Wanted to share my experience with a new tool that has earned my respect as part of my highly refined toolset. I have always been fanatical with flashlights. Several years ago, I was introduced to the SureFire brand of tactical, rugged, and to a degree indestructible line of LED flashlights.
My EDC for a good 5 years or so was the SureFire E2D Defender. This light had a 600 lumen output and it survived my abuse until the day that I misplaced it a few months ago. I have several backup flashlights.
The E2D, like most other SureFires, takes CR123 alkaline batteries and can accept 18650 rechargeables. I have leaned towards devices that use CR123 - I now carry 3-4 devices that take this battery size in my pack, when I go out in the wilderness (it is convenient having this standardization for weight constraints, especially).
When I lost my E2D, my thoughts were to replace it with the identical model. I couldn't find the first gen model online, and I had an unfortunate experience buying the newer generation $200 Defender from Amazon (they LITERALLY shipped me an empty SureFire box!!!!). I wasn't in the mood to be disappointed from Amazon again with this purchase, so I held out for a while and carries my heavier SureFire Fury backup flashlight for a while.
Then one day, I was up north at a 4 Wheel Parts store in line - picking up Lube Lockers for my Dana 44's, and I saw some flashlights in a glass display case. Upon closer inspection, the boxes beared the Rigid Industries logo, which sparked my interest. I did a quick internet search for the flashlights while waiting in line, to get an idea if the flashlight specifications, which were similar to what I would expect from SureFire. I had also found that they offered 4 different models:
They were sold out of the model that would have been comparable in size to my E2D Defender (the Rigid RI-600). I said what the hell and bought the RI-1100.
This model comes with (2) 18650 rechargeable batteries and can accept (4) CR123 batteries. This light has 4 modes: high, medium, low, and rapid blinking. Itnis a VERY BRIGHT and VERY well constructed tool. It has already survived numerous 1.5-2 meter drops on pavement, submersion in water and mud, and general abuse in my Jeep.
This light can also get VERY warm. I would highly recommend to anyone that buys one, that you unscrew the end a little so that it cannot accidentally turn on a catch something on fire (better yet, stow it in a case that would prevent accidental button depress).
It has been a fantasic light thus far. Let me know if I can answer any questions and I will do my best to answer!
https://www.rigidindustries.com/led-lighting?f[0]=field_product_family:18
PS: word on the street is these are already being faked on Amazon, therefore I would encourage you to purchase one from an authorized reseller. I have also learned about how serious Rigid Industries takes their sales channels - the first light that I had purchased from 4WPS had a small tear in the packaging and the light did NOT work!!! I took it a part to see what the deal was, and my theory was that someone probably had bought one and left it powered on bright for a couple of hours inverted and burned the LED board. The board was scorched, and it looked like someone swapped the board out of a new one - then returned the light to this store (the batteries were still sealed in plastic and everything else was new).
I contacted RI about this after I got my replacement from the store, and they were FURIOUS. Hey insisted that I give them every detail of the transaction, which i gladly did - I am not ar all a fan of this chain store / company!
My EDC for a good 5 years or so was the SureFire E2D Defender. This light had a 600 lumen output and it survived my abuse until the day that I misplaced it a few months ago. I have several backup flashlights.
The E2D, like most other SureFires, takes CR123 alkaline batteries and can accept 18650 rechargeables. I have leaned towards devices that use CR123 - I now carry 3-4 devices that take this battery size in my pack, when I go out in the wilderness (it is convenient having this standardization for weight constraints, especially).
When I lost my E2D, my thoughts were to replace it with the identical model. I couldn't find the first gen model online, and I had an unfortunate experience buying the newer generation $200 Defender from Amazon (they LITERALLY shipped me an empty SureFire box!!!!). I wasn't in the mood to be disappointed from Amazon again with this purchase, so I held out for a while and carries my heavier SureFire Fury backup flashlight for a while.
Then one day, I was up north at a 4 Wheel Parts store in line - picking up Lube Lockers for my Dana 44's, and I saw some flashlights in a glass display case. Upon closer inspection, the boxes beared the Rigid Industries logo, which sparked my interest. I did a quick internet search for the flashlights while waiting in line, to get an idea if the flashlight specifications, which were similar to what I would expect from SureFire. I had also found that they offered 4 different models:
They were sold out of the model that would have been comparable in size to my E2D Defender (the Rigid RI-600). I said what the hell and bought the RI-1100.
This model comes with (2) 18650 rechargeable batteries and can accept (4) CR123 batteries. This light has 4 modes: high, medium, low, and rapid blinking. Itnis a VERY BRIGHT and VERY well constructed tool. It has already survived numerous 1.5-2 meter drops on pavement, submersion in water and mud, and general abuse in my Jeep.
This light can also get VERY warm. I would highly recommend to anyone that buys one, that you unscrew the end a little so that it cannot accidentally turn on a catch something on fire (better yet, stow it in a case that would prevent accidental button depress).
It has been a fantasic light thus far. Let me know if I can answer any questions and I will do my best to answer!
https://www.rigidindustries.com/led-lighting?f[0]=field_product_family:18
PS: word on the street is these are already being faked on Amazon, therefore I would encourage you to purchase one from an authorized reseller. I have also learned about how serious Rigid Industries takes their sales channels - the first light that I had purchased from 4WPS had a small tear in the packaging and the light did NOT work!!! I took it a part to see what the deal was, and my theory was that someone probably had bought one and left it powered on bright for a couple of hours inverted and burned the LED board. The board was scorched, and it looked like someone swapped the board out of a new one - then returned the light to this store (the batteries were still sealed in plastic and everything else was new).
I contacted RI about this after I got my replacement from the store, and they were FURIOUS. Hey insisted that I give them every detail of the transaction, which i gladly did - I am not ar all a fan of this chain store / company!
