Maglight vs. Surefire

Your Flashlight Of Choice?

  • Maglight

    Votes: 18 42.9%

  • Surefire

    Votes: 20 47.6%

  • Other. Please specify.

    Votes: 4 9.5%
  • Total voters
    42
:iagree:

Ahearn is right, visit CPF for all you want to know about lights. I'm an active member there and trust me, soon you'll be forking over money quicker than you can believe.

Surefires, Arcs, Pelicans, Inovas, custom modifications--I've bought many 1 and 5 watt led's (that don't burn out, are impact proof and are easier on batts) because of them.

Pretty soon you'll be asking yourself why you've got that crappy Maglight. Sure you can hit someone with it, but wouldn't you rather burn out their retinas with 120 lumens.
:bouncy:
 
I just don't see the fascination with flashlights that people go to a forum regularly to talk about them. However, I can see going to do research to find the best flashlight for the money. But I refuse to get a Surefire for the simple fact it's way too much money. Also, that wouldn't be so much if of an issue if Surefire made flashlights with batteries that are affordable; people on this forum alone say the batteries are expensive, and that is the thing you have to change the most. Forget it!
 
That's OK if you don't see the fascination that some people have with flashlights. Everyone is different.

Personally, I don't see the fascination that some folks have with guns -- an expensive toy that hurls little pieces of metal at high speeds. A Surefire flashlight is not much different -- an expensive toy that hurls little photons at high speeds.:D

By the way, CR123 batteries, which most "good" high-intensity flashlights use, can be had for less than $1 each, not the $4-$5 drugstore prices. And if used in an LED light, can last much longer than in an incandescent. Battery cost is not really a big issue.
 
HEY!!! Don't knock guns :D
I checked out what you suggested, and if anything I would go with the E2D Executive Defender. Do you know they say that your E1E (that you suggested) is...well here is a direct quote from the website, "The E1E Executive Elite is more compact than a penlight, yet produces as much light as a larger two D-cell alkaline flashlight." Well I can say comparison alone, for $20 I got something a lot smaller, and from what I read a lot brighter: Photonlight. I took that light, and compared it to a 4 D Cell Maglight and I found it to be much brighter.
I do like what I hear for the E2D, but dude, $105 for a flashlight? Come On!!!
 
Iman--Nobody's forcing you to buy anything, but I want to make a suggestion.


Go to WalMart. Buy a Brinkman LX Maxfire for $20. It's a little black metal and plastic light about the same size as a Surefire G2 nitrolon. It puts out about 50-65 lumens (your photon puts out less than 7-9). Not super tight tolerances or SF quality, but worth the money.

Take it home, load it with the supplied lithiums and wait for it to get dark outside. Take any light you have in the house like a Maglight or Rayovac, and compare them. Shine them in the engine compartment, down the road--try to light up your neighbor's bedroom from across the street.

Then think to yourself--if I'm stuck out in bad weather, what would I rather have. What takes up more room.


If you don't like it, return it. Hell, even if you do like it, return it--it's only WalMart. :D


FWIW, 2-3 D cells will run about the same price as 2 lithiums (usually less) if you know where to buy them. I just bought a 4 pack of D cells for just under $5 at WalMart.




Personally, I feel the Surefire lights are overpriced, but so are many other quality things in this life. I work nightshift, so I need lights more than most people and I'm willing to pay for it.

The old saying is still true, you get what you pay for, but not everyone needs Champagne or BMW's. :p
*BTW--I get SF lights at a discount rate, so I don't mind the price so much.
 
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Everybody NEEDS a BMW..... (or so I convinced my wife)

:D


Where and how are you getting Surefires at a discount?

The Surefire Aviator sure burns through lithiums when using the xenon bulb.
 
Of course everyone needs a BMW, Steve. I told my wife that I needed a 3 series coupe, but aparently I needed a 4Runner more :arrow:
She agreed.

PM sent about the SF :)
 
Well if you live in CT this Saturday a gun shop I got to in Shelton CT, is having a huge sale, including SureFire flashlights.
 
How about this. Let's say I put Surefire on my X-mas list. If I do that, I need to pick a model; I know for sure if I let the person decide I will get something I hate.

If I were to get one, it would need to be compact like the Mini Maglight (the one that fits in your glove department) but as bright as can be. Also I like the sound of using it as a weapon. For that reason I would choose E2D Executive Defender. What do you guys think?
 
The E2D would be an excellent choice. However, I would also suggest looking at LED options and models. Advantages are no bulbs to burn out, longer battery life, more light spill, not prone to bulb burnout due to vibration and impact, purer white light (not yellow), and electronic regulation that produces longer full-brightness level and gets the most out of the battery.

The best small (single CR123), very bright, long-run time, regulated, white-light LED is the Nuwai QIII (sold by a number of vendors on candlepowerforums.com). It's 3 watts (not 1 watt like most), black anodized finish, has the front crenalated bezel (much like the E2D) and only costs about $60. It has comparible quality to Surefire and comes with a nylon belt pouch. It's my favorite of all of my lights, including a number of Surefires. Once you try it, you'll wonder how you ever considered a Maglite to be a real flashlight.

I used to be a Maglite fan too, but now all my Mags have been converted to LED with drop-in modules. I keep one old Mag so that I can someday show my grandkids what old-technology flashlights once looked like.

Al
 
I'm not necessarily saying that there's something wrong with Mags. It's just that the flashlight world has advanced beyond that technology. My 5" ASP Triad (incandescent) or 5" Surefire L4 (LED) easily outshine my old heavy 5-D-cell 21" Mag. Of course, I can't beat someone to death with my little 5 inch jobs.:D
 
ahearn said:
I'm not necessarily saying that there's something wrong with Mags. It's just that the flashlight world has advanced beyond that technology. My 5" ASP Triad (incandescent) or 5" Surefire L4 (LED) easily outshine my old heavy 5-D-cell 21" Mag. Of course, I can't beat someone to death with my little 5 inch jobs.:D
Click to expand...

Only five inches? Sad :D
 
Hey, it's not the length, it's the breadth. Besides, in flashlights and other matters of life, it's not size that counts.
 
ahearn said:
Hey, it's not the length, it's the breadth. Besides, in flashlights and other matters of life, it's not size that counts.
Click to expand...

Just keep telling yourself that, you might just believe it. :D
 
Other Choices

Well I hope everyone here knows that there are many other quality brands of torches out there besides Maglite and Surefire. Check out Streamlight, Fenix, Princeton Tec, ARC, Fenix, Inova, and Peak LED just to name a few.

While Surefire lights are not cheap they usually represent a better choice than Maglites, especially since until just recently the only offerings from Mag were incandescent. These are unregulated with a rapid output drop and emit a yellowish light with "donut" hole light patterns - all in a heavy, bullky package. Their new LED models show some promise but other brands offer better regulation. IMO the Maglite rechargeable is their best model. Mags are a great start for a custom light however. I have five or six Mags laying around collecting dust and one day I'll start converting them over.

As flownosaj indicated (glad to see another flashaholic here!) this is a great forum for torch lovers:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com

This site offers excellent reviews of all flashlight types:

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/index1.html

BTW, an ARC AAA-P resides on my keychan and is still available:

http://www.arcflashlight.com/

Fenix is a Chinese manufacturre of some great AA, AAA, and CR123 models at excellent prices:

http://fenix-store.com/index.php


While I am only a "rookie" flasaholic compared to many others, I do own ten or twelve lights that work for me. My favorite Surefire is the A2 Aviator. This incandescent/LED light offers fantastic incandescent regulation and good beam pattern in a relatively small package.

But IMO the best value of any flashlight is the Streamlight ProPolymer Luxeon 4AA or 3C models. These offer excellent regulation and runtimes and very nice beam patterns at a bargain price. I own two 3C models (for camping) and five or six 4AA models (one in every car)and have purchased many as gifts for others. You would be hard pressed not to find glowing reviews of these models:

http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=25

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/streamlight_propolyluxeon.htm

Other great model reviews:

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews_index/reviews_top_picks.htm
 
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