A VERY ABBREVIATED FLASHLIGHT POST - APPRENTICE GEAR & EDC
If you've spent any time shopping for flashlights, you've probably noticed that not all lumens are created equal. A 225-lumen pocket light, a 600-lumen SureFire, a 1,300-lumen Streamlight, and a high-candela Cloud Defensive may all be called "flashlights," but they solve very different problems.
Recently, I compared four of the lights that are in my rotation, and that happen to span a lot of the tiers (cost-wise) of flashlights. While there are some cheaper, and MANY more expensive ones out there, I think these do a good job representing the tiers of lights and why you would want one over another. The 4 lights I've personally been carrying recently:
Coast KL45R
SureFire G2X Tactical
Streamlight ProTac HL-X
Cloud Defensive MCH 2.0-HC-D
Coast KL45R: The new cheapo on the block
The Coast I bought recently at Home Depot for $8. I've been looking for a summer carry light that doesn't weigh down my pockets so much like a couple of the other lights on this list. Saw these on an end cap and picked it up kind of on a whim. The form factor is nice, the price is obviously nice, and the clip, while it's exactly as useful/not useful of a clip as you'd imagine on a pocket light, the one on the KL is nice enough so far and brim compatible. This light is surprisingly powerful, and I think a lot of it is because it's so small that when you use turbo mode in a dark room, or even in your back yard, it'll catch you off guard in terms of how much it illuminates. I'll have more to say by the end of Summer about this light, but the brief time I have with it has been nice!
Specifications:
225 Lumens (Turbo Mode)
High: 130 Lumens
Low: 29 Lumens
~2000 Candela (Estimated)*
Runtime: Up to 6.25 hours (Low Mode)
Battery: Built-in ZITHION™ Rechargeable Li-Polymer Battery
USB-C Rechargeable
Length: 3.0"
Bezel Diameter: 0.75"
Weight: 0.71 oz
Water Resistance: IP54 Rated
Key Features:
Integrated red laser pointer
USB-C rechargeable
Two-way pocket clip
Compact 3-inch EDC design
Lightweight aluminum construction
Independent laser operation
Pocket, hat-brim, and tool-bag friendly carry options
Cost
$10
SureFire G2X Tactical: Simple, reliable, tried and true
The SureFire G2X represents a philosophy that has largely disappeared from modern flashlights: keep it simple. It offers decent lumens, and runs on very common CR123A batteries. The Nitrolon polymer body keeps weight down while maintaining SureFire's reputation for reliability. I don't carry this one NEARLY as much as I used to, but its fantastic track record keeps it FIRMLY in the discussion, especially because of its low cost compared to the competition in the duty use field. It also looks like they have a G2x Pro model now, which I do not have, but I’m sure has better stats/features than below if you’re looking to improve these and only get one do-it-all light!
Specifications:
600 Lumens
8,700 Candela
Runtime: 1.5 Hours
Battery: 2x CR123A Lithium Batteries
Length: 5.2"
Weight: 4.4 oz with batteries
Body Material: Nitrolon Polymer with Type III Hard-Anodized Aluminum Bezel
Water Resistance: Not stated online*
Key Features:
Single-output design for maximum simplicity
Tactical tailcap switch with momentary-on and constant-on operation
Lightweight and corrosion-resistant polymer body
Smooth beam with good hotspot and peripheral spill
Virtually indestructible LED emitter
Cost
$80-$100
Streamlight ProTac HL-X: A great all-in-one light.
If someone asked me for a single flashlight recommendation under $150, I'd probably point them toward the Streamlight ProTac HL-X. The HL-X delivers up to 1,300 lumens and 35,000 candela while offering dual-fuel capability, allowing it to run from either rechargeable batteries or CR123A cells, all for a decent price. This light occupies the sweet spot between flood and throw. It has enough beam distance for property inspections and outdoor use, but enough spill to comfortably navigate buildings and parking lots. For many users, this is the flashlight that does almost everything well - for a fair price.
Specifications:
Up to 1,300 Lumens (with SL-B26 rechargeable battery)
35,000 Candela
Runtime (High): 1.5 hours rechargeable / 1.25 hours CR123A
Battery: 1x Streamlight SL-B26 rechargeable or 2x CR123A batteries (Multi-Fuel)
Length: 5.43"
Weight: 5.7 oz with CR123A batteries, 6.2 oz with rechargeable battery
Material: Aircraft-grade anodized aluminum
Water Resistance: IP68 rated, waterproof to 2 meters and dust-tight
Key Features:
Multi-fuel operation (rechargeable or disposable batteries)
TEN-TAP® programmable modes
High / Medium / Low / Strobe settings
Tactical tail switch for momentary or constant-on activation
Removable pocket clip and included holster
Excellent balance of throw and spill for general-purpose use
Cost
$100-$125
Cloud Defensive MCH 2.0-HC-D: High performance, at a higher investment.
The Cloud Defensive MCH 2.0-HC-D is definitely my highest end light. While it only produces 1,100 lumens, its 80,000 candela beam is designed to punch through darkness at distances where most handheld lights begin to struggle. The candela is where this light earns its reputation for sure.
Looking across a field? Checking the far side of a parking lot? Identifying movement at a distance? The MCH excels at these tasks. It was designed around long-range performance, and it shows. Additionally, its robust aluminum construction and IPX8 waterproof rating make it one of the toughest handheld lights available.
The downside is price. You're typically paying around twice what a ProTac HL-X costs. Whether that's worth it depends entirely on your needs.
If your flashlight's primary purpose is identifying things at distance, the MCH justifies its premium price.
Specifications:
1,100 Lumens
80,000 Candela
Runtime: 75 minutes (full power)
Battery: 1x 18650 Rechargeable or 2x CR123A (Dual Fuel)
Length: 5.17"
Weight: 5.7 oz (with battery)
Material: Type III Hard Coat Anodized 6061-T6 Aluminum
Water Resistance: IPX8 (100 ft for 24 hours)
Key Features:
High-candela beam for exceptional distance and target identification
Adjustable ND (Negligent Discharge) protection system
Deep-carry pocket clip
Compatible with Thyrm Switchback accessories
Fully modular design
Excellent balance of throw and usable spill light
Cost
$200-$230
I'll have more to say on all of these by the end of summer since I have actually been notating how annoying, or how not as annoying these lights are to carry for the first half of the year, and keeping track of controls and how well they do in various situations. As of now, if the Coast keeps up, for $8, being USBc rechargeable, and even just on the high mode having a nice little flood, for tech work and stuff around the house it's fantastic and disappears in your pocket. Is it a duty-use light, no, but I'm not on duty, so it's fine with me. If you need something to turn your backyard to day time in the middle of the night, the Cloud light is phenomenal, and Surefire has more modern lights than the G2X, then you can throw the Streamlight in there, Modlite, Fenix, Nightcore, tons more. I have admittedly not a lot of time on Olight's offerings, and in the gear space they seem to occupy an INSANE market share, so look to try some of those out in the future. Most notably the Marauder and the Seeker models. Thanks everyone, I tried to keep this one brief, but much more to come down the road. See you all very soon
Later on…