Flashlight Retention

Olon

Active member
I carry a Maglite mini (pictured) every day, and it's proven itself useful more times than I can count. I've also lost more than I can count because the clip is super wimpy. I've had them fall out of my pocket while on a tractor, riding a bike, crawling around a combine etc. and I'm tired of replacing them. How would you recommend I retain this durned thing? A holster is not an option as I've already got a knife and pliers held on that way.

20200903_162641.jpg


One idea I'm considering is putting a keyring on the end and securing it to a belt loop with latigo or paracord and a choker knot, then stuffing in my pocket. It would be secure but not as fast.

I could also wrap some griptape around it and make it a little tougher for it to slide out of the pocket.

Anything you've tried? Ive bought so many of these damn lights and rechargeable batteries to put in them...
 

Alexx1401

Member
I used to carry a couple of those at both work and for knock around. They were in the early days a fantastic invention. I sadly also lost track of how many I lost. :mad:
Assuming you want one to carry in a shirt pocket? What I did a good while back in went to ones that use only one battery. The LED lights long ago got super good and super cheap. This is one I carry at work that used AA, clip can be reversed to either way. They have a spring clip that is very strong and because they sit further down in the pocket they do not fall out nearly as easy. Not to mention they have gotten very cheap. This one came in a 5 pack from Amazon for something like $15 for 5 of them. They also make them to take AAA batteries that are amazingly bright and even smaller and lighter. Not to mention the batteries last a hell of a long time with LED lights.
 

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Olon

Active member
I used to carry a couple of those at both work and for knock around. They were in the early days a fantastic invention. I sadly also lost track of how many I lost. :mad:
Assuming you want one to carry in a shirt pocket? What I did a good while back in went to ones that use only one battery. The LED lights long ago got super good and super cheap. This is one I carry at work that used AA, clip can be reversed to either way. They have a spring clip that is very strong and because they sit further down in the pocket they do not fall out nearly as easy. Not to mention they have gotten very cheap. This one came in a 5 pack from Amazon for something like $15 for 5 of them. They also make them to take AAA batteries that are amazingly bright and even smaller and lighter. Not to mention the batteries last a hell of a long time with LED lights.

Not bad I'll take a look at those! I buy rechargeable AAAs for my flashlights because I'm frugal and hate settling for dull ones that have half a charge. This way when I lose one I'm only out 1 battery.
 

Olon

Active member
Since I already bought this one, I need to find a good solution. This is my first attempt:
20200904_075400.jpg

I applied gorilla glue to the body of the light and slid the clip on backwards. This way it sits lower and the heavier part of the light is facing down. If this does me well, I'll take it off and reapply with JB weld and call it good.
 

Alexx1401

Member
Since I already bought this one, I need to find a good solution. This is my first attempt:
View attachment 600
I applied gorilla glue to the body of the light and slid the clip on backwards. This way it sits lower and the heavier part of the light is facing down. If this does me well, I'll take it off and reapply with JB weld and call it good.

That will have to at min make it better. With the weight of the head kept down in your pocket would seem harder to have it fall out. I lost many of those things over the years and it always irritated me when I would realize I lost yet another one. Such handy little tools to have. Hope that works to keep it in the pocket for when you need it :)
 

Magnum

Well-known member
I like tethers , or just a knotted piece of paracord to keep from losing things. Even if it's not tied off it can add enough friction to keep it from slipping from your pocket.
I use a flashlight a lot at work but I go with something a bit bigger. My edc flashlight is usually a smaller led . I will say that for work flashlights, I've ruined 5 streamlight stinger rechargeable flashlights in 5-6 years and they're about $150- $200 a piece, I consider that total crap. It's always the switches that fail and streamlight won't do anything. Last 2 edc lights I've had were also streamlight and no surprise , switches failed. So I'm shopping for something better.
Good luck
 

WrongHanded

Well-known member
IMG_20200904_200844518.jpg


It must be at least 8 years I've had this one. On my belt every single day of work. I have a second one in better condition for all other times. This one is always in the "holster" when not in use. But my other one gets pocket carried a lot. Light weight, kinda bulky, and polymer seems to help keep it in the pocket instead of slipping out like a few maglites have in the past.

I believe they are the G2X Pro from Surefire.
 

Selena

Active member
When in doubt superglue velcro to the object and sew a strip in the pocket. It's what I did for a certain unnamed idiot that shall remain my brother and his stupid tire gauge.
 

sparkyv

Member
I EDC a light half the size of the Maglite mini (I have two of these as well) on my key "chain" made of parachord for years. Haven't lost it yet.
 
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