EDC Flashlight bleg

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I love the Fenix E21 Flashlight I got for Christmas. LOVEITLOVEITLOVEIT.

The only thing i don’t like about it is that the overall length is a bit much for everyday carry. It doesn’t exactly fit in your pocket. I’d like to get something that I can carry around and not notice until I need it. I have two scenarios where this would be used: “Oh, I dropped something under my desk and it’s dark down there” and “ZOMG! I’m in a situation that I need a light on my gun, but I’m not carrying my Glock/M6 combo, so I need to use a Harries hold and my PF9.”

I’m thinking of getting the Fenix PD20 and removing the belt clip. That one takes a CR123, is 180 lumens, and has a tailcap switch. Plus it does strobe, which is neat.

The other contender is this one, which is small enough that I wouldn’t notice it until I needed it. The major con is that it’s a “twist-on” type, so it wouldn’t be as useful with my PF9.

What do you think? I’m completely open to alternatives, as well.

Comments

15 responses to “EDC Flashlight bleg”

January 25, 2012

Secret Squirrel

I have the single AA version of the 4Sevens Quark and I’m very happy with it. It has two modes: loose bezel gets you the utility modes (moonlight, low, medium, high, SOS, blink) and tight bezel gets you the dark-parking-lot modes (max and strobe). It’s a good size for even wimpy women’s jeans pockets.

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January 25, 2012

Jennifer

I love my Streamlight Microstream

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1. January 26, 2012
  
  mike w.
  
  I 2nd this. I have one. It’s a Tiny little thing, only about 20 lumens, but damn if it isn’t handy.
  
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January 25, 2012

Tad

I carry the Maglight XL50. I fits nicely in my back pocket beside my wallet. Tailcap switch gives you options of High, Low and Strobe and it won’t break the bank 🙂

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January 25, 2012

Linoge

If CR123s are an option, I would suggest either a NovaTac Storm or a NiteCore Extreme.

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January 25, 2012

Roadkill

There are a lot of options. The Fenix single 123s are good. I have a P2D that has served me very well. The single issue I have for the Fenix single cells is that it is easy to change modes accidentally while using the light. I learned this while doing an IDPA night shoot, I went into strobe by accident and it was very disorienting. I’ve been thinking about biting the bullet and going for a 2cell TK11 or TK12 for EDC, but they are very large. I’ve also been looking at AA lights lately because they’re easy to find and lithium AA batteries can be found at most places that sell 123s. Right now I’m considering a JetBeam BA10, but they have a nice single 123 in the same line, the BC10, that is only about $40 with two modes. Welcome to the Fenix club btw. If you need a big light with a lot of throw, I can recommend the TK50, which uses 2xD batteries.

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January 26, 2012

RedeemedBoyd

I honestly love my O-Light M30 Triton. It’s a bit on the hefty side for every day carry, but they make a wide range of alternatives. I was impressed with it’s reliability. EDC for over a year, constant use (I volunteer as the lighting director of a non-profit, and it gets heavy use there), dropping from catwalks to the stage or floor below, out in the rain, dropping in puddles, you name it it’s been there. And after about 18 months of heavy use like that I finally shorted the electronics. $15 tail cap replacement, and it’s good to go again.
Ultimately I’m going to buy a smaller one for EDC, and mount the Triton on one of my rifles, but for now it works.

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January 26, 2012

3 gun

I’d say go with the Fenix LD10 for an EDC light. I have a few good reasons for this model. LED light output is good at over 100L with a good runtime, about 90min and is very close to being a clean white color. The low is dim enough to be useful without drawing unwanted attention(ex;dropped keys in a theater)Default start can be full high or low. It runs on a single AA battery, much easier to find in a convenient locations. It’s large enough that you can use a few different holds for shooting without blocking the beam while still being out of the way in you pocket.(My pinkie blocks the beam of my PD20 in a Harris hold) It has a non-roll/slip body with an end switch that allows it to stand upright. It’s waterproof (dual o rings) in normal use. Rain or dropped in a puddle, you’re fine. Diving a cave? Not so much. Cost isn’t a huge factor, right at $50 new when I bought mine. I won’t leave home without it.

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January 26, 2012

The Comedian

I’ve been carrying a Quark Mini-X 123 since last June. It has a twisty-cap switch, it’s tiny, takes a single CR123 and it is insanely bright on high. (210 lumens.)

I’ve given the equivalent AA version as a gift to two different folks whom I didn’t want to saddle with the need find CR123A batteries. It just a it bigger, but won’t fit in the change pocket of my jeans. Also, on high it is less than half as bright.

I haven’t checked in a few months but I think that the brightest single-AA light out there was made by Zebra Light.

And, FWIW, I still carry my 6+ year old Surefire U2 when I’m volunteering as an EMT. It only has a 100 lumens, but it has never let me down.

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January 26, 2012

Firehand

In the pocket of my bike jacket I have a ITP A3
http://www.amazon.com/ITP-Light-A3-EOS-Flashlight/dp/B003BM5GQ2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327617659&sr=8-1
Small, bright, 3 modes, and uses a AAA battery; it’ll fit nicely in a pants or jacket pocket. The light I have in my general winter jacket is a Fenix PD3; low-med-high and strobe modes, had it for about three years now. Very solid unit, but wouldn’t want it for a pants-pocket light

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January 26, 2012

Mike V.

Surefire Aviator. Low power led’s (color or clear) plus a BRIGHT white light in a slim pacakage.

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January 26, 2012

Joat

I carry a Streamlight PT2AA, but it’s only about 1/2″ shorter.

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January 27, 2012

Jon

I carry the Fenix LD20 everywhere. Only 1/2″ shorter than the E21 but it fits into my pocket well enough.

I just got a Streamlight Sidewinder that is proving to be pretty spiffy I might need a couple more of those.

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January 30, 2012

Knoxville Kahr Carrier

I’ve been carrying the PD20 for two years. It has some honest wear from rubbing against my knife all the time, but it is not wearing out, or damaged. If I wanted a more tactical one I would’ve bought one a little longer, but I like this light. The three inch PD20 is a little small in my hand, and I’m a small guy. The light comes on ‘turbo’ when the tailcap is pressed and the cap is tight, then one tap gets it to strobe. It would be difficult to accidentally strobe it. I wish it would come on strobe when tightened, not turbo, then strobe. When the cap is loosened just a bit it comes on low, then goes to medium, high, and S.O.S. with taps of the tailcap. I do wish the low beam was less than the 9 lumens it is, because 9 is more than I need when I am getting dressed in the morning before my wife wakes up. Overall, I like the light and will not replace it until I loose it.

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January 30, 2012

Jon

That reminds me, I found a Fenix PD30 in my Jeep I’d forgotten I had. Nice little flashlight, I might switch it into my EDC stuff instead of the LD20 and see how that goes.

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