How do you actually buy a good flashlight? Every time thus far I've been recommended one, I go to look it up and find out I've gotta buy it through a retailer, and every time I check retailers around me, it's out of stock, if they ever sold it at all.

Is there anyone that doesn't force you to go through this ridiculous process? Or am I going go have to perform this mating dance every time I say "this light looks good"?