These Aren’t Your Father’s Flashlights
Flashlights have always been an important part of my outdoor life. Seriously. If I was to count the number of flashlights I’ve owned over the years I bet it would number 50 or more. Of course, most were the cheap, disposable numbers that took very little abuse from a hearty outdoor life. If you lost the flashlight or even damaged it in some way…no problem! It likely just cost some pocket change anyway.
Not so with today’s fancy flashlights. Finding the ideal light to shine your way in the 21st Century darkness is not such a simple task anymore. Today the options are many…and perhaps best of all, the quality has never been better. But more on that just a bit later.
Thinking back to my first light stick…it has to be a little number that was sold by the Radio Shack Stores. Each fall I would watch closely for their ads and low and behold…in one of their sales flyers would be a coupon for a FREE 5–D Cell flashlight that would light a sign up 3/4 of a mile away. Of course, it was nothing more than a marketing ploy as the unit did not contain batteries. Go to the store and get the free light…and of course, you would get the heavy sales pitch to purchase their premium alkaline batteries.
Be that as it may…the point I want to make is many a FREE Radio Shack flashlight accompanied me on the trap-line those early mornings before school when the light hadn’t quite peeked over the horizon quite yet. The flashlight often got dunked in the river…still, it would always find a spot in my pack-basket.
As I matured and got interested in a public service career (worked professionally as an EMT for nearly 18 years) the light to have was a Mag-Lite. Whether it was the small mini-mag or the much heftier multi-cell unit, this was the light one needed to carry. Dependable, hard-working and virtually indestructible. Just guessing, but I can probably find 8 to 10 Mag-Lites in my home or vehicles today. They last forever and the only maintenance is keeping the batteries fresh.
Just a small aside when it comes to carrying a multi-cell mag in the outdoors. I used to teach survival for Advanced Hunter Education and one of the little tricks I would always do with my D-Cell Mag-Lite is start fires. I once had an adult student tell me that showing him this little trick was alone worth showing up to class. It’s quite simple. Go to the hardware store and get some 0000 steel wool. Carefully tear off enough of the steel wool to make a length of wool about 10 inches long. Now roll the steel wool up and place it inside the but cap of the big Mag cell inside where the spring makes contact with the – polarity with the battery (if you didn’t notice…this is the same general location where an extra bulb is often located for Mag-Lite flashlights).
Anyhow, when you need to start a fire…simple remove the steel wool and hold two of the batteries together in your hands making contact as they would do inside the flashlight. Hold one end of the steel wool on the +(positive) side of the batteries and then carefully make contact with the opposite strand of the steel wool with the -(negative) polarity. If the batteries are fairly fresh AND if the steel wool you have is very fine (0000 works best)…you will have a very hot burning fire quickly. Just have your tinder ready.
Okay, I digress just a bit. Indeed, the Mag-Lite has long been a staple flashlight when it comes to rugged dependability. Certainly several steps up from the old Radio Shack model I used to use as a kid. But have you looked at the units available on the store shelves lately? A person almost has to be an engineer to know what style flashlight works best and should be carried on your next outdoors adventure. It doesn’t hurt to have some extra bills in your pockets, either. Some of the better Surefire models cost $300 to $400 or more. I even heard a rumor that this fine flashlight company has one model that is so powerful it will cost you over a grand for a flashlight. Could this be possible? I’m guessing so.
But I want to end today talking about the latest flashlight to join my vast collection. A dealer friend picked it up for me and it’s the Pelican M6 #3290…and boy is this a sweet light. I never thought the day would come where I would say a flashlight is worth nearly a hundred bucks…but this one just about has me sold on making that statement. It’s a 3–watt LED but man is it powerful. A nice, bright white light…that is easy on the eyes unlike the light produced by some older LED’s. And talk about a great tactical light…when you shine this little unit at somebody in pitch darkness they can’t help but look away. Perfect for law enforcement…but just as perfect for the sportsman who wants a quality light that performs and is built to last.
From what I can tell the bottom line is if you want the Cadillac of lights there’s probably no getting around purchasing a Surefire. Still, not everyone is willing to spend nor can some afford that kind of luxury when it comes to light technology. My recommendation is, before sinking your hard-earned money into a flashlight of any quality, first check out this web site called Flashlight Reviews. The site seems pretty up-to-date (although I could not find the new Gerber Carnivore light reviewed on there yet which is a disappointment).
Got a favorite flashlight…if so, let me know. I’m also anxious to hear your stories on how a flashlight may have “saved the day” (or should I say, night) in the out-of-doors.
2006 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.