I'm looking for a couple good lights to keep in the pickup and on the nightstand for emergencies. I've always had maglights and after the last couple, I don't believe I can count on them anymore. Do you folks have some recommendations for a good, reliable light? Any opinions would be appreciated.

I have had real good luck with the NEBO brand. Currently have 3 and the slim pocket might be my favorite…. The others are just as impressive. You can spend way more, but with what gain? My .02

Switch goes bad on all the ones I've gotten in the last while.

Still take an old mag lite hunting that has to be over 30 some years old.

I've got some 4sevens that are great, I thought my Surefire was good but these are brighter, that said, the Surefire is the old version before the LED bulbs came out, the new ones I'm sure are compatible...and that's where I get my batteries.
But even the cheap knockoff LED flashlights are very bright...I keep the good ones around the house, the Surefire and knockoff in the truck..

Streamlight strion led rechargeable. I'm on my second one in the last twenty years, and the old one is still good. It just needs a new battery. They have a lifetime parts warranty on all but the battery. The old one was on its second battery, and it came to me used with original battery. Over the years it had the tail switch was replaced twice, the glass once. If service is needed, any battery plus store is a service center and can be fixed on site while you wait, no charge. BTW don't buy the battery at battery plus, huge markup. Get one off amazon.

Got the new one just because. The old one was perfectly servicable, just worn smooth and silver from use.

A little pricy up front but the savings on batteries over the years is worth it.

I've got a pair of small maglites that my mother carried as a prison guard nearly 40 years ago, and they are still going strong. It seems like the new ones are not up to the same standard.

Thank you all for your opinions. Keep them coming.

Been using a Fenix for several years

Does Maglite no longer offer their no-questions-asked lifetime guarantee?

These days I just buy the $1 Walmart flashlights by the dozen and leave them lay anywhere. Use my coon hunting light for anything I need real light power for......

For the money I have really came to like Nebo lights.


They will take a ton of abuse too.

I have several flashlights and a couple headlamps for my hard hats at work.

I bought my wife a Streamlight spot like that I have no complaints about either.
I think it was around the $100 mark

They took care of me on a light a couple years ago, and they were good to deal with. But here a few weeks ago my flashlight quit working while blood trailing a bear, and in that situation I'd like to have a light that I can count on to stay working.

Maybe I am mistaken in thinking you said you coon hunted? If I'm not mistaken.... do you not have not have a good light for that purpose?

I haven't coon hunted since I was teenager, just used whatever light I had back then because I wasn't too serious about it. I'm guessing that you might be thinking about my rabbit hunting thread with the beagle.

Costco always has great flashlights....at a great price....most are rechargeable....some are in packs of three

My bad.... someone recently posted about their kids coon hunting every night.... was thinking it was you.

I actually just had my mother-in-law pick me up a few lights at Costco just for general use, and I have no complaints. I'm just looking for something that is a higher quality light in case I have to meet a bear on a blood trail or a meth head in the yard at 2 in the morning.

Yotetrapper, that sure sounds like something I would post. If I can ever find the time I would love to get the kids out on a coon hunt. It's been years, but I always enjoyed it.

Did she get you this one ?

Pretty incredible......almost daylight





https://www.costco.com/infinity-x1-7000l-dual-power-rechargeable-flashlight.product.4000341630.html

No sir, just cheap users that won't make me mad when a kid runs off with it. I didn't know that they sold something like that. Thank you much for the link.

I have 3 "Fenix" flashlights.
Many, many options to choose from.
Guarantee they have one you like!
Highly recommend.

Surefire, Fenix, and Olights.

Powertac but they are an investment not just a flashlight

Had a Slyde flashlight kicking around with me and on the bus for 15 years. Usually put new batteries in once or twice a year , nver failed me yet.

Like Warrior I like streamlight

And like yotetrapper30 I buy a dozen of those Walmart ones for a buck each and spread them everywhere from my boat to my nightstand

I purchased a 2 and 3 pack "LED" set of nice hand held size flashlights from Walmart. Good bright lights for the price hard to beat them. I have them thru out my home and in my shop and in all our vehicles. Mag lites are old school compared to the new LED lights. Don't like the stream line ones, we have had a few. They just don't seem to last for us using them alot.

https://www.coastportland.com/collections/led-flashlights/products/xp11r

This is the best cheap flashlight with good battery life

For those with the bad habit of losing lights/knives, like I used to, the fix is get a holster for it and treat like you would a gun.

In the holster or in the hand in use, not in use its reholstered, period. The streamlight is the standard 1" that so many cop lights like surefire use and theres a ton of different belt holsters for those type lights. Got my light and multitool on a paddle holster rig and it goes on when my britches go on.

Streamlight makes nice lights. I use the ones with the rechargeable 18650 batteries. They are durable and very bright. I like the ten tap feature that allows you to select multiple brightness levels or strobe by half pressing the button in sequence. They have many models using one or two batteries, just depends on what features and size you want.

No complaints with the fenix lights, they are amazing.....jk

Fenix

I got a couple coast headlights and a coast flashlight. They weren’t very expensive slice but are very bright.
Jim

Streamlight is my go to for quality. Coast makes some decent cheaper lights

Check the belts of the guys and gals using lights when they depend on them most. Streamlight or Surefire is what you'll find on a large majority of them. Cops rely on dependable lights that are bright and durable.

I’m very happy with my Dewalt 20v. Ergonomic. Sits nicely on the battery. Light rotates. Loop to hang it on a hook. Very bright.

I buy multiple multi packs of cheap flashlights... Flashlights everywhere...

Then this time of year buy multiple multi packs of batteries... Batteries everywhere...

Replace batteries whether they need it or not in all my best flashlight hiding/loosing spots...

Had 8 headlamps on my truck turn signal like a month ago... They all got batteries and divided up to more useful areas ..

The older NEBO lights I have I like not sure if the newer are as good, if you have battery operated power tools, I’d look into the brand you have so you can use the batteries you already have.

I've been very pleased with this rechargeable spotlight. Has 4 settings down to just a glow. The high spotlight setting is good for running the boat in the dark. Might be more than what the OP was looking for. But it's been good to me. Either 900 or 1000 lumens when full beam.

You guys sure don't disappoint. Thank you all for the suggestions, it's really appreciated.

My absolute go to is my Ryobi 1 spotlight sits upright on the battery. It will blind anyone. Flashlights have come a LONG way the past several years. Get on Amazon or hit up Harbor Freight.

Harbor freight has got some nice rechargeable flashlights. If you got a harbor freight near you I’d go check them out.

I’m a flashlight junky. Things I look for in a good one

1) has to be rechargeable
2) has to have external charging port. Some brands require you to pull the battery out to recharge it.
3) no auto modes. Meaning I don’t want to have to flip through modes until I find the one I need. Selector knob is much preferred

Olight, Coastal, Nebo, Fenix, and Nitecore are some good brands. And yes surprisingly harbor freight has some good lights for the money

Fenix

For head light I would go with the Milwaukee Re-chargable one sold at home Depot - Get a extra battery and a charger .

Also little hand held light would be the Re-chargable Stream light - survivor pivot , it has a belt clip and a magnetic base .

Not around here. Streamlight had major problems with their switches going out. Yes, you could send them in and they would put a new switch in, but I ran out of patience for that. I have some Streamlights with 3 switches in them over time. Never again. Fenix and Surefire have taken over for quality and reliability. I stay clear of any Streamlight these days....l

I wouldn't say major but definitely an annoyance to need a tailswitch replaced. But then again my light isn't life or death. And in their defense, they didn't come out of the box broken it was after years of service and wear and tear that they quit working. That was my experience.

One thing with the rechargeable LEDs, no warning on running out of battery.

Unless the maker installed some sort of special electronic battery monitor you have no warning of impending lights out. They don't fade and dim like alkalines they just shut off.

Carry a backup if you rely on having a light. Fortunately there are a ton of really bright rechargeable pen lights available.

I like Coast. Price for performance is great. ~$30-40 flashlights with great brightness and battery life. I have normal lights, headlamps and small penlights from them.

Coast GX30 I picked up 3 of these last summer, these are what I have in my nightstand and hunting packs. 6 hrs on high and 13 on medium is great. AA OR you can run rechargeables.

I lose lights too often to drop $100 on them