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furtech ([personal profile] furtech) wrote2004-08-14 12:31 am
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Flashlight

[Hey Jeff! You might be interested in this...]

After reading the rave-reviews on the Surefire flashlights, and needing good lumins nightly for dogwalks (and being a tech-geek), I ordered their model 6P. I'm amazed that flashlight technology has made such a recent leap: the LED lightsource is freakishly futuristic-- there is no dark spot and the light is eerily luminescent. I have no idea how to use a "kubaton" (hi, Jeff), but I may be going back to my reliable 3D maglight: I dropped the 6P on the ground tonight (asphalt) and it broke. Not into pieces, but it no longer turned on. The light would no longer go on in any of the positions and fiddling with it brought momentary light, but only after repeated bapping on my knee. Even then, it finally wouldn't turn on at all (good thing-- my knee was getting sore).

So I'm puzzled: *this* is supposed to be a military-grade light? My sympathies to any who would try to use this in a life-or-death situation (I just couldn't paint bunnies for Cody or find Frieda...erm). I'm sending this light back with a snarky note. Also disappointed that they don't provide a red filter or strap with this model.
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[identity profile] jonnywoof.livejournal.com 2004-08-14 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I've seen the Surefire flashlights. they're nice and bright, but they're no where near as durable as the tried-and-true Maglites made out of aircraft aluminum. I wear a small one on my belt at work, and I also have the large "skull cracker" model which a 2 ton truck ran over at work and didn't break it!

[identity profile] loriana.livejournal.com 2004-08-14 05:48 am (UTC)(link)
Urf... I would not be surprised if they used a circuitboard inside it. Sadly circuitboards are prone to cracking when subject to shock (especially when it probably had the weight of batteries behind it)

But yes.. I think like nearly everything else, quality goes out the window as products become more 'advanced' :P

[identity profile] skorzy.livejournal.com 2004-08-14 06:22 am (UTC)(link)
The 6P is considered a "personal" flashlight, being the oldest product in Surefire's lineup. Its essentially a very bright, high intensity light. Though, I think you misunderstood. Its *not* a "military-grade" light! That is reserved for their higher end lights (weapon lights and special-ops lights) which you couldn't touch for under $100. Xenon lamps are fragile creatures when you're talking about a tiny flashlight, there's less protection in one compared to a cumbersome lights like a Mag. I've had Mini-Mag lights break after waist-high drops to a gravel driveway, but my big 3D Mag has survived many "roll off the table and crash to the floor" events.

The military grade lights have a specially buffered xenon lamp housing that will resist shocks of being dropped or from weapon recoil. They're also got the Type III hard-anodizing which make them extremely resistant to chipping, scratching and gouging.

The lower end models (G2, 6P etc.) aren't going to have these luxurys. But.. something you bought with the light that your Mag lite won't have is their warranty. Send the light back to Surefire and I'm sure they'll replace it.

Maglites have a crappy beam pattern in ANY size and are just too big to carry around comfortably. I'm much more a fan of small, powerful lights. One I'm getting is the L2 lumamax which uses a 5 watt LED. THOSE are tough to break (no bulb), have Type III anodization and the size of a Mini-Mag.

Lights

[identity profile] burrwolf.livejournal.com 2004-08-14 06:56 am (UTC)(link)
I've got a Surefire 6p myself and I love it. I use it only for work where I work the graveyard shift.
However, if your looking for just a dog-walking light. Might I suggest a new mountain-bike headlamp. The small, compact ones like Catseye put out insane amount of light for there small size.

snazz

[identity profile] c-eagle.livejournal.com 2004-08-15 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
I sure appreciated all the info in this posting and comments :>
Just as Burrwolf, I used to work an overnight shift for many, many years... and so everyone on the crew including myself were constantly evaluating flashlights, including the Mags, and also working on tweaks to regular flashlights to give them highly extended durability. Many a $2 flashlight got beefed up into a machine far tougher than ever intended!
I've seen some of these hi-power beam thingies, but haven't gotten into 'em yet... I hope ya find one that suits your needs!
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