Surefire......

[tekoken]

I just ordered my first Surefire flashlight(E2D LED Defender) & I'm really hoping I get what I pay for, which is USUALLY the case. It took a while for me to come to grips with the price tag but I finally caved. I couldn't wait any longer to win one of the Insights that DRTV is giving away! If any one has some BAD experience with Surefire I would like to hear it because I can only seem to find good things about them on the web. 

[garand4life]

The only negative experience I've had (out of 3 total interactions) was with a low end G2. The light would cut out at random and I tried to get it replaced but Surefire would only ship me replacement tail caps or this or that but would not replace the unit. When nothing fixed it they offered to replace the lamp, which at the time I was using the high output module. They would only replace it with the stock lamp. I cut my loses and bought a complete new flashlight and new lamp at a total cost of about $80. Worth the money considering I now have a working 100+ lumen light and one that has a 80 lumen lamp as a backup even though I don't fully trust it since it still on rare occasions cuts out.

[Rob Pincus]

They are good lights. I've had many since my first 6P back in the day... we also sold them exclusively at Valhalla and even created a low profile deployment package for some military personnel who were regularly sent to me for ECQCA courses and sent off without a personal light. We started building some "mission essential" gear into the training packages and included a G2.

[MikeBjerum]

I have beat the crap out of my 6P Defender for over a year, and it keeps on going!

I'd buy another without hesitation!  In fact, I am looking at a few more for family members.

[ericire12]

In fact, I am looking at a few more for family members.

Dad? 

[Sponsor]

[Majer]

I have a 6Z combat light that is about 12 years old. I had a problem with it blowing bulbs and sent it back to Sure-Fire. They rebuilt it and sent it back to me with 2 new lamp units. Total cost was about $5.00 to ship it to them. I would highly recommend them. I also have one of their Nitrolon units that I replaced the lamp with a LED unit and am very happy with it.

[m25operator]

I have a G2 with Led, a 6P in my surefire 870 forend with led as well and a L1 lumimax 2 levels of intensities, 10 lumen for reading maps and such and 65 for lighting things up, I know it hurts, except for the G2's, unless you get the Led, but still affordable, but they are tough and the prefocused beam does give a 360 degree, spot free illumination. My day to day is a Streamlight stinger with an LED conversion, and it is great, big though, but rechargeable, with the LED, charge on Sunday, good til next Sunday. I keep the L1 in my other pocket, for backup and low level use, had it now, 29 months, and have replaced the batteries once. I have a lot of flashlights, of the high end kind, Surefire never fails to satisfy, although I have had really good luck with others, Insight technology for 1, and multiple streamlights.

By the way, my current streamlight stinger has a Terra lux LED conversion, a 40 buck upgrade, but it really waked a good flashlight up even more. Went from 65 Lumen to 120 + longer battery life.

[tekoken]

I feel better knowing that you folks can vouch for surefire torches! I value the opinion of everyone on this forum more than most, so it makes me feel good knowing you are confident with surefire. Thanks to everyone who responded. Rob Pincus you're the man & hopefully you have some classes in the Tampa,FL area soon!!

[bafsu92]

I've got a 6P that has to be at least 15 years old and they've rebuilt it for free twice now. I own a couple other models as well. I do agree the G2's leave a bit to be desired, if that's what your budget allows I think you're better off with a Streamlight Scorpion. You can pick those up for about $25 pretty regularly on ebay. I have Scorpions in both vehicles, both my go bags as backups and at various places around the house. I've bought 2 or 3 over the years, received a couple as gifts and got a few more through work. I think as a low cost tactical light they can't be beat when you consider the price is about the same as a mag light.

[GUNS-R-US]

Surefire makes some really good flashlights I have 6 or 7 of them floating around the house. A couple years ago I found Felix flashlights and have started caring those (I have 4 of them) instead of the surefire. They are a lot skinnier than then most of the surefires so they fit in the pocket much better. My surefires are now stationed at key points in the house so if I need a light in the middle of the night.

http://www.lapolicegear.com/fenix-pd30-cree-premium-q5-led-black-flashlight.html

The new ones they are shipping are 235 lumens! They don't have the momentary switch like the surefire, but with my thumb joint I have trouble keeping a surefire light on. I also like the extra modes that the felix have. The turbo and strobe modes are great, but I also like the low setting for doing paperwork or just making the batteries last for 65 hours. In a SHTF moment battery life could be important. In everyday life just the cost of the 3v's are expensive. The warranty is also pretty good I had a one go bad (went on constant strobe mode). I sent it back to LA Police gear they sent me a new flashlight.

Just my .02 worth.