I have gone through probably 10 flashlights. None have thrilled me. Still searching for "my" holy grail. Looking for:

1. Compact - Pocket, pack. 3-5 inch type
2. High lumens
3. Good battery longevity

Dont want to drop 200 but tired of coming up disappointed and ready to spend if needed. Any suggestions/opinions/experiences ?

Thanks in advance

I’m sold on Streamlight. I’ve got one I use all the time at work that I change the batteries on about once a year. They’ve held up better than Surefires, for me, and for a lot less money.

X2

Coast model HP1 small very bright and zoomable good battery life

I have the Strap-on" style flashlight that goes over you cap. This has been the only way for me to take a flashlight with me hunting. My hands are always full of stuff.

Best I ever had!!!!!Uses AAA and will last over a year on 1 battery.
Has 3 brightness settings, and is REAL bright. About 3" long and 1/2" dia.

Streamlight strion and stylus pro. I carry both.

Cree C8- under $10 on ebay. They're the same light US companies sell as some sort of hunting flashlight for $100+. I've found that I lose my lights long before they break, and have never had a problem with these not working.

Excellent scoop...I appreciate the replies. Gonna research all these...........

What type of use? I have a light that fits on the brim of my cap. It has 4 different color lights red, green, blue and white. I use it for walking to my deer stand. Uses a couple 20/32 batteries.

I have a good head lamp I use walking around to from blinds etc. This is more for general use, game tracking, in case im the last pickup, critter in camp, etc.

Here is your answer......^^^^^^^^^

I get the Ultra fire's off of Amazon starting at around $10, can get them in clear, red , green and blue. Shines about as good as a $275 dollar one I bought 6 years ago from a guy in New Your.

Some of these sound like a lot of bucks for the bang!

I have a bushnell I picked up from Walmart for about $30. Best light I have ever had. I like it better than my stream light.

This one works well and holds a charge for a weekend at the cabin. Spotted a deer in the tree line at about 40 yards. Used the zoom on the light and could make out the antlers.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VZTJVE6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yeah I have two of the UltraFire WF-502B 5 mode 1000 lumens tac light kits from Amazon that I bought 3 years ago and they do the job fine. I have a $150 NiteHunter tac light set made here in Texas and the UltraFire is just as good and costs under $20 for the kit and it came with a tail cap pressure switch. I modified one with a momentary bubble switch for my IWI Tavor pressure pad on the foregrip. If you are looking for the most bang for your buck then get one of these. For a headlamp I use the Sniper Hog Lights headlamp with the red bulb. If you really want to spend some money then go with a Moonshiner Lights set up. Their hard hat light setups are awesome!!!!

I use a Niteforce P10. Its 500 lumens on "turbo" but has 4 brightness settings - I use the one level below turbo and can see great with it walking in the dark. Pocket size and uses CR123 batteries. Been very happy with it.

This. Bought 2 for my 10 y.o. daughters. I was very impressed by it. I'm a streamlight guy also.

I quit buying anything over about $10 a pop years ago. Usually buy a card of 3 at Costco for $15 or so when I lose a couple. They started out as 200 lumen and are now 500 lumen. I keep a spare in my pack. Brand is Duracell but Cree makes them.

For my backpack hunts I use a Black Diamond headlamp.

I buy ten at a time in various colors on Amazon for three bucks and change apiece. Cree LED and single AA cell. Super bright lights.

I go the cheap route too, but some black-hearted soul on here introduced me to camofire.com and I couldn't resist a Factor Mizpah 250 for a little over 20.00. Darn thing runs on two AAAs, has a clip you can put on your cap, and on high, could be used as a self-defense light. Don't know about durability, but it's my new favorite and is in the nightstand.

Also found a cheap Energizer headlamp in the blind I was in last week and now I'm rethinking my desire to post a reminder about cleaning out your blind before you leave.

You’ll go back to that stance when you find a ziplock bag full of piss in the stand.

Yes, it’s happened.

Oh, I haven't forgotten the story!

That person is no longer on the deer lease.

https://www.amazon.com/ThorFire-Powerful...light&psc=1

900 lumens ,right size ,you could spotlight pigs with it ,great for nightstand ,truck, hunting pack
Fits in pocket fits hand not not big not to small ,and you will have to work at running the battery down

Try THESE and they come in several colors. These are great lights for 3 bucks and change.

Olight. Better quality and brightness than streetlight imo and fraction of cost.

Never heard or seen an Olight but.... Streamlight has great customer service. Just like Leupold until they give ME a reason.... I'm sticking with what works.

There's nothing worse than getting out in the woods and a product does not work.

A few years back, I was on a work trip in Washington state, and decided to visit Ape Cave on a day off.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ape_Cave

There are no improvements to the cave other than a stairway going in and coming out. Once you are in there, you are on your own, bring your own flashlight, gear, etc. after doing some searching for flashlights, I decided to buy this one at the local Lowe’s

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Lux-Pro-350-Lumen-LED-Miniature-Flashlight/4751598

Two brightness settings, it worked continuously for the entire 3 hour hike through the cave, and still had plenty of battery left. I’ve since bought a second one so I can leave one in the truck. Not sure if this is as many lumens as you want, but as far as bang for buck, it’s a lot of flashlight for ~$15.

If anyone is ever in the area, the cave was pretty cool. There are some rocks and stuff you need to climb over to get through. I’m a little out of shape so I just moved at my own pace. Also, from the occasional smell of things even Willie Nelson was able to make it through the cave...

For headlamps, I’ve been pretty happy with these:

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/cyclops-ranger-xp-quad-mode-led-headlamp#repChildCatid=615523

i buy the led lights off ebay like these linked below, i have these in single battery and the bigger ones in dual batteries and theres no difference in brightness and they are super bright, i have a stream light that can compare to these plus the stream light uses some stupid cr battery thats like 8 bucks, these are rechargable.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-Tactical-600...353.m2749.l2649

This is my "goto" light.

https://www.baycoproducts.com/product/intrinsically-safe-dual-lights/item/xpp-5422gmx

Been running them for about 6 years. I have 6 total and my Dad about the same. Only had to send back one and it was a fault of my own and they fixed it no problem. Next time just take a look and see what you think. Good deals can be had on amazon.

I have not seen this light, and i am a streamlight fan. Carry a microstream everyday, but mine runs on 1 AAA battery and is 45 lumens. I may need that! Thanks for posting.

I am always on the search for the perfect hunting light as well gotten close but not there. This is for walking to the stand in the dark and then walking back to the truck in the dark. For blood I have another light.

I don't want the STROBE function.

I want two modes low beam and bright with low first! Not bright then have to go to low beam.
Silent no clicking.

I ended up with the Streamlight Stylus pro for my pocket and the Streamlight HLX. And I am here to tell you the HLX is BRIGHT. You can program the HLX for your preference

$20 duracell flashlight at Sam's. 1300 lumins $35.... thing is awesome and cheap.

x2 duracell got mine at tsc

The handiest one I have is a MAG-LITE Model XL-50 LED using 3 AAA's. About 1 inch in diameter end to end and less than 40 bucks. My big light is a Coast HP-550 also an LED using 9 AA's, less than 150 bucks. I've hunted with spot lights that were not this bright.

A lumen from a $20 flashlight is just as bright as a lumen being produced from a $200 flashlight.

For cost and availability reasons, I won't buy any flashlight that doesn't run on standard A-type batteries.

I hve gone with Nightcore and am VERY happy with the value versus brightness

streamlight, good product.

If you are paying $8 for each battery, its not the battery that’s stupid. Shop around

Streamlight fit me, but that’s msinly because I rely on them working night shift. I carry the ProTac HL, it’s rechargeable via usb cable right into the side of the light, or I can switch to conventional CR batteries. Stupid bright with a good long beam and plenty of peripheral light