I was looking on Amazon to buy a flashlight and quite a few are described as “tactical flashlight”. Sounds kinda militaristic to me. What does that mean?
And BTW, any recommendation? Looking for something with about 1200 Lumen, easy to hold.
A 6d cell maglite is the ultimate “tactical” flashlight. The operator of said flashlight can brain damage an innocent bystander with a flick of the wrist!
I was looking on Amazon to buy a flashlight and quite a few are described as “tactical flashlight”. Sounds kinda militaristic to me. What does that mean?
And BTW, any recommendation? Looking for something with about 1200 Lumen, easy to hold.
A Tactical Flashlight is a regular flashlight but over priced and made to look like it is something a warfighter would use.
In reality, is it designed and marketed to take the money from guys will small penises who need to compensate. Guys with especially small wieners will pay $400 for one.
Anything from Amazon or Lowes/Home Depot will serve most purposes.
The only reason to spend big money on a flashlight is if you are mounting it to a firearm.
I’ve got several of those tactical flashlights. And uh…
Never mind. Good point.
Actually. I use a 650 lumen flashlight for adjusting. It helps me see water stains on ceilings and works extremely well to find hail damage on soft metals like downspouts and windows. I wouldn’t mind having a bigger one, but need something that isn’t so heavy that it pulls my pants down, and also need something that doesn’t burn through batteries. I do have a Ryobi spotlight for those times when I need some serious candlepower.
I bought a Fenix some years back before I got into adjusting, and the battery corroded because I didn’t use it that much. It messed up the switch, so I got about 30 minutes of use out of it. I could probably send it back and get it repaired, but flashlight technology is a lot better now.
In case anyone is about to ask - nobody ever asks me if I brought my own flashlight. 
I’m partial to Olight myself.
I like this one because it’s rechargeable and you can clip it to a hat to function as a head light.
https://www.amazon.com/...ps%2C151&sr=8-19
Curious this one. It is double the price of my Vastou bike light but 200 lumens less.
I don’t know anything about those particular lights but …
Lumens can be misleading. On cheap lights they are often a flat-out lie. Or they have a really bright LED, but the beam is poorly shaped. Or they use a LED with a really high color temperature (“cool white”). Or they overdrive the LED, which gives a lot of light, but shortens LED life and yields lower battery efficiency.
On good lights, you’ll find good LEDs with a good tint (high CRI), good reflectors and lenses so that the light is usable, and a good driver so that lumens per watt are maximized (within reason).
I’d rather have a good 300 lumen light than a crappy 1000 lumen light.
I’ve got a couple of pretty nice Zebralights which I am happy with, meanwhile some of my friends (mushers and fatbikers) swear by Lupine (https://www.lupinenorthamerica.com/headlamp_sets.asp). Having ridden side-by-side with them, yeah, the Lupines are nicer than my Zebras. However they are also 3-5 times the price!
Get a good mining headlight. https://www.petzl.com/US/en/Sport/SPECIALIZED-headlamps/DUO-S
A Tactical Flashlight is a regular flashlight but over priced and made to look like it is something a warfighter would use.
I disagree a little bit here. The original tactical flashlight was one you could also use to bonk someone on the noggin. The Maglite was the original one. Or later, as you, say, one with a Picatinny rail mount, etc.
But now, I agree, it’s been watered down to mean any tough-guy looking flashlight.
I love flashlights. I have many.
For the OP, it’s a little bit on the expensive side (~$120), but I’m a fan of the Maglite M150LR(X) with charging cradle. “Only” ~1100 lumens, but easy to hold, can use for noggin-bonking if necessary. I like the cradle because you always know it’s fully charged if the power goes out, zombie attack, etc.
Tactical bro here demonstrates, after intro with tactical bros shooting targets. With “weapons systems,” which is apparently tactical bro for “gun.”
The original tactical flashlight was one you could also use to bonk someone on the noggin. The Maglite was the original one. Or later, as you, say, one with a Picatinny rail mount, etc.
I disagree a little bit here.
This is the OG tactical flashlight- TL-122. And it and its replacement the MX-991 sucked. And it was plastic.
I was looking on Amazon to buy a flashlight and quite a few are described as “tactical flashlight”. Sounds kinda militaristic to me. What does that mean?
And BTW, any recommendation? Looking for something with about 1200 Lumen, easy to hold.
I have looked at those and they look cool, although…
I bought a couple Milwaukee Lights I use with my battery Milwaukee tools when working on stuff, or I use my phone.
When those two things don’t work for my intended use, I use my Nightrider bike light. Over the years, I bought updated models, so I have about 5 of them now. They work great and are small in the hand.
I use this Milwaukee headlamp. No holding in mouth.
Works awesome.
Not what your price range is, but these lights are very well reviewed and not super expensive. I have one of these particular lights, and it has multiple settings, up to 2300 lumens. And with it having just a single rechargeable 18650 cell, this light is very compact compared to others.
http://www.zebralight.com/...lashlight_p_225.html
+1 on Zebralight. I have a couple of their headlamps, including the H600 that is the equivalent to the SC600 you linked to. I’ll put it this way: for 30 years I’ve bought a new headlamp every year or two as the tech improved. Since I bought my 1st Zebralight six years ago, I’ve only purchased one more light - another Zebralight. I have a small, light AA version for hiking and the like, and a larger brighter 18650 version for winter fatbiking and such.
Not sure if you would know this, but if I want to try and mount my zebralight on my bike, are there some could clamps that could hold a 25mm/1" diameter tactical light (that is what the zebralight measures) on to a bike handlebar ?
Not sure if you would know this, but if I want to try and mount my zebralight on my bike, are there some could clamps that could hold a 25mm/1" diameter tactical light (that is what the zebralight measures) on to a bike handlebar ?
I use this one and it works well.
https://www.amazon.com/OLIGHT-Universal-Flashlight-Lightining-Accessories/dp/B0761RX64G
I also have used a garmin mount. Use the bands to attach the disk to the light and 1/4 turn it to the bottom of the out front mount.
Looks good, but this will be for offroad/gravel, so I am thinking something more solid with a clamp-type mech. I think?
You want a Cateye Volt 6,000. I have one it is badass. I won it, no way I’d pay that much.
A nice beam 1,000 lumen light would be really nice for setting duck decoys. It is easy to lose your bearings a little in a slough at 4 in the morning.
Thanks, but I actually already have a powerful light. I am mostly looking for a secure high quality holder that can clamp a 25mm diameter light and mount that light to my handlebar …
How high quality do you need? I drove 100 miles with a crappy amazon bike light clamped to my bars and it never moved.
Again, I am not looking for a light (I already have one).
Just looking for input on a specific type of bike light mount.
I understand that, all I am saying is the crappy ass mount that came with that crappy light holds just fine. So, you don’t need anything too crazy, does your zebra light have a belt clip on it? you could use a clip style mount or maybe a go pro mount? idk, doesn’t need to be anything special from what I have seen.
No belt clip, but not sure how a belt clip could be used on handlebars.
I am thinking of a type of clamp clip, one that can clamp/hold a 25mm light. Proprietary mounts from other lights won’t work.
No belt clip, but not sure how a belt clip could be used on handlebars.
I am thinking of a type of clamp clip, one that can clamp/hold a 25mm light. Proprietary mounts from other lights won’t work.
I can’t upload photos of mine at the moment, but here’s what I did.
I purchased the Bimini clips from the link below.
The Chinese eBay sellers of rifle accessories are ones I just found - they are not the original vendors where I bought my parts, so they might not be the same. You may find some other variant more suitable for your situation. Caveat emptor.
Used a shotgun picatinny mount like this one to attach to 25mm diameter flashlight (Jetbeam BC-40),
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mossberg-500-Remington-870-Shotgun-12GA-1-Tube-Picatinny-lights-Laser-Mount-NEW/293653919476
Removed the QR base from this scope mount (#14 in the list looks like what I bought) using two screws,
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tactical-Torch-Scope-Mount-Base-Picatinny-Weaver-Rail-Adapter-Mount-Scope-Rings/124050987315?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item1ce203d933:g:opYAAOSwoSldns1L
Attached the QR base to a bridge I made for my aero bars using a piece of 1/4" plexiglas and some Bimini clips for 7/8" poles, https://www.ebay.com/itm/7-8-bimini-top-pole-clips-2-sets-hold-two-poles-together-left-and-right-side/122014994946
The QR allows me to quickly take the flashlight off the mount and use it as a flashlight. The Bimini clip mount allows me to quickly snap the whole rig onto the bike in 2 seconds.
The rig is super solid with no vibrations. Have been using this DIY rig for about eight years with no problems or complaints (except that the CREE lamp does interfere with my wireless computer if it gets too close, a commonly reported issue).
Also, there is an entire forum devoted to flashlights, https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/content.php
Thanks, some good ideas. Mounting it between aerobars is a good idea as well.
Thanks, some good ideas. Mounting it between aerobars is a good idea as well.
Zebralight unfortunately doesn’t make any mounting accessories for bikes. I use mine (H600) as a headlamp, with a separate cheap handlebar light.
TMI has got some great ideas there!