What is the best type flashlight and best brand battery?

I concur. Not only is it a good flashlight it doubles as a weapon as well.

 

Streamlight Ultra Stinger, a rechargeable lite with 75,000 candlepower. Aircraft aluminum. Very nice light. Also Mag charger, 30,000 candlepower. Nice light as well. These double as a good head knocker when needed.

 

I have several.

The big Maglite can't be beat.

Pelican small handheld, small enough for the pocket, bright enough to blind someone (free courtesy of the Army)

LED headlight

I also have a wind up emergency light in all of my vehicles.

 

I like Mag Lights, though I prefer the 6-C cell variety. They're just as bright as the D-cell lights, but they're easier to slide into your belt in the small of your back. They're also easier to hold on to and faster to swing should you ever feel the need to swing it at something. Batteries are also a little cheaper and because they're smaller, it's easier to pack more of 'em than you can D-cells. You can also get a traffic cone to direct/flag traffic if necessary.

I'm also a fan of the Streamlight Scorpion lights. They use CR123A batteries which are expensive as hell ($6-$8 each) to buy at a real store, but they can be found online for a buck or so. I don't want to get in trouble for posting a link to a store site, but I'd bet that if you google the term "battery station" you can find really, really good prices for batteries. I like the Scorpion because it's small and really, really bright...in either xenon or LED...and the rubber sleve is much easier on the teeth than metal when you need to hold the light with your mouth. And don't tell me that you've never done that. lol If you look around you can find the lights for $30 or so. They're small enough to always have one in your pocket, bright enough to do some good (way, way brighter than regular pen-lights, mini-mags, etc...), and (relatively) inexpensive enough to acquire several (over time) to keep handy in different locations.

I also have a xenon head-lamp that uses 4 AA batteries that I bought several years ago for finding my way through the swamp in the dark that I have found to be handy on several occasions, though I don't think that those occasions warrant spending money on. A Scorpion between the teeth works just as well.

That's what I think. YMMV.

 

I use a 4-D Mag light for pre trips and such and a LED head band light for unloading the trailers in the dark. Does anyone know if they make the big Mag lights with LED bulbs?

As for batteries, If you are going to use AA batteries I recomend Energizer Lithiums. They're a little pricey but they last a lot longer than any other battery I've ever used. I put them in everything. I wish they made them in other sizes like D.

 

That's the same light I've got. Umm, be careful though, it will melt the carpet. DAMHIK

 

They do make the LED mag lite. They also make a conversion kit for your older lights that you may have. The rechargables are a bit expensive ($100-135) but performance is far better than battery lites. After buying batteries, you put that much in batteries over the years. If you get a rechargable, don't leave it in the cradle always charging, will wear the battery down and to an early grave. Replacement batteries are about $20-35 depending on which site you use. Although batteries can usually go 1000 recharges before needing replacement.

 

If your bulb is good and not burned out, I wouldn't use it as a thumper. You will probably blow the bulb. However you won't hurt the aircraft aluminum. I've broke car windows out, knotted heads and beat on doors with mine. They have a few battle scars, but no dents. Got three of the Mag-chargers and love every one of them.