Best Handheld Spotlights. What do you Recommend?

[endoftheroad]

What are some of the best 12 volt hand held spotlights?
Impact resistant, water resistant/waterproof, candlepower etc.

[skipmac]

Might depend on price. I forget the brand but looked into a line of killer bright LED spotlights, reputed to be almost bulletproof but were hundreds of dollars.

Cheaper and quite bright LEDs are coming out so that will be the way to go but until I find the right deal on one of these I think the most bang for the buck is a Q-Beam. Have a 1 million candle power model at least 12-14 years old that I still use. It will light up a marker over half mile away. I did have to replace the switch after 10 years but the original bulb is still good.

[endoftheroad]

Thats cool, I used to have a Q-beam.

I was thinking more on the lines of common everyday spotlights instead of super high dollar units.

I am currently without a spotlight. I should have another look at the Q-beam units.

Thanks

[skipmac]

Another option. I picked up an LED spotlight at Home Depot for under $30. Not as bright as a Q-Beam but pretty bright and runs on a rechargeable battery. I have been using it intermittently for 5-6 months and haven't had to recharge it yet.

Haven't tested it on the water yet so can't comment on that. It also has that blue LED color and not sure how that will work. I have seen comments that the blue color penetrates fog and mist better than a standard light.

If you want really bright there's a light called the Torch that is so bright and hot that it will literally set fire to stuff. Costs a couple hundred and the battery life is only a few minutes but the light looks amazing.

[endoftheroad]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Another option. I picked up an LED spotlight at Home Depot for under $30. Not as bright as a Q-Beam but pretty bright and runs on a rechargeable battery. I have been using it intermittently for 5-6 months and haven't had to recharge it yet.

Haven't tested it on the water yet so can't comment on that. It also has that blue LED color and not sure how that will work. I have seen comments that the blue color penetrates fog and mist better than a standard light.

If you want really bright there's a light called the Torch that is so bright and hot that it will literally set fire to stuff. Costs a couple hundred and the battery life is only a few minutes but the light looks amazing.

Do you recommend a rechargeable spotlight?

[OnTour]

Walgreens has a cordless 1 million cp spotlight right now for $9.00. I bought one but haven't tried it yet...it probably works like a $9.00 spotlight lol

[deckofficer]

This is my flashlight of choice if I need monster flood at 3000 lumens.
Elektro Lumens Presents "Big Bruiser Flashlight"

This shot is a hallway in my house with normal lighting and a 6 volt lantern style beam flashlight. Notice the beam's spot in the far room?


Same lighting and camera exposure this time the LED flood of the Big Bruiser.

[noelex 77]

The LED torches/flashlights are the way to go these days.

They are lots of good models that are very tough, waterproof with a long battery life.
The are very bright, much brighter than the 12v spotlights and the old magnalight torches.
The brightness can also be adjusted, on the lowest settings the battery life will be several days.

Something like this is a good starting point. There are brighter alternatives if you really want them.
Fenix TK41 LED Torch | Flashaholics.co.uk

[skipmac]

For my ideal boat light I like one that is switchable from spot to flood. Flood is nice to light up things like the fore-deck of your boat or a dark dock where you need to see a wide area.

For navigating at night I usually prefer a tight beam with minimal back scatter. This doesn't light up the deck or water around the boat so less impact on night vision and better range to pick up a distant channel marker. Also penetrates in fog or misty conditions much better.

The new super bright LED lights are nice but specs on most of the ones I've checked show battery life very short. The Big Bruiser says 20 mins continuous run time. I've seen some that show less than 10 mins.

[Cotemar]

I use the Ryobi 18 Volt One + Spot light and use the 18 volt batttery for all my other tools on the boat.

The Ryobi LED Workshop light works great for a walk on the beach at night and the dingy ride back.

The first mate loves the Ryobi Vac

[Crimea Cruiser]

I have used a compact Niteguard 400,000 CP with Blue Anti glare ring from Lectro Science. Works better in fog and rain and snow than anything else I ever tried over last 15 years. So good, I bought two. Now can not even seem to find where to buy them, as I wanted to give one a a present. Last place I found was Canada, but they are no longer carrying them..

[David M]

I like the waterproof LED's that are battery powered and therefore not tied to a 12 volt cord, which can be restrictive. You also want it to be relatively rugged.

[skipmac]

For my ideal boat light I like one that is switchable from spot to flood. Flood is nice to light up things like the fore-deck of your boat or a dark dock where you need to see a wide area.

For navigating at night I usually prefer a tight beam with minimal back scatter. This doesn't light up the deck or water around the boat so less impact on night vision and better range to pick up a distant channel marker. Also penetrates in fog or misty conditions much better.

The new super bright LED lights are nice but specs on most of the ones I've checked show battery life very short. The Big Bruiser says 20 mins continuous run time. I've seen some that show less than 10 mins. With efficient LEDs a rechargeable is good but I would want to balance brightness against burn time. Would give up a few lumens to get a longer burn.

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by skipmac

The new super bright LED lights are nice but specs on most of the ones I've checked show battery life very short. The Big Bruiser says 20 mins continuous run time. I've seen some that show less than 10 mins. With efficient LEDs a rechargeable is good but I would want to balance brightness against burn time.

20 mins is not typical of the good quality units. Usually they will do a couple of hours on the highest setting up to several days on the lowest.

The torch I provided the link to gives the following specs:
Importantly the levels are regulated so the brightness does not change as the batteries go down.

Four constant light levels 860 lumens (2 hrs 19 min), 365 lumens (7 hrs 43 min), 120 lumens (27 hrs), 15 lumens (240 hrs) plus strobe (860 lumens) and SOS (120 lumens)

[RDW]

Slightly off subject. I have found when looking for a marker at night that I can hold the spot light in one hane and also use binoculars. I can see markers with the binoculars well lit (reflected) that I could not see with naked eye.
Anybody ever just use a car head light for a cost effective alternative?
RDW