Looking for the cheapest single AA or AAA that is still high quality

[scout24]

I'm going to beat the dead horse some more... This EO1 was tossed across my garage floor 12ish feet 200 times, thrown at a rock wall 50 times, run over with my car 10 times, washed and dried, (clothes and dish washer) subjected to a snowbank for hours, heated to 175 degrees, and then put in my freezer repeatedly, and has survived countless drops on my keyring since then, these tests were run last winter. It sees daily carry to this day, and I have complete faith in it. Missionary work implies, to me, the need for something that will work when needed, every time, and things like tint and absolute output take a back seat to reliability and runtime. Given those requirements, I'd gladly pay twice what they are going for.

 

[Harry999]

I have to post again in this thread. I earlier recommended the Gerber Infinity Ultra or Gerber Recon and I stand by that for AA battery choice. This is a light that will be used hard in a Third World Country.

For AAA batteries I have to add my vote for the Fenix EO1.

Basically it comes down to this - are the people who you give the gifts to going to treat then as treasured gifts or are they going to make hard use of them. If the lights are going to be put through hard use then you won't impress them by giving a multi-mode light that fails the first time it is needed. They will be far more impressed with a light that survives and is useful time after time. I think scout24 proved the point for the EO1.

 

[JacobJones]

What country are you a missionary in? I'm just thinking that if it's a third world or undeveloped country then maybe something brighter than the Fenix E01 with several modes would be best. They might be too poor to have a light for every purpose like us so they need one light for all purposes.

Ok, I didn't read the thread fully. I see they are in indonesia

 

[mmace1]

E05 *not* E01.

Flashaholics appreciate the durability and runtime of the E01 - but in my experience, the average person just thinks it fairly dim and violet colored. But it'll run for 10 hours! Nonflashlight people don't relaly think of that...they just think *twist*...huh...that's not very bright. It's also colored all funny.

 

[TyJo]

I have both the E05 and E01 on my keys. The E01 has been around a long time and has been time tested. I believe scout24 did a torture test on both lights and the E01 won while the E05 did not hold up very well. If these lights are going to get used I think the E01 would be better. If someone needs a light for an extended period of time, or needs to tailstand their light to light up a room, they will need the extended runtime of the E01.

The difference in brightness is not that great as far as how we perceive brightness (that is the E05 does not look 3x brighter then the E01, it only looks marginally brighter). If a better tint, extra floody beam profile, and slightly more brightness are required at the cost of durability and run time, then I agree the E05 may be the better choice.

 

[nicodimus22]

If a better tint, extra floody beam profile, and slightly more brightness are required at the cost of durability and run time, then I agree the E05 may be the better choice.

Also, you can easily fix the tint of the E01 and make it more floody with steel wool. So really, comparing a E05 and a "fixed" E01, the only thing the E05 wins is brightness.

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

Fenix EO1- hard to beat for runtime, price, durability, and quality in a AAA light, will run 10 hours on 1AAA.
ITP A3 EOS R5- cheapest high quality multilevel AAA light with a highly efficient l.e.d.. You get the quality of an Olight (which makes lights tough enough for the military) without the high cost.
Gerber Infinity Ultra-this light design has been time tested for decades by the U.S. military and has gone through several improvements. People have reported them surviving explosions and being run over by cars. It will run on AAAs as well as AAs. I have never heard of or seen one stop working. The twist switch really has no parts that can fail unlike a push button switch.
Inova X1- This light has been updated 4 times (5 versions). The newest version seems to have solved all the problems of all the previous versions while improving efficiency and giving it a low level. Runtime on low is excellent and brightness on high is bright enough for 90% of the time. This is another company that has experience making lights for the military.

All these lights have reliable twist switches, can be found near $20 and under, have long runtimes, have a proven track record, and almost all have gone through improvements (the Fenix EO1 was made right the first time without glitches in the design).

I would avoid any "new" light that doesn't have a long proven track record or hasn't been through several improvements to get rid of the bugs in the design. I've been the unfortunate beta tester for too many lights to tell someone what light is best for survival based solely on advertised specifications written down that have never been proven true in the field. [Religious rant removed - DM51]

 

[HotWire]

Have you looked at the Xeno single AAA or 14500? On the 14500 the light is stunning! They cost about $30.00 No clip, though.

 

[Jash]

Also, you can easily fix the tint of the E01 and make it more floody with steel wool. So really, comparing a E05 and a "fixed" E01, the only thing the E05 wins is brightness.

Mmm... off to get some steel wool from the garage now.

*10 minutes later* Holy Flashlights Batman, it works. Vastly improves both the tint and beam profile.

 

[JacobJones]

Lol, religious rant.

I quite like the suggestion for the Inova X1. only two modes but they're very usefull output levels, why leave your Indonesian friends straining their eyes with an e01. it uses 1 AA like you liked. Inova lights are apparently quite tough so it should last. I assume that it uses a luxeon but I doubt they will be fussy about tints, and the runtime looks a bit short. Looks like the best choice so far, actually I'm thinking of getting one for myself now (going to mod it with a Cree of course)

Edit: actually, forget the Inova X1. I've just been reading a thread about extremely short runtimes (2 hours), low output and reliability problems. The search continues

 

[Monocrom]

Fenix E01 - If price is the only issue.

iTP EOS A3 - If you want something with multi-modes that can do double duty as a full-sized flashlight.

 

[JacobJones]

OP, would you be willing to consider something from DealExtreme? I know it'll be lower quality than you probably want but I have found something that seems to fit the bill

 

[Deal4]

OP, would you be willing to consider something from DealExtreme? I know it'll be lower quality than you probably want but I have found something that seems to fit the bill

Well, at one time I wouldn't consider buying from them, but after going over to Budget Lights here on CPF I think I am going to take a chance and order a couple of lights called Small Sun ZY-A29, and at $8 you can't beat the price. You can check it out here: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/small-...-zoom-convex-lens-led-flashlight-1-x-aa-90635
If what I am hearing is correct (and I am going to check it out myself before I order too many) with a little cleaning up they work great.
A lot of the guys I am getting the lights for have never left the small town they are from, much less seen a LED flashlight. I don't need one that will wow them with the technology, I just want one that has average light with good run time.
I know the EO1 has been recommended over and over, but I really would like at least 2 modes. As far as the EO5, it too is a great light, just a bit too much for my pocket book.
This has been the first time I've checked out the Budget Lights forum, and have learned a lot over there. It's given me a bit more to consider.
I still have a couple weeks till I have to make my final decision.
You guys have had some very good ideas which I really appreciate, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts! :thumbsup:

 

[Deal4]

OP, would you be willing to consider something from DealExtreme? I know it'll be lower quality than you probably want but I have found something that seems to fit the bill

Well, yeah, I have started to check out DX even though I didn't think I ever would.
You say you found a light that seems to fit the bill. What did you find? Did you forget to post it or are you just wetting my appitite? :naughty:

 

[rmteo]

My last order of 20 Small Sun ZY-A29 and 10 Sipik SK-68, every one worked right out of the box (or right out of the bubble pack in the case of the SK68). The only (optional) thing that could be done was to lubricate the tail cap threads.

 

[Deal4]

My last order of 20 Small Sun ZY-A29 and 10 Sipik SK-68, every one worked right out of the box (or right out of the bubble pack in the case of the SK68). The only (optional) thing that could be done was to lubricate the tail cap threads.

There is one thing that is making me a little nervous about that Small Sun. I have read a few reviews that say it only has 2 o-rings when it needs 4. Is it fairly water proof, or is it going to go "poof" the first time it gets wet?

 

[Burgess]

. . . . and almost all have gone through improvements
(the Fenix EO1 was made right the first time without glitches in the design).

Not true.

How could you possibly forget the Fenix E0 ?



It was certainly the predecessor to the venerable E01.


BTW -- add me to the ever-growing List of People Who Recommend the Fenix E01.

:wave:
_

 

[Deal4]

Not true.

How could you possibly forget the Fenix E0 ?



It was certainly the predecessor to the venerable E01.


BTW -- add me to the ever-growing List of People Who Recommend the Fenix E01.

:wave:
_

Well, I don't think I have ever been recommended a flashlight more than the Fenix EO1!!!! Must be a heck of a light! I won't be buying it for the guys, but now I may have to get one for myself just to find out what all the hype is about!
I didn't think I would be too excited about a single mode 10 lumen light, but hey, I've been wrong before! (Don't ask my wife about that!)

 

[kadinh]

I have a SS iTP EOS on my keys and it is really nice. Having 80 lumens max on my keys is really handy.

 

[JacobJones]

Well, yeah, I have started to check out DX even though I didn't think I ever would.
You say you found a light that seems to fit the bill. What did you find? Did you forget to post it or are you just wetting my appitite? :naughty:

Wetting the appitite, this is the one that caught my eye

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustf...umen-memory-led-flashlight-1-aa-1-14500-39062

unfortunately it has mode memory and strobe mode but its actually hard to find lights on DX that don't have those features