"AA" or "AAA" Flashlight Advice

[Troop#26]

Hey guys, I come searching for yet more advise. Im a little out of date on the above noted chemistry (Im used to the 18650 group).

Im taking a trip to Thailand in the comming months with two girls, were going to be backpacking hosteling it while overseas. Ive been put in charge of flashlights and knives for the trip and I am seeking advise.

I want a simple to use, multiple output, LED "AA" or "AAA" flashlight. I obviously want a good build quality, but I need to buy 3 of them so Im looking to do it on the cheap, somewhere around $30 a peice, but that is a little flexable. This has to fit multiple hands from a small female to a large male. Im looking for light weight as well, thought I don't think there are many "HEAVY' options. Longer run times are always nice too... but my primary concearn is UI as Im not a big fan of having to "CYCLE" though different LED modes with a clicky as in many Drop In LED mods.

Im just looking for a few brands, maybe some of the smaller ones. Anything that you guys can note that have innovative UI would also be awsome, cost not withstanding.Thanks in advance,Stephen

 

[HKJ]

I have most of the AAA lights listed here http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=229430

Some of the good ones for you will probably be LumaPower Avenger GX, Fenix LD01 or LiteFlux LF2XT.
They are all multilevel, the GX has 3 fixed level, selected with a button, the LD01 has to be twisted on/off to select level and the LF2XT changes level when the button is held down (If you do not changed the programming in it).

Another nice and small light is the NiteCore EZAA, it uses a AA battery and only has two levels, screw it together to get low and tighten it more to get high. I have compared it to some other lights here: http://www.lygte-info.dk/review/Beamshoot NiteCore EZAA comparison UK.html

 

[jankj]

For this purpose I'd recommend that the UI is such as to always comes on in low mode. Anyone can grab this light, turn it on and will have enough light for close proximity tasks while at the same time conserving batteries without having to worry about it. With "high" on first, the flashaholic(s) in the group have the choice of let the ignorant needlessly waste batteries or be a pain in the neck with your constant mantra of "turn it down, turn it DOWN, TURN IT DOWN! We haven't that many batteries." Most people grab a light, fiddle around untill desired effect (light) and then immediately proceed to do what they were doing and really don't care if its 3, 10, 50 or 200 lumens. When done you are lucky if they remember to turn it off.


The non-flashaholics in your group want to have holiday, and hearing you nagging about battery conservation, multi mode and "just press that button again, please" is going to be a friction. Avoid it... And for those few occations where the low mode is not enough, the principle of "add more light by (half)-clicking again" is very intuitive to master.


To my knowledge, zebralight H50 and fenix LD10, LD20 fit the above description, but they are well above your $30 budget. BTW, I really recommend bringing headlamps (and the zebralight is perfect for your task). Apart from zebralight, finding a headlamp that starts in low first is next to impossible, so you probably need to relax on that part. If the H50 is too expensive or otherwise you don't like it, look in the headlamp section and check out the princeton can't-remember-the-name for a nice, small and inexpensive 3*AAA headlamp that won't break easily. Or just buy some dirt cheap no-brand 3*AAA headlamps at your local brick and mortar store and consider them breakable. Most likely, they will survive the entire trip without any damage.

For looking through backpacks, finding your way to the "bathroom" and similar mundane tasks, less light is actually preferred. It preserves night vision and is less disturbing to others. Consider the fenix E01, which is 1*AAA, incredible robust and with long run time. It is single mode and only $15. Buy one each and then you still have room in your budget for other things. Consider that even though something more powerful (such as fenix LD20?) is handy at times, it is not nescessary that each of your party has one.


This is what I would do in your situation:

• One each of a dirt cheap 3*AAA headlamp. (Breakable, but not likely to break during the trip. These are typically direct drive, which is not not held in high regard at CPF, but direct drive is actually an OK choice for this application: Direct drive will typically give a looooooong run time with diminishing, but still useable output).
• One each of a fenix E01 ($15). Very small, very robust, very simple, and cheap.
• Your $30/each budget should now leave room for at least one more expensive "bump-in-the-night" light that is 2*AA. The fenix LD20 is perfect (small, robust, simple to use (low always first), long runtime, really powerful on high).

 

[Tom_123]

Though above of your price range, I'd take a look at 4Sevens' Quark AA tactical.
It has two modes switched by twisting the head and each mode can be set to your liking.
I'm quite happy with this light, though I can't say much about the reliability,
as I got it just some days ago.

For a budget light, I'd take a look at shining beam, he has some decent AA lights.

Hope that helps somehow
Thomas

 

[Tixx]

MARATAC AAA Flashlight - For Them
http://countycomm.com/aaa.html

AA Tactical Flashlight - For you
http://countycomm.com/9290.html

 

[Moonshadow]

I'm not entirely convinced by the headlamps.

If you know what you are doing, and especially if you are working on your own, a headlamp is great for keeping your hands free.

But in a group situation, and particularly in the hands (on the heads ?) of relatively inexperienced users, they can be a real pest. They tend to go around shining them all over the place, especially into each other's faces.

There you are, all nicely dark-adapted, and someone comes up to you. Naturally, they want to see who it is in the dark, so they'll look you right in the face - not realising that they've just blinded you ! :scowl:

No amount of explanation will do any good - so unless you want to spend the entire trip telling people to point that &%*$%**ing light in some other direction, I'd go with the E01 suggestion.

 

[ZMZ67]

I'm not entirely convinced by the headlamps.

If you know what you are doing, and especially if you are working on your own, a headlamp is great for keeping your hands free.

But in a group situation, and particularly in the hands (on the heads ?) of relatively inexperienced users, they can be a real pest. They tend to go around shining them all over the place, especially into each other's faces.

There you are, all nicely dark-adapted, and someone comes up to you. Naturally, they want to see who it is in the dark, so they'll look you right in the face - not realising that they've just blinded you ! :scowl:

No amount of explanation will do any good - so unless you want to spend the entire trip telling people to point that &%*$%**ing light in some other direction, I'd go with the E01 suggestion.

That is a good point about headlamps that is rarely mentioned here!To the OP I would look at the info provided by HKJ and make your choice from there.$30 is a little low if you could go $40-$50 it would open up a wide variety of good options in AAA lights.Also consider Photon Freedoms as back-ups they can be found for a little over $10 ea. and are more reliable than the cheap keychain lights.

 

[sol-leks]

I think you should go for a AA solution unless you really want something that can fit on a keychain. For 1xaa lights in your price range, maybe the AA akoray from dealextreme or if you can find it the lumapower connexion x1 can be found for around 35 bucks, just a little over your price range. Also the romisen rc-g2 with q5 emitter from shiningbeam might also be a good option for 20 bucks although that only has 1 mode.
Is a 2xaa light too big? That would give you some more options
Also maybe 1 or two of these as a backup might be useful:
http://www.goldengadgets.com/p1781/CJ-1-Watt-Pocket-LED-Flashlight/product_info.html
For the price I think its a great light, but of course it does not really compare to some of the lights you can get for 20 or 30 bucks, still might come in handy.
That maratac AA looks really sweet too, for 9 bucks over your limit it seems like a great option.

 

[Kestrel]

[Regarding high modes:] the flashaholic(s) in the group have the choice of let the [unenlightened] needlessly waste batteries or be a pain in the neck with your constant mantra of "turn it down, turn it DOWN, TURN IT DOWN! We haven't that many batteries." Most people grab a light, fiddle around until desired effect (light) and then immediately proceed to do what they were doing and really don't care if its 3, 10, 50 or 200 lumens.
[...]
For looking through backpacks, finding your way to the "bathroom" and similar mundane tasks, less light is actually preferred. It preserves night vision and is less disturbing to others. Consider the fenix E01, which is 1*AAA, incredible robust and with long run time. It is single mode and only $15. Buy one each and then you still have room in your budget for other things. Consider that even though something more powerful (such as fenix LD20?) is handy at times, it is not nescessary that each of your party has one.

+1 on the E01's. I think that multimode lights for non-flashaholics could provide less utility for them than it would add aggravation for you, my two cents.

I like the Fenix E01 (1xAAA) idea - decent-quality, simple, single-mode lights which leave room in the budget for one (rather more expensive) 2xAA 'bump-in-the-night' multi-mode high-output light. An added benefit are the multiple colors available - if everyone gets one identical black light, it's pretty much guaranteed that when one gets misplaced it will be difficult to find - nobody knows which one was lost (or even when it was lost). In fact, it will be doubtful that anybody will even be aware that one of them is missing until much too late - you've moved on to the next location. On the other hand, if the 'blue one' is missing, for example, it's easier to find it than to make sure that all three black lights are accounted for.
Each girl might enjoy having a flashlight in 'her' color as well. :huh:

• 3x Fenix E01 = 3x$15 = $45 (I promise that you would find 'your' E01 just as useful as the much larger 'bump in the night' 2xAA light and would enjoy both) sssh: psst - you might even treat youself to an LD01 instead of an E01, but don't tell the girls.)
• 1x Fenix L2T 2xAA= $50 (Has two useful modes - 16 & 150 lumens :thumbsup:, not med-low-high-sos-strobe-BatSignal-PizzaDelivery-etc). Even with only medium-sized hands, I like 2xAAA & 2xAA more than the tiny 1xAAA lights for extended use, although the 1xAAA is perfect for pocket backups.

Total, $95, approx. equal to initial $90 budget.
Enjoy your trip,

 

[NonSenCe]

AA for better runtime. and also easier to find than AAA.

have atleast one flashlight with you that actually has a strobe or sos or something similar "alerting and attention getting" light mode. (something like quark tactical model would be nice or the akoray.. as the blinker mode can be programmed out of the way of normal light modes)

people have given such a good suggestions so far..

fenix e01 is a good option ( i dont like mine but i am so picky with tint color so forget my personal pet peeve. build quality is nice. tiny, and very easy to use, enough power in darkness, easy to carry as its lightweight)

akoray 1AA is good option in 20$ range..but delivery times are not to be counted. if there is plenty time. pick 3-4 of them to go. (one spare, get always one extra one with you.. never trust only to bring one for each.) it just is the cheapest programmable 3 mode light. you can program them to be lowest-low-medium and the runtimes will be nice. and the spare one you could prog to be high and blinker modes.. (and they all can be re-programmed by user in "in the field" too if needed)

always have a backup lights thats why go and buy those cheap keychain fauxtons from dx (order 10 of them for 4.50$) that way each backpack has one tied into it. and one into most used pants beltloop or keychain has one too. and still have 4 to spread around (or give away to locals whom been helpful)

shiningbeam romisen n3 for 2AA light (the 2mode version) is good option if the 2aa is ok as size and weight. 25$ each. (also think it this way, you can buy few cr123 batteries and use it as small flashlight, and take the 2aa body with you.. and if/when the cr123s run out, you could buy AA batteries locally into it.)

for little more money:
or iTP c7 or c8T simple on/off light that has very easy ramping up or down way.. loosen the head to start it and tighten when its enough. (they will be in 40$ range)

 

[sol-leks]

+1 on the dx keychain light 10 packs, they are awesome.

 

[applevision]

Excellent advice all around.

I think that from what I've read here, you basically can't go wrong.

I am a huge fan of the Fenix LD01 AAA light. I think it is a true workhorse, simple to use, a master of efficiency and on my keychain everyday despite access to many other great lights including the EZAA (another great choice, especially for your purposes), the LD10, the Fenix E01 (which I agree is simple/well-made/cheap but has a crummy tint and very low output at the same size of the LD01), and some other pricey lights like the Lummi Wee and Drake.

Also agree on the dx keychain light 10 packs; can never have too much light!:twothumbs

 

[EntropyQ3]

Jankj, Kestrel and others give good advice. I'd like to throw in another E01 endorsement, and suggest an outsider - the Photon Freedom keychain light.
It is much smaller than any AAA light, gives quite respectable light on max when you just click it on (exactly E01 level = L0D-Q4 on low), but additionally offers continously variable output scaling from from low to high which is awesomely practical in tents or rooms at night when you don't want to disturb the sleeping. They are very easy to attach to anything, and come in different colours - Kestrel makes a good point.

When it's dark you really don't need much light to find your way around the insides of a tent or hotel room nor for that matter finding your path outdoor. Filling the dark areas in otherwise well lit rural environments is where lots of lumen are needed, but - I've never really had to do that, not at home, and definitely not abroad!

 

[leon2245]

With "high" on first, the flashaholic(s) in the group have the choice of let the ignorant needlessly waste batteries or be a pain in the neck with your constant mantra of "turn it down, turn it DOWN, TURN IT DOWN! We haven't that many batteries." Most people grab a light, fiddle around untill desired effect (light) and then immediately proceed to do what they were doing and really don't care if its 3, 10, 50 or 200 lumens. When done you are lucky if they remember to turn it off.


The non-flashaholics in your group want to have holiday, and hearing you nagging about battery conservation, multi mode and "just press that button again, please" is going to be a friction. Avoid it...

:laughing: