Dorcy 41-4750 – Best LED Flashlight

by Jim on September 2, 2011

Power out in a storm? Your power grid decided to fail? Well obviously you would need a light source, something that would be easy to find and not break from regular and irregular usage. The Dorcy 41-4750 is just the answer to these problems, so let’s take a look and see how this little yellow light can provide you with the light you need.

Dorcy 41-4750

Dorcy 41-4750

When I bought this light it came in a package which lets you feel the weight and the shape of the light, which would be very nice if you were to buy it in stores. The Dorcy is not heavy at all; it only weighs at about 6.8 ounces.

It isn’t Just Looks

The first most noticeable thing about this is definitely the color; the vivid yellow is really striking and makes the unit stand out, even in dim light, so no more walking around with your hands swinging away trying to find it. The entire body is made of plastic, and the black grips are made of a plastic type rubber which I find doesn’t usually slip, unless you want it to slip of course, and even if it does, it has a lanyard which you can hang around your wrist. Body and all it seems quite durable and solid, and the bottom part is square and flat, I guess I won’t mind using this to bang on a door or hammer a peg into the ground.

Four double ”A” batteries is all you need to power up this flash light, just unscrew the bottom and place them in the holes while minding the positive and negative terminals and you are ready to go. The light on this is amazing; at 180 lumens it can cover well over 500 feet with its beam, this is due to the led being situated way back in the reflector which gives it a more focused beam rather than a flood one, but it does have some spill light which is great so you don’t have to point it directly at something which is close.

The light lasts for about 3 hours before it starts to dim and I guess you should have some fresh batteries on hand if you are planning to have bright light for longer, but it does last for a rough 5 hours before giving in to lack of power.

Hard-wearing and Water Proof

The best thing about this is not only that it is light weight, but the plastic does not heat up from the light due to a heat dispersion type cap, so no worries about it melting on you when you need it. And another thing is that even if you manage to drop the flash light, or bash it on something you don’t have to worry about the light dying, or the parts breaking, they say it’s good for about 8 feet of vertical free fall, and yes I have tried it out, the light still stays on and I even knocked it on the ground. The entire unit is water proof only to the extent of heavy rain, but when faced with pressure like underwater conditions this flashlight will not last, so harsh outdoor environment is a yes, but underwater is a definite no.

This Dorcy 41-4750 flashlight is by far the most regular but reliable flashlight I have ever had, at about $20 I think every household should have this, especially those who live in a forested area or areas which experience frequent blackouts due to storms.

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A flashlight that can be brought around wherever you are, something you can always keep on you and never forget every time you go out, what better flashlight than one that can be attached onto your keys or even your mobile phone. The Streamlight 73001 is probably just the thing you need, at around $6 a piece this is considerably affordable.

Streamlight 73001

Streamlight 73001

Small and Lightweight

I ordered a few of these online, the main reason being that these lights are small and I can always have them with me, especially in emergencies. A good example of these emergencies is when I dropped my wallet under my car, it was pitch black and I had to use my cell phone’s screen as a light.

The lights arrived in their small packaging (it’s like one of those mini thumb drives). The Streamlight 73001 is very light, the only thing that actually gives it weight are the batteries. This midget of a light is made with the same material as its bigger cousins are, anodized aircraft aluminum. As this aluminum is very light, and in its weight class is the most withstanding to pressure, so no worries about bumping this little guy.

Enough Light for Small Uses

A single LED bulb emerges from the front end of the light, the ad says it is capable of producing 10 lumens, well that would be enough for a small light like this. Rotating it to turn on the LED lighted up instantly, and the light is nothing spectacular but it does work, so for small areas or when only little light is needed this will suffice.

Batteries go in from the removable top which has to be rotated, note that rotating it tighter to clockwise is also the way to turn the flashlight on, and counter clockwise is to turn off and remove the cap to access the batteries. This flashlight uses 4 coin cells LR41 which are 7.9mm in diameter. These little guys generally have about 8 hours of service.

The clip is an easy clip on instead of that circular key ring which you have to rotate around another ring to get it in, which is great for removal and using the flashlight with another set of keys. On the other hand though, with this easy clip kids can maybe too easily remove the light and it would probably get lost.

Loose Head but Repairable

Now for the one thing which I do not like, the light does not have any form of mechanism to stop the light from coming apart when you have it partially unscrewed. Though this has never happened yet, I am afraid that the light will come undone and the batteries will fall out. Apparently the head is very loose but a reviewer tipped us all off that a bit of teflon tape around the flashlight threads will make it tighter.

So the verdict for this little light that could be that it’s so cheap and small you wouldn’t even think twice about getting it, so just buy it for your car keys, or to clip on your bag, so instead of having numerous decorative key chains why not put something useful like this Streamlight 73001 flashlight.

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Rayovac SE3DLN – Best Camping Lantern

by Jim on July 27, 2011

Looking for a bright energy efficient light for all your camping and outdoor needs? An outdoor lantern sounds like something that could just be what you are looking for. Unlike regular flash lights, lanterns are built to cover a large area with its laminating capabilities. So here I’m about to tell you about one of the most suitable and entirely reliable camping lanterns that I have ever had: the Rayovac SE3DLN.

Rayovac SE3DLN

Rayovac SE3DLN

Compact and Bright

This camping lantern looks like any average one that I use to have, and the best thing is that it is smaller and doesn’t take up much room. It doesn’t come with batteries and it uses 3 “D” size batteries which are easy to obtain so no worries there. The entire setup feels quite sturdy and durable except for the hook located at the bottom of the lantern; this little hook is made of plastic. It does fold away for safe storage though. The outer parts are made of rubbery plastic, but I’m glad these don’t feel like they are going to break anytime soon.

The Rayovac SE3DLN comes with two settings; bright and low (even low is still bright). There is also a strobe function for this lantern that may come in handy during emergency. The single large LED bulb is a real strong man in its class, at 300 lumens this lamp is really something, the unit was extremely bright and that was before I took off the cap to reveal an even brighter bare bulb, the 3 D sized cells sure are putting out a lot.

I noticed a blinking green light at the front part of the lamp, apparently this is for you to find the lantern in the dark even when it is off. This might be a good intention on the designer’s part, but people who don’t need the use for it are worried that it drains the battery.

Slight Trouble with Battery Installation

Some users have complained that inserting the batteries is a real pain as the cap underneath the lamp has problems aligning itself properly with the base, which will then cause the connectors to not touch the battery terminals and not complete the circuit. I have found this to be quite true as the unit did not come with a manual explaining how the cap should be closed, apparently there are two notches which are highlighted on Amazon which have to be aligned before closing the cap. But that’s not the only problem, I found out that if the metal connector at the bottom can come free from its place which makes the process of replacing batteries even harder, but so far I have never experienced this.

So the Rayovac SE3DLN is super bright and entirely capable of handling your camping needs, with a few downsides however, so just remember to bring some extra batteries and an extra flashlight, but for the price and the amount of light it puts out it’s a great buy. I would recommend fishermen and camping enthusiasts to buy this.

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Thinking of a headlamp to bring with you into tight spaces? Maybe during your outdoor and dark indoor usage, well the Energizer Trail Finder seems like a promising and very affordable head mounted lamp. I got mine on Amazon for a good $18, and it even came with the necessary batteries too.

Energizer Trail Finder

Energizer Trail Finder

Adjustable Angle and Brightness

I like it that the main unit can be tipped down by two levels from the original setting, I always use the second level when I am walking or treading through the dark where the light is slightly lower and I can see what’s in front and what is on the ground as well. The thirds level is for reading maps and when I am not moving. It’s very easy to switch between the angles, so I can be walking and using the second angle and when I spot something or reached my position I just flip it back up to the initial position.

The output can also be selected, its either 3 bulbs, 2 bulbs or 5 bulbs, depending on how bright or how far you want it to be, usually I use the 5 bulb outdoor and the 2 bulb indoor. So with both the tilting and the low light selection I can use it to read at night without bugging the person next to me.

Batteries Included

The package is a regular Energizer package, with the unit on one side and the batteries on the other. The headlamp uses 3 readily provided triple A batteries from Energizer.

The installation part for the battery was not at all difficult, all you have to do is remove the two orange clips from their position and pull open the back part, the first time I had to do this with a little screw driver to wedge it open, but you only have to do this once, it’s kind of like a security measure to ensure that your device has not been tampered with.

At the front you can see 5 large white LEDs behind the secure plastic visor, the light produced by these 3 are well at 45 lumens each, put them together and you get a good wide light. There are also 2 red LEDs which they claim to be for night vision mode, well I am not sure about red light being night vision or not, but it does help you see things and not give away your location, ideal for when you are getting in and out of your hunting blinds.

The unit fits very snugly on my head, and the foam on the back of the main unit is surprisingly very comfortable, it doesn’t really absorb sweat but it certainly gets it away from the eyes, another feature that I like is that I can wear this under my hat.

One Design Flaw

The thing I really despise about this headlamp is that there is no button for the red light; you have to keep pushing the button to get the desired level and light, I wished they had made two buttons instead, because sometime when I want to use the white light the red light comes on, and when I forget to put it to the reset position and press the button the white light comes on and gives away my position.

So the verdict for this Energizer Trail Finder would be it’s a good thing to have while you are working with your car in the dark, or anything which involves using both hands and sufficient light, for hunting you may have to get used with the lack of red light button.

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Ever wanted one of those flashlights you see the boys in blue have? The ones made of metal and can take out a man with just a simple thump on the head. Then what you need is a law enforcement or police flashlight, and MAGLITE has had something since the 80’s that is as iconic as it is a classic not to mention that it is currently very affordable. The MAGLITE S4D016 is exactly the type of flashlight that is being carried around by officers during its time, and MAGLITE also happens to be a very reputable company, but with new technology now let’s see how this filament bulb stick hold its own in the market.

MAGLITE S4D016

MAGLITE S4D016

Big and Heavy Duty

First I would like to say that this flashlight is long, I mean like seriously long at 16 inches, the S4D016 has the same feel as a regular MAGLITE, the heavy duty aluminum alloy case feels like it could knock the living daylights out of the poor individual who is unlucky enough to be at the receiving end of this “Law enforcing” flashlight. Not only is the body capable of withstanding tremendous force without having the insides damage, it also is capable of protecting itself from the weather the anodized aluminum body is also rust proof, I really like that part and I can imagine using it for years to come without it losing any of its durability and that incredible black finish.

The on and off switch is also carefully made to be durable even through the harshest of conditions, the rubber outer layer protects the switch from rain and greasy fingers, exactly what every flashlight needs.

Incredible Light

This monster of a flashlight demands 4 “D” cells and rewards you with an amazingly bright light thanks to its Krypton Gas Filament bulb, and another bonus about this thing is that it has a spare bulb located in the bottom cap. The reflectors used in all of MAGLITE’s lamps are top quality; you can expect it to reflect 100% of what’s being produced by that bulb. The Bezel can be twisted like any other flashlight to change the focus; you can go for a flood light or a focused beam which can give you up to 700 lumens.

Runs Out Faster than LEDs

Now the only problems that would ever arise with this flashlight is clearly that it lacks technology, its filament bulb although brighter that the LEDs we have nowadays consume more and do not last as long. And plus, 4 D size cells are capable of making an LED shine for about twice as long or even more compared to this, also LEDs produce white light which is more easier to be picked up by the eyes.

Even if its weight and size is what drove some people to buy it, it is also capable of making some people shy away from it, especially women who do not see the need of a flashlight which weighs like a hammer. Another thing is that MAGLITE being entirely reputable at producing durable light sources sure messed up big time with the plastic lens, after a run around in the woods I noticed that my lens is now scratched up, although it doesn’t affect the light at much but its kind of disappointing to have a scratched up lens.

The Verdict

Although this MAGLITE S4D016 suffers from the lack in technological improvements, it is very reliable in terms of brightness and security. Overall, this is something I would recommend to those who want a sense of security in their flash lights and for collectors of really bad ass things.

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A rechargeable flashlight that is so said to be able to last hours on a single full charge, the Streamlight 78014 is durable, well made and light. This is the flashlight to buy if you despise batteries and the hassle they bring.

Streamlight 78014

Streamlight 78014

Looks and Feels Light, but Sturdy

This is indeed a lightweight flashlight; it weighs significantly less than a metal flashlight of the same length and size, the body is a quite slim. The contrast between the bezel and the handle is almost out of proportion, but that’s not a problem, it just makes it looks a lot more fragile.

Despite its looks, is very sturdy, it’s made entirely of aircraft grade aluminum, which all of us know is light and built to withstand extreme pressure, so the big head on a small body is not a problem in a technical perspective.

No Batteries Needed

The next most logical thing I did after taking a careful look around it, was to reach for the back end and unscrew the cap, to insert the batteries of course, well wrong, I was wrong since this flashlight has its own built in rechargeable batteries. It came with two chargers which look like a fancy table rests that could also be belt clip on, like tactical lights have. One charger has a regular adapter plug while the other has a plug that would fit into the cigarette lighter of a car. I used the regular charger and left it for about 8 hours, since that’s what you should do with every type of rechargeable battery before putting it to use.

A few hour before dawn the Streamlight 78014 was ready to be tested, so I brought it out to see how bright the light can be, with a single push of the button it was all lighted up, and I was quite happy with it. It has 295 lumens, and that’s amazingly bright. The light reaches quite a distance, and the beam is adjustable just like a regular bezel rotating flash light, between flood and focused. Now about the hours this thing can put out, by the looks of it I think 10 hours would be stretching the truth a little bit, I would give it probably 2 hours of truly bright light, and the rest is deteriorating light.

No Spare Bulb

Now let’s see the downside about this flashlight, the bulb gets super hot when you use it for a long time and they do not provide you with a replacement bulb, imagine using this during a really important situation and the bulb decides to quit, you can send it back for a replacement, but that won’t really help in an emergency now would it?

So overall this is a very good flashlight, the only thing I have with it is the fact that it does not provide a replacement bulb. If that doesn’t bother you at all then this is a very good versatile and durable flashlight. As for the price, I’d say Streamlight 78014 pays for itself in batteries.

I have been looking for a small durable light which I can mount on my guns and use it as it is. The Nebo Redline is a promising light. most of my hunting buddies and even random guys at the store are talking about it a lot, so I decided to try it out.

Nebo Redline Tactical Flashlight

Nebo Redline Tactical Flashlight

First impression

Enough with the small talk, it’s time for me to give you a breakdown of this aggressive looking light. For $30 I did not expect much from it, but the minute I took it out of its casing it was looking good, all metal body, the weight was something that really made my day.

Bad to the bone

The small and compact size is something that makes this a great tactical flash light, it fits well at the bottom of most handguns, but not revolvers. I have a 92 SB (barreta) and the flashlight fits so well without any type of mount. Best part is, I can cock and ready my pistol without having to let go of the flash light, same thing for pump action rifles, although for rifles, I would recommend a Protech or any other attachment. And do not worry about it slipping, it has deep grooves to aid in grip.

But if guns are not your thing, then the crown at the top works like a really intimidating blunt weapon. it actually hurts when you consider that the Nebo Redline is all metal and weighs a lot for its size.

The glow in the dark button is a single click operation, so you do not have to hold on to the button to to keep the light on, So you can have both your thumbs to flip safety or ready your hammer. The magnetic ring on the back adds to the usability, you can place it on any metal surface and not worry about it falling off, but don’t be too clever to try to mount it on your gun this way as the recoil will knock it right off.

The Nebo has single large LED which is a real monster; at 220 lumens you can get a range of 150 yards, that’s quite a distance for something this small. The bulb itself was not meant to be bright, as its more suited to light up a little of the surrounding area. The Nebo is powered by 3 triple A batteries, which are entirely easy to replace.

Great Power and Variable Settings

The flashlight comes with 4 settings, all at a push of the button, the first setting would be the 100% output which will last you for about 4 hours and produces 220 lumens, the second is 50% and the third is 10%, next would be the SOS, and strobe, with strobe being my personal favorite for causing even more of a disorientation than the regular direct light, and don’t worry about memorizing the settings, they have it all on print on the side of the flashlight.

I put it in my hunting pouch, where I have my extra shells, and if not I just keep it in my hand, or mounted on my rifle, you never know when something might jump out at you.

Marksmen, This is For You

At the end of the day this is a really good light to have with you, regardless if you are a hunter or a law enforcement officer, the versatility in this tactical light ensures you do not sacrifice your accuracy or mobility just light up an area. The Nebo Redline is a definite buy for marksmen.

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A small flashlight but not the type that compromises its brightness due to its size, this is the Super Bright 9 LED flashlight which is very very cheap and portable. On Amazon you can get this flashlight for about $4 and its quite a deal considering you get 9 LEDs, and for you who don’t know the benefits of LED’s over regular filament bulbs then let me give a little lecture on the matter. First of all LEDs do not emit heat like tungsten filament bulbs do, so the energy which is produce is 100% light, and LED’s operate at a fraction of the energy required to power regular bulbs.

Super-Bright 9 LED

Super-Bright 9 LED

Easy grip easy battery replacement

Indents mark the bottom and top of the body, making this flashlight easy to grip, also come with a strap that you can use to tie on your belt and let it hang there. The unit requires 3 triple “A” batteries and is said to be able to last for about 20 hours on these, this is not surprising at all, and in fact this is how long I expected it to last.

After opening the simple plastic sandwich package I threw away the free complementary batteries that came with it because I don’t even know what brand of batteries those were, or where they were made in. After replacing the batteries I just fitted them into a little magazine like tube that goes into the body, like a battery clip. I wished they gave me another one of these batteries housing just for the fun of it.

“Light” wise, this little guy can sure put out enough light for you not to go bump in the dark, but it did have some design flaws. The users on Amazon were right about the flickering and the sudden cut off of the light. Taking a closer look at the connections in the back and around the insides of the body I notice the back panel to be not so good a contact, well for $4 what would you expect? So I just folded some copper and welded it to the contacts, and the problem is gone.

“LEAD” flashlight

So this little tube of a light has the good stuff at the front end, but can it deliver on all the its other features? Apparently this flashlight was made in China and there has been concern about the paint used to paint this flashlight (China = lead paint), well I would suggest getting the plain metal colored one or not to scratch of any bits of paint from it.

The flashlight is about 6.7 inches in length, which is n ideal size for a personal flashlight; it’s just the right size for me to put it in one of the numerous pockets on my hunting Jacket. The body is made of anodized aluminum but I wouldn’t really hold it to that, because it does feel kind of thin and not that sturdy, anodized aluminum which is known to withstand significant amounts of pressure.

Best Compact Flashlight for the Price

So overall I think this is one of those flashlights which you buy just for the fun of it, they are cheap and they can light up most of the time, but if you are worried about the lead paint you can just top coat it with industrial scratch proof clear coat. So I would say for the compact size and price it’s a good buy as a spare light in the glove compartment, or as a travel flashlight, but don’t expect it to be a hundred percent reliable.

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Judged as the best travel flashlight, Fenix P2D fits into just about anything, a purse, your glove compartment or even backpack. It’s a high-tech and rugged tool in one!

Fenix P2D Flashlight Review

Fenix P2D - Best Travel Flashlight

Fenix P2D Travel Flashlight Review

Fenix P2D Flashlight Review


Whether you’re trying to be located in a crowded place, camping in the wilderness or needing it for emergencies, Fenix P2D will be there for you. With a waterproof and shock-resistant flashlight like Fenix P2D, you’ll get consistent and very bright light, 6 different levels of brightness, a lifetime warranty and an alternative to a candle which generates less heat!

Benefits
• Consistent Light
- Consistent even when the batteries fade.

• Waterproof & Shock-Resistant
- Great for rougher places.

• Very Bright
- See farer and clearer!

• 6 Different Output Levels
- Allows flexibility for different environments.

• Lifetime Warranty
- Fantastic value

• Serves as A Candle
- Can stand securely on a flat surface.

• Generates Less Heat
- Power efficient and save battery.

Downside
• Slower Strobe Function
- Sure, it isn’t as fast as the Blackhawk Gladius but it definitely performs as far as signaling goes.

• Price
- A bit pricey due to the blinding light quality.

User Feedback:
Here are some of the actual user feedback that I found most useful:

“This is the perfect flashlight… I always feel a sense of amazement with how so much light can be produced from a tiny keyring sized flashlight”
- Scott Broadbent at Amazon –

“This tiny little light… I got a couple of years ago, is at least twice as bright and has a narrow focus beam… GREAT light. I won’t leave home without it.”
- Joe Denison at Amazon –

Fenix P2D Flashlight Summary:

Designed especially for all in mind, you don’t need to be an outdoor adventurer or a policeman to buy this. We all encounter emergencies one way or another, don’t we? So, to be prepared, we need a tool that has solid reliability, digitally regulated brightness and is compact enough for us to bring along wherever we go without being a bother. Fenix P2D is exactly that!

Voted as the best travel flashlight, it is waterproof and shock-resistant, generates less heat, gives consistent and very bright light, has 6 different level of brightness, a lifetime warranty and is a safer alternative to a candle. What are you waiting for?

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Still searching for the best household LED flashlight? Search no more! Streamlight ProPolymer 3C 33244 Flashlight has been given that award. The best part is that it is affordable which suits household needs perfectly. It helps you in so many ways around the house, the garage, the garden, the kitchen, or even when you’re fixing wiring or finding small little things in dark, creaks of the house.

Streamlight ProPolymer 3C 33244 Flashlight

What can I say? Streamlight ProPolymer 3C 33244 Flashlight is durable, impact resistant, bright, handy, non-conductive, has a long battery life and uses old battery size C. An ideal match for a household flashlight!

Benefits
• Durable
- Every part of it last long.

• Impact Resistant
- It’s one tough cookie.

• Long Battery Life
- Runs 5.5 hours at full capacity with 2 additional hours of declining usable light.

• Bright
- 10 times brighter than high intensity LEDs.

• Uses Old Battery Size C
- Easy to find 3C batteries.

• Handy
- Easy use around your house, garage, or dark areas of electrical wiring.

• Non-Conductive
- It’s waterproof, rubber booted and has a tail-end push button switch.

User Feedback:
Here are some of the actual user feedback that I found most useful:

“the top pick among household flashlights …based on extensive tests…no drawbacks and praises the build quality, ergonomics and “solid, true regulation” for six hours of consistent brightness.”
- Doug Pribis from FlashlightReviews.com –

“…praising the brightness, beam quality and durability. One says it survived a drop onto concrete”
- Contributers to Amazon.com -

Streamlight ProPolymer 3C 33244 Flashlight Summary:

No downsides to it? That’s right. As of yet, there are no complaints from the reviewers. Ergonomically shaped for your hand, this flashlight offers a comfortable one handed operation. It would be a breeze for either you or your kids to use.

Since a flashlight is a must for a house, why not check out Streamlight ProPolymer 3C 33244 Flashlight? It is durable, impact resistant, bright, handy, non-conductive, has a long battery life and uses old battery size C. It is pretty affordable too and the cheapest that I found was from www.amazon.com at $30.02!

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