1x AAA EDC that starts in Medium?

[Muse]

I've bought more than 1/2 dozen iTP A3 EOS Upgrade Version 1 flashlights over several years. My chief complaint (by and large I love them!) is that they start in Low. I'd prefer the order to be Medium / Low / High.

I think I read some years ago that they initially designed it to go Medium / Low / High and got a lot of complaints and changed it to start in Low.

Well, I want to buy a few more 1x AAA flashlights, and have been surveying what they're selling at Amazon and the array seems endless. I figured I should ask here.

I'm not fussy about beam dispersion. I'm partially color blind (have no green cones in my eyes, it's called total green blindness, "deuteroptic"), which might be a factor.

I want the flashlight to start in Medium intensity. I don't care if it stands on end, I prefer no strobe, or if it has a strobe, be able to bypass that in the sequence.

A reversible clip would be nice, there are times I want to put it on the bill of my baseball cap if I don't have my bike light with me at night. Other than that, if I need a quick handless light I usually just put mine in my mouth for a few seconds.

In short:

Start in Medium
Reversible clip
Able to remove chain
Strobe not necessary, or if present, optionally not in twist sequence
Doesn't have to stand on end

Thanks for help.

PS Saturday, 12/19/2015 -- I forgot to mention that I do like a twisty. I didn't think I would at first, but all the little EDC carry that I've had (just the ITP A03s) have been twisties and they have been great and trouble free. I don't think I'd like a clickie now. I just ordered a Lumintop Tool, which I believe is both a twistie and a clickie. It's a bit long compared to what I'm used to but I'll give it a try. At ~$20 it's not too expensive.

 

[Thetasigma]

AAA Maratac Rev 3. The Ti and Copper models both have a M, L, H order, no memory and no strobe. They are offered by CountyComm and occasionally as MassDrop drops.
Latest supplies also happen to be PWM free Drivers if you care about that.
The beam is decent, no funky artifacts and it has a moderate hotspot for some throw, while still having a good enough spill for close work.
Clip is reversible since it is a a snap on. Runtime on medium is pretty nice, and high isn't bad either. AA models are basically the same light if you wanted a AA model as well.
Stainless and Brass are also offered, however they are currently out of stock till next year.

 

[mcbrat]

The Maratac Rev 3 AAA lights are M-L-H

 

[scout24]

I, personally, would check out Vinh's offerings in Custom builders and modders. He has a selection of drivers available, and can probably build what you want from pretty much any donor light. He does have standard offerings as well. Choice of emitters, choice of driver, and not everything he builds has to be a pocket rocket. An email with your requirements would probably get a quick response.

 

[wolfstyle]

The Lumintop Tool. A great AAA clickie that is M-L-H.

 

[Muse]

Thanks for the suggestions. If you don't mind, links would be cool, that way I don't have to do the search engine thing. Thanks again.

The Lumintop Tool. A great AAA clickie that is M-L-H.

I'm having a look at that at Amazon. It's a little long at 3.2". The L-M-H ones I have are ~2.75" long. Still, I might buy one. Will check out the reviews.

 

[jkevind11]

Fenix LD02

 

[herektir]

Surprised noone said anything about the newest version of his light the olight i3s, starts on med. 20,80,.5 lumens. Hidden strobe, reversable clip, tailstands, and 20 bucks if on sale.

 

[127.0.0.1]

fenix ld01 1xAAA starts in medium

 

[wacbzz]

Fenix LD 02

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?386244-Fenix-LD02-AAA-Clicky-with-CLip

 

[HippieTom]

+1. One of my best buys. I really like everything about this light. I like that you can change modes in 3 different ways

EDIT: I see i did not quote the tekst. It was the Lumintop Tool AAA i was refering to.

 

[snowlover91]

I would go with the Maratac AAA, they have titanium and copper and if you wait till January should have stainless steel available also. The starting medium mode I find is perfect at around 40 lumens, beam pattern is nice with a good balance of flood and throw. Glow in the dark o-ring is nice also. Here is a link to it. http://countycomm.com/aaacopper.html

 

[jon_slider]

Another vote for the Maratac AAA Copper. Or if you want a really light weight light, Olight i3s.
Neither comes in High CRI N219. The Maratac is brighter on all modes. Both are twisties, the Olight is by FAR the smoothest threads for one hand operation (I actually remove the O ring on my Maratacs, makes them much easier to use one handed).

I recommend you avoid titanium twisty lights, due to gritty threads.

IF you want N219, the Copper Tool (clickie) and Copper Worm (twistie) are also MLH mode sequence, brightness similar to Olight i3s

 

[gurdygurds]

I agree that the Lumintop Tool is a great buy. Great levels, nice clicky, and rugged.

 

[jon_slider]

Lumintop Tool is a great buy.

good point, the Alum is very inexpensive

Im in a Copper phase the tool comes in both XP-G2 and N219 options, the Maratac comes with XP-G2

I prefer the twisty Maratac but want High CRI. Hoping to test lego head swap with a N219 Tool and N219 Worm I have ordered.
comparing High and Low CRI, Maratac on right:

N219 80 Lumens (not as bright, but much more red spectrum)

Maratac 138 Lumens (much less red spectrum, but much more brightness, over 70% brighter)

 

[Muse]

I forgot to mention that I do like a twisty. I didn't think I would at first, but all the little EDC carries that I've had (just the iTP A3 EOS Upgrade Version 1's) have been twisties and they have been great and trouble free. I don't think I'd like a clickie now. I just ordered a Lumintop Tool, which I believe is both a twistie and a clickie. It's a bit long compared to what I'm used to but I'll give it a try. At ~$20 it's not too expensive.

Another thing, I have two of my iTP A3 EOS Upgrade Version 1's that I keep attached to magnets. A couple of others are not. I don't know if the Lumintop Tool would stick to a magnet, if not it'll get alternative use. :naughty:

 

[jon_slider]

I don't know if the Lumintop Tool would stick to a magnet

Yes it will, but only when there is a battery inside
Batteries stick to magnets, even if the battery is inside a non magnetic tube of copper, aluminum, titanium, or stainless.

mode sequences of lights that start on Medium:

Maratac, 40-1.5-138 lumens
Olight i3s, 20-80-0.5 lumens
Tool, 32-5-110 lumens

 

[snowlover91]

Question about batteries and magnets.. Can the battery's polarity be affected by the presence of a magnet, especially lithium ion?

 

[creegeek]

I've looked for a AAA EDC and I discovered the MecArmu SGN3 - have a look here: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?411992-*New*-MecArmy-SGN3-keychain-light

 

[Muse]

Well, I just received my Lumintop Tool. Am I missing something? No illumination, period. Have tried two fully charged Eneloops and an Alkaline that my multimeter says gives out 1.54v. Clickie or twistie, nothing happens. I got it through Amazon, I will call them if it's for sure bad. I suppose it has to be, right?

Edit: Now it's working!

I didn't realize that it opens two ways. I opened from the top like I'm used to with my iTP A3. I opened the bottom, it still didn't work but then it did. Don't know exactly what the mechanism is. I thought you have to start it by clicking and thereafter you can shut off by clicking or twisting? There's no instructions with it.

It's real stiff to turn. I figure to put some petroleum jelly on the threads, hope it loosens it up. I'm used to turning on, changing modes with my iTP A3 with one hand.