I am NOT impressed with LED lighting

[DREDIOCK]

Headed to the upper Delaware River tomorrow for a few days of camping/fishing. So I picked up a couple of new flashlights to replace the ones that this kids trashed.
One Old style Lantern battery type a small handheld LED and a small mini area light that closely resembles a propane style cap lantern. Also LED. that I plan to hang inside the tent. Again to replace one that my daughter trashed on one of her girlscout camping trips.
Just to check it out I loaded the batteries and went into a bathroom we have that has no wiindows and turned it on

Lemme tell ya. LEDs in no way put out the the kind of light or the quality of light that the older style incandescent lights do.
My last one. almost the same style and size. I could hand in the tent an read by if I had to. This one. You can see, but thats about it.

Other one I picked up  is a  small tube shaped light..
This one doesnt put out nearly the kind of light my mini MAG does that I picked up for $4 and is half the size.

I fail to see what is making these things so popular.
They suck

[Jayhawk]

Ah yes, the bathroom test, the end all test.

Do you have the makes and models of the flashlights?  I think LEDs have their advantages, but you have to pay the extra bit to get those advantages, there are cheap LEDs that will probably let you down. 

There is definitely a "new" factor to them that helps them sell.  "They're better, buy them" seems to be enough for many people.

I carry this Streamlight Stylus Pro LED light everywhere I go, it's a great little light.

[Vulcan]

I've been using LED's for spotlighting rabbits, possums and hares for about 2 years now. I have an LED torch and Lenser H7 LED Headlamp both are awesome (and many dead bunnies and possums can attest to their effectiveness )

[Fishu]

My old flashlight's bulb went out and couldn't find a new bulb anymore, so I bought Fenix TK-20 led flashlight (I've left the clip unattached). It's bright, sometimes too bright even at the lower setting (caution is advised when working with bright metal objects at close range ). Three weeks ago tested it in a dark 13000 people icehockey hall, during a computer/LAN event with roughly 4000 people in the hall, and I was able to see from one side to the other at the widest point (from up near the ceiling).

So yeah, I'm impressed. The light's colour temperature is also warmer than that of the usual LED, which makes the colour of objects look more natural.

It's also my non-lethal weapon of choice in the darkness. Point it at someone's eyes at max setting and the someone will have a bright spot stuck in the vision for a while.

[Slash27]

Headed to the upper Delaware River tomorrow for a few days of camping/fishing. So I picked up a couple of new flashlights to replace the ones that this kids trashed.
One Old style Lantern battery type a small handheld LED and a small mini area light that closely resembles a propane style cap lantern. Also LED. that I plan to hang inside the tent. Again to replace one that my daughter trashed on one of her girlscout camping trips.
Just to check it out I loaded the batteries and went into a bathroom we have that has no wiindows and turned it on

Lemme tell ya. LEDs in no way put out the the kind of light or the quality of light that the older style incandescent lights do.
My last one. almost the same style and size. I could hand in the tent an read by if I had to. This one. You can see, but thats about it.

Other one I picked up  is a  small tube shaped light..
This one doesnt put out nearly the kind of light my mini MAG does that I picked up for $4 and is half the size.

I fail to see what is making these things so popular.
They suck

You're getting the wrong lights. I have a few small 60 lumen LED flashlights that blow away old school MAG lights. Not to mention the Streamlight products I own which are in a whole different category. LED's are the best thing to happen to lighting I going to say ever.

[DREDIOCK]

the little area light I picked up was this one. Funny. the comment on it is the same complaint as mine

http://campinglantern.org/ElectricLantern-3401301-B001NG9PGU-Eddie_Bauer_Mini_Area_Light.html

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41vW9GObTiL._SL160_.jpg

[Spikes]

Recently bought a Gander mtn camo hat w/3 LED lights for 30 bucks or so...works like a charm. Batts are replaceable. I would recommend it for any camping enthusiast.

[Jayhawk]

Never been a big fan of Eddie Bauer camping gear (although I do drive an Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition).

I suggest looking into a Fenix LED with a diffuser.  Yes, you'll spend some more money, but this will save room, weight, and offer better light.  That is just one option however, but I don't think you'd be disappointed in it.

[DREDIOCK]

It was on sale for $9 so I figured what the hell.

This is the one I used to have. and will still buy again. Close it and its a flashlight. slide it open as is pictured. Its a lantern. the entire thing is only 6-7 inches tall and hangs nicely from the roof of the tent.


Plus I like the type of light that it puts off over LEDs.
LEDs just put off a weird kinda light

[Jayhawk]

Well you didn't expect something high quality for $9.00 did ya?! 

I love the white LED light from my stylus pro, clean, without the shadows of an incandescent.  I still have my mini-mag, it can come in handy if my Stylus and Fenix E01 fail me. I suppose light color is just personal preference though.

[kotrenin]

Try Streamlights, that's what I use at work and i really like it. Also Google firefighter lights.

http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=167 – 80,000 candela peak beam intensity and 145 lumens

http://www.streamlight.com/product/product.aspx?pid=137 - 21,000 candela (peak beam intensity) and 100 lumens

I've got the Survivor light as my personal light and an Energizer 7 LED headlamp on my helmet http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xmi/R-202102447/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053 - 45 Lumens.

[Fishu]

Plus I like the type of light that it puts off over LEDs.
LEDs just put off a weird kinda light

Depends on the LED, if you mean the cold blueish tone of the light. Like I told above, my Fenix TK-20's colour temperature is close to natural light.

[CAP1]

Headed to the upper Delaware River tomorrow for a few days of camping/fishing. So I picked up a couple of new flashlights to replace the ones that this kids trashed.
One Old style Lantern battery type a small handheld LED and a small mini area light that closely resembles a propane style cap lantern. Also LED. that I plan to hang inside the tent. Again to replace one that my daughter trashed on one of her girlscout camping trips.
Just to check it out I loaded the batteries and went into a bathroom we have that has no wiindows and turned it on

Lemme tell ya. LEDs in no way put out the the kind of light or the quality of light that the older style incandescent lights do.
My last one. almost the same style and size. I could hand in the tent an read by if I had to. This one. You can see, but thats about it.

Other one I picked up  is a  small tube shaped light..
This one doesnt put out nearly the kind of light my mini MAG does that I picked up for $4 and is half the size.

I fail to see what is making these things so popular.
They suck

actually, they do.

ya have to be careful buying led's though. ya get what ya pay for. buy those cheap $10 lights, and....whelp.....ya get crap.

 i used led's almost exclusively at the shop for my under hood and under car lighting. the ones i have have cost me planty. hell.....i have one flashlight that cost me about $150.......but i never replace the batteries, as it's rechargable, outside at night, it's got a true 300 foot range, and it's friggin bright.

 rather than drop lights at the shop, i use led lights. the ones for under car are rechargable, 60 led lights,,,,,,and it's like daylight in the darkest of areas under there.
 i have safety glasses that have an led built into each side. each operates on 2 watch batteries. i did an entire clutch job on a mazde protege using only them.

 look around. streamlight is one of the better brands for led lighting. maglight is finally catching up too.

[CAP1]

the little area light I picked up was this one. Funny. the comment on it is the same complaint as mine

http://campinglantern.org/ElectricLantern-3401301-B001NG9PGU-Eddie_Bauer_Mini_Area_Light.html

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41vW9GObTiL._SL160_.jpg

that looks like somethign brookfield would sell......junk.


just out of curiosity, how far north are you? are you in reasonable driving distance of the sportsmans center in bordentown?


if so, take a run down there. those guys are all hunters, and shooters. you'll get a good honest answer out of them, and you'll probably find something ya like down there.

[Meatwad]

Only LED flashlight I own is a Dorcy (sp?) that I picked up from walmart 5 years ago. Its about 5 1/2" long and takes 3 AAA batteries. I used it to candle eggs and it worked like a charm. Was around $18 I thought.