I got the shock of my life this afternoon. While dropping into a local Gander Mountain to pick up powder, I noticed a Surefire flashlight in the display counter with a price tag of $392 (Surefire M6). Stupid me, I asked the guy at the counter if someone mislabled the flash light - surely it had to be $39.20? Nope - four hundred bucks for a flashlight. Someone help me out here.

Are you willing to drop $400 for a flashlight?

I've got three Surefires...worth every penny.

MG

I honestly can't see what the fuss is about. Mountain climbers needs lights a lot worse than we hunters; they use high quality headlamps. Once you use one, you won't ever rely on a flashlight as your primary light source again.

I bought an INOVA X5, which has 5 LED's, and uses two number 123 batteries. The batteries are a little expensive, around $10.00 a pair, but only paid $29.00 for the flash light. It's very small, and submersible to at least 30 meters.

This little flashlight is extremely bright in the dark of night, and projects a white-color beam like a spotlight. A set of batteries last quite long time, too.

Take a look at it:
http://www.inovalight.com/site.html?X5-ov

quote:

Originally posted by douglast:
I got the shock of my life this afternoon. While dropping into a local Gander Mountain to pick up powder, I noticed a Surefire flashlight in the display counter with a price tag of $392 (Surefire M6). Stupid me, I asked the guy at the counter if someone mislabled the flash light - surely it had to be $39.20? Nope - four hundred bucks for a flashlight. Someone help me out here.

Are you willing to drop $400 for a flashlight?

Did you think there spokesman represented them because he loved the product? It cost money to get high profile people to shill your product.

I'd rather pay $400 for a hooker, at least I would get kissed after I got fu#%ed

Ouch, I purchased a scorpion flashlight awhile back. I really like it when I need a bunch of light. But the down side is $10 a refill for batteries and they only last three hours.

It's pretty strange, but I have taken a liking to a Rayovac headlamp that I bough at Wal-Mart. Has a rotating switch that doesn't accidently get turned on in the pack. Has three settings, red led, three white led and regular small bulb. The batteries last forever on the led settings and lasted well over 6 hours on the spotlight setting while trailing and elk in the rain last fall. It's been with through a bunch of trips and day excursions and is still working. I think the best testament is to the two I bought for my boys for a present and they have tortured them for a year and half. They are ages 5 & 7. They are still working, even though they look like crap.

I agree with Madgoat <>< I also have 3 Surefire lights and they are worth every bit of what you pay.. Maddog

I can't see paying that much for a flashlight. But surefire also has low end lights that work just as well.

I agree headlamps are more usefull for hunters. Law enforcement and military uses ,are differant and thats what the majority of these 400 dollar lights are designed for.

You don't have to spend $400 on a surefire as the yellow version is about $40 or so. In my backpack is 2 headlamps and 2 surefires.

Nope.
Surefire is living on their reputation, which is good.
Never ever buy a incandescent flashlight in this day and age. Only buy LED lights. The bulbs hardly ever wear out and the batteries last for months.
I'm an Airplane Mech and use a flashlight every day. I had an Innova, the one Ray mentioned, the batteries lasted for months with every day use. I lost it.
I bought an elcheapo 4 bulb LED at the local box store. It works fine.
I'll never own another regular flashlight.

400 dollars why?

quote:

Originally posted by Jarrod:
400 dollars why?

Probably is flat black which makes it "Tactical" and better for fighting crime, terrorism or something.

I've got two Surefires, had a third that I gave my PH. If you buy the batteries thru Surefire they're something like $20.00 / 12, much better than the store price. They don't run long but they do put out a lot of light when you really need it and have a long (ten year) shelf life.

The nylon version is really a pretty good value for the money, IMHO.

Yep, go with the G2 ($36) version, I've got 2. 1 lives in the car, the other in my daypack, along with one of the 'cheapo' Eveready LED red/clear headlamps. The good thing about the Surefires, as has already been noted, is that the batteries have a 10 year shelf life.

The really expensive Surefires are the ones with all the Gucci LEDs and microprocessor controls etc. Get the basic one, just as good and you won't cry if you loose it.

I also have a couple of flashlights from Surfire. I think they are worth the money. I want to get their high end LED flashlight with the red filter. That and a headlamp is all you need.

As far as 400 bucks, that is their Tactical model and not at all necesary for hunting. It is so bright it temporarily blinds if you shine it in someones eyes. I think it has 600 Lumens or something which is BRIGHT when you consider the average flashlight has less then 100 lumens. The batteries run out really fast though.

I use a Streamlight TaskLight 2-L and it is a 2 level light that is really handy and has long battery life. Only about $40 and all I need. Streamlight makes a good line I don't see mentioned much. I also have their TwinTask that has 10 Led's and 1 Incandescent and uses 2 'D' cells. You can have the incandescent,5 led's or 10 leds on using the pushbutton. Found the 2 lights to be all I need combined with a Petzl Tikka Plus headlight. Only drawback is the TwinTask is rather heavy but the batteries have been in it for over 3 years and it's STILL good. Led's are truly remarkable devices.

I bught a two pack of Surefire batteries at Sportsman's warehouse yesterday for $4.50.

465H&H

I was in camp a few years back with a guy who had a M6. That light is the most powerful light I have ever seen. It has a very narrow beam and you can spot animals several hundred yards away. I was ready to buy one until I saw the price. If you do a lot of spot light hunting then maybe it is justified, but for any other practical use the light is too powerful. It used 6 lithium batteries and they last about 20 minutes.

If you need, batteries go to Cabelas camping department and buy them for about $20 per dozen. You can also order direct from Surefire.
I think the $400 flashlight is intended for applications such as police or military where blinding light is needed. I just bought an aviator with LED or bright selection. It is the perfect light for hunting and fishing use. I bought it on ebay for about $140.

I have never owned a Surefire flashlight, but the forend lights are pretty cool. I have one on my Benelli.

Ive got three and plan on geting a few more!!
I LOVE my littel E1L just turn it on and clip to your hat brim for a head lamp!! and it fits in your pocket like a dream.

The G2 is a great bargain and I prefer plastic when working around electricity. But consider your needs carefully. While the G2 will illuminate out to 100 yards !!! the battery life is 1 hour [even though shelf life is 10 years ] so if hiking out of the woods takes you more than 1 hour you better use an LED version .Sometimes makers are less than truthfull about battery life - do the mean all light or to 1/2 of maximum etc.

I don't have a Surefire but I have held them and turned them on in a store. I brought in my $18 light that I got in Wal-Mart and compared them and the Surefire was brighter but not by a lot.

The light I have uses three AAA batteries and they last for months.

It's just a flashlight to me.

The Surefire Nitrolon can be had for about $40.

It's great deal for a very bright little flashlight.

Amen...worth every penny. Make sure you get the digital models - I have the L4 and find it perfect for blood trailing. You won't believe the amount of light it puts out!!! Also, you may not notice it until you compare it to your old flashlight...the digital is a sure 'nuff white light. Shine your old flashlight next to it and you will see the difference...the old flashlight will have a yellow cast to it. The batteries are not all that expensive if you buy the surefires in bulk.

Go ahead and buy one...you won't be happy till you do.

My 2 cents.

Hank

I have one (a present from a friend) and is one of my main itmes when I go hunting.
I am thinking in buying the one you can attach to the rifle scope and use it as a light spotlight for pig hunting.

I really recomend them.

L

don't understand this forum. all the above posts about a surefireflashlight and not one explaining the product and why it is so expensive.

rust proof bodies and internals, waterproof, unbreakable lense, time tested and proven, lite weight and compact, extremely bright, batteries have long storage lifes(10 yrs), great warranties( all though I have never heard of one needing it), they are readily available

Nope, not worth it IMO.

You can get a Streamlight or UK lights and compare them side by side and will not be able to tell any difference. I've used a rechargable Streamlight Scorpion that was very bright and only cost around 70. As far as low priced quality lights I personally don't feel UK can be beat, We get the UK 4AA underwater impact resistant lights for about 13 bucks and they are very bright. The UK 4C lights are very bright as well, a good many of the Oil companies use the UK lights out on the rigs.

Good Luck

Reloader

Mini mag and head band! Cheap, reliable, carries same batteries as my GPS. I have a super sure fire with LED's at work and it is a pain there even to get batteries.

I don't have any experience with the $400 models, but the G2 at 40 bucks is a bargin for blood trailing at night...

I use a LED headlight for everything in the dark while hunting, but I keep a G2 in the fanny pack just for blood trailing. For some reason, I've found the color spectrum of the light emitted to really bring out blood on grass and leaves in the dark. I used to use a Halogen light for trailing, big and bulky, and had to back to the car to get it, not anymore... the G2's tiny, and I carry it with me everytime I hunt in the afternoons.

Hate to sound like a commercial, but it really is that good.

Jon

quote:

Originally posted by megalomaniac:
I don't have any experience with the $400 models, but the G2 at 40 bucks is a bargin for blood trailing at night...

I use a LED headlight for everything in the dark while hunting, but I keep a G2 in the fanny pack just for blood trailing. For some reason, I've found the color spectrum of the light emitted to really bring out blood on grass and leaves in the dark. I used to use a Halogen light for trailing, big and bulky, and had to back to the car to get it, not anymore... the G2's tiny, and I carry it with me everytime I hunt in the afternoons.

Hate to sound like a commercial, but it really is that good.

Jon

I mentioned the "Nitrolon" above. This is the Surefire G2. It absolutely can be had for around $40. My experience with it mirrors Meg's.

It is the absolutely brightest light in the smallest package I have ever used.

Alot of guys really like the add on blue filter for blood trailing but I haven't tried it yet.

I have a Surefire, I don't feel it's worth the price.

I'll stick with the Mag-lites..........

I don't have one...remember when the Tekka flashlights were the best????? Every one got ont for 40 bucks each, that was 20 yrs ago. Then the mag lights came around...everyone had to have one, they were 150 bucks. Then the Pelicans came out for um about 40 bucks. I've got a few of each. I'm done buying new fangled flashlights. I got me a nice led headlamp and a few that will throw a decent beam, what more do I need??

It's all marketing, I'm getting a little tired of always having to have something else....I'm going the other way, I use less.

the chef

I have a couple. Like them and will probably get more. Enough said. JMO

I remember last Fall while on a Elk hunt in Alberta my father was making fun of what I paid for my Surefire. Well to make a long story short we had a little rodeo with the horses & had to walk out of the woods. Not soon after dark I asked him how much he would give me for my flashlight :-) I think he understood. It sure felt good knowing that surefire would burn all night long.

NO!!! If you want a great flashlight buy a pelican. If you want what 999.9% of us use and works great buy a maglight for about 9 bucks!!!

I've looked at the various Surefires and other similar torches. As already mentioned battery life on the standard Surefires is given as about 45minutes..On the more powerful models, its down to around 20 minutes.

As a gunlite mounted on a service weapon that will only be used for brief periods, thats probably fine..for a general purpose flashlite, it sucks!

I use a 1 watt LED Cyberlite which is approaximately the same size as a Surefire and takes the same batteries, but has an 8 hour battery life and cost around $35.

It gives a very even white light and is plenty bright enough to walk off a mountain or look for a deer carcass after dark...Unlike the Surefire, I have no worries about the bulb blowing either.

As for maglites, I'm afriad they are a bit of a dinosaur these days with their patchy uneven yellow tinged beam and bulbs that blow at the wrong time...Unless they bring out LED models, I think they are going to dissappear from the market in a few years...

Regards,

Pete

Click here for Surefire G2

The Surefire G2 Nitrolon (incandescent) model is $36. It will do most of what you need far better than a Mini Maglite and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Power output is 65 lumens or 120 with an optional bulb. A Mini Maglite puts out 15 lumens. On another note Maglite is soon to introduce an LED model line. They know the advanced competition is killing them.

quote:

It sure felt good knowing that surefire would burn all night long.

Surefire does not last all night!!! Good for an hour or so