TL;DR: recommend basically a Lumintop Tool AA with a deep carry clip, warm and/or High CRI.
Those who know me from reddit know I love my Zebralight SC62w...which I lost and immediately replaced with an SC64c LE. (I haven't been very active on /r/flashlight for a few years because I started spending too much money on lights)
I still love my SC64c and my Byrd Harrier 2 (basically a Spyderco Endela, halfway between the Endura and Delica), but a recent vacation took me to a knife shop and I fell in love with a Kershaw Leek in the blackwash finish. Even though it's about the same length/weight as my current knife, I immediately bought it as a sleek, sexy, "gentleman carry" knife, along with a black Lynch deep pocket clip. It basically just disappears with black dress pants compared to the thicker silver clip on my knife.
Anyway, it got me thinking about my dress up, go to a wedding/funeral/church carry, and now I want a slim, sexy, black or "blackwash" flashlight to match. I have a Lumintop Tool AA UV light and it's basically the perfect size, except the clip sits way too low. I looked at the normal version, and it's 6500K which is WAY too cool for my tastes.
So what I'm looking for, in order of preference:
- Slim and trim with a black Deep Carry Pocket Clip
- Body is ideally black color, non-tactical, dressy, and classy.
- Warm light
- High CRI
- No real budget - can be $2 or $200 if it meets the criteria, but definitely a preference for value where possible - in other words, I'd buy the $20 Lumintop AA even with the crappy light output if it just had a deep carry clip.
Thanks, y'all, and happy to see this community (and especially Zak!) here in the Fediverse!
Cool Fall Spy 005. I'll post a pic of mine when I get a chance. No I didn't pay anything like $2k for it. You can get some versions in the $400 range on CPF BST. Mine has a matte black finish that I like better than the stonewash in the page below, but that is a matter of preference. They are all exquisitely beautiful.
https://www.coolfall.com/p005.html
That's...um...interesting. Really thinking more simple, understated kind of light, that just kind of disappeas and doesn't make a show. That light screams Rolls Royce, while I'm looking at upgrading from a Kia to a Camry, or maybe an Audi.
Hmm, I don't get a "Rolls Royce" feeling from the 005 (try the Tri-V for that). It's supposed to look like something that James Bond would carry while wearing a tuxedo. I guess that would make it an Aston Martin, lol. Ok let me think for a minute. I think for something dressy, you don't want a pocket clip. Maybe one of those black rectangular lights like the Fenix E03R or Surefire Sidekick? There are a lot of lights like that.
If you want more Rolls-Royce inspiration, look at photonfanatic.com ;). Unfortunately, he is no longer making lights, and existing ones are hard to find.
Maybe one of the copper Maratac/Lumintops for a unique look? Or brass, same idea.
The Surefire Titan looks nice imho. It has a pocket clip, and a plain titanium finish. I saw used one for around $50 recently, though I think it was not the current model. It is a multi-level 1AAA light.
Added: it looks like you can still get a new McLux Sapphire Ti, with a high CRI led even. This is an older (i.e. timeless) design, a beautiful 1AAA light made by one of portable lighting's true creative forces. It's $150 which is much more than you'd pay for a mass produced light of similar features but I think it is worth it among other things to support the maker, who has given us a lot. It is descended from the Arc AAA and is NOT a high lumen light, but in practice is plenty bright enough to find your way around in the dark or look for something that you dropped. See the CPF thread linked above for more info.