inexpensive. Sometimes hard to find since I think that Gerber no longer makes them, but I see they now have a similar AA model (Gerber Infinity Ultra Task Light 22-80010). It uses cheap, standard AAA batteries, and they seem to last forever. I use mine a LOT (daily) and change the battery maybe twice a year. The ad says 4 hrs battery life, but they must have used a worn out carbon battery. I once accidentally dropped mine down inside a wall cavity while fishing coax wire; when I retrieved it TWO DAYS later, it was still shining! They put out an AMAZING amount of light for such a tiny thing. Perfect for walking at night over rough terrain. Beam out to maybe 50ft and will light up critter eyes out to maybe 100yds. Easy and light to mouth-hold when doing close-up work involving both hands. I bought several extras just for spares. After a couple of years of hard use, the green anodizing partially wears off leaving a cool looking mixed green/polished aluminum patina. Can you tell I am a big fan?

- Jay

 

[RalphVa]

If you have any battery powered tools, I'd recommend getting the light that comes with them. Otherwise, buying the light plug battery and charger is pretty expensive. Our DeWalt 18v light is our most used one, as it'll stay put sitting, lasts a long time and is very bright. Their latest is their 12v LED one that runs off Lithium ion battery.

Ralph

 

[RobertN]

I still like Maglite. LED version work well.

I get the most use out of my DeWalt 18V that came with my 4-tool set(light, recip saw, circ saw, drill-driver). That thing has been everywhere with me. All around the house and property. Camping. Hunting. Battery last a long time on a charge. And, I have the charger that works from the cigar lighter in the truck(I guess they call them auxiliary power now). It gets used all the time! It has been on countless Boy Scout campouts. Dropped, bumped, accidentally kicked. Fell in pond. Sat on.

I like my other, a Makita 9V too.

Otherwise I usually use a LED mini-maglite.

 

[RobertN]

I should add, I really like the light I have with my fire gear. It is a 4C style rechargeable 90 degree angle light. Similar to the "Big Ed" light. Have to look tonite at what brand it is. That light, works GREAT...!