Best budget choice locally?

Newb asking for advice: What would you recommend that I can get locally, i.e. Target, Radio Shack, etc for around $35-ish or under. Something portable, to fit in a pocket. I'm in the Bethesda/Rockville MD area.

Thanks!

dpend said:

Newb asking for advice: What would you recommend that I can get locally, i.e. Target, Radio Shack, etc for around $35-ish or under. Something portable, to fit in a pocket. I'm in the Bethesda/Rockville MD area.

Thanks!

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You did not say what you are looking for.

I am assuming you are looking for monkeys? No, Target and Radio Shack does not sell monkeys. Definitely not monkeys that fit in your pocket.

If you are looking for flashlights, all flashlights are portable, duh! That's the point.

At Target stores, look for the RiverRock 1 AA LED. Pretty bright for a 1 AA light. Less than $35.

and Welcome to CPF!

Not that I know much about brick and mortar inventories, but what are you looking for? Toward the small end, the more powerful end, etc.?

For a long while, the $6 Dorcy 1xAAA at Walmart was considered among the most reliable, useful and best value of lights. It may have been eclipsed by some of the DX/Kai products since, but it is still a very practical EDC. Even better if you can solder in a new LED, which used to be easy to do.

Welcome to CPF, dpend. Probably the brightest, longest throwing, cheap ($30), locally available (Lowe's) is the Task Force 2C with Cree emitter. It is pretty big, and barely pocketable, however. If you plan to carry it regularly a single AA light like the RR Itiu mentioned would do well.

Geoff

All, thanks for the advice and welcome. I'll try to be more specific in future!

ltiu, I'm pretty sure I have seen Monkeys at Radio Shack...

Inova X1 from Target makes a great pocket light. Built like a tank, plenty bright enough for most daily uses. If you want to go up from there the Inova X5 makes a larger floody light that is a tank and runs for along time yet still fits ok in a pocket.

Up from there, and just on the edge of pocket carry, I carry one in my hip pocket fairly well, is the Inova X0. All fit in your ballpark and all are hard to beat quality wise.

Bass Pro in Hanover (Arundel Mills outlet center)

I believe they had a decent selection of flashlights with some Surefires.

JasonC8301 said:

Bass Pro in Hanover (Arundel Mills outlet center)

I believe they had a decent selection of flashlights with some Surefires.

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Let me know if you find a SureFire for less than $35

dpend said:

All, thanks for the advice and welcome. I'll try to be more specific in future!

ltiu, I'm pretty sure I have seen Monkeys at Radio Shack...

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The Radio Shack in my area is lousy with monkeys

Your brightest choice would probably be the Lowe's Task Force. Make sure you get the Cree version. That would be the brightest one.

:welcome:

I agree that the 1AA and 2AA(Camo) River Rocks at Target are pretty darn good for department store flashlights.

ltiu said:

Let me know if you find a SureFire for less than $35

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Surefire G2 is $36... close enough...

The Rayovac Highbeam/Sportsman Extreme 2xAA 1watt and 3watt lights at WalMart and Kmart are a good buy, ~$20 and ~$30 respectively

Dpend

Just wanted to say "hello." I'm also from the Bethesda and Rockville area. You're the first CPF'r I've seen from this area. Welcome aboard.

I know you asked for a local place to purchase, but you can also get some pretty good stuff from Dealextreme.com in China. A lot of us here buy from them. Shipping is included in the price of anything you buy. (Kaidomain.com is similar). Look at this review of bargain priced lights
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/176577

The first paragraph discussion is about a 1 x AA light for $10 that a lot of folks think quite highly of. I have just ordered 7 for myself and friends.

Mag has a 2AA Led version out.

Here is a review - I have 1 and seems fine - I use a Streamlight 2AA Led or Streamlight 4AA Luxon more -

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/maglite_minimagled.htm

mb

dpend said:

Newb asking for advice: What would you recommend that I can get locally, i.e. Target, Radio Shack, etc for around $35-ish or under. Something portable, to fit in a pocket. I'm in the Bethesda/Rockville MD area.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Under those circumstances.... Get a River Rock 1AA model at Target.
But, there's two different types of RR 1AA models. Get the one that comes with the pocket-carry clip and a tailcap switch. It should be about $22. The other version has a small barrel-mounted switch and no clip. It's not as bright.