I did another no/low light class and have decided it would be a good idea to carry a decent light to compliment the pistol mounted light.
Is Surefire still the way to go? I’d like something with a momentary on ability. Prefer no strobe. Really awesome if under $150.
Thanks for any info.
What’s an EDC tactical light? Because EDC and tactical tend to be pretty opposing forces, at least typically in the flashlight community, with EDC typically going toward smaller and more floody, often with multiple settings, and tactical being necessarily larger for the better performance with recent trends towards throw and just a single output.
What size are you willing to tolerate? What beam profile do you want? How much power do you want? Do you care at all about temperature and CRI? Do you have specific methodologies you want to use (e.g., rubber rings to help with the Rogers shooting method, usage of the Thyrm SwitchBack, etc.)? Single, dual, or multi output?
Surefire is great but not under $150 for most models.
I use a stream light protac hlx. Mine is several years old and is 1k lumens, these are going to be cheap since a 2k lumen was released not long ago.
It has momentary on and strobe but it can be disabled (since you font want that feature).
I took mine to a friends shop and had him use a lathe to cut a ring into the body for the old raven belt clip for the surefire 6P models. That is how I like to carry mine with that loop sticking out for easy access to put into action.
The 1k lumen models are on eBay often for under $100. The 2k models I’ve seen on sale for $150 a couple times.
I have these in all personal and company vehicles that we own plus one in my pocket.
I have not tried the 2k lumen models yet.
Sorry I wasn’t clear enough in my post. I’m asking because I’m not sure what’s out there that would fit that role. I don’t know anything about CRI or temperature. I’m not knowledgeable enough to know how it impacts a self defense scenario. I’m looking for something that I can use to illuminate or search w/out using the pistol mounted light. Something small enough to carry every day, so size-wise I would like something around the size of a single CR123 light.
Thanks, I’ll take a look.
Disclaimer, I’m just an enthusiast that has taken a number of low-light classes, done a decent bit of low-light force-on-force and am a gear queer, I have not used lights in a realworld duty capacity involving firearms (only as fire and SAR).
The cooler the color, the more it tends to create glare when trying to shine through atmospherics (e.g., fog, smoke, rain, etc.), hence why some folks used to run both an LED and an incandescent WML on a single gun, since cooler lights tend to have better output, but smoke from the gunpowder and like can create more glare.
CRI is much more niche, but some will argue that better color reproduction will make searching and picking up on things a bit easier.
If it’s primarily self-defense, but not exclusively so, a dual mode would probably be useful, given that a low output mode can be quite useful for normal flashlight things.
Current dogma is trending toward throw, but that makes it less useful for normal flashlight things at times.
The following single cell recs are based of spec sheet and second hand reports, not my own direct experience:
[ul]
[li]The SureFire EDCL1-T has okay throw and decent overall output, along with SureFire’s legendary reliability. Some people really dig the gas pedal clicky for switchology between low and high outout, along with the ability to not accidentally override the momentary and go into constant on.
[/li][li]The Malkoff MDC HA is like a budget EDCL1-T in terms of performance, but is also a bit cheaper, and just as reliable. Momentary is achieved by not pressing in all the way.
[/li][li]The Malkoff MDC Bodyguard will be able to outperform the EDCL1-T in short bursts with a rechargeable. It has only a single selectable output. Momentary is achieved by not pressing in all the way.
[/li][li]The Modlite Handheld PLHv2-18350 has excellent performance, but is limited by the single output, and is quite pricey (the OKW variant is the high throw version, which I personally think is not very useful in an EDC light). Momentary is achieved by not pressing in all the way, although Arisaka offers a replacement tailcap that operates as momentary only for pushing, and twist for constant on. It uses only 18350s.
[/li][li]EDC Light builder has several single cell models with smaller Malkoff heads, with multiple options to tailor to your preferred metrics and methodology. They only use 18350s.
[/li][li]The Streamlight ProTac 1L is like a budget Malkoff MDC HA of sorts, similar outputs, but likely less durable.
[/li][li]HDS Rotary has a legendary switchology and durability, but the LEDs are little behind on the times, albeit still servicable. They’re also quite pricey.
[/li][/ul]
Those are what I can think of off the top of my head for lights by American companies. Plenty of other cheaper options from the likes of Nitecore, Olight, Fenix, etc.
I have a G2X that I’ve used in low/no light classes and had no problems hitting what I was aiming at. 600 lumens and under $100. For EDC, I usually carry the Cloud Defensive Chicro. It a cheap little light, but pretty bright.
The EDC aspect means that it needs to have a low output mode, and the Tactical aspect means that this mode cannot be accidentally selected when high is needed, and vice verse.
With the stated size limitation and price point, the closest I can come up with is the Elzetta Alpha A313, which comes with the standard optic and high/low tailcap. Once a Dark Sucks clip is added, the price is $200.
My number one recommendation isn’t one that can be purchased as a complete light, but is a fabulous tool and not anywhere close to $150. It’s the Elzetta Bravo body with a low profile or crenellated head, paired with a Malkoff M91BN LED module, and the high/low tailcap. When used with the Harries technique, for me, it is very difficult to latch the switch into always-on mode without slightly adjusting my grip on the light. Low mode can be activated by loosening the tailcap with my thumb and index finger.
My number two recommendation might be purchased as a complete light, depending on the desired tailcap, but all of the lights I’m mentioning are completely modular and very easy to reconfigure as needed. Slightly larger in size compared to the Elzetta Bravo, the Malkoff MD2 with high/low head. There are lots of tailcap options, since it uses Surefire 6P threads. A Surefire Z41 that’s been upgraded with a McClicky switch and hard press boot is a great option if standing the light on it’s tail isn’t needed. I and up doing this quite often, so it shouldn’t be completely ignored. Low mode for this light is achieved by loosening the head, which can’t be easily accomplished with a pistol in the other hand.
I carry a Malkoff MD2 (with one of several tailcaps and LED modules) or Elzetta Bravo ~340 days a year. The remainder of them have an Elzetta with AVS head (even larger than my standards) or an Oveready Wasp (same size as the Elzetta).
I am a recovering flashlight geek who has bought just about every fancy Surefire, Streamlight, Malkoff, and various custom and most any vaguely tactical light since 1995. I carry a decent light 24/7 and have used many on duty working PMs for 15 years and still clearing houses during the day for the past 13. I have all Surefire on my duty guns but experiment with my handhelds constantly.
I say all this because I think that lights are evolving so fast now with much broader interest that buying higher end custom lights and even Surefire edc lights is a losing game. The new crop of Chinese sourced lights have been around for a long time now and that’s where all the innovation is happening. I have carried a Klarus E2 as EDC for years due to the size, brightness, and easy tactical UI but the new Olight Warrior Mini 3 is a very clean evolution of Olights UI technology. They do the half press for medium and full press for full power better than Surefire. They also offer easy low power admin ability without interfering with the primary tactical usage. Strobe can be turned off but available if you want it. Fit and finish and performance are better than Surefire and their ancient adherence to old switching technology.
OLIGHT Warrior Mini3 Tactical Flashlight, Dual Switches LED Rechargeable Light with MCC3 Charger, 1750 Lumens Powerful EDC Flashlights for Camping, Emergency and Outdoor (Black) https://a.co/d/icwXq52
It also has more of a spot than the Klarus but with usable flood. For only $65 its worth getting and still leaving you open to upgrading in a couple years when an even more evolved model catches your interest.
Long winded but hopefully helpful!
Dennis.
Current Olight EDC
Simple answer
$40s
Streamlight protac 1l-1aa
Slightly Better answer
$150s
Surefire ed1l-t or malkoff mdc 1cr123 series
Best answer
$120+
Streamlight microstream or cloud defensive chicro and a decent 18350/18650 tac light.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
An easy button option is the Streamlight Protac 88061 1L-1AA for $35
Good size for EDC, good functionality, uses 1 CR123 or 1 AA battery.
In my opinion low output isn’t needed. I’ve never really “needed” low output, and if I did, I could use the shitty cell fone light. The few times I’ve not wanted to wreck my night eyesight, I’ve just covered the light with my hand and let a little light leak through. To me, low power would be for covering ground at night where I wanted to conserve batteries. I do keep some of those coin battery/key chain LEDs around for opening the Safe without blasting a full powered light.
I absolutely HATE mulit mode lights with a passion. And those things are almost all you can find anymore.
and the Tactical aspect means that this mode cannot be accidentally selected when high is needed, and vice verse.
Agreed on that. And why I won’t even mount a light on rifle that has a mode alternative.
A good UI for a low or moonlight mode would be something like a long press. You cannot get into that mode unless you intentionally wanted to get there. Sure…it is mostly not needed, but like Grizz, I think it isn’t an “EDC light” if it doesn’t have it. A tactical light is something else. For a tactical UI, the Klarus XT line is hard to beat. It comes on turbo high first, no matter what. The primary button only turns it on, it doesn’t change modes and brightness. The secondary mode clicky lever does that and is separate from the primary center clicky button and is to the side of it. You just flatten your thumb angle to activate it. Easy, intuitive, and everything done by feel in complete darkness.
A nice compact, good looking edc: 1600L and 112Kcd off of a 18350 battery. You can even get the added 18650 body (out of stock at the moment) for more output and endurance if you ever might need it.
Lots of good info already posted in here, so i won’t duplicate. The only thing i’ll add, is I have been impressed with a buddy’s Olight Baton 3 EDC light (not the pro version). I don’t usually run Olights, but the Baton 3 is small, rechargeable, and puts out 1,200 lumens. It also clips on a hat if you need to go hands free. I don’t love the button placement for the on-button, but it seems like a lot of light in a very small pocket-carryable package.
I’ll go completely off the reservation.
In my experience, a good head lamp is a better alternative, in nearly every situation. The one’s I use have a flip up Red Filter as well when you don’t want to lose your NV. I typically don’t EDC a light, unless I am hunting. But I have them stashed in locations where I can always get to them quickly.
If this is specific for an LE role, then maybe not so much, as I don’t have any LE experience.
Don’t misunderstand, I’m a sucker for flash lights as well and have a lot of them. However, I have headlamps stashed everywhere and I usually go to them first.
A headlamp would be terrible for any kind of “tactical” situation. There’s no good way to do momentary, you can’t quickly deploy it (e.g., if you want to give someone a face full of light to get them to back off), isn’t conducive to shooting with a handgun (especially if you have an RDS), and sucks to carry around on your person. Definitely a great option for task lighting, but that doesn’t seem to be the intent here.
Outside of a pocket carry EDC light for tactical stuff, I’m with you 100% on going for headlamps first for most every day lighting. I’m a BIG headlamp fan, especially for camping, hunting, and SAR, and use red light a lot for hunting. I’ve come to love the Fenix HM61R V2, as it’s a headlamp, but you can unclip the light and use it as a handheld as well. It’s rechargeable, so i just keep it plugged in my truck, but it also takes CR123 for backup, and puts out 1,200 lumens on high. They have a similar 71R model that is 2,700 lumens.
Those things are indeed priceless in some situations.
Nice to see Vinh’s lights referenced here. I have an original K40vn. It’s obsolescent now but I am not parting with it.
But they are outstanding for real use. I’ve never had to (outside of training) use my weapon/defense lights since I’m not a patrol officer or anything like that.
To your point though… a bump in the night isn’t going to lend itself to a headlamp at all.