P60L (LED bulb) - ArniesAirsoft

Author

Darthwhite

Registered: January 2005
Location: London
Posts: 1,693

Review Date: 6/3/08

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: �16.00 | Rating: 10

Positive aspects of the product (pros):	Longer runtime, brighter, doesn't break/burn out
Cons:	... You actually have to pay for it?

For those who don�t know, Surefire make the best flashlights in the world. All of them (apart from a few specific military models) have the same formula; Lithium CR123A batteries and a high output bulb, with a tactical end cap to turn it on. They are also completely modular, so if you want a higher output bulb or a different switch or a dimmer just buy one and install it, no problem. They are often seen as gucci gear, but their lower spec models (like the G2) are a lot better than the G&P offerings most people seem to go for, and are about the same price. In terms of brightness, every Surefire flashlight is at least twice as bright as a big D-cell maglight and usually four of five times as bright. Some of their higher spec models (like the aviator) have two sets of bulbs or dimmers, so you can use them for map reading or blinding people.

In the last few months, I guess in competition to the Chinese made Cree LEDs (which are a bit dodgy by all account), Surefire have brought out a drop in LED kit for their flashlight range. Unlike �normal� LEDs, which are relatively underpowered and not for �tactical� use, the Surefire LED kit is a luxeon LED, which is a highly evolved version giving you a lot more light while keeping all the nice qualities of an LED. The P60L (which is the name of their new LED) is the version which drops into about half of their range. It fits the following: 6P, 9P, G2, G3, G2Z, C2, C3, Z2, Z3, and D3. Those who know Surefire will see that it fits the 6V and 9V versions, apparently with no change in brightness.

I've had a few Surefire flashlights in the past, but the one I have had the longest has been the G2. I've had it for about two years, and it's seen a lot of work, not just for airsoft games but walking the dog, festival work, finding my house keys, you name it! It�s just kept going and going no matter what I�ve thrown at it (or it at!). Pretty much the only downside I can find is that it eats batteries for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and even buying them in bulk from overseas can get quite pricy. When the stock lamp finally died I decided to upgrade to an LED for that reason alone.

A trawl of ebay turned up P60L assembles for about �35GBP shipped, and as the list price is only $39US there�s no way I�m going to pay that much. Looking through Surefire�s dealer list I came across the Edgar Brothers. http://www.edgar-brothers.co.uk/E3/Triage.html. Unfortunately their website is like something from the stone age, but they stock everything Surefire make (including the weapon light forends for G36s!) and at almost the list price on Surefire�s website� and their prices include postage! I got my P60L assembly from them for �16 posted, and it came in a nice padded envelope by first class recorded delivery. I could not be happier with the service and I�ll probably be using them again for all my Surefire needs!

Installing the lamp couldn�t be easier; unscrew the bezel of whichever flashlight you are using, take out the old lamp assembly, put in the new one and screw the bezel back on. Simple.

The P60L completely outperforms the standard P60 (which is an incandescent lamp), the run time is a lot higher (so you need less batteries, saving you monies in the long run), and it doesn�t need to �ramp� up when it starts. The P60L ignites so quickly that you can quite easily make the lamp strobe if you have quick thumbs.

The Beam on the P60L is a lot tighter as well, so you are putting a lot more light on what you are looking at, and the spill is reduced. Because of the way the reflector works a distances of less than a foot you start to get a doughnut in the middle of the beam, but it�s not like you are going to be using an 80 Lumen light for reading a map, so that shouldn�t be a problem.

To conclude, I would buy another one of these in a heartbeat if I needed to, and if you are looking for a decent torch get a surefire G2LED, which is a G2 with the LED kit pre-installed. You will not be disappointed!