I am needing to get a new flashlight for those early mornings and late evenings. What does everyone here use? Any good experiences?
forget the name, but it's one of the head lamps from wally world...red light & white flood light. I have a very small blue light if I need to trail a bleeding game.
I carry a flashlight but only for the times that it is needed for trailing. If you let you eyes get accustom to the dark you will be amazed how well you can see in the dark with out the help or a light.
I use a simple maglite. (2xAA size).
I also have a small browning lamp that attaches to the bill of a hat.
For tracking I use the tried and true Coleman Dual Mantle lantern.
Rayovac head light with red and white leds and white mini-mag type bulb. I carry a mini-mag as a backup. Seems to last a long time and you can adjust angles. Better than a mini-mag in the mouth. Red light for maintaining night vision. Coleman propane lantern for tracking at night.
QuoteOriginally posted by Tim Fishell:
I carry a flashlight but only for the times that it is needed for trailing. If you let you eyes get accustom to the dark you will be amazed how well you can see in the dark with out the help or a light.
Tim, I agree but I use a light more for other hunters to see me than for me to see at dark. Even on private land where they aren't SUPPOSED to be I've seen other hunters. Safer than sorry.
dorcy mini light, extremely brigt and long lasting.. and the same energizer head lamp mentioned earlier.. Lantern if you have it for tracking...
I use a surefire and its the best tracking light Ive ever owned. The only draw back to it is its a little hard on those lithium batteries. :mad:
I use one of the wally word headlamps with a red and white bulb in it. The battery last for ever. I also carry a sure fire, And you will not find a better flashlight anywhere....JMO of course
stickflngr
I buy them by the box from surefire. You can save alot of money that way..
Last 3 years I've used a small LED headlamp from petzl. I think its called a tikka? keeps your hands free for field dressing and other chores. The amount of light these things put off is amazing. and it has 5 settings. batteries last a long time too.
The new 3 watt LED mini mags are GREAT lights.
I have one, very brite, adjustable beam.
BD :)
Basic headlamp plus a mini mag LED in my fanny pack plus extra batteries. The mini mag has decent brightness and the AA last a real long time. Around rifle season I will put my headlamp on backwards and use the mini mag for navigation just so rifle hunters see me from all directions.
I use the same one as Talondale
I just got a 3 watt LED light. Wow, the difference is amazing. It was the Rayovac one from Walmart. $27. Well made!
I also have a headlamp from Petzl that works great.
My favorite tent light is the tripod LED light from Stanly.
I use a Surefire & a head light. Frank
I just get a cheap two cell, so when I lose them, which happens often, they aren't hard to replace.
The Sure Fire has replaced my Coleman lantern when I'm hunting away from home. Have small led head lamp in/out of stand...so I'm not mistaken for a deer. Doc
surefire...headlight by Tikka or Petzl..cant remember which.
I just got a LED made by Cyclops, about the size of my thumb, but I was amazed by how bright it is.
I've got a Petzl Tikka for a head lamp for field dressing at night and a Fenix super bright LED that takes 2 double AAs, it's like a spotlight on high power and is smaller than a mini mag light.
led head lamp and a 3d mad light with led swap...thery work great for tracking!
I have been using Pelican flashlights for many years. I use two different ones. Each has it's good qualities - The 1820 Pocket Saber that has a belt clip. This small 2C cell light has a strong narrow beam that is great for walking to the stand. The belt clip allows you to clip it to your shirt/coat while setting up or climbing your stand.
The other is the 2410 Sleathlite Recoil LED. This light is very bright, but is a shorter distance light - about 30-40 yards. The bright white light really makes blood stand out. And the batteries (4AA) are supposed to last for about 34 hours. I used mine all last season without changing batteries.
You can see them and their specs at -
http://pelican.com/lights_detail.php?recordID=1820
http://pelican.com/lights_detail.php?recordID=2410
I have the original Sabre Light that I purchased some 12 or so years ago. Pelican's lifetime warranty is great . . .
Michael
You Surefire boys might want to try one of these Streamlight Stingers--same thing only better ;) Same batteries but LED so it lasts a LONG time.
http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=38
For going in and out, I use a Streamlight Trident headlamp; the green preserves you night vision.
http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=71
I always keep a little keychain LED on my pack too...I'm scared of the dark :saywhat:
Depending on your needs, here is what I use.
Maglite 2AA size, mostly for emergency use, blood trailing, taking care of the animal you got right at dusk and like the last deer I got, keeping the bear that's circling off it and you while you gut it. Tough, lite and lasts pretty long on a set of batteries. With an optional strap it's hands free.
Petzl Myo XP. Super bright LED, AA batteries, not much worry about burning a bulb out in the dark. Uses: Early morning hikes before dawn, backpack hunts, late night return trips after dark and the other normal hunt duties. Since it's a headlamp it's hands free. I just bought this one so the jury's still out on it's durability.
All my lights are Streamlights,all sizes from 2aa size, to the SL20,s. The Stinger rechareable is the best for trailing. Carry it with a couple of extra battery packs and you`ve got hours of extremely bright light and no costs on those expensive batterys.
I'll second the recommendation for Pelican. When I worked in a SCUBA dive shop they were the best reasonably priced light we had.
When I see a warranty that covers everything except shark bite, bear attack, and children under five, I know it's going to be a good product.
Guy
I use a Petzl headlamp and a Streamlight Twin Task,which is a xenon bulb and 3 green LEDs that you can switch between.Use a 3 D cell Maglite for tracking when needed.
I use the L3 headlamp from brunton. It is super bright on the high setting. Brightest on the market. 4 aa batteries last forever. Awesome light. You wouldnt believe how bright it is for a little headlamp. Brighter than a full size mag light.Only drawback is its $100.00 price tag.
I think it was Eric Krewson who mentioned on another site that he had good luck with an Underwater Kenetics 4AA light. Anyone have any experience with these?
Itty bitty single AAA maglight.
I use these two:
This one is the perfect keychain flashlight, comes with a clip to go on the bill of your cap, uses a single AAA battery.
http://www.arcflashlight.com/arc-aaa.shtml
More powerful, AA batteries:
I don't use a flashlight that requires a "special" battery. If I can't get it at a convenience store I don't need it. Also I'm about finished with bulbs. (I have a lantern for tracking).
http://www.fenixlight.com/flashlight/fenixl2d.htm
I have alot of different lights all are LED. I like the Dorcy over my mag lights and the new LED rayovac headlamp and flashlights work great to. I agree with Lost Arra I wont buy a flashlight that uses special batteries.
I use either no light, an led flashlight( the 3watt luxeon leds work great) or a super bright homemade tactical type flashlight I made using this info; tactical flashlight for around ten bucks (http://www.instructables.com/id/%24100-Super-Bright-Flashlight-for-under-%2410!/?ALLSTEPS)
I use a photon 2 LED it is small and last a long time. There is an enhanced photon 2 light that has a built in feature of automatic SOS signaling it only cost $20. Sold by a guy named mark i beleive. My other light is a LED on my little Cabelas multitool. I carry it all the time. You never know when youll be in a store and the lights go out!
I use a Browing 6V 1W LED. More than bright enough and a lot easier on those batteries than a tactical light. I have a head lamp with 3 bulbs for when I need my hands free and a maglite for back-up.
I receintly purchased a "Tatcial light" made by Coast. It uses 3 AAA Alkaline batteries and produces 3.44 watts, its advertized to burn 85 hours on those three battries. Yea that's not a typo 85 hours. The light is pricy, but in the long run will be cheeper than lithum batteries and you can buy AAA's anywhere.
Bob
"Surefire", nothing better for me.
Good thread, I'm looking for a spot type flashlight myself. Over the years I've had several led headlamps fail and it's always been from multi position switches that control several functions (flashing etc) For myself for walking up trails before daylight I prefer a dim light and carry my headlamp in my hand where it's easy to control the amount and direction of light I'm flashing around. I have several Pelican and UK dive lights around from days gone by that now serve here at home, not being l.e.d they aren't on the traveling team but I've never had one fail and they are quite old at this point.
I found this weird light from LL Bean that has about 6 or 8 white LEDs and a red one in the middle. It takes 3 AAAs and lets you choose whether you want the VERY bright white light or the dimmer red one.
It's NEATO.
Wouldn't trade my Petzl headlamp. Love the hands free walk into my stand and out.
Man, a lot of opinions here. Here's mine: I use just a cheap led clip on for getting into the stand etc. However, for shining walking to my stand I use a Streamlight Strion. This dude is small (about the size of AA maglight), last over an hour on a single charge, and you talking about bright. It is almost like a Q-beam--well, almost. Check this light out. :thumbsup:
I just purchased a meg light 3 AA, it is very bright, and I think it will help in trailing the blood trail, the light is really white.
Carl