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Knife & Light Recommendations - < $100

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  • SQLGeek

    Muh state lines
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    Sep 22, 2017
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    I have a discount at Midway burning a hole in my pocket and am thinking of picking up an EDC light and knife. Not really 100% sure what I want. Would like to keep it under $100 if I can for each.

    I'm looking at the following lights:

    Surefire G2X
    Streamlight ProTac 1L

    Knives:

    No idea honestly. Something utilitarian for light suburban duty, camping, fishing & last ditch defense if needed. Thinking assisted opening to ride in a pocket.

    Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
    Guns International
     

    Axxe55

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    Surefire or Streamlight, since both make great lights. I have several different Streamlights and have owned a couple for many years.

    EDC knife? Stay with the name-brands and you should be okay. I'm kind of partial to the CRKT knives. Gerber makes great and reasonably priced knives as well.
     

    toddnjoyce

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    Light: until recently I was not a fan of EDC lights because almost everyone has a phone on them and that’s got a self-contained flashlight, but I recently came across the Streamlight Stylus Pro:


    I picked one up and found it just works for me. Slips in a front pocket, is unnoticeable, and very bright with a nice beam pattern and throw. The only activator is a push & hold button on the tail cap. Really did solve a problem I didn’t know I had.

    Knife:

    For a utility knife, I carry something that has a belt cutter and glass breaker integrated in the folder. Has assisted opening. There’s a small handful out there but this is the one I recommend:


    ETA: if you’re looking at a larger light, consider one with a striking bezel…never know if you’ll need to collect DNA.
     

    ThirdCoast2A

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    Flashlight for me would be a Streamlight 2L-X usb rechargeable. Takes Streamlights SL-B26 rechargeable battery or CR123A

    That leaves about $140-$150 for the knife. You can get the Benchmade Bugout for that price. Great knife but scales could be better.

    There will be better prices if you look off Midway.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    Last edited:

    candcallen

    Crotchety, Snarky, Truthful. You'll get over it.
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    Little Elm
    In my pockets right now. Pretty much 24x7
    Stream light polytac 45.00
    Kershaw model 1343 stomp. 30.00

    16387997780233583866868432594663.jpg
     

    SQLGeek

    Muh state lines
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    Sep 22, 2017
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    Richmond
    until recently I was not a fan of EDC lights because almost everyone has a phone on them

    That's how I have been until recently when I realized they weren't really bright enough for what I was trying to do. I bought a pack of LED flashlights from Costco a few years back that throw a lot more light that I usually grab when I really need light. The problem with those is they chew through AAA batteries like Amy Schumer visiting a Vegas buffet.

    I really like the size of the Stylus and I imagine that would be enough for what I'd ask of it.

    Good call on the belt cutter on the knife. I hadn't previously considered that but it is a compelling feature.

    Looking at this currently:


    Normally $29.99 but going for $13.29 with my discount.

    Also looking at this if I opt to not bother with a belt cutter.

     

    Axxe55

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    That's how I have been until recently when I realized they weren't really bright enough for what I was trying to do. I bought a pack of LED flashlights from Costco a few years back that throw a lot more light that I usually grab when I really need light. The problem with those is they chew through AAA batteries like Amy Schumer visiting a Vegas buffet.

    I really like the size of the Stylus and I imagine that would be enough for what I'd ask of it.

    Good call on the belt cutter on the knife. I hadn't previously considered that but it is a compelling feature.

    Looking at this currently:


    Normally $29.99 but going for $13.29 with my discount.

    Also looking at this if I opt to not bother with a belt cutter.

    I really like the size of the Stylus Pro. It's the size of fat writing pen. I paid $28 for mine, and even though as @toddnjoyce mentioned about cell phones having a light, I like having a separate and dedicated light that doesn't require a lot of room and is handy. I can highly recommend the Stylus Pro as well. Leaves you a lot of room for spending more on an EDC knife IMO.
     

    candcallen

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    Little Elm
    Stay away from olight the only flash light to kill a guy. Lol

    They arent exactly cheap either.
     

    toddnjoyce

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    I really like the size of the Stylus and I imagine that would be enough for what I'd ask of it…

    T̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶l̶ ̶d̶r̶a̶w̶b̶a̶c̶k̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶S̶t̶y̶l̶u̶s̶ ̶P̶r̶o̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶l̶ ̶‘̶c̶o̶n̶s̶t̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶o̶n̶’̶ ̶f̶e̶a̶t̶u̶r̶e̶ ̶(̶i̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶,̶ ̶I̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶n̶’̶t̶) I figured it out. For my use cases for an EDC light, that drawback outweighs the fact that I actually carry it everyday. If we’re going camping or when I go might flying, I have separate, dedicated headlamps and flashlights for those purposes.


    Here’s a real good idea of the size compared to a sharpie on a folded 8.5x11.

    891b336e6bee932e84c1ea7e6c7ab8b6.jpg
     
    Last edited:

    Axxe55

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    The only real drawback to the Stylus Pro is no real ‘constant on’ feature (if there is, I haven’t figured it out). For my use cases for an EDC light, that drawback outweighs the fact that I actually carry it everyday. If we’re going camping or when I go might flying, I have separate, dedicated headlamps and flashlights for those purposes.


    Here’s a real good idea of the size compared to a sharpie on a folded 8.5x11.

    891b336e6bee932e84c1ea7e6c7ab8b6.jpg
    @toddnjoyce, I think your tailcap switch is bad. Mine started doing the same thing after about two years, and I ordered a new one for Streamlight for about $6. Now it functions like it use to. I'm thinking if you use the light a lot that something wears out in the switch.

    Go to the main web page:


    Then select the parts store, and it will load a separate page:


    Then go to the Stylus page.

     
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    Sep 8, 2020
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    North of Dallas
    For an EDC light, I highly recommend these newer Streamlight USB rechargeable versions over the older Stylus Pro. If you ever use the light, just plug in and top-off the battery in your car, at home, wherever you have a USB port. It’s nice to have a fully charged battery at all times. With regular non-rechargeable lights, you have to swap out the batteries to top-off. The only disadvantage of these is they don’t take regular alkaline batteries since those don’t have enough power. These lights were designed to serve double duty as “tactical” and utility lights.

    The Microstream is a tiny penlight that has 250 Lumens on high and 50 on low. I like the Coyote tan version that always starts high and double-click for low. The other color versions start low and double-click for high.


    The Macrostream is the bigger brother, but still plenty small enough for EDC. It has 500 Lumens on high and 50 on low. This one always starts high and double-click for low.


    Here’s a Microstream between a chapstick and a (huuge) Sharpie.

    6E0438B5-E22E-40B8-A496-2D7BB0D84DA3.jpeg
     
    Last edited:

    Axxe55

    Retiretgtshit stirrer
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    Lost in East Texas Elhart Texas
    For an EDC light, I highly recommend these newer Streamlight USB rechargeable versions over the older Stylus Pro. If you ever use the light, just plug in and top-off the battery in your car, at home, wherever you have a USB port. It’s nice to have a fully charged battery at all times. With regular non-rechargeable lights, you have to swap out the batteries to top-off. The only disadvantage of these is they don’t take regular alkaline batteries since those don’t have enough power. These lights were designed to serve double duty as “tactical” and utility lights.

    The Microstream is a tiny penlight that has 250 Lumens on high and 50 on low. I like the Coyote tan version that always starts high and double-click for low. The other color versions start low and double-click for high.


    The Macrostream is the bigger brother, but still plenty small enough for EDC. It has 500 Lumens on high and 50 on low. This one always starts high and double-click for low.

    When I bought my Stylus Pro, they didn't offer it in a USB model at the time. If I were to replace it now, I'd go with the Stylus Pro USB version.

    Good points on the USB feature.

     
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    Sep 8, 2020
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    When I bought my Stylus Pro, they didn't offer it in a USB model at the time. If I were to replace it now, I'd go with the Stylus Pro USB version.

    Good points on the USB feature.


    Keep in mind that the USB port adds about 0.6” to the length as compared to the AAA version. That may or may not matter to some people but I felt like the Stylus Pro was getting a bit long with all the other stuff in my pocket.
     
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