The SureFire EL2 AA Outdoorsman – It’s About Damn Time
I have been waiting for SureFire to come out with a AA mini-light for like 10 years, I have never understood why every single so-called “Tactical Flashlight” uses 123A Lithium Batteries. They are expensive and difficult enough to find that you have to actually pack them in your gear for jobs or missions.
And good luck finding batteries in a local store in some 3rd world country, the only place you will find 123A Lithium Batteries in Shitholeanistan will be at a camera shop for a billion dollars each – and that’s if you can even explain to your taxi driver or the store clerk what type of batteries they are if you forget to bring a dead one as an example.
I once spent 5 hours driving all over Phnom Penh, Cambodia looking for a pack of 123A Lithium Batteries only to end up paying 24 bucks for two – after then I stopped carrying lights that use 123A Lithium Batteries when I am in the 3rd world unless I am working on a Military Base.
And even when I am in the 1st world or I am working on or near a Military base overseas I find myself trying not to use my flashlight because I don’t want to wear down the expensive ass batteries – so it sort of even defeats the purpose of even having a light.
So when I found out that SureFire came out with a light that ran on AA Batteries I almost shit myself – I actually had to re-read the description because I thought I was seeing things. Well, it turned out to be true, so I immediately ordered one up over at LA Police Gear and had it shipped to me here in the box.
Click Here to Keep Reading or to LISTEN TO – LIGHTS: The SureFire EL2 AA Outdoorsman Review >>>
- Bet you didn’t know your surefire could do this
I love flashlights. And that is everything I have in common with most collectors of flashlights. Because nobody owns the perfect flashlight in the end, so I’m going to write what works for me. I also apologize for the length, but one can’t shorten this topic.
I have a natural dislike for all products made in Asia/China – except those fantastic culinary things! Unfortunately most of the stuff we purchase is made, assembled, or copied in China, Taiwan, or Vietnam, etc. Therefore I prefer gear made in the USA whenever I can, though I also like gear from Germany or Japan (remember when they copied everything).
This is how I became aware of SureFire, long before I started to work in the tactical industry. Lately I had to redefine my China rule, as I became a fan of NiteCore.
The question of all questions: incandescent or LED? Here’s the basic question: do you want to buy lots of cells and replace costly bulbs? If you answer yes to both questions, I guess you don’t like the blue tint of the Cree XP-G LED… And, if you have a problem with “color tints” of lights – too blue, too white, too orange –this article will only amuse you anyway.
Until the end of 2009 there was only one single reason to stay with incandescent bulbs: the need for IR filters. As SureFire introduced the Vampire series with IR-capable LEDs in early 2010, there is no need to stay with incandescent bulbs unless you don’t have the budget to upgrade.
[click to continue…]
The SureFire L2 LUMAMAX, SureFire G2Z COMBATLIGHT, SureFire Helmet Light H1-A-TN
I am still amazed at just how many contractors I run into that don’t carry a serious light on them as a matter of practice. It’s just plain stupid to roll without a serious flashlight in your pocket, on your belt, or stowed somewhere in your gear in a handy spot.
I carry three different light sources on me, and have on many occasions had them all in use because I had to lend one to a teammate to make up for their lack of proper planning. And redundancy is a requirement for any Team leader.
If your contract team consists of local nationals from any given dirt-water country, you better have more than one available. I guarantee they won’t have one even if it was issued to them. They tend to ‘lose’ (read sell for a profit) items of value often.
Plan ahead and ALWAYS be redundant with your white light tools. You can’t go wrong doubling up on white light sources in the Red Zone.
Click Here to Read my 3 Light Choices for Running In The Red Zone and Find Out Why I Only Use Surefire Brand Lights >>>
The Surefire Executive Elite E1e
The surefire executive elite E1e has been out on the market for a few years now but considering it is the only light I carry everyday I thought that I would post a brief review.
I have carried this light in my pocket everyday for 2 years, before I bought the executive elite I never carried a flashlight when I wasn’t working because I didn’t want to look like I was wearing a Batman utility belt with tons of pouches. My style is Greyman (look like a normal person) so riggers belts with pouches for my gear and 511s are only for work.
But when I saw the surefire executive elite in the PX I immediately bought it, pocket sized surefire with a pocket clip? Sold. I have actually gone through a few of these, not because they break, but because they are a bit small for my hand and I have dropped a few into unrecoverable places.
One fell out of a car wile I was driving down the road (don’t even ask) and another went down a hole in the floor where we used to toss our garbage and piss bottles (in one of Saddam’s bombed out palaces) along with a 190 dollar pair of Sean John sunglasses. But besides my clumsiness it is a handy flashlight with the quality that you would expect from Surefire.
Click Here to Read The Surefire Executive Elite E1e Specs >>>
