Anyone ever use one?
I’m more of a Mag Lite guy myself.
Another vote for MagLite. I’ve noted the durability of their products and how many police officers and firefighters use them, but reading this article about the dedication of a guy working out of a garage to build the best was truly inspirational. He’s got my business for life.
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- I think for most general-purpose situations, Surefire flashlights are dumb because 1) most of them are horribly overpriced, and 2) they have very short burn times. Normally an hour, or 20 minutes with a “super-high-output” bulb. There are some uses that people like them, police work and whatnot–but then, when I think of needing a flashlight I tend to assume that I may need it to run until dawn, so a 1-hour flashlight does not really interest me much. I want it to use commonly-available batteries (AA, C or D, like what is sold at grocery and convenience stores everywhere) so the fancy lithium batteries are a drawback, as I see it. I have heard people argue “well you just carry more batteries and change them” but the problem with that argument is that doing so may not be convenient or possible, especially if you are in a wet environment, as the flashlights are waterproof. There is a $30 plastic version.
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- I think for most general-purpose situations, Surefire flashlights are dumb because 1) most of them are horribly overpriced, and 2) they have very short burn times. Normally an hour, or 20 minutes with a “super-high-output” bulb. There are some uses that people like them, police work and whatnot–but then, when I think of needing a flashlight I tend to assume that I may need it to run until dawn, so a 1-hour flashlight does not really interest me much. I want it to use commonly-available batteries (AA, C or D, like what is sold at grocery and convenience stores everywhere) so the fancy lithium batteries are a drawback, as I see it. I have heard people argue “well you just carry more batteries and change them” but the problem with that argument is that doing so may not be convenient or possible, especially if you are in a wet environment, as the flashlights are waterproof. There is a $30 plastic version.
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Point a Maglight at your eyes, and flash it on/off. Then do the same with a Surefire. (Actually, don’t. Filter through a few sheets of paper or something; it’ll still be bright as hell).
I carry a (4-cell?) Maglight in the truck as a ‘general purpose light’. I have a micro-Mag on my keychain. But with the pistol, it’s a Surefire M101. It’s not intended as a general-purpose flashlight, and battery-life just isn’t part of the design. 20 minutes is more than enough for any ‘self defense’ need!
But for a general-purpose-leave-it-by-the-fusebox type light? Maglight is better.