AA alternatives for Surefire E2L?

[Epic Win]

I was hell bent on buying an E2L but "accidentally" bought a Surefire A2 aviator. I had two reasons for my interest in E2L. First, I wanted a flashlight that could last for hours on a single pair of batteries. Second, I wanted a Surefire flashlight because they are sort of "luxury" flashlights. Having bought the aviator, I now have a Surefire flashlight that has even better reviews than E2L. (Maybe its a weird reason for letting go of an E2L :thinking:) Then I began looking for alternatives, specially in the AA universe. I have ordered a Fenix LD20 which I may give away to my family if it cannot outperform E2L. Are there really any alternatives to E2L that are driven by AA cells and are of the same size? LED technology has advanced much since Surefire started making these lights. Maybe there is a light out there.

 

[SuperTrouper]

I was hell bent on buying an E2L but "accidentally" bought a Surefire A2 aviator. I had two reasons for my interest in E2L. First, I wanted a flashlight that could last for hours on a single pair of batteries. Second, I wanted a Surefire flashlight because they are sort of "luxury" flashlights. Having bought the aviator, I now have a Surefire flashlight that has even better reviews than E2L. (Maybe its a weird reason for letting go of an E2L :thinking:) Then I began looking for alternatives, specially in the AA universe. I have ordered a Fenix LD20 which I may give away to my family if it cannot outperform E2L. Are there really any alternatives to E2L that are driven by AA cells and are of the same size? LED technology has advanced much since Surefire started making these lights. Maybe there is a light out there.

This might be a while in coming but Surefire have an 2xAA version of the E2L in their catalogue for this year..... Might that be exactly what you were looking for?

 

[jhc37013]

Take a look into the new XP-G Eagletac P20A2 MKll.

http://www.eagletac-usa.com/products/product.aspx?pid=1-4-6862

 

[Paul_in_Maryland]

Many of us consider the $50 Fenix TK20 to be the ideal 2AA outdoor light. Of all my LED lights, the TK20 comes closest to rendering greens and browns as an incan would. Its twist bezel lets you step down to a low mode; it's not a "lasts forever 5 lumen" mode, but it's something like 40 lumens. And TK stands for Tank, as in "built like a tank." It's thick and rubberized, a joy to hold.

Alternatively, you can buy a premium 2AA Surefire C-type body--say, a FiveMega 2AA from Lighthound.com--and add a Surefire C-type bezel and P60 dropin of your choice.

 

[kramer5150]

:twothumbs my comments in line:twothumbs

Having bought the aviator, I now have a Surefire flashlight that has even better reviews than E2L. (Maybe its a weird reason for letting go of an E2L :thinking:)

I don't know what reviews you were referring too, but IMHO the A2 is not clearly "better" than the E2L... just different. I have both and have encountered situations where one is preferable to the other. **EDIT** My A2 is the incan version... FWIW.

Then I began looking for alternatives, specially in the AA universe. I have ordered a Fenix LD20 which I may give away to my family if it cannot outperform E2L.

These two are very different lights, depending on your performance criteria, one may clearly outperform the other... or it may be a close race.

Are there really any alternatives to E2L that are driven by AA cells and are of the same size? LED technology.

No, 2AA is bigger than the E2L. Even the surefire 2AA version of the E2L is bigger (longer) than the CR123 version. The only lights i can think of that are smaller than the E2L are the 2xCR123 and 1AA tube shaped designs.

 

[carrot]

The E2L-AA is "coming soon" and while it is enormous (because 2AA is a stupidly large form factor) it is a valid alternative.

Also, I consider the Surefire ICON Rogue 2 to be very inexpensive 2AA alternative to the E2L. It still has an excellent heft, is quite sturdy, and has the same user interface. Different beam, though, more similar to the 6P/P60.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

No light without the excellent TIR optics will outperform a real E2L. Your best bet is to wait for the real thing...

 

[Epic Win]

This might be a while in coming but Surefire have an 2xAA version of the E2L in their catalogue for this year..... Might that be exactly what you were looking for?

Aaargh! E2L?!! 2xAA?!! I'm in love already!!! :hitit:

 

[:)>]

No light without the excellent TIR optics will outperform a real E2L. Your best bet is to wait for the real thing...

Agreed. That was exactly what I was thinking. The E1L, E2L lights are simply fantastic. The AA option makes it even more attractive.

 

[Paul_in_Maryland]

Aaargh! E2L?!! 2xAA?!! I'm in love already!!! :hitit:

And I'll bet it will run even brighter on a pair of nickel-zinc (NiZn) rechargeables (from Amazon), rated at 1.6 to 1.7V under load, especially in cold weather, where nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) AAs lose their mojo.

 

[dcycleman]

i'd just get an E2L. Its my best light. The power went out the other day and all I used was the 3 Lumen mode. In true dark that mode seems plenty bright. and the 60 Lumen mode rocks.

 

[kramer5150]

i'd just get an E2L. Its my best light. The power went out the other day and all I used was the 3 Lumen mode. In true dark that mode seems plenty bright. and the 60 Lumen mode rocks.

FWIW... my E2L did 110 OTF at the 3 minute mark in bigchelis' sphere. 60 surefire lumens = 110 bigchelis lumens.:)

 

[GarageBoy]

LOL @ the thought of 2AA is stupid large, man are we jaded...
Theres a few after market tubes that already are in the 2AA size and are E series threaded

 

[carrot]

It sure is stupidly large. I can carry a 3x123 700 lumen light for the same length. With a 2xAA the most you can hope for is a hair over 200 lumens.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

It sure is stupidly large. I can carry a 3x123 700 lumen light for the same length. With a 2xAA the most you can hope for is a hair over 200 lumens.

A BIG +1 on that!

Cheers.

 

[GarageBoy]

It sure is stupidly large. I can carry a 3x123 700 lumen light for the same length. With a 2xAA the most you can hope for is a hair over 200 lumens.

So in the same theory, the M6 is stupid large as its only 500 lms? The McLux, is also stupid large, as I can carry a 1xCR2 light that gives me that much light =p

 

[carrot]

Apples to oranges my flashaholic brother. It is unjust to compare incandescents to LEDs.

As for CR123A vs. CR2, you have a point, but CR123A is not 3x as large as a CR2 the way 2xAA is.

 

[Kestrel]

I can carry a 3x123 700 lumen light for the same length. With a 2xAA the most you can hope for is a hair over 200 lumens.

A BIG +1 on that!

Agreed, another +1 to that. However, for 2xAA fans, the AA version of the E2L has a certain attractiveness:

(C) SureFire, all rights reserved, etc etc...

Much discussion of this light is in the Surefire’s 2010 New Lights Discussion thread.

 

[banana_clip]

I like that new AA light. Those new lights look nice, especially the multimode one with 5/50/150 lumens.

 

[Gatsby]

I love my E2L and this light is not quite a direct replacement, but the Liteflux LF3 has a 2xAA body available. It would be more like a 2xAA Novatac/Ra than E2L as it is programmable, but you could set it up as a two mode light and have basically the same cycling as the E2L and you get to pick you levels...