AAA Alternative

[Illumination]

Looking for a good AAA light...primarily for tip-toeing around the house at night...etc. Don't need anything too bright. I'm not looking for the brightest out there...if I was I'd probably be looking at another brand. Instead I'm looking for something very high quality and functional for indoor use.

I have an Arc AAA Snow and am looking for something similar...perhaps a tiny bit brighter.

Was thinking of the Matterhorn 3 led in stainless. Does Peak still make the knurled (not smooth) stainless steel AAA bodies with a lug? They were on the 2006 Catalog (on CD) that I received in 2007. Don't see them on the website.

Thanks.

 

[paulr]

I think they still have the ss lug bodies. I'm going to be upset if they don't since i've been wanting to buy one.

The AAA snow is pretty bright once you're dark adapted. The 3-led matterhorn would be brighter but not by all that much. If you want something brighter the next step up would be a Baltic. Unfortunately that's not available with a lug.

Frankly for tip-toeing around the house I'd want something dimmer than an AAA snow, not brighter. I usually use a CMG Infinity with a red led.

 

[Theatre Booth Guy]

Give Peak a call and get one of the Baltic's. I really like my stainless version with the XR (low output) and the battery seems to last forever!
As to stainless texture, all my Peak stainless lights are smooth.

Another very nice option from Peak is the brass material. My current most used light is a brass, XR, P4 Pacific. The output on both is perfect for dark adapted eyes around the house (I get home from work late and it helps avoid waking my wife).

 

[NutSAK]

TBG, I've been contemplating a "XLR" P4 Pacific, but I don't know how bright they are. How does the output compare to another common light, such as the ARC AAA?

Thanks!

 

[Theatre Booth Guy]

TBG, I've been contemplating a "XLR" P4 Pacific, but I don't know how bright they are. How does the output compare to another common light, such as the ARC AAA?

Thanks!

I've got the Peak version of the AAA and the XLR P4 Pacific is a little brighter, much whiter and runs nearly forever on an AA cell (40 hours with no dimming followed by 72 hours of dropping output according to Curt at Peak).
The XLR seems perfect for indoors with dark adapted eyes (maybe even a little too bright for that) and also for close up work such as inside professional audio racks or computer racks if you don't need a super bright light.

 

[Illumination]

I think I am going to go with a 3 LED Matterhorn if Peak still has the knurled/lug style available. The CD contained about 30 files...it was in one of them.

Peak would sell so many more lights if they had a better website or at least better communicated what products were available.

 

[NutSAK]

Brian,

Thanks--that's exactly the type of description I was looking for. I think I'll have to order a Pacific XLR w/AA pocket body.

 

[Illumination]

The Matterhorn is awesome )and I am comparing it to some great competition). Not the brightest, and compared to Crees and Seouls, not the whitest, but for its size and for everyday use this light is awesome. Super functional and great looking. I love the lug style with knurling - great looking light. The stainless steel is bombproof - much more interesting than black HA aluminum.

I'd love to see a two stage light in this body with a cree or seoul led and a low and high setting (like a Millermod ARC). That is my Holy Grail.

 

[Theatre Booth Guy]

Brian,

Thanks--that's exactly the type of description I was looking for. I think I'll have to order a Pacific XLR w/AA pocket body.

I'll be curious to see what you think - seems like most people are looking for the brightest, most impressive light.

 

[NutSAK]

I'll be curious to see what you think - seems like most people are looking for the brightest, most impressive light.

I'll be sure to let you know. While I'm impressed by the brightness that the current crop of emitters can produce, I'm equally--if not more--impressed by the efficiency of them at low current. Who would have thought three years ago that you could have great tint, beam quality and long runtime?

That's what has always attracted me to Peak, actually. They offer such a variety of power characteristics to you in the same, well-machined package.