Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: DEATHMASTER on November 10, 2010, 06:32:00 PM
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What is the best flashlight you have found to follow blood at night or general use.
Looking for compact so I will take it with and not in the truck.
Common battery/ies is a plus also so you can get them from a gas station if needed.
Thanks for the input.
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The Brothers of the Bow(Wensels) main beam light is absolutely incredible! Tiny, super high quality, and lasts forever!
Go to their site, it's on the Sponsors list...
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main beam :archer: 5
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http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=076582;p=2
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MAINBEAM...you won't find anything better for a hunter!
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Mainbeam is a Fenix and they are hard to beat. I have the TK11. The LD2 uses AA batteries and for small is unreal. BILL
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Main Beam is what I want. They have good prices on the batteries so buy a few spares and you shouldn't have a problem. I also hear if you look hard you can find them for even less on line. For a few $ you can have an extra stashed in a few spots and should never be without one. With all the setting a battery in a Main Beam should last a whole season.
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Main Beam for me. Excellent light. Mine has been on 12 bloodtrails over 2 seasons and I just last week noticed it getting a little dimmer. New batteries and good as new.
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Any of the new high lumen LED lights are impressive compared to the old flashlights.
Walmart carries several from Coleman for around $20. Plenty good.
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Main beam all the way!!
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I use a Streamlight Strion,and a Bandlands 12 led headlamp with 2brightness settings and a double red light.And I carry a AAA mini maglight in my quiver as back up.
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main beam
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Check the Fenix line of lights...that is what the main beam is...they have a real good selection that will fit you needs.
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I will never be without my Mainbeam again. On my second hunting season on the same batteries. I hunt a lot in the evenings! You won't go wrong !
GLENN
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I would recommend the Mainbeam as well.
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Mine isn't the mainbeam, but it is a Fenix PD30R4 and it is hands down the best light I have ever used. I bought mine direct from the Fenixtactical website and got the accessory kit with mine on one of their special hot deals. The red lens and diffusers are an excellent add on. The R4 is the newest design with a larger beam and 265 lumens max output.
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I like my surefire! It does us a special battery. I guess I am in the minority since noone has mentioned it yet.
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I had a surefire with the rechargeable battery.I liked it
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Well it looks like I should check out the main beam light.
Thanks for the input. Any other people on this?
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What's the difference between the Mainbeam and the plain 'ol Fenix PD30 (which is an excellent light)?
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Main Beam without a doubt...the power in that little dood is just phenominal.
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Our Mainbeam and the Fenix PD30 R4 are one and the same. We just call it a "Main Beam" so hunters can relate to it (Main Beam... get it?) We also keep updating the models as they improve them. It's up to 265 lumens now. You have the options of six outputs starting at 11 lumens for a maximum runtime of 65 hours straight. And all in a package that weighs about 2 oz. and fits in your shirt pocket. They really are unbelievable lights for what we as hunters use them for. Thanks. BW
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Princeton Tec Attitude.
http://www.princetontec.com/index.php?q=attitude
The Impact II is practically the same light.
Not a super bright light, but most things you need a flashlight for you don't need a super bright one. I use this light for everything except shining the tops of tall trees when coon hunting. I use a mining type coon hunting light for that.
The Attitude is small enough to carry in your pocket, uses 4 AAA batteries, and has 150 hour burn time, so your batteries are never dead. You change them about once every year. It is rugged, it twists on/off - no button switch to fail. It is just one of my most dependable pieces of gear, and I always have one in my pocket. Price? Less than $20.
I have two or three of them. Never had one fail, and have never had dead batteries. I change them once a year. Right before hunting season. They are more than bright enough for blood trailing, in fact I have used my coon light for blood trailing before, but I prefer a light than it not so bright just in case you bump the deer. My coon light on bright will spook everything in the woods including nests of yellowjackets.
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I have a surefire. Great light. It also serves as my companion for my bedtime security system loaded with winchester ranger T series 180 grain noise makers.
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Another vote for the Main Beam. I use mine almost every day for one reason or another, and it is the most useful (and versatile) flashlight I've ever seen. Batteries seem to last me forever, and from "candle" to "torch" power, it is just a great tool!
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No body uses head lamps??
I like head lamp the best, they point were you look and the live your hands free!! good one are Petzel Tikka, and some lamps from mamuth outdoors!!
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Originally posted by Guru:
The Brothers of the Bow(Wensels) main beam light is absolutely incredible! Tiny, super high quality, and lasts forever!
Go to their site, it's on the Sponsors list...
I have one...It ROCKS!!
It's a Fenix PD30
Really a very nice torch.
The lowest power is great for in and out of the woods. Sometimes I wish it had a slightly lower setting.
The med and high power settings are great!
You adjust the brightness by lightly pressing the on/off button on the back end of the light.
The reflector is "bumpy" on purpose.
The reflector gives the beam what I would say a 60% flood 40% spot focus.
The beam is shaped perfect for hunting, following blood trails,...finding your stand...lol
I give it.. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Originally posted by Stumpkiller:
What's the difference between the Mainbeam and the plain 'ol Fenix PD30 (which is an excellent light)?
I don't think there is a big difference.
My PD-30 has some knurling on the body.
The bros site shows a smooth body.
Might just be a change in styles over the years...
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Before I forget, regarding headlamp users, the new Main Beam comes with a little metal clip on the shaft. If you just reverse the clip the light will clip onto the peak/bill of your hat and serve as a headlamp. bw
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I love my Main Beam and bought 3 more for my boys for birthday presents. They give off an incredible amount of light from such a small light! And, white light is so much easier to see blood at night than the old lights I have owned.
Mike
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I have the Coleman, around 120 + lumens, led , it takes AA, and is about $30.00. It's also real good on batteries.
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The mainbeam (Fenix PD30 R2) goes hunting with me and is in my pocket at work right now. Best little flashlight ever! Around my house, it's known as the magic flashlight. You will be astounded at it's performance. I actually panic if I misplace it. Make sure to order the battery caddy. I get around 6 months of periodic use out of a set of batteries, but that's with me using it as I work on machines, etc. almost every day. I need to get the headband though...
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I love my mainbeam flashlight for following up on hogs in the thickets of old florida. It comforting knowing that the battery is not going to kick out on you suddenly like the surefire and streamlight do.
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MAIN BEAM - I second - third - whatever these little dudes - excellent bright white light that is all you need for bloodtrailing. Savings on batterries alone pays for them - Get batterries from the Bros too - best price. I now travel with at leastTWO main beams always - lightweight - takes no room in yoru fanny pack or pockets. I use the red lense entering before pink light to the tree - difuser arranging gear before bloodtrailing - and straight up bright to ge the job done. Love Em!!!
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I have not used or even seen a "main beam" but I am sure it is good seeing as they are so highly recomended, but..... my go to flashlight is a head lamp.
An LED lenzer H7, it is the best light I have ever used , VERY bright, adjustabe beam in focus and intensity and the batteries last a LONG time, (3 triple A). I rely on this when I am guiding for brown bear and everything HAS to be good and right.
http://www.batteryjunction.com/led-lenser-h7.html
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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I have a headband I thought I got from Gene (at a very reasonable price if I remember correctly). The label on it says Nite Ize and it is made in the USA!!! It fits the Main Beam in it and I can use it as a headlamp.
Fenix, for around $20, also sells a headband that fits all their flashlights. I will try to put up some pictures later.
You are not going to find a better tool for the job--truly.
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If you don't know by now. Its the Main Bean...
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I'm sure the Main Beam is everything folks say it is, but I couldn't swing $70 for a flashlight and didn't like the batteries it uses. I bought a Coleman "Max" from Wally World. It uses three AAA batteries, has a long run time with it's LED, and has a 144 lumen output. I can't imagine needing more. It was only $27.
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Apex--valid points. The Fenix/MainBeam is built as rugged as a SureFire for 1/2 the cost, that is why I went that way. I don't like being in the middle of no where without some light and I have confidence in these lights moreso than something I can get at WalMart. I have also tried to standardize all the things I take on my hunting trips to use AA batteries, so that cool H7 headlamp and many others including my MB are out.
Here are those headbands to allow you to use your MainBeam as a headlamp. Nite Ize on the left and Fenix on the right. You can see the Fenix has an extra compartment you can put on the band to hold two AA or 123 batteries. It is also 360 degree adjustable and has another band to attach to go across the top of your head for support. Also included is another 360 swivel clamp to put another light on the band so you can have two lights mounted. One set for close and one set for far.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Post%20pics/PB110895.jpg)
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That Fenix PD30 is really amazing. When my headlamp could barely pick out eyeballs at 100 yards the Fenix showed the whole deer. When my headlamp reflect off branches 2' from my face the Fenix showed my treestand. I did a little testing against a good coon hunting LED headlamp and the PD30 and I think I could almost get by with the PD30 if I had too.
I still like a light, cheap headlamp for walking and digging through my pack in the dark with red mode but the PD30 can really light up the woods. Going to be nice to be able to just start tracking instead of going to the truck to dig up a lantern or coon hunting headlamp.
Kind of like good bows and binocs. Once you actually use it you're gonna want one. I'm sure the SureFires are great too but I haven't used one.
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Originally posted by Bullfrog 1:
Mainbeam is a Fenix and they are hard to beat. I have the TK11. The LD2 uses AA batteries and for small is unreal. BILL
+1 for fenix... I have surefires and my next will be a fenix.. but If I could find a reflector for my propane lantern, I'd say that'd be the best bloodtrailing light around!!!!
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Originally posted by mparks:
I did a little testing against a good coon hunting LED headlamp and the PD30 and I think I could almost get by with the PD30 if I had too.
Had a buddy that tried it. His batteries burned out. and my 17 Volt Bandit w/ wheat light head was still rolling along. I handed him my $20 princeton tec attitude so he could see to walk. I carry two of those coon hunting, because many people who go with me have battery failure.
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The Wensels Main Beam.
I actually used mind to trail a bear during daylight hours.....due to the combination of several circumstances....I pulled out my Main Beam and was able to track my bear easier....I wrote about it in the story of Uh-Oh last year October.
There is no better light....especially with the 3 phases of brightness.
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Sounds like the Main Beam will have to be on my Christmas list. The Lenzer H7 headlamp is already there. The Wenzels recently led me to purchase a set of expensive to me Florian Ratchet pruners that have already proven to be worth the money($36.00 + shipping). :dunno:
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I have a hard time with $70 for a light but, I have just got back from a long night of trailing a deer my nephew shot and know I need a quality item for that.
I am going with the Fenix PD30R4
Very impressive videos on them.I know the great family I have on this sight would not lead me wrong.
THANK you for all the help. I need to look at the head strap also when funds permit. :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
Tim