Looking for some recommendations on what flash light to pick up for this years hunting season. Not to find my stand in the AM or my cabin in the PM but to help with tracker a wounded deer.
I prefer a AA cell light that won't break the bank but give a good light for seeing blood.
Check out the Fenix lights. I have a Sure Fire that is brighter, but it takes special batteries. My Fenix takes 2 AAs and is bright enough for most uses.
I've consolidated to flashlights that use the CR123 batteries. They're expensive off the shelf, but if you buy them in bulk online they can be had for around $.50 each. With a 10 year shelf life, they won't go bad on you. In the long run, I think they are well worth it.
My favorite economical light is the Streamlight Polytac.
I have used a mini mag lite for years. Not very exspensive and works great...takes 2 AA batteries!
Any thing that LED Lenser makes.
https://www.ledlenserusa.com/
Fenix...... I haven't found one brighter I've blood trailedl two animals in the daylight with them they're so bright.
I use the ones the Wensel use to sell......so much light out of such a small light....I own 3 I like them so much.
extremeBeam.com that's my go to lights for edc, outdoo carry and weapons.
I picked up a small black mag lite (brand) that uses 3 AAA batteries a few years ago for $5 in the bargain bin somewhere. It is phenomenal! Not a typical maglite... it has massive lumen output, and multiple settings. Better than my $50 -75 lights.
A fluorescent orange one. :D
I still use my original Mini-Mag Lite tethered to my fanny pack. I put in new batteries each year and have for over 20 years.
Fenix
Hard to beat Zebralight. Pricey. But well made. Weighs only ounces. Incredible amount of lumins. I use the SC800W.
http://www.zebralight.com/Flashlight_c_8.html
Surefire. yes they take special batteries but they're not that expensive when you buy them by the box. A one-battery model is very bright and a 2-battery model will light up the woods. All in a very compact package that you can clip onto the bill of your cap.
QuoteOriginally posted by huntingarcher:
Fenix
x about 4, I think!
Fenix :thumbsup:
Fenix with two AAs
Fenix. Best output in a small flashlight I have ever seen. Mine has four brightness settings.
Zebralight is awesome, i have a fenix too but i like using mine as a headlamp and the zebralight fits the bill. Lightweight and rechargeable batteries. I use mine alot and only had to charge mine a few times for archery and gun hunting.
I don't think there's a finer light on the market than a ZebraLight. I've got one that uses a rechargeable 18650 battery. The setup is north of $100 but is the most usable one light I've ever owned. That said...
For a AA handheld light I would absolutely stay with Fenix. Their better models aren't exactly cheap, but they are very well made and perform wonderfully.
In case anyone is interested: I own a couple lights which use 18650 rechargeable batteries. The battery life is excellent and output usually exceeds the best AA lights I've owned. I like being able to recharge as needed. With good Duracell AAs costing $8-$20 for a multi-pack, it doesn't take very many battery changes to burn through enough money for a better light to start with.
Surefire " sportsman " model. Durable, reliable and runs on
AA's.
Just remember that some LED lights have more of a blue color. In my highly scientific tests of various lights, using blood from a package of venison, in my backyard, the "warm white" lights showed blood , both fresh and dried, the best. (Sorry for the terrible grammar and sentence dtructure)
fenix hl50. takes 1x CR123 and AA. very bright, waterproof, shockproof and very simple operation. not 2 dozen functions like the zebralight
Fenix with cr123a batteries. Terrific lights!
Fenix pd35 with rechargeable 123A pack. 5 settings, waterproof, small, bright, light.
I was on the same search prior to the 2014 season for blood trailing purposes. After a ton of research I found the perfect light for the task and others. Do yourself a favor and read this whole thread.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=131998
For tracking purposes I still think the 3 d cell mag light can't be beat.
Streamlight strion. 90 dollar investment that is rechargeable at home or in the truck and will absolutely light up the night. Very compact too.
Thanks to all that posted.
I ordered a light from Fenix.
I have a Fenix LD20. It takes two AA batteries. Unbelievable flashlight.
Jon keep that light with you at all times when you're hunting.... like I said I've used mine twice during daylight hours to successfull blood trails.
Pak-lite
Small, durable, bright, inexpensive. Basically a 9 volt battery that thows a lot of light light (LED).
Just a handy little light to keep in your pocket, for any illumination need. "Don't leave home without one."
I have a Fenix with rechargeable batteries that does a great job. It only goes to 850 lumin's, but that seams to be plenty. I bought a box of the special back up batteries just in case but haven't had to use them yet.
Terralux makes great flashlights!!!! The one thing a lot of people forget about is battery life a light that only runs 45min or 1.5hours no matter how bright or what else it does is useless to me. Terralux has excellent run time for the light it puts out and you can get the AA battery models. I have a 220 and 300 lumin models and that is about all the light you can really use. You can get them from 20 to 30 dollars and in different colors. I will not go into the woods without a good headlamp!!! Widow
Stream light is hi qaulity and tough as they come .
I use one on my fire dept helmet and it even cuts through heavy smoke!
I am constantly on construction sites for work. Whenever the contractors really, really, really, need to see something in a vault, pipe, or extremely dark area, they come and borrow the Felix in my belt. I will just say, most of them would rather ask the devil for a favor then ask me for one.
I can see kitty tracks on a hillside from over a hundred yards in the snow with it, couldn't do that with my old 4 D cell Mag lite that weighed 20x as much as this one. I am sure there are better ones out there, and I will eventually find it, but until then I gotta recomend the Fenix.
Now if they just made a headlamp that worked as well, then I wouldn't get frozen fingers. That would be really nice.
Walt...
I've got a couple of the super-bright Fenix lights. One of them uses 8 x AA batteries. It's a TK 41. When I need to light up the landscape, THIS is the light I grab. I count on it for home defense as well; one hit in the eyes and you're blind for 2 minutes. I have used it to track deer at night, but it dries the blood instantly...
:p
QuoteOriginally posted by Terry Green:
Fenix...... I haven't found one brighter I've blood trailedl two animals in the daylight with them they're so bright.
I use the ones the Wensel use to sell......so much light out of such a small light....I own 3 I like them so much.
Terry which fenix model do you use?
I was using a Fenix TK16 for the natural light balance of its bulb. Then I tried a PD 35... I'm in love, or very serious like.
Both use the 123 batteries, though.
Killdeer
When I'm headed to/from a treestand in darkness I prefer a small light which I can mostly conceal in one hand. I've never been a fan of bobbing headlamps and bright flashlights going through the woods. I want just enough light to see the ground in front of me. If I need brightness, I've found that around 300 lumens is easily enough light to follow a blood trail.
I just ordered a Fenix PD25 to try. It will put out 400 lumens with a single CR123 cell. The best parts for me are 1) 5 lumens for 100 hrs, 2) 3.7 inches long, 3) momentary on/off tail-switch. It's not a cheap light at $57, but seems like it will be about perfect for my deer hunting needs.
Oh Geezzz...what ever model the Wensel's use to sell.
I have two in my vehicle....let me see and post back later.
The Wensel's sold the PD3 which is no longer available. They have made improvements since. I bought two from Gene and Barry several years back. I was amazed at the time, how a such small light could throw such bright light. I will have to say I could make a commercial for Fenix. I have carried one on my duty belt for 7 years, its been soaked, dropped, thrown around and its as good today as ever. I now have a newer version a PD32. Its brighter and has a attached clip. I now have a few Fenix lights because of the quality and lower than most prices.
Preston....mine have a clip also...I'm going to see what I have...back in a minute...
PD30 - Premium R5
This was the second time I'd bought from the Wensel's...I bought 3.
The 1st one I bought I loaned to my oldest daughter to take to a party at a cabin when she was 10, and she was the hit of the party with that light....but not sure what she did with it or where it ended up...I'm sure it will show up at the house somewhere someday....
I bought 3 more after that, and I still have all 3.
I bought a Coast LED from home Depot that takes two AA and it is bright for around $20 I think it was.
QuoteOriginally posted by gonefishing600:
Any thing that LED Lenser makes.
https://www.ledlenserusa.com/
I second this. They are the best I've seen. Which model did you get? The hard part is choosing which one.
I look for a few things in a light.. water resistant(not proof), takes either AA or AAA batteries, LED(THIS IS A MUST FOR ME), and the highest lumen I can find for the cheapest price. Some guys have money to dispose on whatever they want, unfortunately, I am not that guy, so I have to always shop around. I do my best to spend under $20 on a headlamp.