Bought my 1st SureFire!

[kamagong]

I'm a little late to the party, but I finally got around to buying my first SureFire flashlight, the 6P LED. I've owned a few LED flashlights in the past (i.e., Arc AAA, CMG Infinity Ultra, Inova X5, River Rock AA, a half-dozen Nuwai Q-IIIs, and a Dorcy CR123 that I picked up from Target). These are all quality lights, and with the exception of the Infinity Ultra are still giving good service.

I've always wanted a SureFire though. I haven't bought any until now because I just couldn't stomach spending $100 for a flashlight. Yesterday I stumbled onto a deal that I found much more acceptable. Like all good companies, it seems that SureFire continually upgrades its products, including the old standbys like the 6P. Their lights get better and better, with the result that the older versions become less desireable. These older versions are offered at a lower price.

It's one of these older 6P LEDs that I picked up. I'm not totally familiar with flashlight tech, but these are the specifications that matter to me. New 6P LEDs have an output of 120 lumens with a runtime of 2 hours. My older version only has an output of 80 lumens and has a runtime of 11 hours. I'm okay with that. Even at 80 lumens this light is still brighter than anything I currently own. Price notwithstanding, there's a good chance that I would have picked this light anyway because the 11 hour runtime on this version is much longer than the newer one.

I'm really looking forward to getting this light. I know that there are newer, cheaper, brighter models out there. I liken the 6P LED to the Sebenza. It's a rugged, extremely well-built, American-made classic. It might not be the newest flavor of the month, but it'll still do the job and do it well.

 

[jds1]

Good choice for your first SF. Enjoy!

Jeff

 

[Gollnick]

The 6P is a classic workhorse. You will be well-served by it.

 

[gallonoffuel]

Beware. Surefires tend to multiply.

 

[texas gun person]

Nice buy.

My probably with Surefire is I feel like I am paying for the name on the light plus the light. Their prices just are not comparable to other companies.


I own one Surefire light which goes on my firefighter helmet. Versus the competition it seemed like the best choice for the environment I find myself in at times. Cheap lights tend to melt in fires.

 

[dttomcat]

I bought a 6P for my dad a few years ago. I got him the non LED version back then. I'd love to drop-in an older LED head in there to maximize run-time for him. That's been his only complaint. I think he gets about an hour or an hour and a half out of two cells. Solid light. I have a 9P myself. Enjoy.

 

[kamagong]

Nice buy.

My probably with Surefire is I feel like I am paying for the name on the light plus the light. Their prices just are not comparable to other companies.

There is definitely a premium to be paid with the SureFire lights. Part of the premium might be due to the name, but I think it has more to do with the warranty and the customer service. From my research SureFire has the best warranty in the business and the customer service is second to none. I experienced that CS first hand this morning when I called their hotline to ask about the different versions of the 6P and whether the 80 lumen is a legitimate SureFire product. I was assured by the SureFire rep that it is indeed a SureFire light, and though older was made with the same top-notch quality.

In addition, you just never know about some of these other brands. SureFire is an established American company and not just some flash-in-the-pan. If I have a problem with my 6P I can give them a call and try to figure out a solution. I can't do that with my wife's Arc. As good as that little light is, I hope that she doesn't break it or lose it because Arc went out of business a few years back. Not something I have to worry about with SureFire.

 

[Gollnick]

The name is a visible indication of what is invisible inside.

 

[sdg]

Bought my 1st SureFire!

It's all downhill from here!

I was actually pretty disappointed with my first Surefire (6PLED). It is a good light and definitely a workhorse as Gollnick put it, but it wasn't the twice as good I was expecting because it was twice as much as the Inova lights I already had. I ended up buying a Malkoff drop-in for it and a single-cell extension that allows me to use two AA batteries in a pinch. It now resides in my family go-bag.

I gave them one more try and bought an E1L and was super-impressed. Then I gave them a few more tries and got a bit addicted... do I really need a Surefire light in every vehicle?

 

[Whiskey River]

It's all downhill from here!

I was actually pretty disappointed with my first Surefire (6PLED). It is a good light and definitely a workhorse as Gollnick put it, but it wasn't the twice as good I was expecting because it was twice as much as the Inova lights I already had. I ended up buying a Malkoff drop-in for it and a single-cell extension that allows me to use two AA batteries in a pinch. It now resides in my family go-bag.

I gave them one more try and bought an E1L and was super-impressed. Then I gave them a few more tries and got a bit addicted... do I really need a Surefire light in every vehicle?

YES

I'm an SF addict. I admit it.

I have a Backup.... LX2, M3LT-S, G2LED Black, G2LED Yellow (car light), G2 Yellow (wife uses in her daycare) and several SF Pens.... wife has their Link pen! ha ha

So..... I say YES.... you need one for each car and a pocket, night stand etc etc......

 

[kamagong]

YES

I'm an SF addict. I admit it.

I have a Backup.... LX2, M3LT-S, G2LED Black, G2LED Yellow (car light), G2 Yellow (wife uses in her daycare) and several SF Pens.... wife has their Link pen! ha ha

So..... I say YES.... you need one for each car and a pocket, night stand etc etc......

I might be in that same situation when my light comes in. My wife has taken as her own the Arc AAA, the Target Dorcy, the River Rock, and three of the Nuwais. I've since reclaimed the River Rock, but you get the picture. I guess I should have bought two of the 6P LEDs.

Oh well, I can always pick up the 6P LED Defender later if I need to.

 

[RevDevil]

Nice buy.

My probably with Surefire is I feel like I am paying for the name on the light plus the light. Their prices just are not comparable to other companies.


I own one Surefire light which goes on my firefighter helmet. Versus the competition it seemed like the best choice for the environment I find myself in at times. Cheap lights tend to melt in fires.

You should try the Streamlight Vantage. Lots of wildland FF use it around here. The blue LED in the back of the unit helps you to see your partner in the smoke.
Surefire is an American company, unlike Fenix, Quark, and Coast that is why you are paying the difference. American wages are higher than Chinese or Japanese from what I've heard.

 

[glockman99]

I bought a Surefire 6P Classic that I should receive tomorrow. This will be my 2nd 6P...(I owned both a 6P and a 9P quite a few years ago, and I am pretty stoked to receive this 6P.). I bought this one from a guy at "CandlePower Forums" for $55, shipped, and it's brand-new.

 

[sdg]

I bought a Surefire 6P Classic that I should receive tomorrow. This will be my 2nd 6P...(I owned both a 6P and a 9P quite a few years ago, and I am pretty stoked to receive this 6P.). I bought this one from a guy at "CandlePower Forums" for $55, shipped, and it's brand-new.

If I could do it again I would buy and incandescent 6P and then a Malkoff LED drop-in separately.

 

[kamagong]

Those Malkoff add-ons are spendy! They cost more than my 6P LED.

What's the lumen output and runtime on those things?

 

[Charlie Mike]

Glad you like your SF. I'm not personally that impressed with them. If you want a real man's light, save up the approx $200 and get a HDS/Ra tactical clicky 170.

 

[Roger999]

Nice buy.

My probably with Surefire is I feel like I am paying for the name on the light plus the light. Their prices just are not comparable to other companies.


I own one Surefire light which goes on my firefighter helmet. Versus the competition it seemed like the best choice for the environment I find myself in at times. Cheap lights tend to melt in fires.

You mean like Fenix and Quark? If so think about where they are made and how much the workers earn. There is always a large cost difference between American made goodies and Chinese made stuff.

The "11 hours runtime" is actually the runtime till 2 lumens, the new KX4 head is rated with "Tactical runtime" which is until the output hits 50 lumens. THe old P60L is probably around 2 hours of tactical runtime with 2X CR123.

 

[Calebklyne]

i bought my first surefire this fall and i cant see my self ever getting anything else. Lots of people complain about the batteries but if you live in a cold climate they are a million times better as they hold a charge way longer in the cold. And unless i am mistaken surefire lumen ratings are what comes out of the light fully assembled not just what the bulb is rated for

 

[sdg]

Those Malkoff add-ons are spendy! They cost more than my 6P LED.

What's the lumen output and runtime on those things?

They have several different models. I bought an M60LL (now discontinued) which is somewhere around 60 lumens. Regulated runtime was rated by Malkoff at 8 hours but tested at a whopping 18 which is why I thought it was perfect for the go-bag... plenty of light for practical uses and loooong runtime.

Any of the Malkoff drop-ins are infinitely better than the OE Surefire LED module. It was good when it came out but that was long time ago. They have since replaced it with lots of different LED options.

Hopefully this thread won't turn into a Surefire vs the world thread as most of them tend to.

 

[Josh K]

I love my Surefire lights. Utterly dependable and well worth the money in my opinion.