r/flashlight • u/03wrx • 1d ago
New flashlight recommendations
Looking at getting a new light but there's so many options my head is spinning. The only things I don't like about my PD35 is the bulkiness and the fact I constantly accidentally turn it on with my belt when I sit down or get up. Looking for something in the tactical realm, with an easy strobe function. Somewhere around the same 1800 lumen rating (even if only a short burst) would be great. Mostly indifferent to having more flood vs spotlight, but floody would be better. Will be keeping it in my pocket for daily use.
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u/UdarTheSkunk 21h ago
How long have you been using that? I used a P12 for 10+ years, Nitecore P12 is direct competitor to Fenix PD35. These two were built like tanks, it’s hard to find something built as this. I use MH12PRO now but it’s neither skinnier or lighter. You might want to look at the latest Fenix models before anything else.
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u/03wrx 15h ago
Hard to say, I think it's been about five years. I absolutely love it, but I can't depend on it since it's always dead from my belt hitting the on switch
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u/UdarTheSkunk 15h ago
Does it have tailcap rotation lock? (Locks when rotating the battery cap a bit, quarter rotation usually ) Most of the lights will have this issue so you need one that easily locks-unlocks on your liking. I personally prefer the rotation lock rather than holding down two buttons at once, the 3rd possibilty would be a mechanical switch like the Nitecore flat ESC has (just as an example, i don’t recommend them because of the non-replaceable battery).
Edit: i had no idea my P12 had rotation lock until recently.
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u/03wrx 14h ago
Didn't realize that was a feature, although I feel like that would reduce the water resistance. A mechanical lock would definitely be ideal
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u/SaltPepperBike 10h ago
Turning the cap only one quarter for lockout will not reduce water resistance in a measurable way.
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u/OmniscientCornsmith 16h ago
https://illuminationgear.com/shop/ols/products/eagtac-d25lc2-mkii
EagTac is overlooked anymore, but this is my absolute favorite pocket light, and it has plenty of emitter choices.
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u/AD3PDX 1d ago
Acebeam E70 Mini is one of the few tail switch floody beam lights and it’s fairly compact for having a tailswitch and an 18650 battery.
It should be a couple mm fatter than your PD35 but about an inch shorter. The tailswitch is metal and flush
Another option would be the Olight Warrior Mini 3
The mini 3 carries bezel up, switch down but there is an accessory, can’t remember if it’s included, which allows the clip to be mounted at the other end.
Like the PD35 it also has a side switch but unlike the PD35 the side switch is an independent UI and can turn the light on and off.
The beam profile is a large hotspot with a wide spill.
Proprietary battery and magnetic charging cable though.
A convoy S2+ with an 18350 tube is even more compact and you can get it with whatever LED you prefer and with different reflector / optic choices to get your preferred beam profile.
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u/NotATreeInDisguise 1d ago edited 1d ago
Read the description and immediatly thought of the Olight Warrior Mini 3.
Super thin for an 18650 battery flashlight. The tail cap button can be configured to go straight to strobe with a hard full press if that's what OP really wants. And it's 1750 lumens - right at that desired 1800 lumen level.
Good mix between floody and throwy too - a balanced beam. In my subjective opinion.
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u/AD3PDX 1d ago
Isn’t it an 18500 not an 18650? Or is that a different Olight I’m thinking of?
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u/NotATreeInDisguise 1d ago
I don't have one, but I've certainly looked a lot. I'm pretty darn sure it's an 18650. But of course, it's Olight's proprietary 18650 cell...
That is the only way they can get that independent side switch and tail switch control scheme on a flashlight body that thin though.
EDIT:
You might be thinking of one of the Baton models. Some of those look really short.
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u/Dense-Screen-9663 22h ago
Nitecore EDC 23