# High Quality LED Flashlight That's NOT Super-Bright **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 27, 2016, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337 "2016-03-27T12:24:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/1 "2016-03-27T12:24:22Z")
Hi - I need a medium-sized flashlight. In the old incandescent days I’d get something like a 2 C-cell Maglite. My requirements in order of priority are: 1. Not stupid bright. Ordinary bright is plenty. More bright than that is worse, not better. 2. Dead nuts reliable. Not some Chinese garbage sold from a $1 tub near the checkstand at Home Depot. 3. No fancy features. No integral laser pointer, no blinking. Just on/off. 4. Long term stability. It gets used for a couple minutes a month. But when I need it, I \*need \*it. Contact springs rusting or collapsing are not good. LEDs that quit after 6 months sitting unused in a vibrating environment are not good. 5. No “tactical” crap. No sharp edges, no belt clip, etc. 6. Ideally 6-8" long. Not really wanting a 2-3" shorty. Ideally about C-cell diameter or a bit smaller. Not wanting a single AA-diameter barrel. 7. Not rechargeable or solar. Runs on replaceable single-use batteries. Don’t really care what kinds / shapes. Amazon has about 1 bazillion kinds of flashlights. Most of which are competing on brightness or scary-looking “tactical” styling. Which I don’t want. What I need is some way to trim the bazillion choices down to a couple dozen. Any suggestions on brands, models, or sources? Ideally I’d play with them in person, but I don’t have any good idea of what sorts of stores would carry a selection. Suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/2 "2016-03-27T12:50:41Z")
Maybe a two C-cell (LED) Maglight? Sounds as if it would fit your specifications. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/3 "2016-03-27T12:52:37Z")
Why not a 2 C Maglite, then? ETA: ninja’d. GMTA. Yes, LED. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/4 "2016-03-27T12:59:42Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > Maybe a two C-cell (LED) Maglight? > Sounds as if it would fit your specifications. Sounds like it is [too bright](http://maglite.com/shop/flashlights/mid-size-flashlights/maglite-ml100-2-cell-c-led-flashlight.html#.VvfY5uJri00): > [@](#): > > Now with more features…amazingly bright … ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/5 "2016-03-27T13:45:50Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Sounds like it is [too bright](http://maglite.com/shop/flashlights/mid-size-flashlights/maglite-ml100-2-cell-c-led-flashlight.html#.VvfY5uJri00): Only 137 lumens. Not amazingly bright. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/6 "2016-03-27T13:47:17Z")
Damn. I thought they (Maglite) had gone out of business when the LEDs came out. I thought they’d pulled a Kodak. D’oh. :smack: Turns out they have both low & high brightness 2 C-cell LED lights. Problem solved. Thanks all. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/7 "2016-03-27T13:59:46Z")
I’ve never thought a flashlight could be too bright. Do you use them for mood lighting? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/8 "2016-03-27T14:04:24Z")
Try using a super-bright flashlight to read a paper map in the car while driving at night on a dark country road. Doesn’t work so good. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/9 "2016-03-27T14:05:14Z")
I bought a package of them (maybe 3) cheap at Walgreens a few years sgo, all are standing up well. Silver barrel, no brand markings, takes 3xAAA. Ruubberized push-on-off at back end of barrell. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/10 "2016-03-27T14:07:17Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Try using a super-bright flashlight to\*\* read a paper map in the car while driving at night on a dark country road\*\*. Doesn’t work so good. No texting? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/11 "2016-03-27T14:40:47Z")
This is actually about flying. But I needed to set the scenario to something familiar to folks. The point is using the light in a small enclosed space with lots of reflective surfaces and a need to stay mostly dark-adapted, rather than dazzled. Besides: you don’t need a flashlight to text; the phone screen lights up just fine on its own. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/12 "2016-03-27T14:45:07Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > This is actually about flying. But I needed to set the scenario to something familiar to folks. The point is using the light in a small enclosed space with lots of reflective surfaces and \*\*a need to stay mostly dark-adapted, rather than dazzled. > \*\* > Besides: you don’t need a flashlight to text; the phone screen lights up just fine on its own. 😃 How about a [red lens headlamp](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_p_n_feature_keywords_0?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A3180261%2Ck%3Ared+lens+headlamp%2Cp_n_feature_keywords_four_browse-bin%3A7801630011&keywords=red+lens+headlamp&ie=UTF8&qid=1459089829&rnid=7801629011)? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/13 "2016-03-27T14:48:07Z")
If it’s for the inside of a cockpit, why not get a high end name brand LED flashlight, but then get a red or yellow or blue (I’m sure there’s an industry standard) lens for it so you’re not blinded. Googling ‘led flashlight for flying’ the first couple of hits came up with green and red LED flashlights. As I recall from my days of being a Boy Scout, we used red if we needed to look at a map while hiking at night so we didn’t ruin our night vision. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/14 "2016-03-27T14:48:36Z")
Rayovac Indestructible is often recommended in response to similar requests on Candlepower Forums. Available in AA, C, and D sizes from Home Depot. My guess is that 130 lumens is on the high side for your application, and that 10-30 would be better. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/15 "2016-03-27T15:36:49Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I’ve never thought a flashlight could be too bright. Do you use them for mood lighting? Most definitely they can be too bright for some uses. And not mood lighting. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/16 "2016-03-27T15:37:52Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > No texting? Please, let’s not start… ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/17 "2016-03-27T15:40:06Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > How about a [red lens headlamp](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_p_n_feature_keywords_0?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A3180261%2Ck%3Ared+lens+headlamp%2Cp_n_feature_keywords_four_browse-bin%3A7801630011&keywords=red+lens+headlamp&ie=UTF8&qid=1459089829&rnid=7801629011)? > [@Joey\_P](#): > > If it’s for the inside of a cockpit, why not get a high end name brand LED flashlight, but then get a red or yellow or blue (I’m sure there’s an industry standard) lens for it so you’re not blinded. > Googling ‘led flashlight for flying’ the first couple of hits came up with green and red LED flashlights. > > As I recall from my days of being a Boy Scout, we used red if we needed to look at a map while hiking at night so we didn’t ruin our night vision. I assume the OP is interested in reading some sort of map with information in color. For that purpose a red LED will be absolutely terrible. Anything that’s not red, maganta-ish, or white might as well be black. A red filter on an incandescent flashlight is another matter, since there will be a broader spectrum of emitted light, probably including a bit even at the blue end of the spectrum. Blue pigmented things will be harder to see than with white light but they will still be visible to dark-adjusted eyes. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/18 "2016-03-27T16:00:27Z")
Many newer LED lights come up at medium or low brightness, and require another push of the button to get to high brightness. I recently bought a [Nitecore keychain light](http://flashlight.nitecore.com/product/tube) which is pretty nice - push the button once and it turns on at 1-lumen brightness. Push again and it goes up to 45-lumen brightness. Or press and hold, and the output varies continuously. Another example is the [Lumintop AAA](http://www.lumintop.com/tool-aaa.html). Goes to medium brightness first (32 lm), then low, then high (110 lm). ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/19 "2016-03-27T19:33:47Z")
Honestly, it sounds like maybe you might be better off with a cheaper flashlight rather than a super-spiffy high-tech one, since they’re sold with brightness as the main marketing factor. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337/20 "2016-03-27T19:43:50Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Try using a super-bright flashlight to read a paper map in the car while driving at night on a dark country road. Doesn’t work so good. That’s what your fingers are for. I thought everybody knew that. Simple, easy, and highly-adjustable. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-quality-led-flashlight-thats-not-super-bright/750337.md?page=2)