For many years I passively looked at lights, was frustrated and made jerry rigs of my own. Then, finally, finally a few years a go my dream lights became available. Well almost dream lights anyway. Now I am just wanting very minor and unnecessary features.
The top light and the clamp mount above I use on and off the bicycle for nightly commuting in the winter. It is robustly built with a thick metal (heat finned yet) front end. Four brightness settings plus strobe. Stobe being last like I like it because I have no use for it. USB rechargeable but comes with a very compact charger. Oh and it has a power level indicator light. That blue glow you see surrounding the round button. Blue when good, red and flashing when you need to drop a brightness setting or two before it goes out which could damage the battery. I can go for at lest fifteen minutes after red and dropping from high to next one down or from three down to next to lowest. Practical feature.
The following feature is very important to me and I used to bang the table for years and years and ask WHY NOT ? ? ! ! ? ?
that is : it recharges in a couple a four hours. My Dewalt cordless drills recharge in like forty five minutes and have for ten years and I have to put up with rechargeable lights that take eight hours ? ? ? ?
WHY ? ? ? ?
That used to drive me crazy !
I would just grab the Dewalt flash light and snap in a battery pack and not even glance at all those three hundred dollar lights that took a whole work day to recharge. Though the Dewalt light out put SUUUUUUCKED at least she was ready to go when I was.
THEN that GLORIOUS day happened . . . the Serfas hit the market (not sure who makes it Serfas is a more general equipment company). Had it for years, they have no doubt "improved" it I just hope they haven't ruined a good thing.
Next up is the Coast brand inspection light. VERY focused beam for inspection of machinery etc. One beam / brightness setting. Just on or off with momentary on by pressing the button on the end part way. Metal button, deeply recessed so it WON'T come on accidentally in your pocket. Takes one AAA battery. You might say :
That sucks / can't use a lower setting and save battery.
Can't be very bright if just that little O' battery.
Never fear it is bright enough for its intended purpose and my first battery . . . hahaha . . . the one it came with no less . . . lasted for six months of pretty much daily intermittent use. I couldn't ask for more.
[well actually I can and do but that is where the "very minor and unnecessary features" I spoke of comes in. I want it in Titanium and rechargeable. Probably not worth getting all exercised about. It is already made of THICK stainless steel that you could quite literally drive over it with your car tire and not damage it. Inexspensive, good stuff.
I just put the Shrade pen up there for size comparison. By the way the Coast inspection light sits in my shirt pocket next to the Schrade pen. The pocket clip on the light is black rubberized and grips the pocket but lets go when you try to pull it out.
Perfection.
Lastly and I am embarrassed to say how many of these I own.
THE FREEDOM LIGHT.
Now there was a REAL smart feller that made this let me tell you !
Dimable . . . can go from "this is bright enough to geeter done" down to "I can see good enough in pitch dark and this will last all night" The number of settings and progamabiltity is pretty amazing for a sixteen dollar light that has been on the market for like ten or fifteen years.
Magnetic base
clamp on base (same one as the magnetic base). Clips to your hat/visor or eye glasses for hands free reconnoitering . . . what's not to like ?
That base will stand up on a flat surface and can aim it without it falling over
comes with a neck string and more simple clip in accessory
I have never broken one. I literally use mine daily for ten years now.
The only limitation is the internal dot switch cannot take high ambient heat. If I carry it in my pants pocket when the temp is over 90°F the glue that holds the switch moves around. Can take the cover off and get it back in the center. Solution is to clip it just inside my shirt pocket or use the neck string.
Oh and it is TOTALLY water proof. Send it through the washing machine and see for your self.
check out all the beam light colors . I use the blue one for finding my way around the house in the dark. For some reason it doesn't make me too awake and I can fall right back asleep. Yellow or orange brings out detail. Ever try to read black molded on lettering on some old black rubber surface? Yellow or orange light my friend. Oh yah.
PS:
good for "high tech" lighting in your surreal photos for Blade Forums posts.
