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Get that 2-pack for $9. I have used both of them on two successive nights for an hour each night. Used to work under the sink yesterday and to hunt in the garage tonight, which made it look like daylight. These are very small, fit in the palm of your hand and bet you'll find they do exactly what you need.
lol. I inadvertently ran across a FLASHLIGHT that was almost $400 on one site--maybe it was that one. It hurt my eyes and I had to turn away immediately--not the flashlight, but seeing the $360 or whatever it was in print.Quote:
Originally Posted by dan_bgblue
I'm a $20-25 splurge for a flashlight kinda guy so the prices some of these can reach does hurt my brain. It would hurt me to spend $50. I know you get value for those things, and they are very useful tools, and really, it's worth it. But still...
I sawQuote:
Originally Posted by BarristerCat
Two 3V CR123A lithium batteries included
Are those button cell type batteries? What is their cost, and how long do they last?
Oh--ukblue, or really any one--
If you got that "strobe" light setting on, would it disorient, say, a charging dog, too? Or would their sense of smell be so good they would just proceed forward?
I would try to shine the light I am carrying in their eyes to see if it slowed them down before taking any other defensive action in the event they charged, but was curious as to whether something like that may be effective.
BarristerCat- CBBN is right on the money. Lasers......there's several types of lasers that you can attach to a .45 with a built in picatinny rail, but you also get side mount lasers too. It's all a matter of what is most expedient and comfortable for you.Quote:
Originally Posted by CitizenBBN
The flashlight/laser combos are nice, but pretty pricey and also can make your handgun feel a bit "clunky" until you get used to it.
Here with my agency most of our uniform deputies have a flashlight mounted to their handguns. I do not, but I don't patrol at night anymore, hence the Fenix TK10 on my duty belt.
As with many things in life, it's all a matter of what will work best for you and whatever your personal preference may be.
Hey, I'm "anyone"!Quote:
Originally Posted by Darrell KSR
With dogs I'm not sure but I'm going to bet my $5 it's far less effective for two reasons. First it's almost bound to be outdoors and outdoors you have a lot more ambient light than the theoretical home defense scenario with all the lights out, so the eyes aren't as dark adjusted and thus the sudden light might not have as much impact and be as overwhelming for the eyes.
Mostly though I'd say dogs are less dependent on vision anyway, they can literally smell you and locate you blind, so while on a given dog it may think twice and work, their other senses would be able to give them a big edge over a person if they weren't dissuaded by the shock of it. I wouldn't rely on it nearly as much as with a person b/c we're so universally sight dependent. I wouldn't be surprised if dogs didn't adjust quicker optically either, but that's pure conjecture on my part. Humans from a purely mechanical standpoint have so many weaknesses compared to animals I wouldn't be surprised if this weren't another one.
They sell pepper spray and stun guns that have strobes on them for just this effect, as well as to attract attention and thus discourage an attack from a person. Also super loud sirens. There are some good off the shelf disorientation devices, and for dogs I'd like the idea of one with the loud siren on it as well. that's one place they may be more sensitive, and it of course also attracts potential help.
I think I'll have to get the "bat light," then, for purposes other than the strobe--although I don't mind using it initially in case it works.
Sort of a 3-part defense system. Blind them with the strobe light, club them, and if necessary, eliminate the threat entirely.
Pedro--not only do I like those two small Defiant lights, I picked up 4 more yesterday (two packages), 6 flashlights total. Going to spread them around the house so I can find one when I need it. Very nice flashlight.
Speaking of nice flashlight, they had the one similar to the one you described in stock yesterday. 493 lumens, 445 meter throw rating, 3 C cell batteries, $22.93. I did not buy it, but I held it for awhile. I may go back and get it. I am between that one and the "bat light" described above. Since I often walk around midnight in my dark neighborhood, and would not mind having one that is sorta designed for use as a hand-held baton type weapon, I probably will still go with the bat light. I just need to justify getting both, I suppose. :)
Oh--I will say that there is very little ambient light in the areas I describe. We have an occasional street light, but not many. I live outside the city limits, and private individuals have to spring for them here. You can get a good deal on them, but most don't bother, so our streets are very dark, especially around 10pm-midnight, when I typically walk.
Darrell, another positive point on the bat light is that it is so slender it is extremely easy to store. I keep one behind my truck seat in the same place that I keep my atlas.
Do you have the one with AA batteries or C cell? Does it have enough heft to it with the small batteries?
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FWIW, I had a large dog viciously charge me at a gallop growling and barking last night during a brief walk. It left its yard, crossed the street, and hit the street I was walking on (with my back initially turned to it.)
I turned to see it charging, and shined the 200 lumens or so directly in its face, and it stopped cold maybe 10 feet from me, a very scary episode. I would do almost anything to avoid hurting an animal, probably somebody's pet, but the line is where it endangers me. I am glad it stopped.
A bat light would make me feel better.
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The one I have uses the AA batteries Darrell and it's great and has plenty of heft. The hd aluminum body is all that you need for multi purposes.
Great, thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by ukblue
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Darrell, it might be a good idea to consult suncat on duty belts. Cell phone, sidearm, pepper spray, bat light, first aid kit. Have you ever considered walking in the daylight?
Or at least doing some crime fighting along with the walk. Just needs a cape and a grappling hook. Walking up the outside of buildings has to burn calories like crazy.Quote:
Originally Posted by dan_bgblue
Man has to work.Quote:
Originally Posted by dan_bgblue
Just finished 3,000+ steps before 10pm. For most days, that will be about as early as possible.
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Pepper spray 'usually' works pretty well on canines. Raccoons, possums, cats, foxes, assorted wild dogs.......I'm not gonna lie to you, I have had to "gas" my share of animals, either 4 or 2 legged, but the pepper spray will usually get the job done. I have had to shoot and kill 2 pitbulls that assorted nasty citizens have tried to put on me for nefarious reasons, but discounting those two incidents the pepper spray works fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by dan_bgblue
It's the 2 legged animals that concern me the most.
This is a 3 volt camera type battery, it is the one shaped like regular alkaline batteries, looks about the same diameter as a AA, but shorter. Official dimensions are 34.5 mm high with a diameter of 1.7 mm. Most I have seen are lithium, so longevity is better than alkaline batteries. You can get rechargeable versions and those that are not rechargeable.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darrell KSR
My next flashlight purchase will be a light with the Cree XM-L LED circuit and rechargeable 18650 batteries. The 18650 is a rechargeable 3.7 volt Lithium-ion battery that is 18.6 mm in diameter by 65.2 mm high. Some of these lights also come with alkaline battery cradles, adding flexibility to the light.
I've got four incandescent Maglites, two 3D lights, a 2D light and a mini 2AA size. I prefer the LED lights now available. I have a cheap headlamp I picked up for $4, an inexpensive LED light that uses three AAA batteries, and a Brinkman LED light I got at Walmart on clearance for around $12 5 or 6 years ago.
The Brinkman is about 6 in long, the barrel is about 1 in in diameter, the business end is about 1.5 in in diameter. Drops easily into my pocket, and is solidly built. It is the light I usually reach for.
The little LED lights are brighter than my bigger Maglites and batteries last much longer.
I've got some really cheap LED lights that take 3 AAA batteries, one was free when I had a Harbor Freight purchase, got a couple more for $3 at Harbor Freight. Got a couple that were political campaign giveaways. These are all about 3/4 in in diameter, about 3 in long. Great for leaving in the car, have two at school, one in the emergency supplies and another in my desk drawer. Batteries really last, and for the size they are great to have when needed.
You should have growled at it and marked your territory, just to let the dog know its your neighborhood.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darrell KSR
By the way supposedly the Defiant lights are actually made by Brinkman for Home Depot
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Just bought a pair of Defiants. 120 lumen iirc, the 2 for $10 pack. Still need a bigger unit probably, but these will work in a complete pinch. Long term I have the oil lamps, and if it really hits the fan it's a well known fact zombies are flammable.
Wait til you try those bad boys out. Have 6 of them now. I still want a bigger one, too, but those are stout and probably exceed the ratings by a long shot.Quote:
Originally Posted by CitizenBBN
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lol!Quote:
Originally Posted by keithksr
Well, heck. You think I haven't already done that?Quote:
Originally Posted by KeithKSR
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Man, those Defiant flashlights get great reviews.
Going to try to pick up a Defiant 650 today. It uses the heavier, more expensive, maybe harder to find D-cell batteries, but I'm ok with that, especially with the 6 smaller ones I have that use the AAA batteries.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-6...stomer_reviews
Defiant 650 Lumen Flashlight
Model # 809-3771-D Internet # 204287899 Store SKU # 1000015067
4.9 out of 5
(11) Write a Review
$19.88 / each
If it is brighter or better made than this one, it is one heck of a light.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Maglite-L...3#.UpjSNHcvxO8
I doubt seriously it is better made, but it is brighter. 45 lumens vs 650, about half the throw distance. Great deal on the Mag, though.
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By the way--what is it with flashlights seemingly getting better and better and the cost going down? Mind you, I'm not complaining....like this technology improving and getting cheaper.
One word, Cree. The same company that introduced the inexpensive led lightbulb that is as good as advertised. If anyone knows LEDs it's Cree; they have been making LEDs for several decades. They are one the big four in performance LEDs (along with Philips Lumileds, Nichia and OSRAM). They are an American company by the way, located in North Carolina. Anyways the Cree XML led was the first to hit 800-1000 lumens output at the emitter (using standard voltages) making 500-600 lumens total output in a flash light an easy task. This led was released about 5-6 years ago. In that time the technology has matured so much that they released the XML2. Which improves the efficiency and performance. Instead of discontinuing the regular XML, they repositioned it as an affordable high output led. The end result is that the XML is now quite inexpensive in 1k+ quantities. Realizing what they had in basically locking down the high powered flashlight market they also released the XB-D which is targeted at low to medium powered lights. This is what's found in 200 lumen lights.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darrell KSR
On a related note, iirc home depot also has a retrofit for ceiling can lights aka pot lights that uses Cree leds. This thing has great reviews as well. Though some say they are actually too bright.
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Not to bust the thread too much, but LED's are gonna take over from fluorescents and high pressure sodium too.
I'm moving to LEDs where I can. Those bulbs you hate to change are ideal for LEDs even at the current price, much less where that price will go. It's a superior technology long term, the only thing I see as really superior to incandescent across the board from production costs to life to disposal.Quote:
Originally Posted by bigsky
They also have the added benefit of having much higher diversity of application than ccfls. Need the best efficiency then choose it, need the highest cri go for it, need to change colors depending in time/mood/lunar phases you got it. They will eventually allow for complete reimagining of entire lighting systems. Way more than they have now.Quote:
Originally Posted by CitizenBBN
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Living here by Fort Knox has its advantages.
http://www.traditioncreek.com/storef...Flashlight.jpg
These grunts in the field get lost a lot. Some can hear a racoon squall, drop their pack, and run like heck toward the nearest street light...and a guy has a civic duty to clean up the mess they leave behind.
I do a pretty good racoon immitation by the way.
I have not been pleased with the LED lights I have had in the past and the light producing ability has been very sub par, hence my reference to the Maglite. I have had my Maglite for several years and been completely satisfied with its light producing capability. I was picking up a couple of things at the local Home Depot just a short while ago, and they had a large display of the Defiant lights standing in my way taunting me to buy one. I could not resist putting a Defiant to the test.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darrell KSR
If you have not already bought one, do not hesitate. Man that thing is very, very bright. I will test it tonight against the Maglite, but I have no doubt which will win. Did I mention that the Defiant is very, very bright? By the way it comes with the 3 D cell batteries one needs to light up the day or night
I have six of the small ones and love them. Can't wait to get a big daddy one. Glad to get a first hand report, Dan. You and Pedro both singing their praises.
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I picked up 2 of the Defiants at Home Depot a couple of months ago when we were talking about them. They are great. HD also seems to have the best prices on LED bulbs as well as the flashlights. I can get them cheaper over here at the store than I've found on the net.
Probably going to pick up a couple more when I'm there next. Price is cheap and I could actually use a really bright one for work sometimes. I put the others at the house for emergencies and home use.
After the test last night I still have to give the nod to the Defiant. There is a patch of woods about 400 feet from my front porch and that was the area I illuminated for the test. The Maglite had no trouble reaching the woods, but the area illuminated was about a 20'x20 circle'. It was well lit and I would have no trouble seeing a dog, person etc in that circle. The Defiant illuminated an area approximately 75'x75' and was brighter lit than the previous test with the Maglite.
At close range, it would be no trouble to blind a person temporarily with the Defiant.
Got the 650 3D Defiant today, along with a 200 lumens, 3AA headlamp from Defiant. Looking forward to trying both out tonight.
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Bright enough to suit you?
I'm waiting to see if D finally found his desired flashlight. I have to say I use my 200 lumen small flashlights ridiculously often. It's the perfect flashlight for me. Small, compact and puts most similar lights to shame. I keep one in the glove box and the other in my toolbox. The larger one is just too bright for indoor use. :D Frankly, these are the first flashlights in a long time that I haven't been wanting. I did get a kobalt snake light for Xmas, will check it out and let you guys know.
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