Thanks for the evaluation. I know this will sound arrogant but IMO you're still behind the curve. I use flashlights a lot. They may not get quite the workout a cop gives them, but I still put them through their paces. Getting your lumens up to the level of the Fenix is where that part needs to be. Use of those batteries is still a weakness though because generally speaking, they are ancient technology. I've got a total of one "torch" that uses them which doesn't eat them right up. It's a stubby flashlight that only uses one. 18650 rechargeables are the standard now. I like a light that uses three AAA batteries because they are just so easy to find and cheap, but I have not found one yet that will approach the illumination of 18650's. I recently bought a new flashlight that appears to be of Surefire quality with this setup for $8! I already had batteries and charger for it. A package deal with light, batteries and charger was $15. lol A year or two ago I got attacked by a bunch of people when I said Surefire and Streamlight are moribund. Frankly, if they hadn't moved a lot of their production out of the country and fallen so far behind in technology in conjunction with pricing their products out of sight, I'd still be a fan. Sadly those three things are facts though. I don't think I currently even have a Surefire out to use. I've got them stacked in my safes for use when I can't see something back in the corner or the like. Surefire is like Maglight, wonderful technology that has been surpassed. FWIW I've never cared for Streamlight. Just too many problems. I've got one Streamlight laying out in the garage that I just haven't made the effort to move to a safe. That's the only one that's still out.
When I was using torches with CR123A batteries, I went through them like water through a sieve. Since pretty much switching to the 18650's I haven't bought hardly any save for a two-pack when I got the stubby light I spoke of. I just wanted fresh batteries for it. Gone is the need to journey 100 miles to Cabela's in order to get a box or two of Surefire batteries for who-know-how-much now. They were at least $25 for a box the last time I bought them and are probably $30 or more now. Maybe cheaper online, but I don't use them anyway. The two pack at Walmart was ten bucks. The 18650's run-time seems SIGNIFICANTLY increased and I've yet to wear one of the batteries out. They were cheap initially too.
