Flashlight

[furtech]

[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.

Comments

[skorzy.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you've might've gotten a bum one? I've never heard anyone really complain about the 6P before, and on flashlight forums I've read about people abusing the hell out of their 6P (or the G2) and they keep on working.

You drop a maglite and it breaks, they're not going to fix it. From what I've been told, Surefire will (unless, of course, you threw it against a wall!) you have a valid complaint and Surefire's warranty is very good that way, they treat their customers very well.

The only thing I dislike about those high intensity lights with fixed focus is they're too bright for "close" work. Its another reason I'm getting the L2 lumamax. Its low power setting is 15 lumens, perfect for close/general work.

I guess if you're okay with lugging those heavy maglites around, then its fine. That's a big reason I don't use mine.
The mini-mag lite is a joke, but hey.. its a $10 light, and *would* be a good in-car map reading light if it didn't have that dark donut beam pattern.

You can get Luxeon LED upgrade heads for most Mags now, which would give you a slightly brighter light with a more "white" light, and likewise a slight increase in battery life. The LED won't blow or break.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Heya! Yeah-- it's possible I either got a bad one or managed to drop it *just* right. I guess it's the newness when it happened: if I'd owned one for ten years and it happened, I'd write it off as a fluke.

The fixed-focus property is a drawback: when I'm searching an area for, er... Frieda *spoor*, I need a wider beam. FYI, I also got the L2 (which might be used as a prop at some point). I may well use that as the emergency, extra trail light. The L2 is *very* cool to use. At the highest beam, I think it will go through a pair of lithiums in under an hour (the beam was noticeably dimmer after about 40 minutes). Very cool. (er, and *hot*)

What I like about the 3D Maglight: I can focus the beam to see coyote or cat eyes at 120+ yards...wide beam for poopage...TONS of accessories! And also as one of the few legal weapon-useful items a walker can legally carry. Donut beam is more annoying after seeing the bright spot of the Surefire lights!