I always thought my old flashlight was pretty hard wearing – but after I dropped it when hiking up a rocky ravine the lens shattered and I was stuck trying to put up my tent by ‘touch’ in pitch darkness. This is not something I would recommend.
So with my old flashlight in pieces I decided to do some research and find a good replacement. It wasn’t until I started looking that I realised that my old flashlight had me living in the Stone Age.
Now, I’m the sort of guy who likes to do a lot of research before making a purchase – I figure that I work too hard for my money to just waste it on something with slick marketing but shoddy construction.
So, in between nodding off to sleep at work and wishing I was out adventuring, I spent a lot of time reading online flashlight reviews and testimonials from users to pinpoint the best flashlight for me. Having now done the hard work to find the right flashlight, and because it is seriously one of the best things I’ve ever bought, I feel I have a duty to pass on what I learnt. There are heaps of supposedly ‘high performance’ flashlights on the market and buying the first one that sparks your eye will probably mean you miss out on some important features.
So how to decide what makes the best flashlight the best? Well, when I started looking at all the various high performance LED flashlights for sale online I decided that for me, the most important things were:
- Brightness
- Usability
- Battery life
- Durability
- Reliability
All of my research eventually led me here - the Surefire E2D LED Flashlight and these are the reasons I came to this conclusion:
Surefire E2D Brightness
The key to choosing the best flashlight is to think about what you will be using it for. If you’re like me you’ll be looking for a versatile flashlight that can deliver a super-powerful beam when outdoors or in self defence (seriously, these flashlights are that powerful!) but which can also be used for more everyday tasks and indoors. The Surefire E2D LED was an obvious choice here as it uses a TIR (Total Internal Reflection) lens that produces tight beam with enough light for peripheral vision and has two brightness settings – a very powerful 200 lumens output (10 x more powerful than a 2 x D-cell flashlight), and a low output 5 lumens setting that is perfect for prolonged period of use or everyday tasks. I also looked at other flashlights on the market that had as many as 6 power setting but found that these other output settings were simply not needed. The vast majority of people simply want a power output that is either very bright or low power, and it was annoying having to cycle through the multiple power setting on other flashlights to switch between these two modes. With the E2D you can switch from one output level to the other with one push. What amazed me with the E2D LED is that it packs so much power into such a compact flashlight, which brings me to my next point…
Surefire E2D Usability
Again the key here is to think about what you will be using your flashlight for. A flashlight is the ultimate ‘handy’ item that can be life saver in the right situation. That’s why, for me a flashlight needs to be easily portable. I want a flashlight that I can fit into my pocket without it being uncomfortable, and one I can hold with a couple of fingers if need be. I also want a flashlight that is easy to turn on and switch between power settings.
The Surefire E2D LED is extremely compact at 5.4 inches long and 3.7 ounces, which means you can slip it into your pocket or bag with ease. Judging by the reviews on Amazon there are many users who find they can carry their E2D with them every day without it getting in the way.
What I also like about the E2D is that it is ridiculously simple to use – turning it on and off or switching between the high and low output modes is done via a push button on the end of the flashlight. Because it’s so compact, the button on the E2D is ideally placed so that it can be easily pushed with your thumb when holding the flashlight.
Surefire E2D Battery life
There’s no point having the most powerful flashlight in the world if your battery life is just a few minutes. What’s more, some high performance flashlights use specialised batteries that can be hard to find and expensive to buy.
The Surefire E2D overcomes both of these issues. Because the E2D has power regulated LEDs you can run the flashlight on either a high output tactical setting of 200 lumens, or a lower power setting of 5 Lumens for indoor use. In the low power setting the battery life of the E2D is a whopping 72 hours. This means you have the benefits of a flashlight that has excellent battery life for everyday use, but with a high power when you really need it.
The E2D runs on 2 x 123A lithium batteries that pack a huge amount of power into a small package. These batteries are available on Amazon for as little as $1.00 each
Surefire E2D Durability
When looking for a new flashlight I soon realised that my old flashlight, that I thought o be pretty sturdy, was pathetic compared to the toughness of the E2D. Surefire describes the E2D as virtually indestructible and I can see why. The body of the E2d is made from high strength aero aluminium which has been hard anodised to military specifications. What I found to be more impressive however is the lens. Instead of the fragile glass you see in cheaper flashlights, the Surefire E2D
Surefire E2D Reliability
With a huge number of ‘high performance’ flashlights available today it doesn’t take long to realise that some are definitely better than others, and you generally get what you pay for. A flashlight is something that I use a lot and often in situations when I really count on my flashlight performing. Whether it’s camping, hunting, in an emergency or simply when my wife wakes me up to check what’s making noises outside, I want a flashlight that works, and works well.
The product reviews I read online about Surefire all confirmed that it’s one of the world’s leading flashlight brands, but for me the best endorsement came when I read the reviews posted by people who had actually bought and used the E2D. The best for this sort of impartial feedback is Amazon.com. Not only are there comments posted from everyday folk like you or me, there are guys there who took the Surefire E2D into combat in Iraq! Sure, I’m going to be impressed when someone tells me they dropped their E2D on a concrete without a scratch however when a soldier reports that his E2D survived a fragmentation grenade then I’m pretty much convinced that this flashlight can take a beating and keep on working. (Seriously, a grenade – you can read the review here
How much should you pay for your Surefire E2D?
The Surefire E2D is available at the Surefire website for around $189 with an additional shipping charge of anything from $7 – $25. However, the best deal is to buy one via Amazon.com
Does the Surefire E2D come with a guarantee?
The Surefire E2D comes with Surefire’s Lifetime No-Hassle Guarantee. There is glowing online feedback about how this truly is a No-Hassle guarantee, with no time limit on how long the guarantee is valid. In the case of your E2D flashlight not performing as it should, then the feedback suggests that Surefire sort it out without question.
Any complaints?
The only real complaint I could find about the Surefire E2D was about the price, although those who mention the price also acknowledge that you are buying the very best flashlight and, like most things in life, the best is never the cheapest. There are also comments for those who have had a Surefire flashlight for years and say it was the best investment they ever made.
What others are saying about the Surefire E2D:
Here is a sample of feedback from Surefire E2D owners on Amazon:
- The E2D was the first Surefire I ever owned, and I will never own another flashlight again.
- I don’t know how else to say this. This illumination tool will completely change the way you do business.
- You will NEVER find me without my torch. I could be wearing a 3 piece suit and you can bet money that I’ll have my E2D LED Defender and a pocket knife on my person. It’s become THAT integral in my daily life.
- You will not be disappointed.
- This is one well made, tough flashlight. It’s not cheap but the best never is. If I ever had to depend on a flashlight to save my life, or the lives of my loved ones, this is the one I would grab. Five stars aren’t enough, it deserves more!
You can read more reviews about the Surefire E2D here