Seriously, folks, if you don't own an LED flashlight, you should get one

[derby378]

Here's the model I keep on hand for emergencies:



It's a Streamlight TL-2. Made in the USA, easy to use even with small hands, and throws out a more powerful beam of light than our trusty four-D-cell Mag-Lite. This little flashlight has been a lifesaver. And the LED bulb will last practically forever - all you have to change is the batteries.

The only thing is the TL-2 doesn't have a conventional on/off switch, but it does feature a "hold-on" button in the tailcap, and you can also tighten the cap to keep the light on continuously if you need to.

I chose a Streamlight partially because our local police use them and think they're terrific. A lot of military/LE types also use Surefire LED lights, which are also great. And I've also seen a bunch of low-price Chinese-made LED flashlights for sale. My US-made TL-2 cost about $45 on eBay, and I consider it money well spent.

Okay, Streamlight, where's my check?? :silly:

[BarbaRosa]

1. I received one of these for Christmas

I love it. One minute crank and twenty minutes of light, although I have found that it lasts longer than that.

[derby378]

4. That's a really cool idea!

Thanks for sharing. :hi:

[davsand]

6. I love those. They make them with a radio as well--did you know that?

We live in a town where the electricity can go out fairly often plus we live in tornado country. After ONE episode of the storm sirens going off and then the power going out I invested in some emergency supplies. Anything with batteries can go out of date after a time, but the stuff you wind up is good for a LONG time if you don't abuse it.

I have a LED camping lantern that is not wind up, and if I EVER find one locally that does wind up I will buy it. The kids had the LED lantern out in a tent last summer for an overnight and I was amazed that it stayed lighted ALL night even IF it is a battery powered one.


Laura

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. There are some that also have cell phone chargers, which I think is brilliant.

[TZ]

12. I have one with a cell phone charger

I got it a a holiday present from my company..oh yeah and it has an alarm AND a small compass on it. Its waaaay cool!

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Sweet!

[jmowreader]

14. The clip is the best part

Crank that flashlight up, turn it on, clip it to the underside of your car's hood and you have light for emergency repairs.

I've only had to do it once (had a ground cable break on me) but it was very handy to be able to.

[Capn Sunshine]

2. even the cheap ones rock

I get them for a dollar at the 99cent store, and they are really cool, you can have small flashlights in every location. One for everyone.

In the last big earthquake we were woefully under equipped with flashlights and I buy one now every time the mood strikes me.

You can never have too many flashlights IMO

[Paladin]

3. Where's The Bayonet Lug? (n/t)

[derby378]

5. HA!

:evilgrin:

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. I now have solar and hand clicked LED flashlights. I enjoy not scrambling for

batteries in the dark.

[Zornhau]

9. I got one of the Mag Light LED bulbs

it's really bright and is still a Mag-Light

[flvegan]

10. I swear by my Energizer LED head lamp

This one:

http://www.karstsports.com/enlhe.html

hands free operation, night vision bulb. So many...uh, situations in which this comes in handy.

[hobbit709]

11. I got several different ones

One's a little keychain light, one looks like an old Star Treck phaser in size and feel-it's got a crank on it. One looks like and old Coleman lantern-uses 4 D cells and has a crank, got an AM/FM radio, siren and flasher, and emergency cell phone charger-cost me $14.

[LeftyMom]

13. I have a plug-in rechargable emergency light.

It comes on automatically when the power goes out, and gives off a lot of light. They're great for power-outages and emergencies and run maybe $10.

The LED light sounds cool though, I'll keep my eye out the next time I'm at the hardware store.

[qnr]

16. Interesting how many people I've come across that can't use LED flashlights.

Not sure if it's frequency or what - but apparently, they get ill when they use them. I don't know if it's significant or not, but of the 8 people that have told me they can't use them, I know for a fact that 3 are type 1 diabetics.