I need a flashlight

[308Scout]

Would it be nuts to keep it in your front pocket?

Possibly nuts, but also possibly banana(s).

 

[teratos]

Possibly nuts, but also possibly banana(s).

Bananas Foster and roasted nuts….

 

[rgramjet]

NEBO Redline Torchy 2K 2000 Lumen Pocket Flashlightfor EDC, Wireless USB Rechargeable LED Water & Impact Resistant for Camping, Hunting, Hiking, Fishing, 5 Light Modes, Water and Impact Resistant https://a.co/d/2ugy1mI


This is my new favorite flashlight. Astoundingly bright in the "turbo mode". Power button takes some getting used to. Durable and compact case. Rechargeable battery lasts a good long time.

 

[Trepang]

Anybody got any experience with these MicroStream Streamlights?

I want something that:

1. I can clip in my front pocket like a pocketknife. Something small but larger than a keychain light.

2. No additional features like strobe or high/low output - just simply on and off.

3. Non-rechargeable. Just a battery. No USB charging.

This one from Streamlight seems to fit the bill and I was hoping someone on here had first hand experience with them.

Not interested in the flat style of lights at all.

 

[EODJoe]

I've been using this one for a few months now and I really like it. The pocket clip allows it to attach to a hat has also come in handy once or twice.

Amazon product ASIN B07DLRK7Q5

 

[Roksfr]

Anybody got any experience with these MicroStream Streamlights?

I want something that:

1. I can clip in my front pocket like a pocketknife. Something small but larger than a keychain light.

2. No additional features like strobe or high/low output - just simply on and off.

3. Non-rechargeable. Just a battery. No USB charging.

This one from Streamlight seems to fit the bill and I was hoping someone on here had first hand experience with them.

Not interested in the flat style of lights at all.

View attachment 438453

I have always had great luck with Streamlight, use their Propolymer, when camping or working in out of the way places, their Bear trap is a favorite. Haven't used this particular light, but the brand makes great product. They have a lifetime warranty, and several products are made in the US.

 

[John from MD]

Anybody got any experience with these MicroStream Streamlights?

I want something that:

1. I can clip in my front pocket like a pocketknife. Something small but larger than a keychain light.

2. No additional features like strobe or high/low output - just simply on and off.

3. Non-rechargeable. Just a battery. No USB charging.

This one from Streamlight seems to fit the bill and I was hoping someone on here had first hand experience with them.

Not interested in the flat style of lights at all.

View attachment 438453

Streamlight makes good products but 45 lumens is not too bright.

 

[John from MD]

Streamlight makes good products but 45 lumens is not too bright.

IMO, this is a better all around pocket light.

Olight i5T EOS - Read Details | Olightworld.com

The i5T EOS is a tail switch EDC flashlight powered by a single AA battery with an amazing max output of 300 lumens.

www.olightworld.com

 

[Headedthere]

I found this search filter, and it works pretty good. You need to enter the year to make sure the search shows available models. I ended up with a Fenix PD25R, and might buy another.

Parametrek Flashlights

flashlights.parametrek.com

 

[Trepang]

Thanks guys - looks like a couple good choices to choose from.

Nice thing about ordering from Amazon - easy returns if I don't like my first pick

 

[Growler215]

I've got several Uniquefire 1508 flashlights with different size lens. I use them as IR illuminators. I have several different wavelength IR "led pills" (810nm, 850nm, 940nm) but they also make white, red, or green "pills."

One interesting thing about these is that they can use either 1 or 2 18650 Lithium Ion batteries. To use 1, you just unscrew a threaded aluminum tube and screw the base (where the switch is) onto the shortened flashlight. That's normally the configuration that I mount to a picatinny rail. I also have a base with a remote switch that I can use.

Now, I figured since it works with up to 2 18650 batteries in series, the shortened version should work with 2 CR123 batteries in series since each is only a little smaller in diameter and about half the length of an 18650. Sure enough, it works like a charm. Not really what the OP was looking for, I just thought it was interesting that an 18650 Li-ion flashlight could use CR123 batteries (or RCR123a, which is a better option for me.)

Uniquefire UF-1508 75mm LENS Infrared 940NM 850NM Red Green LED Zoom Flashlight | eBay

UtilizingHigh Power IR 850nm(or 940nm) LED Emitter,The Smallest Infrared LEDs With More Than One Watt Of Optical Power. Rotary Focusing System: Illuminate Much Farther With Smaller Light Spot. <2>Interchangeable torch head system that allows the head of the torch to be changed.

www.ebay.com

 

[2nd=Good+Substantial]

Anybody got any experience with these MicroStream Streamlights?

I want something that:

1. I can clip in my front pocket like a pocketknife. Something small but larger than a keychain light.

2. No additional features like strobe or high/low output - just simply on and off.

3. Non-rechargeable. Just a battery. No USB charging.

This one from Streamlight seems to fit the bill and I was hoping someone on here had first hand experience with them.

Not interested in the flat style of lights at all.

View attachment 438453

I have that one. It sits in the drawer because it just isn't bright enough for me.

 

[gforce]

Anybody got any experience with these MicroStream Streamlights?

I want something that:

1. I can clip in my front pocket like a pocketknife. Something small but larger than a keychain light.

2. No additional features like strobe or high/low output - just simply on and off.

3. Non-rechargeable. Just a battery. No USB charging.

This one from Streamlight seems to fit the bill and I was hoping someone on here had first hand experience with them.

Not interested in the flat style of lights at all.

View attachment 438453

That is an inspection light, medium illumination at very short range. Perfect for under cars/sofas or inside of closets. They really aren’t designed as an edc light.

I like the inspection light size so I carry one from CountyComm with better output, that I haven’t been able to kill for the last several years, try as I might.

Inspection : AAAx2 Extreme - Tactical Light by Maratac® Rev 3 ( ULTRA

Our Best One Yet! Introducing the AAAx2 Extreme - Tactical Light by Maratac® Rev 3, now in its latest and greatest version! This flashlight is designed to deliver exceptional performance and versatility in various situations. Featuring the new Cree XP-G3 LED, the AAAx2 Extreme boasts a larger...

countycomm.com

 

[kstone803]

Anybody got any experience with these MicroStream Streamlights?

I want something that:

1. I can clip in my front pocket like a pocketknife. Something small but larger than a keychain light.

2. No additional features like strobe or high/low output - just simply on and off.

3. Non-rechargeable. Just a battery. No USB charging.

This one from Streamlight seems to fit the bill and I was hoping someone on here had first hand experience with them.

Not interested in the flat style of lights at all.

View attachment 438453

I would recommend a little more size and juice for your EDC. My two daily carries are the streamlight stylus pro (weekend/non work carry) and a lumintop P365 (work clothes carry). The lumintop is brighter and has been great but I don't think it will take the abuse the streamlight will. This is probably my third stylus pro in 15 years and one of them streamlight replaced under warranty very easily, I think another one I lost. Mine looks like hell, has barely any paint left on it and still works great. Not to say the lumintop is bad. That thing gets 250+ days of carry time a year all over the world and hasn't skipped a beat over the last 3 years. It replaced a 4sevens light that finally bit the dust after about 6 years and unfortunately they went out of business. My only gripe about the lumintop is the tailcap switch is easy to accidentally push on in your pocket and if you don't notice it will kill the batteries. I guess what I'm saying is you can't go wrong with either one.

 

[kstone803]

That is an inspection light, medium illumination at very short range. Perfect for under cars/sofas or inside of closets. They really aren’t designed as an edc light.

I like the inspection light size so I carry one from CountyComm with better output, that I haven’t been able to kill for the last several years, try as I might.

Inspection : AAAx2 Extreme - Tactical Light by Maratac® Rev 3 ( ULTRA

Our Best One Yet! Introducing the AAAx2 Extreme - Tactical Light by Maratac® Rev 3, now in its latest and greatest version! This flashlight is designed to deliver exceptional performance and versatility in various situations. Featuring the new Cree XP-G3 LED, the AAAx2 Extreme boasts a larger...

countycomm.com

That looks interesting. I love countycomm stuff. Another light I've been eyeing but have no hands on experience with yet is the Cloud Defensive Chicro. Seems a bit smaller than the stylus pro and more power.

 

[John from MD]

I would recommend a little more size and juice for your EDC. My two daily carries are the streamlight stylus pro (weekend/non work carry) and a lumintop P365 (work clothes carry). The lumintop is brighter and has been great but I don't think it will take the abuse the streamlight will. This is probably my third stylus pro in 15 years and one of them streamlight replaced under warranty very easily, I think another one I lost. Mine looks like hell, has barely any paint left on it and still works great. Not to say the lumintop is bad. That thing gets 250+ days of carry time a year all over the world and hasn't skipped a beat over the last 3 years. It replaced a 4sevens light that finally bit the dust after about 6 years and unfortunately they went out of business. My only gripe about the lumintop is the tailcap switch is easy to accidentally push on in your pocket and if you don't notice it will kill the batteries. I guess what I'm saying is you can't go wrong with either one.

I have several Lumintop flashlights and find that they are excellent quality for the money.

 

[gforce]

That looks interesting. I love countycomm stuff. Another light I've been eyeing but have no hands on experience with yet is the Cloud Defensive Chicro. Seems a bit smaller than the stylus pro and more power.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised with everything I’ve got from CountyComm, most of the stuff looks like rebranded Chinese knockoffs but it all stands up to a fair amount of abuse.

That Chicro looks interesting, good size for a pocket light and similar output to the Countycomm. The nitecore edc light mentioned upthread might be my next purchase, looks phenomenal

 

[Trekker]

My current EDC is a streamlight 1L-1aa. It is small enough to carry comfortably in a front pocket, I can use CR123's for better performance, or fall back to AA's if that is what is available. The tailcap switch is easy for my thumb to find, and requires a deeper click to turn on, reducing the chance of accidentally turning on the flashlight in my pocket and reducing the battery. Lumens is sufficent for the majority of circumstances, though not spotlighting a distant woodline. For OP's original request of $30 or less, the streamlight 1L-1aa is only slightly more at $35 on amazon right now.

I had slightly smaller EDC (1) AA battery olight in the past. The magnetic tailcap was quite useful for sticking to metal surfaces, but I had a real recurring issue with the side mounted switch getting turned on in my pocket.

 

[dontpanic]

Anybody got any experience with these MicroStream Streamlights?

I want something that:

1. I can clip in my front pocket like a pocketknife. Something small but larger than a keychain light.

2. No additional features like strobe or high/low output - just simply on and off.

3. Non-rechargeable. Just a battery. No USB charging.

This one from Streamlight seems to fit the bill and I was hoping someone on here had first hand experience with them.

Not interested in the flat style of lights at all.

View attachment 438453

I've been carrying one of these every day for over 5 years. Simple, reliable and really long battery life. My only complaint is the switch is kind of squishy. Not really the best feel

Definitely bright enough. I do like rechargeable but this keeps ending up in my pocket

 

[Trepang]

Thanks again for all the input.

As far as illumination, 99% of the use an EDC flashlight will see is reconnecting IT cables under my desk due to our IT Department’s laziness in putting crap back together correctly after their weekly HDD inventories and being able to see the lock on the ice machine at the marina early in the morning.

Anything with a USB port is prohibited at work so that rules out most of the rechargeables.

For other stuff, I have slightly larger Surefire lights in both vehicles, spread around the house and on my HD handguns.

Thanks again for all the replies - still haven’t made my mind up but Streamlight and Olight are the two finalists.