Author Topic: Flashlights (Read 922 times)

daddywpb · « **on:** March 24, 2006, 11:41:07 PM »

I'm not sure if this fits in the electronics category, but I was wondering what kind of flashlights people are using for hunting? I've been using a Surefire G2 Nitrolon. Nice brite light, for about an hour, then boom - dead. Those little 3 volt litium batteries are getting pricey. I've been looking at rechargeables on the Surefire website. Also, kind of pricey. There is an LED light (L7 LumaMax) at 100 lumens (nice) for an hour, then 1 1/2 hours of "useable light". Not sure what they would consider "useable light" to be. I have a small LED that clips to my hat to use when I'm getting set up, but walking to a stand or back to the truck at night, I like to have a lot of light. Would like to hear comments from anyone who has used the Surefire L7, or any other kind that you have been satisfied with.

Only six more days left of turkey season. :cry:

One more thing - I tried ordering the discount 3 volt batteries on Ebay. They are running about 50%. About half of them are coming out of the box dead. :cry: (again).

Steve

Siskiyou · « **Reply #1 on:** March 26, 2006, 04:43:52 PM »

I had an issue SureFire light. It was great light as long as I did not have to buy the batteries. My experience is about the same as yours. With fresh batteries it was good for about an hour. I do not know about the currect rechargable battery. The old one was a waste of money. If working out of a vehicle I always had my standard 3-D cell flashlight. When I retired the light was one item that I did not miss the next day.

When I am out hunting I carry a mini maglite on my belt plus spare ammo. Kind of my grab and run gear. When I hunting in warm weather I use military web gear. In the fanny pack there is a 4-cell AA headlamp. On cold weather hunts I have a day pack with a 2-cell AA headlamp in it. I am a believer in headlamps because they free up the hands and allow me to operate in a normal mode.

The SureFire is a great sure term light. But it can leave you in the dark.

akpls · « **Reply #2 on:** April 05, 2006, 05:31:06 PM »

I love my Surefire's for when I need bright light right now! I took 2, an E2E and an Aviator, to Namibia with me and they were great to make sure no creepy crawlies (ie snakes) were on the trail to our sleeping quarters. My kids also use a couple of G2 Nitrolon's to walk to the school bus during the winter. The Surefire lithium batteries are actually fairly reasonable if you get them off of the Surefire website. For long term light I use a Petzl LED headlamp.

daddywpb · « **Reply #3 on:** April 05, 2006, 11:04:37 PM »

I ended up getting an 8nx Commander. Lots of light! It's good for about 45 or 50 mins, but I have two extra batteries. It's a bit bigger than I though, but the extra bright light is worth it.

panman · « **Reply #4 on:** April 06, 2006, 07:12:14 PM »

Im with Akpls on this one.Head lamps are the way to go.They last a long time [at least 40 hrs.],give a lot of lite and most have a red light that wont scare game,plus your light is always where your looking.pan.

daddywpb · « **Reply #5 on:** April 06, 2006, 10:37:46 PM »

I also use a Streamlight Cliplight that I attach to my hat. It's not very bright, but it's an LED so battery life is long. Good for getting set up in a stand or setting up a blind in the dark. I still like to have more light while I'm walking to a hunting spot. Lots of hogs and gators here.

brianrull · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2006, 02:00:02 AM »

I bought a Stramlight Twin-Task flashlight out of Cabela's for deer season and really like it. It has low-drain LEDs and a high-drain xenon bulb - you can switch between the two. I also bought some colored filters for it, similar to the Surefire lights. I arrowed a nice buck one night and my brother-in-law jumped it while he was walking to my stand. We spent about three hours that night tracking it as rain was forecasted overnight. I ran the LEDs with the blue filter for the most part, until I lost the blood trail and then I clicked over to the high beam which really lit the trail up. I have the model that uses 2 lithium 123 batteries, although I believe there are models that use C & D cells as well. Best comparison I can make is that it is a little brighter than my AA MiniMagLite on the LEDs and 3D cell MagLite on the high-beam setting. Ran about $25. Streamlight says 2.5hr on xenon, 28hrs on LEDs. I like it so much, I think I am going to buy a couple of the larger ones to replace the MagLites I carry in my vehicles.