Flashlight

Posted by jdurr65@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 46 comments

Hey everyone, this may not be a great place to ask, but what are everyone's recommendation on a flashlight to add to their bag?

Needed one recently when looking in ceiling tiles for APs as someone didn't document properly. Cell phone flashlight barely passes and I don't want anything too bulky.

Thanks in advance!

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iRustock@reddit

I have a Streamlight 89000 ProTac. It’s nice and bright, but a little pricy.

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Sengfeng@reddit

I'll second the various Streamlights. A lot of them have mounts for firearms use as well.

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anonymousITCoward@reddit

I use an Anker Bolder LC40, it's like 30 bucks in the jungle... sometimes will be on sale for half that.

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pdp10@reddit

Micro-B USB charging port. Is there a newer model with properly-reversible USB-C?

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anonymousITCoward@reddit

I don't think that model has it, but there might be a newer one... I'm actually on the hunt for a new edc light. Haven't found one that I like for sub $50 yet.

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svdmozart@reddit

Check out r/flashlight. I like my Emisar/Hank D4V2. I just wish I had gotten the magnetic tail cap

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derango@reddit

Holy crap, I had no idea there were flashlight enthusiasts out there. I really shouldn’t be as surprised as I am.

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pdp10@reddit

Many enthusiasts, aside from Reddit. Probably fewer in well-lit cities. ;)

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derango@reddit

There truly is a community for everything.

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Hoosier_Farmer_@reddit

uhg that sub became even more toxic than /r/EDC :(

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jdurr65@reddit (OP)

I'll look into it. I didn't check that subreddit yet as I didn't want to get paralysis by analysis

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pdp10@reddit

Our written code (commenting) standard says the less-ambiguous term, otherwise the shorter-length spelling.

Lift versus elevator? Fight!

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datec@reddit

He's not trying to burn a building down... FFS...

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BigFluffyCloudz@reddit

Fenix E35R Rechargeable EDC Flashlight

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pdp10@reddit

I have a couple of the previous version without in situ recharge -- the E35. Superb units. Looks like they refined the design and changed the switch button to metal.

There are mny situations where you want a handheld light like these over a headlamp, but there are an equal number where you want the headlamp. Spread-beam on the headlamp, and thrower on the handheld, probably.

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jdurr65@reddit (OP)

I'll check it out.

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Ok-Hunt3000@reddit

The one where you can change the adapter. I had one in college that we passed around that was modeled after Belladonna. There are so many other actresses though. If you put that in your bag you pretty much will never have issues at work / on site. We make the help desk clean them.

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Hoosier_Farmer_@reddit

college, actresses, help desk - you fortune 500 types are so spoiled!

Where I started we had to make "Fifi" from discarded mouse pads, ethernet cable, trash bags, and (if we were extremely lucky) discarded gel wrist pads.

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Ok-Hunt3000@reddit

The perks of seniority! I could basically come in anything around here and they'd just pray it was a phase

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technomancing_monkey@reddit

FLASH light. not fleshlight

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anonymousITCoward@reddit

flashlight yo... with an A... not an E

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Key-Trainer9381@reddit

I love and can’t live without my flashlight in my Garmin Fenix 7X.

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goretsky@reddit

Hello,

I second /u/rynoxmj's suggestion for a headlamp.

For an inexpensive headlamp, check out the Energizer Vision HD+ LED Headlamp or the Black Diamond Astro 300, each of which uses 3×AAA batteries. These are great for working on a desktop or a server.

I would recommend rechargeable batteries with these, and have had good results with the IKEA Ladda, Panasonic Eneloop, or Tenergy Premium Pro (black label) batteries.

For something much brighter and with a longer throw distance, I'd recommend going with a headlamp that uses rechargeable 18650 batteries. My personal preference for these is the kind of headlamp with the lamp at one end so they can also work as a right-angle flashlight, but you can get ones that have the lamp in the center--these usually have a larger reflector.

There are a lot of vendors and models to choose from with various color temperatures and rendering indexes. I have had good results with Fenix, Nitecore, Sofirn, Wuben, and Zebralight, to name a few brands. Some of the newest models have USB-C charging ports built into the headlamp or even the battery itself.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

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Tduck91@reddit

Cheap ass rechargeable one off Amazon because it will get lost or stolen before it breaks. Also keep a head lamp or two on hand.

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rynoxmj@reddit

Can I suggest a cheap headlamp instead?

Keeps your hands free, much better if you are up and down ladders like your example use case.

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TacodWheel@reddit

Doesn’t have to be too expensive, either. I picked up a 3 pack of Duracell branded ones at Costco for like $18 that work great. Use them for camping and all sorts of things.

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jdurr65@reddit (OP)

Didn't even consider it, thanks for the thought. I have one I use to hunt with. It's a cheap one. Any recommendations for one?

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TheTipJar@reddit

I keep a Fenix WH23R in my kit. Comes with a nice case, too.

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dmuppet@reddit

Double this. Look for a rechargeable one. A million out there.

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rynoxmj@reddit

No reccomemdation, sorry. I replaced my tried and tested Petzl a while back with a rechargeable version and the old one is in my EDC now.

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lectos1977@reddit

Something with a side clip and a magnet base. The side clip is so you forget it in your pocket. The magnet is so you leave it stuck to something in the ceiling somewhere.

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Ok-Juggernaut-4698@reddit

SnapOn makes a great USB-C rechargable spot/flood light with a magnet base.

It's designed for car mechanics, but works GREAT in IT, especially in ceilings or on racks.

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technomancing_monkey@reddit

OLIGHT Arkfeld is great, bright, magnetic base, easy to charge and the built in laser pointer is great when having to point something out to someone else on site

OLIGHT Arkflex is great too. Bright, magnetic base, easy to charge, and the 90 degree pivoting head is great for when you have it clipped to a bag or PPE Vest letting you flip the head down to still point forward.

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Trelfar@reddit

I personally carry a Ledlenser MH3 headlamp with an Eneloop rechargeable battery in it. Any half-decent headlamp that takes a single AA battery would be a reasonable substitute.

I prefer this to the ones with a built-in rechargeable battery because if I'm in a hurry and I get caught with the battery discharged, I can always swap it out.

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sleepyjohn00@reddit

for crawling under desks, a AA maglite. when the building power is off, a hiker's headlamp. I have a maglite that takes 4 C cells that I can use to identify airplanes. whatever you get, get it in NOT BLACK so you can find the d*mn thing in dim light.

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lappyx86@reddit

Usb rechargeable headset. Tons of various ones on Amazon. Do y spend a ton bc you will leave it some place stupid. Like in a ceiling.

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jdurr65@reddit (OP)

Amen to that.

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HSC_IT@reddit

I have some cheap Temu headlamps for working on cars. For the price of a nice "torch" i can go though like 20+ headlamps.

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FutbolFan-84@reddit

Coast XP11R, PM100R

Coast Products

Excellent well made products. Flashlights, work lights, head lamps

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jdurr65@reddit (OP)

Awesome. I'll check it out.