What is your budget?

<$20: a good book on caving, or some batteries. Lithium AA/AAA if they don't like rechargeables, AA/AAA NiMH if they do. I've had good luck with the brand Tenergy, which is sold in bulk by AllBattery.com. They're basically cheap Chinese imports but their QA is decent. (Source: I'm a professional photographer who's used them for years.) Go for the 2,500 mAh capacity. You might also consider a decent charger. More on that shortly.

<$50: One of the best chargers on the market is this bad boy, but it's somewhat expensive and only charges 4 cells at once. However, it charges them safely (not overcharging, not charging too fast, etc, which limits long-term life), can identify bad cells, and can charge almost any cylindrical battery out there, including the far superior 18650 cell, which is important for a good headlamp or flashlight. For a good headlamp, consider the ThruNite TH10 in neutral white for $40, or the same headlamp with a battery for $15 more. Note: this light doesn't use AA/AAA batteries; it uses the 18650 battery, which is slightly larger but 4 times the capacity of an AA battery and is able to discharge power fast enough to support amazingly bright lights. Every light I'm linking here supports multiple brightness modes, with a maximum brightness around 1,000 lumens, i.e. as bright as your car's headlights. They also drop to between 0.4 lumens and 1 lumen at their lowest setting, which will last for up to 70-ish days. Yes, really. That's a nice feature to have in a cave.

<$100: A good headlamp/flashlight. Most cavers I know are old-school when it comes to flashlights because they aren't aware of some of the incredible LED and battery innovations that have occured. Most of their headlamps are either small and underpowered or huge and bulky and... still underpowered sometimes. I'd recommend a ThruNite TC-12 v2 in neutral white. It also uses an 18650 battery. The light bundle I linked includes one battery and the light is USB chargable, though that charger I linked earlier will charge the battery faster.

You can add a helmet strap if you know they use a helmet. If you're looking for a headlamp instead of a flashlight, consider the ThruNite TH10 I linked earlier or the Nitecore HC30 in neutral white which is slightly more expensive. Nitecore and ThruNite are fairly similar, though in my opinion Nitecore looks more "tactical" while ThruNite's electronics are slightly better. Both are good companies, however.

<$150: If you decide to get a light and extra batteries, don't get any battery with a brand containing the word "fire". (Those brands are known for lying about the capacities and being fire risks.) I'd recommend a 4-pack of KeepPower 3,400 mAh 18650 batteries if you're going for that kind of batteries as they're a good brand and I own them myself.

Some other considerations: a nice base layer, i.e. thermal underwear. I'd strongly recommend merino wool as it's thin, light, and warm even when it's wet. Cost: $50-$100 per item for a top or bottom/long johns. And they'll always have a warm, fuzzy feeling when they think of you. ;-)

Hey, you've got a lot of good stuff going on here. I'll do my best to outline some of the ways you could save a good amount of weight without breaking the bank.

• First off, your tent is really heavy especially if you're sleeping in it alone. Something like the SMD Lunar Solo or one of the many choices over at Tarptent could help you save ~32oz.
  
  
• A lot of people around here do not bring sleeping base layers. Just sleep in the clothes you hike in. That'll save you 13.5oz.
  
  
• Do you really think you need both shorts and pants? If you want that kind of versatility than convertibles might make sense but most will advocate for not bringing both.
  
  
• Obviously a lot of weight comes from the camera, and additional accessories. If you can live without extra lenses you could save ~20oz and get an RX100. Personal call there though.
  
  
• I don't know too much about resupply and recharge points on the JMT, but a 20000 battery AND a solar charger seems excessive. Solar doesn't get much love on this sub as it is heavy and fairly poor when it comes to charging things. You could drop it and save ~13oz.
  
  
• The headlamp is heavy, and personally I don't think they are overly practical. If you're night hiking, you are better off with a light coming from your hip, or else you will lose a good amount of depth perception (due to lack of shadowing). A little handheld like the ThruNite Ti3 would save you ~3oz.
  
  
• Your trowel is pretty heavy. The Deuce of Spades would save you ~1oz, and there are other even lighter options. I can just personally recommend the deuce.
  
  
• Your first aid kit seems pretty heavy. Most weigh in around 2oz. You can search this subreddit for some suggestions, there are plenty of them out there.
  
  
• Do you really think that you'll get much use out of the hammock? I'm not sure what your hiking style is, but if you're trying to hike for most of the day and then just sleep in camp the ~11.4oz for the hammock doesn't seem worth it. If you're planning on spending a good amount of time in camp it might be worth it.
  
  All together, you could save almost 6lbs. Obviously some things are based on comfort. For the best bang for your buck, dropping the extra clothes and the solar is free. Getting a lighter tent will also have a great impact.
  
  Hope this helps!

I wouldn't go for quite the same size. There's not much point to the length, and the weight makes it unwieldy. The thickness is good though. We have what we call soda can lights because they're about the size of a soda can, and I think you'll like that size.

The BLF Q8 sells for around $50. It's a great light. It costs more on Amazon right now, but occasionally it goes on sale. I'll warn that this light was created to work very well in ways that you can't see without taking it apart, and to avoid other lights that look the same because they took a lot of shortcuts that make them perform horribly that can't be fixed without spending more than it would cost to buy a Q8. There's also a Sofirn version of the Q8 that's legit, but it has a colder tint that I recommend against if you want to see rattlers.

The next light I'd look at is the Emisar D18. It's a little skinnier, and twice as expensive, but twice as bright. The best thing about it is the LED options. I've found that rattlers are easier to see with a light that has a slightly rosy tint, so I'd get warm white 3000K LED's. That one also has great CRI, so things will look more natural. I think the D18 would be a better match for you than the Q8.

You'll need batteries and a charger, and you'll need to be careful where you buy batteries. The type of battery you get is a big deal too. The "30Q" is a solid battery. Mtn Electronics is a safe source, and he lists some other batteries that will work at the bottom of the page. Illumn is also a good source. Note that these are button tops. You can find cheaper batteries elsewhere, but they will probably be flat tops that may not make a solid electrical connection.

These two lights will blow you away. They're also side clickies like the Maglite. Honestly, if you've only used that Maglite, then you'll probably be very happy with this Wowtac A1S that only costs $26, and it comes with a battery that can be charged via usb. Make sure you buy the NW version.

I've mentioned tint a couple of times. Even if you don't buy any of these lights, you should pay attention to the tint. Avoid cold white lights. Those are about 6000K or higher. A neutral tint (4000K to 5000K) should be okay. Warm white is around 3000K or lower, and makes the colors on a rattler pop more.

Ignore everyone else in this thread saying Maglite. They're decent, but you can do much, much better. Bring your wallet.

If you're looking for unbeatable reliability, the king of the hill is Surefire. I'd suggest their G2X Pro. However, they take sort of weird lithium batteries; if you'd prefer more normal batteries Streamlight has a number of options in their ProTac and TwinTask series. Streamlight is pretty much on a par with Surefire and massively better than Maglite. In any case, make absolutely sure you choose an LED-based model, rather than one with an incandescent bulb.

If you'd like to save some money and still get a flashlight which is massively better than anything you can buy in a hardware store, come by /r/flashlight and fill out a questionnaire to better qualify your needs. There are approximately a billion different flashlights out there, and people who are genuinely passionate about such things, so it's sort of hard to narrow down your options without knowing what you need it for.

If you don't feel like going to such lengths, I'll summarize a couple of options for you.

1. That Surefire G2X Pro I mentioned above is insanely, stupidly bright and will always work, even after it's been sitting in your shed with batteries installed for ten years. Unfortunately, you must order batteries online, or you'll pay about $15 per set locally.
   
   
2. The Streamlight Protac 2AA is half as bright, takes normal batteries, and is otherwise of similar quality.
   
   
3. The Streamlight Stylus Pro is a further half as bright but smaller. It's still not dim, though; this should rival pretty much any flashlight you've ever used, including massive 6v lanterns and 2-3 D cell hardware store lights. And it's inexpensive; I keep one in each of my cars.
   
   
4. The Fenix E25 is made in China, if that matters to you, but I've generally been quite pleased with Fenix products. It's similar in size to the Streamlight Protac above, but is the first thing I've mentioned from a boutique flashlight manufacturer. It's brighter than the Streamlights and has more brightness levels to choose from. It should be just as indestructible in use as the Surefire and better than the Stylus Pro if not the ProTac. However, Fenix has a bit of a reputation among flashlight nerds for firmware issues (yes, they're microprocessor-controlled), so it's possible their lifetime reliability isn't as good as the others. It should still be about a thousand times more reliable than anything else you've used.
   
   Like I said, the number of options is just ridiculous. I could have made a list of about a dozen lights and made a compelling argument for each one. If you really want to buy a nice flashlight, you need to ask in /r/flashlight. Clearly explain what you're looking for, and fill out the questionnaire from the sidebar. Or just buy one of the four above; I don't recommend them lightly.

My personal suggestion:

• Zebralight SC64c LE: $80
  
• 2x Sanyo NCR18650GA: $11
  
• Xtar VC2S or VC2 Plus: $15 or $10
  
  Total: $125ish with shipping
  The flashlight itself is very compact, has a versatile and customizable UI with shortcuts to low, medium, and high, and lots of other great features like temperature regulation and low voltage protection. It also uses a great high CRI LED. If you're not familiar with the term, it makes things look like they actually look in terms of color, as oppoed to a low CRI LED light which washes out a lot of color. On top of all of that, it just has great build quality. Zebralight really knows how to design a great flashlight.
  The Sanyo GA cells are the highest capacity 18650 cells on the market, and they can put out a fair bit of current too. They're the best option for this flashlight. You'll only need one, but having two is much more convenient.
  The chargers are both great. Anything by Xtar will be. These specific chargers are very similar. Both take USB power, both can charge either li-ion or NiMH cells, both can function as a power bank, and both have adjustable charge current (you'll want to charge at 1A (1000mA) or less). The differences are that the VC2S can charge faster (one cell at 2A), and takes a standard micro USB cable rather than a semi-proprietary barrel plug USB cable.
  
  Other options:
  
  
• ThruNite TC15: $50. This is actually brighter than the SC64c LE, at a fraction of the price. You're losing some of the compactness, the high CRI, and all of the fancy UI. That might be what you want though. Zebralight's UI is fast to get used to and really nice to use (especially if you set one of the mode groups up differently), but it can be a bit intimidating. The TC15's UI has shortcuts as well, and is a bit easier to pick up. The TC15 also comes with an 18650 cell (though not as high capacity, it's higher drain, which is necessary) and it has built-in micro USB charging. It's a complete package.
  
• Lumintop FW3A: $40 (with the coupon code mentioned on the page), depending on the emitter choice. It also comes in purple, blue, olive, and shiny. This flashlight is the result of a couple years of work between a couple big flashlight forums, a Chinese manufacturer, and a group of passionate flashlight enthusiasts. It's designed for flashlight enthusiasts, for flashlight enthusiasts. It has a very pleasant ramping UI (you can choose whatever brightness you want) that also has lots of other features. Oh yeah, and it can burn/melt stuff, so that's neat. You'll want a higher drain cell than the GA for this, but the same chargers will still work fine. The main drawback to the lower price tag compared to the Zebralight is the worse QC. It's not entirely uncommon to get one of these that has problems with it, though virtually all of these problems can be fixed with two hands, a pair of tweezers, and five minutes or less of your time. Because of the tailswitch, it's also not uncommon for them to get switched on while in your pocket. I've noticed this more when I'm wearing jeans.
  
• Xtar MC1: $4. This is a charger. It's possibly the most bare-bones li-ion charger that's any good. This thing will charge your 18650 (and smaller) cells without any problems, but that's all it does. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done.
  
• /r/flashlight's Arbitrary List of Popular Lights. This was compiled by /u/Zak, a very knowledgeable flashlight enthusiast. This edition of the list was made this summer.
  
• /r/flashlight recommendation form. If you have something specific in mind, make a post with this form and /r/flashlight would be more than happy to find you a light that suits your needs.
  
• Just browsing around /r/flashlight. Get some ideas of what people like by looking around.

There is a recommendation form in the sidebar we often ask people to fill out and make a top-level post, a lot of us enjoy helping match people to lights. It has info about size, use case, budget, etc.

I don’t know what your budget is, but for size I’m going to recommend a light that uses a single 18650 size rechargeable lithium battery. It’s a nice size to hold in the hand, and the batteries are a really good balance of size to power. They get about 500 recharge cycles, usually cost about $5, and hold the equivalent energy of 5 AA or 8 AAA cells. Since I don’t expect you to have any of these batteries, I’ll give you three good options that include them, and everything you need to run the light.


The cheapest good light that includes a battery is a Wowtac A1s. It’s probably the most-recommended beginner light on here and would serve you quite well. It comes with a special battery that has a micro-usb port built directly in. I don’t know how you could beat it for $26.

A couple dollars more gets you a Sofirn SP32. It has a good user interface with a single side e-switch (which makes it shorter, compared to the Wowtac with its tailswitch) illuminated switch to find it in the dark, and is currently on sale to bring it down to your price point. It uses a more traditional style of battery with an external charger.

For a bit of an upgrade, the Thrunite Neutron 2C is a good value. It has a built-in charging port so you never have to touch the battery, and a nice ramping interface, where instead of set light levels it increases or decreases until you get exactly how much you want.

Hope one of these helps, feel free to ask more questions here or make a whole new thread to get more community input.

Alright, that at least gives us a little more information. Seems that you want a light for general lumen cannon work, right? Something with a big battery and a large head that can light things up for as far as you need to see?

I like recommending Convoy lights due to their quality for their cost. The L2 will carry very similarly to your Maglite, with its wide and robust head and long handle. The one I linked has a CREE XHP50.2, which is a larger LED that should give you a ton of light out the front in a decently wide area while maintaining good throw (in case someone makes a run for it). These should slot well into a Maglite ring holster and hang from your belt. The L2 can run on either one or two 18650 or 26650 cells (the latter are recommended for their capacity and better fitment) and you will get plenty of runtime out of it provided you don't use Turbo all night. If you go for this, I am a big fan of the 4000K color temperature range, though others may chime in with different opinions.

Convoy also makes a decent holster for their C8-style lights, and so I will suggest the Luminus SST-40 version of their C8+. The C8-style chassis has been around forever, so new bits and mods are available for super cheap. Like the XHP50.2, the SST-40 is a larger and floodier LED. In order to make this a better general-purpose light, you might want to drop an orange peel reflector into this guy. It'll take one 18650 cell, but backups are easy to carry and swap in the field.

In the event you want something smaller I am a fan of dual-switch 18650 lights. The Wowtac A1S BSS v2 has been in my pocket for a year now and never let me down. The interface is awesome - you can adjust modes using the side button when the light is on, or a quick double tap on the tail switch from off takes you right to turbo. Super handy when you need a lot of light quickly. I cannot suggest a holster for this outright, although I am certain Streamlight or Fenix will make a holster that will fit it brilliantly.

In that vein, the Fenix PD35 and Streamlight ProTac 2L-X are both of similar size and very popular with law enforcement, but for far more than the Wowtac.

If you need more advice or can narrow down what you will be doing with the light I am happy to answer any questions you have!

Some people have some good information here but I'll throw my 2 cents in anyways.

>a bit of self defense

Flashlights are no better for self defense than sturdy sticks - it's not what they were designed for. Some companies put 'tacticool' strike bezels on their flashlights, like the Wowtac A1S BSS TAC, but it's kind of ridiculous. If you really need to defend yourself, pepper spray will do a much better job as long as it's legal where you live.

>NOT tiny

18650 pushes what can fit in a standard pocket, unless you're wearing cargo pants. Most lights using these batteries have a good amount of heft already, so I'd strongly recommend trying one of the single battery recommendations in this thread.

>Somewhat waterproof

As previously stated by others, zooming lights suck at being waterproof and add a lot of weight. They aren't our favorite around here.

>Adjustable high power beam

Even though most lights recommended here don't zoom, the brightness is adjustable. Lower moonlight modes are perfect for tasks that are close up and indoor use without waking anyone, and high modes throw a long way.

>Minimal spill

Spill is a good thing in a lot of cases. When I go hiking at night, the hotspot shines far down the path and the spill illuminates at my feet so I don't trip and to the sides so I still have some peripheral vision. Perfect for watching out for those rogue raccoons.

RECOMMENDATION

The first 18650 light I got, based on a recommendation here, was the Astrolux S1. It's way under your budget, throws quite far for it's size, and has a really solid build. It's waterproof, and if you absolutely insist on bludgeoning someone with it I'm sure it will hurt. Most people prefer the 3D tint option, which is a neutral tint that's not too warm or too cool. Here is a beamshot to give you an idea of the throw and spill from this light. It doesn't have built in charging, but that really helps keep it waterproof. If you pick up two 18650s, they will easily last you a weekend camping trip even with extremely liberal use.

This is a great tube light to start off with. I find it perfect for hiking, and it has given me an idea of how high-performance lights work and what I want/don't want in my next lights.

>I'd like to not have to finish a trip without a light because this one gave out mid trip.

I'd suggest getting a single AA light as a backup. I recently picked up the Thrunite T10 and have been quite pleased with it.

Someone mentioned a bunch of 90 headlamps which all of those are great but don't have built-in charging. Is built-in charging a must?

The Klarus AR10 seems like you're best option technically because of the 90 swivel head and built-in charging but the modes really suck on it. No Moonlight mode and the 10 lumens to 150 lumens is a huge jump. I would easily suggest any of those other non-rechargeable headlamps over this light. Sure you'll need to bring an extra battery but technically those headlamps are half the weight of the AR10 if it means anything.

The advantage of those headlamps are the better modes. The HC30 has 5 excellently spaced modes and can be had for $50. The Wizard has a few additional modes and a lower low and great durability. And the H600Fd has even more amazing modes on it with excellent Firefly modes and enough levels of output for every situation (durability is also excellent). I do have experience with all three of these headlamps which I ended up sticking with the H600Fd because of the excellent modes. Let me know if you have any questions.

This is my first EDC post, hope you all enjoy

1. Samsung Galaxy S5, Black 16GB
   
2. Samsung earbuds
   
3. My Knives that I rotate every now and then.
   Kershaw 1830 OSO Sweet Pocket Knife
   Kershaw 1304BW blackwash: this came in the kershaw walmart gift set (2015)
   
4. My flashlights that I rotate as well
   Streamlight 66318 MicroStream C4 LED Pen Flashlight
   ThorFire PF01 Tactical LED Flashlight Pen Light
   
5. My Watches
   Pebble Smartwatch Black I wear this one the most, as I love being able to control my music with it
   Invicta Signature model 7376 This is my Fancy watch. I bought it on a cruise a couple years ago, I only wear it for special occasions.
   
6. Kindle PaperWhite 5th gen I’ve been reading lots of programing books lately
   
7. Victorinox Swiss Army Huntsman with Free Pouch
   
8. Quick Info Cards with wake turbulence separation, and mandatory advisories, handed out by my Air traffic Control Professor. I’m a ATC Major.
   
9. Kershaw keychain tool, Also included in in the kershaw walmart gift set (2015)
   
10. 8gb Key flash drive
    
11. Sony VAIO® E Series Laptop Model # SVE14A27CXH, great laptop I grabbed before college. Has a I7 and 8gb of Ram. Good for games and school work.
    
12. Mophie Juice Pack Charger I love this thing, I waste so much battery browsing Reddit on my phone when I have free time in-between classes or when I have down time at work.
    
13. Handmade wallet from Dollywood, theme park, TN. Not shown in the Picture
    That’s it.
    

Before anything else: Someone else said jack stands - get them. Don't die under a car. I almost did, it's easier to fuck up than you think.



I have the 1.5 ton HF aluminum jack, I wish I had gone for something a little bigger. It doesn't really have the lift height for bigger jobs.



Another thing I don't see mentioned: LIGHTS. I keep two of each of these in my garage:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06W2HTGFL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015UC17E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Plus I have the Braun (HF) flexible work light:
https://www.harborfreight.com/390-lumen-magnetic-slim-bar-folding-led-work-light-63958.html
This thing is great, but I have the typical HF complaints about quality especially around its willingness to charge all the time. I put a washer on the battery and that seems to have solved the issue for now.



I wouldn't mess with a pneumatic impact unless you find yourself in a situation where you really need one and can't afford an electric. Your compressor flow rate has a lot more to do with its ability to run air tools than anything else, and unless you really have a shop quality compressor you won't run a pneumatic impact very long.



I'd wait until you really need an impact and if you find you do, I'd suggest this one:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-XR-20-Volt-Max-1-2-in-Drive-Variable-Brushless-Cordless-Impact-Wrench-1-Battery-Included-and-Charger-Included/999947862



Now it's not the best electric impact you can get - the Milwaukee and Makita versions are both marginally better - but it's available at every big box store, and when you factor in the cost of batteries it's WAY cheaper.



For hand tools, I'd go 100% harbor freight (pittsburgh). Most things can be done with 3/8" and a lot of extensions, but having 1/2" is really helpful. If you use it enough to break it, upgrade then. I use 1/4" for lots of things but it's a luxury for the most part. Get metric deep and standard depth sockets. I also consider ratcheting box wrenches nearly a necessity. Again, the pittsburgh set is a great deal for what you get. Get all the lengths of extensions you can.



If you find you want (or need) nicer hand tools, my next step up is generally gearwrench. This set is one of the few things I might consider a splurge on out of the gate:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BTEXPDK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1



You need a torque wrench. Someone else suggested the tekton 1/2" drive and I 100% concur if you had to pick one to start with. Make sure you learn how to use it and how to properly store it. A deep lug socket (19mm or 21mm usually) is your friend, figure out what size your lug nuts are.



I can't live without a couple pairs of vice grips. They're by far my favorite tool for grabbing spring-loaded hose clamps.



You need at least one dead blow hammer. They're cheap as hell at harbor freight (noticing a theme?)



Magnet trays are usually free at harbor freight with a coupon and purchase. Get a nice stack of them, they're priceless.



Other Odds and ends that I use a bunch:

• I keep a 10mm T-handle which makes my life easier disassembling little crap under the hood
  
  
• The $20 set of t-handle hex wrenches from harbor freight gets used more than just about anything in my garage
  
  
• telescoping magnet
  
  
• telescoping inspection mirror
  
  
• Oil filter socket that fits the things you will work on. Will save your hands and knuckles.
  
  
• 9 mil (black) harbor freight rubber gloves
  
  
• you'll probably eventually need an O2 sensor socket. Get the crowfoot kind
  
  
• 5/16" nut driver gets an absolute workout on screw-type hose clamps.
  
  
• With the age of things you're working on, you're probably gonna need a mapp gas torch too
  
  
• pumice soap, like fast orange or something of the sort
  
  
• I get a lot more use out of my punch set than I expected, but not a must have
  
  Finally, abuse www.hfqpdb.com - there is often a coupon for whatever the hell it is you're gonna buy at harbor freight. If not, use the 20%.
  
  I'm sure I'll think of a bunch more stuff later on
  
  Edit: I told you I'd forget some stuff.
  
  Prybars are a must have
  
  A pick set is nearly a must-have
  
  One of my favorite things I've done is get a big bulk food scoop from GFS and put it in a 5-gallon bucket of oil dry. You end up needing it a lot.

Seconding the flashlight and multi tool.

I carry my flashlight with a pocket clip just so it can be attached to the brim of my ballcap if I need light and both hands. Much easier than fumbling with my phone.

Also, if I’m in a situation (ie: truck broke down, power’s out, etc) I don’t want to waste precious phone battery for a flashlight, which uses a ton of juice. Gotta save those sweet amps for mobile gaming, or emergency comms.

I just picked up a Thrunite Ti3, very happy with it. It’s very small, study, great output, multiple settings, and the clip is amazingly (surprisingly) strong.

ThruNite Ti3 EDC Cree XP-G2 R5 AAA Torch Max120 Lumens LED Flashlight, Mini, Cool White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LUO028U?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Also, a good multi tool is a must for me.

I have several, a Gerber and a Leatherman, as well as a half dozen cheap no name models, but I carry the Victorinox SAK Tinker daily. Fits well in the coin pocket of my jeans. It does have a blade on it though, so be wary of that. If you don’t go with the Tinker, another Victorinox would still be great.

My Leatherman has been with my for well over a decade, and is my daily work carry, but I’m a firm believer that they don’t make them like they used to (mine is a 2002 model).

The Gerber is a forever backup. It was a gift, and my least favorite. Feels cheap in my hands when I use it, but I know it would get the job done if necessary. It stays in my range bag normally.

As for the Tinker, here’s a link;
Victorinox Swiss Army Tinker Pocket Knife, Red,91mm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004YVB4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_jGmKAb8QN9QH9

Good luck and happy hunting.

A couple days ago I got a email from Thorfire about selling the Q8 at a special for $40 on amazon.

Edit: Found it, here's the body of it.


Edit 2: Still not available yet, so much for quick. EBay may be your best bet for quick.


Dear Customer,



Great News! ! BLF Q8 flashlight will be available on amazon USA soon. If you would like to order more, we have limited quantity promo codes(49% off)and the price would be the same as Group Buy: $40.



And If it is convenient for you, could you please spare a few minutes and help to share an honest review of BLF Q8 light on amazon? Here is the product link.

BLF Q8: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0773Q46D3



If any question, please feel free to contact.

Best Regards

ThorFire

I have my own stethescope; I'm not a fan of other peoples junk in my ears. It's easy to go down the path of having all the gadgets, but honestly, most of the stuff you'll cary will be ambulance/company stock. Things like pens, penlights, trauma sheers, extra gloves.

I always have a small folding blade on me (I'm in NH so no clue whats legal there). As far as essential supplies I keep on hand all the time, a bottle of 5 hour energy for that 3AM transfer, a pack of gum and a zippo. Multitools are pretty standard fair, as well as a beefier penlight. I like mine cause It beats the giant maglights we keep on the truck and it's useful for probing into pockets (You told me there weren't any needles on you, and yet what's this in your breast pocket?)


Remember it's less of what you have and more of how it is presented. Dont be this guy

I have a Streamlight Microstream. Using the pocket clip, I forget it's there until I want it. Using the recommended AAA batteries, it's brighter than a phone's LED, but I ran it almost exclusively on 10440 lithium-ion batteries, on which it is many times brighter at a cost of short battery life and heat. It has a forward-clicky switch, meaning that pressing the switch will activate the light before it actually clicks, for momentary use.

The trouble is, the switch broke after a month. While I'm sure I can get it repaired under warranty, I don't want to rely on it anymore and don't recommend it to others. I'm told the Pelican 1910 is a better version of the same thing, and I think I'll get one of those to replace it.

As others have covered, your bigger light should probably run on a single 18650 and it should not be from a Chinese brand with a name ending in "fire". Many of these have the option of running on CR123 lithium primaries as well. It's probably not a bad idea to keep a few of these around as they have a shelf life of at least 10 years so you can be sure you have working spares for emergencies. These lights usually use a Cree XM-L2 emitter and put out 600-900 lumens.

For situations where I think I'll need a light, I have a Nitecore SRT5. I like this light a lot, mostly due to its mode select ring. Lights like these usually either have a bunch of modes with a user interface that requires something akin to keying in Morse code using the main switch, or if they're generous, a separate mode select button all with the light on, or very limited functionality, such as high/low only, selected by turning the head to one side or the other. The SRT series uses a ring to select from several blinky modes and continuous dimming from a very low moonlight mode to 750 lumens on high. It's possible to tell by feel which mode the light is in before turning it on and to select a different mode while the light is off. I find that having a lot of modes does not get in the way with this UI, and given that, I do like having the beacon, strobe and SOS modes. There's also an extra red/blue LED, which I find minimally useful.

The SRT6 and SRT7 are similar lights with larger, longer-throw heads, but I like that the SRT5 fits in my pocket more or less comfortably. SRT5 kits with a battery or two and a charger go for about $100. An SRT5 by itself is around $75. The kits seem to be a good value. There are some other lights with mode select rings, and I listed a few in this thread. Absent from that list is the Thrunite Lynx, which seems to have limited availability and an MSRP of $130. The Lynx puts the selector ring at the rear of the light so it's easier to operate from the same grip as the power switch.

Edit: illumn.com has the Lynx in stock, but only two of them at the time of this post: http://www.illumn.com/flashlights/thrunite-lynx-xm-l2-1000-lumens-1-x-18650-2-x-cr123a.html

A few other suggestions, of varying cost and practicality:

• Contact the police and make a report. Don't mention the sex work, just say he contacted you through a social networking site. Keep a diary of every encounter. Save his messages, voicemail, letters. Likewise, tell people you trust what is going on. Ask them to keep a diary. You want to establish a paper trail, so that if you ever need to defend yourself against him, you aren't the one who gets convicted of assault.
  
  
• Submit the guys name and contact info to the blacklists at SafeOffice.com, uglymugs, and ourlist.nl. This won't really help you defend against him, but it may be satisfying to know that you're helping to prevent him from doing the same to someone else.
  
  
• Team up with some other sex workers in your area. Install the Cell 411 app, so you can alert each other if a client goes nuts on you.
  
  
• Befriend your neighbors. Invite them over for a dinner party or two. If you're attacked, you want to be able to escape to a friendly place.
  
  
• Consider taking a model mugging class, where you can practice-- with full force--what to do if you are attacked.
  
  
• If you ever see him in public, start screaming at the top of your lungs "Help me! Help me! This man is going to attack me! Help me!" while pointing your fingers at him. Set off a personal alarm. This will draw attention to him, which will hopefully embarrass him, and cause him to leave the scene.
  
  
• Walk through your daily routine, and identify places where you would be vulnerable to attack: public garages, unlighted streets, subway. Plan out what you would do in each location. Which shops are nearby? What are their hours? Where you can you hide? Where dead-ends/traps to avoid?
  
  
• Stop by the shops in your neighborhood, and show them a picture of the guy (if you have one). Tell them that he's been stalking you and ask them to let you know if they see him in the shop.
  
  
• Seek out your local SWOP chapter and befriend other sex workers. Ask how they deal with stalkers. Social support from people who understand what you're going through will help boost your mood, and reduce your anxiety.
  
  
• Ask a friend to stay with you until this blows over.
  
  
• Consider going on tour. If you have friends and relatives in other cities, ask them if you can stay with them until he gives up.
  
  
• Get a roommate. Get multiple roommates.
  
  
• If you have few ties to your current city, consider moving to another city.
  
  
• Get an intimidating dog, like a German Shephard or Rottweiler.
  
  
• Move to an apartment with a doorman and a gated entry.
  
  
• Hire a driver to take you to appointments. Avoid public transit--take Uber or Lyft instead.
  
  
• Start a program of weight training. Build up your muscle and strength. Not only will this increase your ability to defend itself, it will boost your mood, reduce anxiety, and keep you fit.
  
  
• Keep a tactical flashlight in your car, your purse, bed, and door. Use it to blind a would-be assailant. Practice using it as a baton to strike an assailant.
  
  
• Carry a baseball bat/defensive cane in your car. Practice swinging it with full force against a would-be assailant.
  
  
• Carry bear spray. Buy several cans, and practice using them.
  
  
• If you live in a state where you can do so, get a concealed carry permit and a handgun, and learn how to use it.
  
  
• Beef up the frame, lock, and strike plate on your door, so it can't be easily bashed in. Install bars/security screens on your windows.
  
  
• Install a visual doorbell, so you can see who is at your door, before answering, or getting close to the door.
  
  
• Install security cameras around your house / apartment. Install motion sensors.
  
  
• Hire a detective to create a dossier on him. Find out where he lives and works. Find out his vehicle license plate number. Find out if he has children, a wife, a mother. Have a heavily tattooed, tall, burly guy deliver the dossier to him at his office, and ask him ever so kindly not to contact you again.
  
  
  

These ThorFires are considered pretty good lights. Probably the best in the cheap-chinese knockoff category on Amazon. You can get better lights for cheaper from banggood and dealbest, like the BLF-348 that's been recommended multiple times, but shipping takes a few weeks. Only issue I have with the ThorFire TG06 is the PWM (visible flickering) on the low modes and the very blue tint. I've become a bit of a tint snob as neutral whites have become more common.

But for a few bucks more I'd go for a Thrunite Ti3 with the neutral white LED. I've gotten a few for a few girl friends (and my girlfriend) and they all keep them on their keys and LOVE them. Instead of using the included chain and clip I just put a small split ring on the light and slip that on their keyring. Only problem is a lost head every now and again.

A cheaper, similar option is the Olight i3E series which also come in fun colors for $11. Cool white only Comes with a Luxeon LED so the tint is probably actually quite nice.

My girlfriend is now carrying an Olight i3S-EOS Brass on her keys that I bought for myself, but she really liked the aesthetics of the brass, and I liked that it pumps out a blistering 180lm (I'd say it's a fairly accurate claim) on the first turn, so it's actually a viable self-defense light. Enough to disorient somebody, kick 'em where it hurts, and run. It's cool white, but a fairly neutral one. I lucked out.

Best to run them on eneloop rechargeable batteries, but they add a bit of weight and initial cost. Performance and runtime is best with those batteries. Lithium primaries ("Energizer Ultimate Lithium") are a good option for a rarely-used keychain light because they are very light, about half the weight of a rechargeable, and they do not leak or self-discharge. With an aluminum light and a lithium cell, the light only weighs a few more grams than a key. I never recommend alkalines (regular duracell, etc) batteries because the leakage can and will ruin a light, especially one exposed to lots of abuse, temperature extremes, and seldom use. It's basically impossible to clean lights that can't be full disassembled, so you may never recover the original performance if it even works at all after a leak.

I didn't have the dorm experience, but I lived far enough from campus that I would hang out there all day most days.

Quality shoes - you will be walking quite a bit. Depending on your style, consider something like a waterproof hiking shoe that will last through some like snows.

Reusable water bottle that will fit in your backpack well. Sparty's will fill it up, or you can use the drinking fountains.

I'm a fan of some of the /r/edc stuff as well, a small flashlight can be very useful, and shouldn't run over $20.

A small plug splitter, would be very useful. I have a more complicated one, but if I did it again, I'd get this. A lot easier to charge your laptop/phone when you don't have to convince someone to unplug theirs.

Either a collapsible umbrella or packable raincoat.

Extra headphones. I'm lucky enough to have accumulated several pairs of iphone earbuds, so if I lose/break one, I'm still okay.

Well if you want something nice, small, great color rendition(and common battery option of AAA), the Tool with Nichia emmiter is hard to beat for roughly $20.

If you want part of what we consider the battery master-class, an 18650 Lithium ion setup (effectively most bang for your buck capacity/ power-wise), the Thrunite TC12 is a good entrance to "real lights".

The reigning champs are the Zebralight SC63w, and the Armytek Wizard XHP, but a whole setup with those two including batteries and chargers is more like $120, but I think well worth it.

Feel free to also submit a buying help request over in /r/flashlight, we have a whole form so the bunch of us nutters can nail exactly the best light for you in your price range.

For an aesthetically pleasing and small light, I'd recommend the ReyLight Pineapple.

A beautiful brass light that takes either standard AA's or rechargeable 14500's if you want higher output. High CRI out of the Nichia LED, and isn't too big. Most people will recommend that you get an 18650 light (and so would I honestly) but a lot of new people to the flashlight world don't want to have to get a light with special batteries or one that is as large as an 18650 light.

If you want a buy once/cry once option, there is the Zebralight Sc64w which is pretty much the smallest 18650 light on the market, and practically the best. But then you'll need at least 2 batteries and a charger, so factor that cost in.

I hope I could help!

So, right off the bat you've got two criteria that tend to start fights around here:

• Starting fires is entertaining, but is extremely inefficient. You waste a huge amount of battery power to do it, and can only light certain materials like dark paper. It's a party trick, not a camping tool.
  
  
• The best use of a flashlight for self defense is to make sure you don't trip while running away. The second best is holding the light in your off-hand while your gun is in your dominant hand. Other than that, if it's possible to disorient someone with light, just about any flashlight we like will be good enough.
  
  Ignoring those criteria, I'm going to suggest a Thrunite Neutron 2C. Click the button for on/off, push and hold to smoothly raise or lower brightness. Includes a good-quality 18650 and charges on USB.
  
  And grab a BIC lighter for your fires. If you want something fancier, get a Zippo and a butane insert that won't dry out every three days.

Do you mean put the whole light in/on some kind of charging cradle? Those are available, but you'd be limiting your options greatly.

USB charging is more common. There are a number of great lights that'd meet your requirements that have USB or magnetic charging, so you plug a charging cable to the light. Again, your options will be more limited than if you were okay with removing the battery and charging it in a charger, but you'd have more options than if you require a cradle.

For a light with built-in charging you can buy on Amazon, and considering you can probably fit a 1x 18650 light in your shorts pretty easily, I'd recommend the Thrunite Neutron 2C Neutral White. Up to 1,100 lumens with useful lower modes and smooth brightness ramping.

EDIT: Although, the Neutron 2C is closer to 5 inches long than 4. If you want something really small (3.64" by 1") and high quality, you should take a look at the BLF FW3A (not on Amazon and not USB-rechargeable though).

First off, many of these things are intentionally cheap, because I do tend to break and/or lose things, so... Here goes.
All have Amazon links, because that was what was easiest.


Jewelry:

• Elder Scrolls Imperial symbol arrowhead necklace - I made this from scrap a while ago for a basic metal-arts class.
  
  
• Kris knife necklace - Got this at a Renaissance Fest last year, and I also like wearing it.
  
  
• UP by Jawbone (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A17IAO0) - Really great sleep tracker, plug-and-sync
  
• Fitbit Flex (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BGO0Q9O) - The de-facto fitness tracker, wireless sync
  
  
• Pebble watch (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BKEQBI0) - Simple smartwatch
  
  
  Right front pocket:
  
  
• Frame-lock box cutter (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016KHW2W) - Was using a frame-lock knife, to open boxes. Replaced it with this, been happy since.
  
  
• Precise V5 RT (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E6A9M8) - My favorite ball-point pen. Looking forward to the arrival of a Lamy Al-Star fountain pen.
  
  
• Zebra M301 0.5mm (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BLC7FG) - Great intro engineering pencils.
  
  
• Galaxy S5
  
  
• Chapstick
  
  
• Pentel plastic eraser (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001Q4HQVU) - For the larger-than-one-character mistakes.
  
  
  Left front pocket:
  
  
• 4-in-1 screwdriver (similar to http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014KMDZ0) - Thin profile screwdriver. Awesome. Clips away in a corner and you can forget about it until you need it.
  
  
• Streamlight MicroStream (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00143JZ08) - Tiny little flashlight, amazing little clip. Clip it in a corner and forget it until you need it.
  
  
• Mighty Wallet (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036FN60W) - I keep it relatively thin in contents, and it's amazingly thin by itself.
  
  
• Sennheiser CX300IIs (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EZYMF4) - Some of the best little cheap earbuds. I have over-the-ears for desk-work, but these can go with me easily.
  
  
• Yubikey Neo (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LX8KZZ8) - For my 2FA needs, both on the phone and PC. I use it with LastPass.
  
  
• Spare AAA Battery
  
  
• 12" baton (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MHDLF8E) - For self defense, since I stopped carrying a knife, and it's more actually useful for defense than my old knife was anyway.
  
  
  Wallet highlights:
  
  
• Band-aids - I chew my cuticles and pick at scabs. Bad habit. Nice to have these around.
  
  
• Bottle opener - Got this as swag from a startup I used to work for.
  
• Sewing kit - For emergency mending
  
  
• Guitar picks (I like http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002D0CGC)
  
  
• Safety pins
  
  
• Handcuff key
  
  
• Handcuff shim - Nice when handcuffs aren't double-locked; sometimes easier to manipulate than the keys.
  
  
  Left back pocket:
  
  
• Field Notes graph-ruled notebook (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006CQT2KU) - reasonably durable, cheap notebooks.
  
  
  Not shown:
  
  
• Keysmart Extended key holder (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JXQQNC6) - Nice to keep my work keys from jangling around
  
  
• Car keys

Great, super light, can hold in hand for better trail illumination or clip on to a hat for hands free.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LUO028U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_b2l2Cb31GDXSB

Awesome headlamp. Super light, lots of levels and a red light and lockable. Get it from Litesmith.com with the shock cord band for an even lighter option.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077Z3LNX9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Q3l2CbTEV8FDE

I have both and love both.

I understand where you're coming from by wanting to run alkalines in it, but I, along with many others here, would highly recommend a set of Eneloops for regular use. I'm going to assume your reason for wanting an AA-sized light is for the availability of the batteries, which is just fine, but they do have a tendency to leak (although probably not anywhere near as likely as the folks here would have you believe). I own lights that take all sorts of batteries, and for actual "emergency" situations, I keep some Energizer Lithiums handy. They're shelf-stable for a very long time, can handle pretty extreme temperatures, and don't pose any danger to the light. They are fairly expensive for regular use, though, and that's why I tend to use Eneloops.

People have recommended a few good lights, but, from my personal experience, I would say a Thrunite T10 is a solid candidate for what you want. I EDC'd it for a few weeks, and it was pretty good. There isn't any brightness setting between the "low" mode and the "turbo" mode, which was a little annoying for me, but it was still usable. It comes with a diffuser, as well, which makes it very good for emergency lighting. In terms of durability, I haven't thrown it around too much, but the driver and all is glued in pretty solidly (at least on mine), so I'd assume it wouldn't mind a bit of a beating.

Unfortunately, it seems to be sold out on their website, and Amazon only has the cool white version at the moment.

I'm 28, in the Navy, and here's what I'm usually carrying.

Maxpedition Pocket Organizer

NM Flag patch

Old coin given to me a while ago

Sparrow's Tuxedo Pick Set It's a great set, and a cool thing to learn. The linked set has a different case, I guess they don't do the leather cases anymore. I also had them put rubber handles on mine when I ordered, makes all the difference.

USB cord that came with my phone

Tekton 4" adjustable wrench

Zebra pen. Forgot which specific one...you probably know it though, it's one of the popular choices on this sub. My main pen I keep in my breast pocket, the Fisher Bullet. That's the best pen I've ever had, hands down.

Fine point Sharpie

Rite in the Rain notebook. It's ok. I much prefer Field Notes Expedition which I also keep in mind that breast pocket. Just wish the pages were perforated.

Streamlight Microstream. Awesome little light, and the AAA battery it takes lasts quite a while.

Chapstick

ThermoWorks surface thermometer. Sorry, can't find a link. My buddy gave me this last Christmas. Comes in real handy in the field, to see if my JetBoil is too hot to put away. Also, I dunno, I can tell you if stuff is hot or cold or whatever. Neat.

Thanks a lot for the opportunity! New to the sub but yall seem like a great community so far

Anker Super Bright Tactical Flashlight, Bolder LC90 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KH2JP5G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_2lT8BbPJ2QY68

Yes and no, phone flashlights can help find something on the floor or follow a path in a pinch but having a dedicated light last longer, is much brighter, can see farther, and can be used in many more types of situations. A phone light will kill your battery very quickly also.

But, again it’s personal preference, really. I like to be prepared for those unique moments. Friends always ask me for my flashlight and I get to be the hero every once in a while lol.

Check out the stream light microstream

microstream

Or the olight s1r or I3T EOS

Olight

Bright, tiny, and cheap. You will get hooked if you get one of these.

Reylight Pineapple V3 for 54$ on amazon, yeah it's a AA light and pretty heavy as it's brass but for it's size it far outperforms any AAA light that I'm aware of and a lot of AA lights too. If brightness is your main concern this would be my choice.

​

Edit: If you grab a 14500 cell too it doubles the already impressive output, I currently use Eneloops in mine and even then this is an excellent light in a fairly compact size.

The Folomov EDC C1 is also a great choice from what I hear and cheaper, they had some QC issues before but they've apparently resolved them, I have one coming

Yep. Reversible clips. A little outside your budget but better warranty, build quality and better build. Love my olights! Started with fenix and nitecore (also own a lumintop AA) but olight got me with their sales and customer service. Heres an Amazon link, may be able to shop around a little and find it cheaper.
Olight S1A Mini EDC Best AA Flashlight 600 Lumens Cree XM-L2 LED PMMA TIR Lens Powered by 1x1.5V Lithium AA Battery Compact LED Flashlight for Every Day Carry,Black(Cool White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IOZLA6U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JBJvCbYT4P0B6

Depends on what you need it for. [Wowtac A1S] (https://www.amazon.com/A1S-Flashlight-Pocket-Sized-WOWTAC-NW/dp/B07M5BV8P7/ref=sxin_3_ac_d_rm?ac_md=0-0-d293dGFjIGExcw%3D%3D-ac_d_rm&keywords=wowtac+a1s&pd_rd_i=B07M5BV8P7&pd_rd_r=87edd49d-3423-4285-b39a-a400c6f26d02&pd_rd_w=3a87c&pd_rd_wg=aj6I2&pf_rd_p=983984df-2ad2-4c97-ba7f-4c5a90291c2b&pf_rd_r=SQZ7VJBHA7P696C8KF1D&psc=1&qid=1570875957) or [Sofirn SP31 v2.0] (https://www.amazon.com/Tactical-Flashlight-Features-Rechargeable-Battery/dp/B07FKJDH93/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=sofirn+sp31+v2&qid=1570875985&sr=8-1) for good budget edc lights, $26 and $36 respectively and both come with batteries. Looks like there's a 10% off coupon for the Sofirn on the listing so that's closer to $33. [Skilhunt H03] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QNPHB43/?coliid=IO5EZ9P7F0TH8&colid=LVIYOC1TPTP9&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it) for a good right angle headlamp that you can use as an edc, about $50 for the bundle that comes with a battery. [Sofirn SP40] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XKST56M/?coliid=I28PCTS2ZHHV8I&colid=LVIYOC1TPTP9&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it) for a more wallet friendly headlamp/edc thing, $31 and comes with a battery. [Sofirn C8T] (https://www.amazon.com/Flashlight-Lumens-Powered-Battery-Included/dp/B07PGNVTY9/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=sofirn+c8t&qid=1570877317&sr=8-1) for a super budget friendly throwy light, $23 and comes with a battery. Others mentioned are good, the [SP36] (https://www.amazon.com/Powerful-Flashlight-Rechargeable-Brightest-Excluded/dp/B07KFF5BGZ/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=sofirn+sp36&qid=1570878581&sr=8-3) would be right around your max if you have batteries laying around. $70 for the bundle that comes with batteries.

The NiteRider Lumina Micro 650 is pretty reasonably priced.
Says 1.5h run time on high.
USB rechargeable!
https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-Lumina-Micro-650-Headlight/dp/B07FPYN8N7

Niterider helmet mount.
Works well on my helmet.
(straps through your vent holes up top)
https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-Commuter-Helmet-Mount-Cordless/dp/B003Z8AK3Q/

Fenix bar mount, rugged and really adjustable. Fenix makes great flashlights but pricey.
https://www.amazon.com/Fenix-ALB-10-Flashlight-Mount-Upgrade/dp/B01FBABI90
this appears to be the same mount but cheaper (maybe import knock-off??)
https://www.amazon.com/FOME-Quick-release-Bike-Mount-ALB-10/dp/B00K6B6OGC

Flashlight. I've had good luck with this Light so far.
Infinitely adjustable brightness. (one click on - click and hold to DIM or brighten to desired level)
USB rechargeable!
https://www.amazon.com/ThruNite-Micro-USB-Chargeable-Flashlight-Self-define/dp/B06XWXVZH7

OK. Here are some EDC options, knives and other things.

• Great utilitarian folder: Spyderco Paramilitary.
  
  
• Great "gentleman's folder" option: Benchmade 707 (as well as a few other models), Mcusta, a few spydercos... let me know if you want more options in these.
  
  
• Maxmadco pen, or Fisher Space Pen.
  
  
• Rite in the Rain notepads I keep a small one in my back pocket.
  
  
• A nice leather wallet.
  
  
• Key chain multitool (I love this one).
  
  
• Small EDC flashlight.
  
  ummmm, let me know if you need more suggestions.
  
  Edit: you will have to shop around for best prices... no idea where it would be cheapest for each of these products.

Multitool: Leatherman Skeletool - $41.03
Knife: Spyderco Manix 2 Lightweight (S110V) - $114
Light: Thrunite Ti3 - $20

Total: ~$175

Edit - I got the Skeletool for $20 when it was on sale at Home Depot and the Manix 2 on massdrop for $98; so you could get everything for $138 or possibly less if you look for deals.
Edit2 - How about some reasoning:
> Skeletool - this is my favorite multitool because it has only the tools I would forseeably need on a day-to-day basis, and leaves out the tools I associate more with camping (saw, can opener). It rides the pocket comfortably with the secure pocket clip. The carabiner-style clip is clever, because it works double-duty as a bottle opener. The screwdriver and bit/holder gets the job done. My favorite feature, though, is that the (liner-lock) knife can be deployed and folded away with one hand, without unfolding anything else. The most common complaint I hear is that the pliers/wireclippers aren't spring loaded. (And that covers all the tools on the Skeletool!)


> Manix 2 Lightweight (S110V) - this is my most frequently recommended knife because it is:


> 100% ambidextrous
> super lightweight for its size: 2.9 oz (82g) for a 8.03" knife (blade length: 3.37")
>* low maintenance: riveted construction means you can't take the knife apart even if you wanted to. S110V steel is known for its edge retention (I think... I actually don't know anything about bladesteels)

>Thrunite Ti3 - I don't know much about flashlights but I've had this for over a year on the same AAA battery cell and it's going strong. It is tiny, very bright and easy to use.

I'm a sound guy, I can help:
-Six pack of plain black tee shirts
-Pack of black hair ties for his pony tail
-Gift card to Old Navy (so he can restock on cargo shorts)
-Nice beard trimmer for his goatee
All kidding aside, a simple but often appreciated gift would be something like a nice small flashlight. You can never have too many. I like this one.

I am one that uses a flashlight a lot. I don't have a dozen different lights in my collection, I have 2. Those two are very similar, but there are a couple of differences.
The Thrunite Neutron 2C V3. I like this light a lot. It's my "use it 10+ times a day" light. It runs off of 1x 18650 cell (battery), 2xCR123, or a couple of other options. It has built in USB charging, it comes with a 18650 cell, it has adjustable brightness (ramping), and goes from .5 lm to 1040 lm. This thing is bright! Or dim, whichever you want. It just feels good.
My only 2 gigs against it: It takes a while to get used to finding the flat side switch in the dark. I no longer have any problem locating it, but when I first got it, it was a bit challenging. Second gig is that the lens is not replaceable. The lens being broken on mine has not affected the operation in the least, but I would like to replace it. Thrunite says that it's glued in and is not replaceable. ~$50 USD
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XXFC1VN

My other light is a Thorfire TK18. It's pretty similar to the Neutron, but it has a tail switch. It does NOT come with a battery. It does not have On-board USB (or any other) charging, which means that you would need to buy cells and at least one charger. It feels ok in my hand, but I prefer the feel of the Neutron.
It is also adjustable brightness, but also has a Low/Med/High/Turbo mode which I prefer on this light. ~$29 + cell & charger.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0787Z97ZK

Avoid those Atomic lights and their clones.

You should take /u/Helicopterrepairman's advice and check out r/flashlight to make sure you get a few awesome lights. You would be amazed what just $25-$75 can get you. This light would probably work out pretty well for you. There's plenty of options. Doing the exploring you're doing a few proper lights would be a HUGE help for you and it would really help your videos too.

Pen Light It's probably a little too bright but it's still awesome none-the-less
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008BFS5 The stylus might be more appropriate

I have also heard great things about the book The House of God even if you are not religious. I have not had a chance to read it yet but it's on my list.

If you are trying to spend a little more money an engraves stethoscope (I recommend the Cardiology III) is always appreciated.

Get a super bright led flashlight. I use the one below! Really helps a lot! It’s rechargeable and pretty tough!

Anker Super Bright Tactical Flashlight, Rechargeable (18650 Battery Included), Zoomable, IP65 Water-Resistant, 900 Lumens CREE LED, 5 Light Modes for Camping and Hiking, Bolder LC90 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KH2JP5G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_x9t7CbN00RB03

You'd have to find a stand, but this style of light on Amazon tends to be really good for the price. I have a different one that's out of stock now, but I've dropped it more than a couple times onto concrete from about head height and it's still going strong.

If you want a flashlight, the Thunite T10 is pretty fantastic for the price.

>From the doorway (Turns into a shitshow if I need to go in with lights out and whatnot) I am just looking to see that they are there, and ideally they are alright.

I incorrectly assumed that you had to go in and do a closer check like acute care facilities do.

> my old flashlight that was red was really bright and I'd just shine it on the ceiling and it'd light up the whole room.

With that in mind, the Nitecore I recommended earlier probably won't work for you since the red LED in it is pretty low power. You might be better off getting a Solarforce L2M host (runs 18650, or can run stubby with 18350 with the extension tube removed) and a red LED drop in like this one from KAI Domain.

Or just get a white light that will take a screw in or slip on red filter, like Fenixes linked by u/ImALittleCrackpot. The Wowtac A1S BSS includes a screw in red filter and is complete package for $40.

I hope this helps you find the right light or at least gets you going in the right direction.

Hey just in the nick of time!

I would love to put the mass of 18650's I have left over from before I quit vaping to use. This light seems super cool!

Thanks for the opportunity brotha, some good karma coming your way!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H5CQY41/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_UOg3CbXHCACZE?th=1&psc=1

if this is your first delivery job make sure you get a good small flashlight and buy some good pens to keep in your car at all times. I also bought a mini clipboard for a few bucks and had the credit card receipts on it. It increased my tips by a lot because when someone didn't fill in the blanks I handed it back to them and told them "You need to fill out the entire receipt" and 80% of the time would add a tip. Also, countless comments of "Fancy/Convenient!" as it is hard to sign a receipt when you have to find somewhere to do it at.

If you drive a older car MAKE SURE you have:

• a good jack
  
• 1 full sized spare in the trunk (junk yard sells these for under $20)
  
• lug wrench - it makes it much easier
  
• jumper cables
  
• rain coat/poncho
  
  use the maps as much as possible and use google maps in a pinch. This gets you used to learning the lay out of neighborhoods and what not as google maps just tells you where to go.

• Blue Cerulean Zippo
  
• Taste-T-Picks mint-flavored toothpicks
  
• Blue Fisher Space Pen
  
• Streamlight Microstream (coating worn off where it rubs against my knife)
  
• new Spyderco Manix 2 in S110v - I linked the image to BBS, but you can actually find it cheaper on BladeHQ and Knifecenter.
  
• new +B Victorinox Castaway SAK in Blue Alox - Link is just the newsletter because it isn't available in the webstore.
  
• Leatherman Skeletool CX - I love this tool. I've purchased 4 or 5 of them and given them away to friends and family because I love it so much. I'd recommend to anyone. The blade on this thing is amazing.
  
• Burt's Bees chapstick
  
• Car/Jeep/House keys, Blue anodized WTF tool (Wrench-That-Fits), Blue Leatherman PS4, and iTP A3 EOS upgraded all attached by lobster clasps on Copper Corter Bottlehook and keyring.
  
  EDIT: Added links to everything and corrected some details.
  EDIT_2: Grammar.

• Definitely a good light! This is the one I use. Attaches to my badge and has a clip to attach to my scrub pocket. Really great light and I use it ever hour of every day.
  
• A cheap(ish) digital watch. I wear a rubber Timex Ironman which is great (and easy to clean if needed). A must have...and I previously hated wearing watches.
  
• phone with lots of apps: I regularly use Micromedex, EMRA apps, UpToDate, MedCalX, Journal Club, Evernote
  
• a box of pens that you like
  
• trauma shears, cheap ones.
  
• My program bought me custom cargo scrubs. VERY helpful.
  
• A small/nice notebook for tracking patient encounters and procedures.
  
• your program should buy you an EMRA/AAEM membership which will provide you with the antibiotic guide (SOOO helpful) and they will/should buy you either Rosens/Tintinalli.
  
• I personally bought a panoptic because we see quite a bit of patients with eye complaints and I get a great view and can actually say I did a fundoscopic exam (helped me diagnose pseudotumor once)...but definitely optional!
  
• a tablet. I love reading on my tablet. I also keep my references on it (because my hospital basically blocks everything that isn't the intranet...even google!!). But optional, not necessary.
  
• Also, not things to buy, but I have quick cards on the back of my badge for common hospital telephone numbers (lab, radiology reading room, etc.) and a quick card with RSI drug dosages. That's very helpful.

Flashlight my dude, you won't be able to go back after carrying one.

Going by the rest of the stuff you carry i'd say a small AAA light that you can either attach to your keys or clip inside a pocket.

A couple of recommendations:

To clip on to keys: The Olight i3 EOS. 1xAAA 90 lumens, 45min runtime. Simple twist on/off, one mode, plenty bright for most daily stuff. If you want something multi-mode still good for your keys, the Thrunite Ti3 and Lumintop AAA Tool are honourable mentions too.

To clip to your pocket: The Streamlight Microstream. 1xAAA 45 lumens, 2.5hr runtime. Solid pocket clip and push-button that lends itself to be a really good momentary light but can be clicked on for continuous use. Really solid light, inexpensive, Tried and trusted by a lot of the EDC community. Honourable mention goes to the Streamlight Stylus Pro. Almost the exact same light but longer. 2xAAA, 90 lumens, 6 hour runtime if you don't mind the weight of an extra AAA on you.

Wow, thank you for the chance! I'd love to try this one - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KFF5BGZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_Et8oDb7224RZ0

Good luck everyone!

Is available on Amazon a hard requirement? Can you estimate "last a long time"? What type of charger do you have and do you have? I ask these questions so the people more knowledgeable than myself (still pretty noobish) can better help you out.

If Amazon is a necessity, the thrunite t10Nw is a nice option that runs on AA and (possibly) supports 14500 for better runtime and higher output.

In the first picture I forgot my Eleaf iCare and then in the second picture I forgot my Nixon The Chronicle.

Everything on here was purchased on Amazon except for the iCare and my actual iPhone SE... and my truck. The light and pen were just added to my loadout thanks to /r/EDC!

Phone Case: Ringke SLIM

Light: Streamlight Microstream C4

Knife: Spyderco Byrd Meadowlark2

Pen: Fisher X-Mark Space Pen

Wallet: Radix One Slim

I like neat and clean. Also, thanks to /r/minimalism I tend to be very critical of my belongings in both my pocket and my life. When I deem there is nothing left to take away it causes a nice calming effect.

I had a Peli torch which was a gift on leaving my old job, it lasted less than a year before it got broken in a scrap and has languished in my box of kit I no longer use or is broken ever since.

Afterwards I replaced it with a ThruNite 3C V2 which cost me very little overall, added a clickfast torch holder to it and it offers the best of both worlds as it has a 0.1lumen mode which is great for PNB entries. Plus up to a high level of lumens for actual work when on duty conducting searches, or simply as a light to see where you are going in the pitch black without having to hold a torch. This has actually worked in my favour a few times because I can get to other kit like cuffs and see what I am doing clearly hands free.

I've linked to the new version below. Call out to /r/flashlight as a good place to review for ideas but I would suggest any 18650 or other small rechargeable option would be a good shout provided it has a quick access low power mode and some other higher power modes too as a good fit for a vest.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ThruNite-Micro-USB-Chargeable-Flashlight-Self-define/dp/B06XWXVZH7

Microstream The clip on mine is different but I think this is the same light. Love it.

Spyderco Tenacious Easily the highest value knife I've ever had/seen. I cut and pry the shit out of stuff with this knife on a daily basis.

Here is the link for the stylus pro. I've used both the regular and the pro, both are really nice, but I do like the pro a little better.

Uses 2 AAA batteries which are easy to find in a pinch.

It's like a large pen, fits in pockets designed for pens, though tightly. Carried a lot of different flashlights and I can safely say that out of all of them if I only had to have one it would be this one. I've lost one before and I didn't even consider any other options when it came to replacing it. Which is rare for me considering the amount my EDC layout changes.

Definitely a Microstream, best bang for your buck and plenty of light for most of what a keychain light is needed for.

If you want a twisty switch, though, I really love my Maratac AAA. Been going on 2 years now and kicking hard as ever. HOWEVER, since they raised their prices, I don't find them to be as much of a bargain as they were. The only Maratac light I'd spring for would be one of the specialty ones (like their newly introduced brass version, or the copper one - especially now that they've finally updated them to Rev.3).

I'd probably personally go for something like the Thrunite Ti3 if my Maratac ever dies. About the same price (a little cheaper actually) as what I paid for the Maratac when I bought it, and my buddy loved his til he lost it. http://www.amazon.com/ThruNite-Ti3-Max120-Lumens-Flashlight/dp/B00LUO028U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426784161&sr=8-2&keywords=thrunite+ti

A list of some solid choices:

Name | Brightness | Battery life (brightest mode) | Battery type | Price

• Streamlight MicroStream | 28 Lumens | 1.5 hrs | 1x AAA | $18.97 Prime
  
  
• FOURSEVENS Preon 1 | 84 Lumens | 1 hr | 1x AAA | $32.50 Prime
  
  
• Streamlight Protac Tactical | 50 Lumens | 1.75 hrs | 1x AA | $34.29 Prime
  
  
• Fenix E11 | 105 Lumens | 2 hrs | 1x AA | $32.95 Prime
  
  
• Fenix E01 | 13 Lumens | 21 hrs | 1x AAA | $12.50 Prime
  
  I personally have the MicroStream and I LOVE it. Seriously. So small. So cheap. When you buy quality AAA batteries it lasts months (buy the ones that have the 10 year guarantee). Don't have any of the other ones but reviews on them are all pretty good. Hope this helps!
  
  (Edit: added more)
  

Thanks for the giveaway!
It’d be awesome to win this , as my husband has been talking up his new flashlights and I’d very much like to one up him. :)

I'll try not to sound like an advertisement. I've needed to use various ways to visualize patients at night for a long time, and I'll give you a couple of suggestions. This is an excellent one if you need a white light. It has a rather narrowly-focused spotlight which can help you keep it out of the patient's eyes and is also waterproof and very durable. I've had one for years. This smaller square flashlight may also be useful - it has both a white and red LED (with low and high modes for each) and recharges via USB.

Red is best for keeping night vision and not blinding the patient, but green can also work (but it tends to be brighter). If you're just checking for respiration, reflecting the light off the ceiling or wall can give you enough light in the room to visualize the patient (and the room as well if you're doing safety/security checks). I've found it useful to carry a flashlight(s) that can handle both red and white in both low/high power modes. Red usually does a good job illuminating the room, but sometimes it's necessary to see colors, and then the white beam is needed. Rarely does it wake them up, and I need to check on the patients four times an hour.

EDC- Penlight, Pocket Screwdriver, 6" Scale Rule, Folding Utility Knife, Gerber Artifact, Sharpie, Pen, Lighter.

LX- 2@ 8" Crescent Wrench w/ safety lanyard, gloves, diagonal cutters, sharpies/paint pens, wire stripper, 5-n-1 screwdriver, non-contact voltage tester. In my gig bag, I have a meter, allen wrench set, c-7's, among other tools I don't really need to lug around on the subway, but then that 1% of the time they come in handy and I accept hauling them around the other 99% of the time.

CARP- Dewalt 12v Impact Driver/Drill set, 7/16"-1/2"-9/16" deep sockets each on an adapter for for use in the impact driver. Same sizes in speed wrench.

Just picked up one of these thumb drive ratchets it has been super useful for working on unistrut and holding bolts when putting together flats or platforms.

Edit: I forgot. Always have my chalk bag handy.

I'm a little late to the party, but thank you for this giveaway. As for my choice, I would like the ThruNite Neutron 2C V3

Very generous of you. Thank you again.

I hope this doesn't get buried, it can really help you. I fucking love my mini flash light. You would be surprised at how much you will use one. You whip it out when you need it, and fucking bam, you can see the world. This is the one I have, I keep it on my person 24/7 and it is very durable. Don't let the small size deter you, it is fucking legit. On a dark night in my back yard, this thing can go out for maybe 60ish yards. I'm not even a delivery person, and it was one of the best investments I've every made. I just keep it on a lanyard that I always have on me. Usually in my pocket.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015UC17E/?tag=hyprod-20&hvadid=15470184459&hvpos=1o1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1199059348122094719&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&ref=asc_df_B0015UC17E

Wowtac A1S - seems to be a winner for me...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07567K2QC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ICfUAbP97Q496

Good luck to everyone, and thanks for your generosity. I've been looking for a light, and may just buy this one after I'm sure I haven't won it.

Thanks to both of you!

I think I've gotta go with a RovyVon myself. Mostly so I can ceremoniously exorcise the cool white XP-G3 from its tainted soul. I haven't decided if I want to use one of my SW45 219B's, or if I should go with a LH351D. Either way, I promise to give it a comfy pocket to sleep in, a nice steady stream of electrons whenever it wants, and a gorgeous 90+ CRI neutral white emitter. Because it deserves better.

Looks like you got a lot of suggestions for lights already but as a guy who has a very "light" edc setup, and doesn't like weight or bulk I recommend the Streamlight Microstream. By far my favorite and I carry it everywhere with me. So small, light weight and the battery life is actually surprisingly good. I've had it for almost 5 months now and never replaced the single AAA yet and I use it just about daily for short bursts. Worth checking out and the price is descent.


Streamlight 66318 MicroStream C4 LED Pen Light https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00143JZ08/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Y56yyb7JGY974

you could try one of those new synthetic puffy jackets (like this), they are extremely light, and very warm (check out /r/CampingGear for the top of the line ones, otherwise they can definitely be had for less). I got one last winter or the winter before, and except for the -40C days I got last year, I can wear it the entire winter.

I would recommend a flashlight like the streamlight microstream or stylus pro, to just throw in your bag and forget. They can be SUPER useful when you need them, and don't add much weight or bulk.

Well, what I carry for everyday is the Streamlight Stylus Pro, small, pretty bright (90 lumens) and uses 2 AAA batteries. I have had mine in my pocket for well over 2 years and I love it. only complaint is that I wish they sold pocket clips for this at a reasonable price. If the clip breaks or bends it sucks, and new clips are like 12$ and you might as well buy another entire light at 19$.

Thanks again to everyone that helps out with the giveaways!

I’d love to get the Thrunite TC15 NW. Something a bit special for the form factor :)

Practice this!

Buy This or something similar.

Make sure you can do This!

Also, a good cable tester, a Behringer CT 100 will suffice.

If you can wrap cables in a hurry, have a flashlight, know how to troubleshoot and repair cables then you will be pretty valuable.

Also, re-read what /u/PM_me_guinea_pigs had to say above, he hits the nail on the head!

Don't be late, don't drink, don't do drugs, you will be ok!

Whatever you do, don't buy any plastic flashlights. If you wanna buy some flashlights at a reasonable price, try getting some Maglites. They can be serviced if need be and will last a long time. If I can't afford expensive flashlights at the moment and would need to buy a bunch of them, Maglites can be purchased on the fly at the box stores.

But if you want the real deal, then get a state-of-the-art tactical flashlight that can fit inside your pocket. ThruNite, Nitecore, Fenix, and Convoy are the kings of flashlights. Personally, I recommend the Thrunite TC12 V2 as the reviews on this flashlight praises its durability and reliability. Not too many people had trouble with this flashlight, except with the V1 because people complained about cycling through modes to get to the one they want.

Since power is an issue. Rechargeable batteries are the way to go. 18650 Lithium batteries will last you 500 charges, but you can pick up rechargeable batteries in AA, AAA, C, and D-Cell Nickel Metal Hydrate as well. Since the flashlight kings have torches that run off of 18650, there are adapters that you can use in case you can't get a hold of them. If you want to stick with primaries and AA/ AAA batteries, then get Energizer Ultimate Lithium cells. They're pricey but they last a long time and can be stored up to 25+ years.

Since this is a third-world nation you're sending these lights to, then USB rechargeable lighting an absolute must. If you want true independence, get a solar charging kit, portable energy storage, and a USB rechargeable battery system. You can use the solar panels to charge your flashlight and your rechargeable batteries without ever using the power grid.

You can't really go wrong with the Armytek Wizard Pro, it's my favorite light by far. Apart from a lot of other good stuff I like that it doesnt have these cooling rings that tend to get stuck on pants pockets when EDCing it.

The Thrunite TN12 is pretty nice as well.

Thrunite is a great brand that makes high quality lights usually at a better value than the competition. They also sell directly on Amazon, which makes it easy.

I like the TC12, which comes with a battery, on-board micro USB charging, and 1100 lumens.

I purchased this light after a favorable review by a friend.

It is pen sized, has a great beam, the batteries last a long time. I have a set of rechargeable batteries that work great with it.

[LC90](http://www.Anker.com/ Super Bright Tactical Flashlight, Rechargeable (18650 Battery Included), Zoomable, IP65 Water-Resistant, 900 Lumens CREE LED, 5 Light Modes for Camping and Hiking, Bolder LC90 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KH2JP5G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_y178Bb9PFXVDC)

Thank you! Happy to be part of the community

I got both of those lights for under $40. The left one is an Emisar D1 mini thrower. I just got it this week and I love it. It has a good flood but not sports worthy, I would suggest the $65 BLF Q8 (largest, 4th from right in bottom picture) or $100 Emisar D18 at for that. The light on the right is a Nitecore P30. The P stands for precision. It's a fairly long range thrower and can light stuff up at 500 yards easily. I got it on sale for $35 but it's typically around $60. There is no flood for sports either. Both the D1 and P30 are 18650 powered throw lights but pocketable. You might like the BLF Q8 because it can be belt pouch carried or back pocket or jacket pocket carried. It also has a threaded spot for camera tripod mounts and would be great for camping and sports. It will require you to buy 4 high drain 18650 button top batteries and a charger.

4x Batteries:
https://liionwholesale.com/collections/batteries/products/samsung-inr18650-30q-battery-15a-3000mah-button-top-wholesale-discount-genuine-and-tested?variant=35782220241

Charger
https://liionwholesale.com/collections/chargers/products/xtar-vc4-battery-charger?variant=12202219864158

BLF Q8
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0773Q46D3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_djbVCbAEP6Z9W

I don't know what Pi kit you're getting, but make sure that the charger is giving it the proper juice. You may also want a powered USB hub for peripherals such as a mouse, keyboard, etc. A small WiFi adapter and camera module can also come in handy.

I really like my Leatherman Squirt. It fits on the keychain that I carry every day. I also want to add this small flashlight. If you're into DIY, you might find Instamorph useful.

Sweet deal! Would prefer the TIP CRI, but it is above 40 usd from amazon :(

The thrunite ti10 may fill a nice spot as a nightstand light though! NW obviously. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01B498P3O

Oh, otherwise I guess a neat little emisar d4, 4000k xp-g2 from intloutdoor would fulfill the price limit extremely well! It is not amazon though, so I guess it is a long stretch

You can find this type of light for less than $3 on AliExpress. Probably not a terrible light for the price. It will have an ugly tint and it's certainly not waterproof, but that's what you get for the cost of a soda.

You didn't list the features you want, but I'm sure there are some other lights out there that will satisfy them. Maybe something like this ThruNite T10? Have you checked the stickied post on lights that get recommend a lot?

A few things I would probably get.

• Flash light always comes in handy. I noticed you didn't say anything about one. I streamlight is a great brand with nice seemingly durable lights. You will probably lose it before it shits out on you or breaks. I prefer the stylus pro or the microstream (difference between the two is microstream is shorter. It's penlight size makes it easy to slip in and out of your pocket.
  
  
• Always carry a good pen. Zebra makes decent pens. If you want to stretch your gift card further, you could get the f301 but I really prefer the f701, it's just a nicer pen. There is also the space pen if you ever feel you need to write something in zero gravity. If "tactical pens" are more your thing, you have plenty to choose from
  
  
• saw you were looking at a cheapo fixed blade. If you were to get any "cheapo" fixed blade at all, seriously consider mora. You can read more about mora in this post, but I assure you that you will not find a better fixed blade for the price.
  
  
• You have anything to carry your beverages in? Nalgene bottle or camelbak for water, thermos for hot beverages.
  
  
• Get you a nice rum cake or whiskey fudge

I recommend the WowTac A1S, it produces an honest 1000 Lumens, has great modes and the battery is reliable and easy to charge (uses a cellphone charger). It includes a pocket clip as well which is convenient.

https://www.amazon.com/A1S-Flashlight-Pocket-Sized-NEW-WOWTAC/dp/B07M5BV8P7/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=wowtac+a1s&qid=1557923472&s=gateway&sr=8-3

First, thank you for hosting this, I never knew about this subreddit until this was xposted now I have yet another place to look at cool shiny stuff and find more things to get. Second Congratulations to whoever wins!

I'd go with 2 of this link and have you draw a second person to share with.

https://www.amazon.com/ThruNite-Ti5-XP-G2/dp/B00LUO028U/?tag=0x5054-20

OR if that is not an option

https://www.amazon.com/Olight-S10-L2-Baton/dp/B00ELPPI6Q/?tag=0x5054-20

If $50 is a hard line, Sofirn SP33 is 2500 lumens and more than most uses require. It comes with a 26650 and charger for $41.

As others have stated, Sofirn SP36 BLF edition with Anduril is probably the best option in that range. You can get the light with stock Sofirn branded batteries for $70 or get it without for $50.

If you want slightly better than the stock Sofirn batteries, you can get 3 of the popular and budget friendly high drain 18650's like the Samsung 30q for $16.50 + shipping.

Been interested in getting my Reylight Pineapple back after selling it do to some financial trouble

https://www.amazon.com/ReyLight-Pineapple-Custom-Flashlight-Nichia/dp/B0746R313C/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=reylight+pineapple&qid=1572410267&sr=8-1

Thanks as always for the giveaways! They're always a lot of fun and seeing someone get an awesome new toy is fantastic

I can see how in your case zooming is beneficial. I’m a security supervisor, in my case I use flashlights for patrols and searches. For a throwy light I’ve convinced one of my officers to get the BLF GT Mini it’s a great searchlight type light that can fit in a jacket pocket.

I convinced another to get a Wowtac A1S it’s a good EDC sized floody light with 1100 lumens output. It’s great for those who haven’t used higher end lights as it comes with an 18650 that has a build in micro USB charging port.

I haven’t come across a zoomie that I’d be willing to recommend to anyone but maybe someone else will chime in.

streamlight microstream.
http://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-66318-MicroStream-LED-Flashlight/dp/B00143JZ08/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333652631&sr=8-1
this is what I have EDCd for the better part of a year, I love it! and for 18 bucks you really cant go wrong. I have the single AAA but you can get the double AAA if it suits your fancy, due to the circuitry efficiency the battery life is much longer on the double AAA model, but both are great.

Good luck to all, and thanks for the chance to win!

https://www.amazon.com/Thorfire-Flashlight-Searchlight-Configurable-Professional/dp/B0773Q46D3/ref=sr_1_3?crid=PW2WPOMWDSSB&keywords=blf+q8&qid=1568657000&s=gateway&sprefix=blf+%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-3

Love love love!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KFF5BGZ/

This is a good bright light for the money and usb rechargeable

Anker Super Bright Tactical Flashlight, Rechargeable (18650 Battery Included), Zoomable, IP65 Water-Resistant, 900 Lumens CREE LED, 5 Light Modes for Camping and Hiking, Bolder LC90 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KH2JP5G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_l05uCb07ZA7N1

Nice man, both your kits are pretty solid. I'm at work so I can't be as thorough as I would like but here are a few ideas that stood out.

1/8" Pad: Drop it, cut two panels off your zlite to use as the frame and then just pull them out the pack to use at night to sleep. I did this all summer with my KS50 and it worked great. You'll need to cut a little bit off the width for it to fit, but it's minimal and not noticeable when sleeping.

Headlamps: There are much lighter headlamp options and many prefer flashlights for night hiking to bring the light closer to waist level and elongate the shadows. You can also clip them to a brim of a hat for hands free use around camp. A little thrunite ti3 would be a good bet if you don't plan on much night hiking, or a Nitecore Tip 2017 for night hiking.

Knife: The Victorinox Classic SD only weighs 22grams or if all you need is a knife check out Spyderco Ladybug at 16grams. Avoid amazon for the ladybug, there are counterfeits going around i hear.

FAK: You could likely pair this down, mine only weighs 1.5oz

Houdini P/O: Seems unnecessary with the versalite? But I've never worn the Nano-Air Light Hoody, is the idea that the houdini would provide a breathable wind barrier when used in combination? I know this is a common strategy with fleece.

Kahtoola Micro Spikes: If we end up needing them this year I'm going to try Snowline Chainsen Light. Quite a bit lighter than microspikes.

On a side note, when do you start? I'm heading out on May 18th. Edit: Nevermind...somehow missed this in your post...maybe I'll see you all in Oregon or Washington! I'm targeting a late August finish.

Anker Super Bright Tactical Flashlight, Rechargeable (18650 Battery Included), Zoomable, IP65 Water-Resistant, 900 Lumens CREE LED, 5 Light Modes for Camping and Hiking, Bolder LC90 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KH2JP5G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ltC9Bb8DB3PVP

I use this flashlight. Mostly on trails. I carry it in my forward most hand. This allows you to point the light around turns. Having a light mounted on your board will not allow you to see where you are carving to. Board mounted lights are only good to help you to be seen. Terrible for actually riding. It is rechargeable by a Android cord.

So, I do not have one to trade or anything, but before you order one, I will share this. I researched the uc35 for hours. Read on all the forums, looking at every comparable light that met the criteria as you listed. The conclusion that people kept leading me to was to forget the Fenix altogether, and get a ThruNite. The quality of construction is significantly better, the light is brighter, the light modes are more usable and varied. Plus, it's cheaper. I now have 2 of them, and after using them, 2 of my buddies ordered themselves one as well. I highly recommend it over the Fenix, and in this size and class, I think it really shines. Link for lazy. Get the $65 V2, and I personally prefer the neutral white version (NW) over the blue tint cool white (CW).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M3TSBB6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_wbwzzb65JPHTX

Woooo!

Not sure how the $15 limit on international shipping applies, is it included in the $52 or on top of that (total of $67)? Asking because I couldn't find anything with shipping under $15 to Finland..

Anyways, If I limit to max of $52, this Nitecore Tini fits the bill at $29.99 and $19.00 shipping (total: $48.99): https://www.amazon.com/NITECORE-Metallic-Rechargeable-Keychain-Eco-Sensa/dp/B077PC43TC/?tag=parametrek-20

If the total limit is $67, I have a hard time choosing between the Rovyvon Aurora A8 and Nitecore NU25, but maybe the hiker in me would approve the headlamp more as I already have a pretty good EDC in the Nitecore Tip CRI.. So, NU25, $36.95 and $27.26 shipping (total $64.21): https://www.amazon.com/Nitecore-NU25-Rechargeable-Headlamp-Yellow/dp/B078PH9DCB/?tag=parametrek-20

Edit: Actually looks like if you go down enough in price, so does the shipping. As I don't have any AAA lights, the Thrunite Ti3 NW might be interesting.. $13.95 and $13.17 shipping: https://www.amazon.com/ThruNite-Ti3-XP-G2-Neutral-White/dp/B00EC0FY1O/?tag=parametrek-20

I have a FourSevens M2A. 2xAA, but it's almost as slender as a pen light. It's the only two battery light that's been comfortable clipped to the back of my pocket. Heck, I don't even find 1xAA (or 1xCR123) comfortable in the bottom of my pocket. I even like the extra length, since it makes it more substantial, easier to grib and hold. It's not absolutely perfect as is. I had to put in a paper shim to prevent battery rattle, and stretch out the spring to stop the light from bouncing on and off.

As a note, I've heard that the ITP A3 EOS is suspected of being the same light as the Maratac AAA.

But if I wanted to buy a single battery light right now, I'd probably get the ThruNite I've seen others link here.

I was going to recommend something small like the Streamlight Stylus Pro or the Microstream coupled with rechargeable AAA batteries. Or maybe the Terralux or the Thrunite Ti4. You can keep a few spare batteries in your bag, and will be good to go for a long while....but..../u/bob60626 linked to a really good deal on those olight s20r lights...so now I'm going to suggest that. It seems though that they only do Paypal or Check payments though, so that might be a deal breaker.

I'd also suggest something like the Nitecore Tube, which can be recharged via a standard USB micro connection (your current phone charger if you have an android).

I love my Streamlight Stylus Pro. It's about the size of a Sharpie. I keep mine in a pen pocket on my uniform, and it's a great "quick draw" light. It pumps out 48 lumens, which is all you need for up-close and smaller areas. Best part is it's only twenty bucks.

I will recommend the Wowtac A1S bss v2

Its very bright (1100 lm 19200 cd), durable (check out the torture tests on youtube), and it has a detachable bezel for defensive purposes. Im a big fan of the two button UI as well. Definitely great value at this price point.

The suggestions here are great and OP has probably picked one, but I wanted to share an alternative for anyone else that may be looking. I really enjoy my $15 Xtar PB2 paired with two 2500mah 18650 batteries. You can get the batteries for just under $4 each. This way you get lots of capacity and you can swap out batteries and it still costs less than the typical powerbank of that capacity. Also some devices use the batteries directly like this flashlight.

This would be my first real light

If by some miracle I win, I would like neutral white. Thanks for doing this!

I have a ProTac 1L-1AA and like it a lot, but I don't think it would be that good to clip on your pocket for day to day use, maybe look into a single aaa light such as the Thrunite Ti3 or Ti5 whether you prefer a tailswitch or twisty. This form factor is big enough to be useful but small enough to not take over your pocket.

If you're set on Streamlight I like my Protac 1AAA for its size compared to the 1L-1AA, but it is still much bigger than the Thrunites and a lot of other single aaa lights.

This is the one that I have. It fits perfectly in my pocket, it's very easy to use, it doesn't come on by itself very easily, it's flipping bright, and it's quite affordable. Just my recommendation

Site is looking good. Thanks for your generosity. I like Thrunite TC15 NW please!

Can I try to convince you to go slightly over budget? Consider the Thrunite T10 for the light. It is $20. And then for the batteries, a 4 pack of eneloops w/ charger is another $18. These batteries will last you pretty much your entire life. They won't have the environmental impact of going through hundreds of alkalines. Alkaline batteries won't be able to effectively power the light on its brightest mode either. And most importantly, consider them as an insurance policy. When an alkaline leaks inside the $20 light, then you need to get another $20 light. But the $18 batteries will never leak, so you come out ahead.

Of course if you forget to charge up the battery some day, pop in an alkaline. But get it out of the light as soon as you get home.

I carried a G20 for a good while then upgraded to a Stylus Pro by Streamlight. $20 And comes in a few different colors. It's been a great light, puts out a good amount of light for it being so small, and it fits very nicely in my pocket next to my knife.

http://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-88033-Tactical-Flashlight-Batteries/dp/B003GXF9OA

Streamlight ProTac 2xAA

Pretty inexpensive and great build quality. I love the 3 modes of illumination. Pick up a pack of eneloop batteries and you'll never have to worry about battery shelf-life again.

There are a quite a bit of flashlight which have tripod mounts.

We have the BLF Q8:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0773Q46D3/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1525779259&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=blf+q8

Haikelite MT07S:

https://hesaidshesaidsales.com/shop?olsPage=products%2Fhaikelite-mto7s-702-version

I would recommend the MT07S, since it has the most stable brightness as the battery drains, and a still good user interface.

At 4500 lumens, it should be bright enough.

I love this sub! I think less frequent would make them more special.

If I get so lucky I would love a GTMini I don't have a thrower yet.

I’ve been really interested in powerful flashlights for awhile now after seeing a gif hit the front page. Just found this subreddit at the perfect time.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KFF5BGZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HP7FDb77Q059M?th=1&psc=1&utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

WOW!

This Wowtac Wowlight definitely seems like a good deal to me.

https://www.amazon.com/Wowtac-A1S-BSS-TAC-V2/dp/B07567K2QC/?tag=parametrek-20

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003GXF9OA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I personally love this flashlight. It's small which I'm sure you would enjoy, cheap, and really bright.

The flashlight would actually be for my mom she's taken an interest in them lately. This one seems to be pretty cool. Gl everyone :)

Love the giveaways! Thanks, Para! I'd love a Rovyvon!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F5H3CFH/ref=twister_B07GQKMZYV?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

Edit - Added Link.

Edit edit - I'm not a smart man.

I think making the giveaways smaller would make more sense than fewer giveaways, though realistically you could do both and I doubt anyone would complain. There's lots and lots of great lights available for smaller dollar amounts, and more chances to win would keep the excitement up for a lot of people. Just my 2 cents.

Anyway, thanks again, para! In for the SP36.

I'd love to try out the Olight S1A. Thanks for doing a great giveaway!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01IOZLA6U/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1511308275&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=olight+s1a&dpPl=1&dpID=41oue2h6%2BML&ref=plSrch

I am a very firm believer that a flashlight is a really useful tool, even for non-defensive scenarios. Since we need light in order to take in data, I like having as bright of a light as possible. There's very few scenarios where I would see myself wishing I had LESS light, whereas there's a lot of scenarios where having a light not bright enough might not give me the kind of data I want to see.

Example: Walking through a dark parking lot late at night, I can quickly scan the areas/shadows as I'm walking and it's bright enough that it illuminates areas really easily, when I carried a smaller dimmer light (streamlight MicroStream), I would have to have the light go over every shadow in order for me to see what was there if it was really dark.

So the way I see it, the brighter the light, the better the results. A lot of people will claim that if your light is too bright that you'll lose your night vision, but with a bright light, you can aim it somewhere like your feet, the wall, or the ceiling, and use it as an area light, you don't have to look directly into the hot spot.

In a defensive scenario, having an incredibly bright light in your face in a dark environment makes it VERY difficult for them to see what I'M doing. So if someone walks up to me in the dark and i'm not sure if they're a threat or not, I can shine the light directly at them and I'm essentially "blinding" them while also illuminating them, so I can see if they have a weapon or whatnot. This also means that I can draw my firearm with my main hand while blasting a light in their face, so they won't be able to see me reach for my gun.

Sage Dynamics on Youtube goes over all of this a lot better an more in depth than I could, I would check him out. Here's one of his videos that goes over most if not all of what I mentioned here.

Oooh... Thank you so much! These giveaways are awesome!

Thrunite TC12 v2 in Neutral White

Thanks again for the chance!

Wide area while also 300+ meters of throw? That’s gonna be a beefy light. And complete overkill for camping and hiking. Most folks are better served by using a smaller headlamp for flood, and a handheld thrower.

But you know what you want, and the Thrunight TN36 might be a good fit. If you already have batteries and a charger you can save some money buying the light alone, rather than the full kit.

Alternatively a Sofirn SP36 is cheaper while still almost matching your request. Provide it with these batteries to get the best performance out of it.

And maybe look at some beam shots from legit reviews. The lumen ratings on some of those “military grade tactical” things are straight up lies. 2000+ lumens in your pocket will set your pants on fire. (ask anyone with an Emisar D4)

Just a suggestion from personal experience but I don't need a light stored in my car because I now have a keychain light that is bright enough for most purposes.

This is what I have. It's a great little light and not at all uncomfortable in my pocket.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F5H3CFH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also have a D4v2 but I wouldn't stick it in the glove compartment. Its too "flashy" to be relegated to that.

You’re awesome for doing these giveaways. I’d appreciate anything brass or anything throwy.

This brass pineapple would be awesome!



ReyLight Pineapple brass mini LED Flashlight with Nichia 219C 4000K High CRI LED https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0746R313C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_GVEhAbS018YWB

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F5H3CFH/ref=twister_B07GQKMZYV?_encoding=UTF8&th=1


I just ordered 2 RovyVon and a new headlamp, but I need MOAR to give to people as gifts!!! Also, this is a really cool thing to do, great sub!

If you don't have a headlamp as well you are wrong. Being hands free helps so much.

1. Wowtac A1S Flashlight
   
2. Wowtac A2S Headlamp
   
   While I prefer USB rechargeable you could go with Streamlight as they have some really nice AAA and AA flashlights. They have some more powerful CR123 battery flashlights as well.

This is awesome, just started to research EDC flashlights. Would love to start with a Reylight Pineapple . Thank you!

I`m sure you'll get a lot of great responses with suggestions but I was in the same position recently and I found the streamlight stylus pro fit what I was looking for. It has a metal body so it's really durable, 48 lumens (brightest I could find), and produces a really good stream of bight light. It was also about 20 bucks. It works really well for me and idk why it wouldnt for you but at least give it a look. Below is a amazon link. Im posting from my mobile so sorry for any formating errors.


http://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-66118-Stylus-Flashlight-Holster/dp/B0015UC17E/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1F0VNGVXMMKR1M2NAPED

Oh yes oh yes!

​

You are the man!

​

Lumintop GT Mini - Neutral White

​

Thanks chief!

I've got one of these, the battery has a micro-usb connector, and I'm pretty sure the thing could survive being run over by a tank. It's probably going to be my best recommendations unless you're going to get really into it, or spend over twice as much. There are plenty of better choices if you don't care how much you spend.

This is the only sub I know that does these giveaways, and it really solidifies /r/flashlight as one of the friendliest subreddits I visit. I would be thrilled to win a TC15! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JLKWQBR/?coliid=I1YXS9QLP4DVQK&colid=2MAC34ALYXS2M&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Do you have any more info on what you'll be doing with it exactly? Is this a "take the dog out" kind of light?

The Wowtac A1S or A2S are both good, bright lights. The A2S is a headlamp, but you can take it out of the headband and use it normally, and a headlamp can come in handy sometimes. They both come with a removable battery that has built-in microUSB charging. The "neutral white" version of either light is recommended for more pleasant light.

I would love to win this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IOZLA6U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_DmZeAbHKZ99RM

many thanks

I really like the Thrunite T10. So much so that I've bought 2. I bought CW in September and carried it everyday until the clip got caught on my car door as I was getting out. The clip came off and got run over. I've been told that I can email thru ite and they'll send me another but I've just attached it to my key ring and it's great to have on there! It's only about 3.5 inches in length half and inch wide. It's got a deep carry clip, and 3 modes. The highest gives you 252 lumens. To me it's totally worth it.

ThruNite T10 compact flashlight series, Max 252 Lumen Single CREE LED;Uses one 1.5V AA battery;tail switch and twisting head for single-hand operation;3-mode;Powerful AA Flashlight! (T10 NW XP-L) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B498P3O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_zPuhAbSGBFB3W

I’d love a little HELP! Never can have too many hand sun sticks.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F5H3CFH/ref=twister_B07GQKMZYV?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

I'd recomend a 2xAAA penlight. I used to EDC a CR123 light and it was super bulky. Penlights are way more conspicuous, smaller, and maybe easier to hold and control.
Streamlight Stylus or a Preon both are great I think.