Stock vs. Modded Flashlights (pros and cons)

[lovenhim]

Hello everyone.  I am curious about a stock store bought flashlight vs. a flashlight mod.    OK I understand this from a computer and car standpoint.  I have done the computer mod thing with overclocking and better cooling heatsinks for the CPU and such.  I have done the computer chip thing, air intake thing, etc on cars.  I have noticed something from both sides.  In a stock form the computer or car works like it was designed to and is more reliable, but the mod made it faster or gave it more power at the cost of noise or reliability, etc.  Is it the same for a flashlight mod? 
     I am asking because I have an older 2AA maglite.  It was an incandescent model which I bought the Maglite branded LED drop in replacement for.  I still have that light and it is not all that bright.  So, should I mod that 2AA Maglite OR replace it with a $20-ish ITP with 3 modes and 80 lumen brightness?  I also have a 7 year old Inova X5.  Both lights work, but I do wish I had something brighter, yet I like the flood type beam of the X5.  Should I mod one of these lights or get a new one?  I am asking so I can save up for the mod or light.   

[Gadget Guy]

If I were you I would buy one of the many Fenix models in the $30 range and dump your Mags. You'll be happy you did. 

[yud]

I don't know anything about flashlights, but I like my mini-mag with the Nite Ize drop in it woorks well

[ryan1835]

i love my fenix ld20, it can light up whole streets

[gunga]

MOds are a great way to customize a flashlight for the tint you like, the driver you like, and many other things.  You can upgrade a light and make it twice as bright by just changing emitters.  I have many lights and most of them are modded in some way.

That said, if you have a minimag, they are fun and you can do quite a bit with them, but if you just want a good, bright light, I'd buy a new one.  Fenix, Quark, Lumapower, Jetbeam, Liteflux, iTp, Maratac, Nitecore, Ra, Novatac, there are so many to choose from.

You can keep the minimag if you are attached to it, you can even do quite a bit to make it really bright, but I would still buy a new light.

Many of those can be modded too at a later date once you dcied what you want.

 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I think mod's are fine if you view flashlights as a hobby. But if you want a reliable "go to" light, I think you'd be better of going for a stock one mate

[lovenhim]

What is an easy mod to do to either the 7 year old Inova X5 or the 2AA maglite?  I can not soder because of my eyes, so what can I do to them?  Also is it worth a $20 mod vs. a new $20 ITP light....will a mod give me 80 lumens?  I like simple so "modes" are not something I think I would use. 

[Mr. Whippy]

What is an easy mod to do to either the 7 year old Inova X5 or the 2AA maglite?  I can not soder because of my eyes, so what can I do to them?  Also is it worth a $20 mod vs. a new $20 ITP light....will a mod give me 80 lumens?  I like simple so "modes" are not something I think I would use. 

The Terrlux upgrade is a simple drop in system and is significantly brighter than the NiteEze conversion.  Costs more though...

[jzmtl]

Unless you enjoy mod flashlights just get a new one. Incan minimag doesn't provide a good/easy platform for LED mods, the money/effort you will spent will buy a new light designed for LED.

There's a way to mod X5 but it's not going to be easy. You have to press the head out, disassemble it and solder on new LED. Again too much work unless you enjoy doing it.

[lovenhim]

You know, I looked at the LED drop in mod listed above and for the price you get a brighter minimag with an uncertain brightness leval as I read about levels people think the light is putting out.  Where as if I got a new $20 ITP light I know it will put out 80 lumens because people on here own that light and many are saying it may be the right light for me.  Hmmm, so many choices.   

[gunga]

For $20 ish, just buy a new one.  The x% is a tough mod, the Minimag can be ineteresting but is not economical to mod.

[lovenhim]

That is what I was thinking.  I am probably better off buying a new light that "just works" like Ubuntu Linux and forget the mods.  Yes I like to tinker but for this case I want value and I am not interested in a custom looking light because I can not admire that anyway because of my eyes.   

[Gareth]

For me there are so many choices of lights out there with different balances of cost, brightness, batteries, flood/throw, run times, switches, modes, user interfaces, colour tints etc, there's more than likely one or more that'll fit your needs.  You just need to decide what your priorities are an start from there.  Enough people around here know loads about lights and can give good recommendations.

[Essexman]

  If you were what I call a hardcore modder, then you could make a great light out of the minimag, but it would involve much time and money, and soldering!

Don't bother modding your minimag with a dropin, buy new,  you will get a better light out of a new torch/flashlight.

Let up knopw what you buy and how you get on.

[Styerman]

I don't want to get fond of anything that isn't readily replaceable . That's why I stick to things like Surefire ( three dealers within 80 klicks ) . I dont mind things like McClickie switch upgrades , as you always have the stock original switch in reserve , thats lego , not modding .

Chris