Lighting up the darkness:

[JerseyPride57]

As I finish up the academy and start to assemble my own set of personal tools, Im debating on what type of flashlight to carry. I have heard from people who swear by helmet lights and nothing else, and those who swear by hand/right angle lights and nothing else.

So, question is: what kind of flashlight do you prefer, and specific brands if any?

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

There are no such things as lights... there are "darksuckers" that absorb darkness allowing light to come forth and illuminate the path to firefighting zen....

[FiremanLyman]

I say resist the urge if your apparatus has handlights mounted on chargers in the cab. But you are probably going to buy one anyways, so...

Whatever you get, go with LED. Man they are bright.

I use the Garrity disposable LED on my helmet. I have melted the case off one, and the damn thing still worked.

The LED Streamlight Survivor is awesome.

We carry on our engine the LED Survivors, box lights and SL-20's. Going into a fire I will put a Suvivor on my jacket and sling a box light over my shoulder. Our box lights have the quick release buckle, and I'll drop it at a door pointing up to help visually mark the door in the dark/smoke.

Also, keep a cheap $4 LED flashlight like you'll find at Home Depot's Christmas gift section in your pocket. Always have a back up.

[JerseyPride57]

Thanks for the advice Lyman,
My rig does not have mounted handlights, we have mounted rechargeable Streamlite liteboxs, only our truck has mounted handlights.

[CaptOldTimer]

Thanks for the advice Lyman,
My rig does not have mounted handlights, we have mounted rechargeable Streamlite liteboxs, only our truck has mounted handlights.

All same thing pal.

[GTRider245]

I will second the Streamlight Survivor LED idea. At $50 give or take for the AA model, it cannot be beat.

[NobodyAnymore]

There is another option that you might want to consider. I have never used this myself (not being a firefighter...yet), so I can't really comment on it; I'm just presenting this as something else to consider. I think I learned about this product from another member here, who claimed it was better (for him, at least) than a helmet- or jacket-mounted flashlight.

http://www.thefirestore.com/store/product.cfm?SKU=SS-LM

Product's home page: http://www.searchsleeve.com/

[ColoradoDave]

..................

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

There is another option that you might want to consider. I have never used this myself (not being a firefighter...yet), so I can't really comment on it; I'm just presenting this as something else to consider. I think I learned about this product from another member here, who claimed it was better (for him, at least) than a helmet- or jacket-mounted flashlight.

http://www.thefirestore.com/store/product.cfm?SKU=SS-LM

Product's home page: http://www.searchsleeve.com/

You think? Really?

[NobodyAnymore]

You think? Really?

Yes indeed. All the time. You might not always like the results of my thought processes, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. And I might know next to nothing about firefighting, but that ignorance does not mean I'm stupid or incapable of thought. It would be a grave mistake for you to assume that to be the case.

As for the specific thought in question here, I wasn't sure at the time whether I'd learned about that product here or on another message board. I've just checked and discovered it was indeed from here where I learned about it.

[ThNozzleman]

It would be a grave mistake for you to assume that to be the case.

You hear that, Chief? I think ScareCrow Jr. is calling you out!

[FireRescueLupo]

If we had the truck mounted survivors I would probably use those but we don't yet. I went with the Little Ed, good at times but hard to control direction without some aid and unless you get a recargable one carry some extra batteries just incase. As for the helmet mounted lights, a bit pricey but the streamlight vantage is one of the best I have seen. It has the little blue backup light that cuts through some smoke and darkness pretty well for an identifier anyways and the light does pretty well itself. This can eat some batteries too but worth it.

[CaptOldTimer]

You hear that, Chief? I think ScareCrow Jr. is calling you out!

Yeah and IF he ever makes it on the job, the guys are going to have a field day with him.




It's what we call a 10 year rookie!

[ljm]

There is another option that you might want to consider. I have never used this myself (not being a firefighter...yet), so I can't really comment on it; I'm just presenting this as something else to consider. I think I learned about this product from another member here, who claimed it was better (for him, at least) than a helmet- or jacket-mounted flashlight.

http://www.thefirestore.com/store/product.cfm?SKU=SS-LM

Product's home page: http://www.searchsleeve.com/

As somebody who has been on this forum for about 3 months and not even a FF, you post quite a bit. Most of your posts are you defending yourself.

You can take or leave this but, you should probably take stuff a little less personal, post a little less and simply read a lot more. It will go a long way in not letting your enthusiasm for knowledge make you look like know it all.

[mrpita]

Another vote for Streamlight. The Survivor (coat/right angle) and the Vantage (helmet). Good quality, and GREAT service. Maybe because they're in driving distance, but when I have had problems, I've had no problems.

As for the searchsleeve, seems to be too gimmicky for me. Yes, it might help with dextrous tasks where you have to focus on your hands, but do you really want to have to point your arm at everything you look at? I'd rather have the helmet mount, 90% time you're head is facing what you're looking at anyway...