Absolute Cheapest AA Flashlight

[jag-engr]

I'm working on an emergency kit project (more details in this thread over on EDCF). One of the items that I would like to include is a very cheap, but reasonably efficient flashlight.

My criteria for an emergency flashlight are as follows:
- reasonably efficient (5mm or Luxeon LED, or better)
- able to run on one or two AA batteries, preferably one
- reasonably dependable
- one useful level of 10~30 lumens (ON-OFF UI)
- cheap

I found this one on DX, which honestly looks pretty good for $3.35, but I don't know how consistently it would work. I'd hate to buy fifty of them and only get thirty that work. Does anyone have any experience with this model?

I appreciate any help that anyone out there can offer.

 

[Darvis]

Why not consider the Fenix E01? It's AAA and not AA, but meets all of your other criteria for output and has an enormously long runtime. It will blow away any AA for size and battery weight would be lower as well. You can find them all over the place for $12.50. I would not buy a no-namer as a go-to light and this Fenix is a proven, basic, can't go wrong little light. I can't comment on anything cheaper as I consider this the absolute lowest end of the (cost, not quality) scale light I would trust when the chips are down

 

[DM51]

Wrong forum... moving to Budget Lights...

 

[alpg88]

don't include cheap AA light in your emergency kit.

in my company we buy emergency kits by thousands, the kits most likely to sit for years, and not being used, your cells will most likely leak over those idle years, and when the time comes, your lights will be useless.
more than likely you wont use good quality(expencive) cells, cheap ones will leak in 1 or 2 years.
include 1 or 2 6 inch 12 hour green glow stick, even when expired they still glow, not that bright thou.
just don't get those cheap walmart or coleman sticks, get Cyalume brand ones.
of course if you don't give a damn whether it works or not, than just go to .99c store and buy lights, by me they got plenty of lights in those stores, from key chain light to 3d lights.

 

[sol-leks]

I also think you should go with the fenix E01, but here are a few of the best sub five dollar lights I have found recently. You may very well get some bad ones though, as is the way with cheap lights.

CJ 1watt(there is also a glow in the dark version for a buck more)

powerlight 1xAA

mxdl AAA penlight

I really am fond of the mxdl penlight at the moment, but be careful this guy sometimes mixes up his orders. His other AAA MXDL light is still pretty nice though. The other two 1xAA lights are nice too but I think the MXDL is my favorite. If you want the best quality and runtime though I suggest the Fenix E01 which is still only 15 bucks.

 

[swxb12]

You could buy one of the low priced "gems" on DX but will more than likely end up having to service and/or RMA a small percentage if bought in mass. Lots of points of failure, and a leaky alkaline could do you in as well. (bulk discount L91's could prevent this)

If budget is the ultimate constraint, I'd recommend going with a $1 fauxton or $5 Photon I. Simple design, long runtime, dependable battery.

$12+ range, Fenix E01 or perhaps the 'Mightylite' from Countycomm. I don't have any experience with the latter but it looks useful.

 

[jag-engr]

powerlight 1xAA:

This looks like the best solution that I've seen yet!

If you want the best quality and runtime though I suggest the Fenix E01 which is still only 15 bucks.

I like the Fenix E01, too, but I'm recommending an Energizer Lithium + spare for the kit and while L92 and L91 cells cost the same, they will get more than twice the bang for their buck with the L91 cells. If there were a AA version of the E01, though,...

 

[mcnair55]

Why be so stingy and risk your DX types not being up to the job in an emergency.Plus on the Fenix EO1,bomb proof and run well on a Lithium primary.

The whole point of an emergency kit is that it works straight out of the box,I would not dream of putting some bit of maybe it will or maybe it will not light in it.

If your budget is tight perhaps a little extra fund raising will allow you to secure something like the Fenix plus I am sure if it is for a good cause a dealer or even a few members would send you a couple of bucks towards them.

Bona fida cases always have a vote from me.

I actually read your thread on the other forum and something which is important like light you want the cheapest deal,you are so wrong on this.

 

[boomhauer]

The "emergency" role really gets to the crux of most debates about budget lights. I think most peoples requirements can be met with a $5 - $15 flashlight, for just stashing around the house or using for the ocassional low-stress lighting chore. Some would suggest that only a $60 light could adequately fulfill such tasks, but I would suggest that this is snobbery.

But when the stakes are high, such as for camping, hiking, emergency etc., I would agree with the concept of getting the best light you can afford.

 

[Ian2381]

There are reasonable dependable lights in DX, probably the Tank007 brands but I suggest you put your budget by 10-15 $$.
I still bet you can get a dependable light for emergency at a $5 range.

 

[Ian2381]

I saw a new light on DX. Its 2xAAA powered but seemed good for emergency light.
Waterproof Diving Yellow LED Flashlight with Strap - Blue (2*AAA) -$2.30

 

[boomhauer]

I saw a new light on DX. Its 2xAAA powered but seemed good for emergency light.
Waterproof Diving Yellow LED Flashlight with Strap - Blue (2*AAA) -$2.30

That looks like a filament bulb in the pic. However, I think a good 5mm Nichia LED flashlight might be along the right track - simple, more rugged, and perhaps cheaper than lights with more advanced LEDs.

 

[mcnair55]

Your post started me thinking hard on this and as a rep for a living,I am going to make a small kit up if I ever I get stuck on the dreaded M62 motorway here in the UK in the winter months.If it snows hard enough the risk factor for a closure goes to a high alert status and I have been stuck up there all night before now.

My kit will for sure have a dependable light in it and my choice remains the same the baby Fenix which will give me a long run time and enough light for reading or other needs to secure my safety.I will feed it on a Lithium primary and even pop a spare in the bag.The car lease company provides each driver with a kit for breakdowns etc and in mine is a brand new still in blister double AA cell flashlight of unknown maker and it maybe is well up to the mark but until if and ever I use it I really do not know

 

[spexmaniac]

I was recently in Home depot, they had some small cluster led lights, about 2.5 inches long, I think they were called a contractor pack, 15 flashlights with batteries for $16. I would have dismissed them as rubbish but I bought an identical flashlight a couple of years ago (for $4) and it still lives in the bottom of my tool bag and still going strong. (I'd wouldn't rely on the free batteries for long term emergency use or storage)
Another option to consider would be the glow light from Life+Gear flashlight, glow light, whistle for $6 each with lithium watch type batteries so no likilyhood of leakage in storage. http://www.lifegearcompany.com/glowsticks/index.html
As a final thought, you could drop an email to Maglite, streamlight, pelican products and princeton tec (and anybody else who has items you may need) explaining your needs and they may offer "trade" or heavily discounted prices, possibly even some freebees.
Slightly o/t but I can't post in edc forum at the moment, for high energy bars we have something here called "kendal mint cake" it is often found in UK military survival kits because it doesn't melt like chocolate does. if there is a similar product available locally it might be ideal.
hth
John

 

[Lynx_Arc]

If you are going to use cheap lights.. put more than one of them in your kit. To be honest I wouldn't make an emergency kit using only one light because if one for some reason failed a second one or even third one would be useful.

 

[Egsise]

I'm working on an emergency kit project (more details in this thread over on EDCF). One of the items that I would like to include is a very cheap, but reasonably efficient flashlight.

My criteria for an emergency flashlight are as follows:
- reasonably efficient (5mm or Luxeon LED, or better)
- able to run on one or two AA batteries, preferably one
- reasonably dependable
- one useful level of 10~30 lumens (ON-OFF UI)
- cheap

I found this one on DX, which honestly looks pretty good for $3.35, but I don't know how consistently it would work. I'd hate to buy fifty of them and only get thirty that work. Does anyone have any experience with this model?

I appreciate any help that anyone out there can offer.

I have similar needs:

Ok, so far the NF-05 is the only one that fills the criteria.

Pros: 3.35$, 1xAA, single mode ~12 OTF lumens, ~8 hour runtime to 50% brightness with 2000mAh NiMH, overdischarge protection at 1.0V(i'm not sure about this but mine definitely shutted off at ~1.0V).

Cons: Beam is blue and filled with artifacts, needs 5 min tweaking before it works reliably because the "driver" needs to be attached properly, i used some hockey stick tape for that.

Output vs power consumption is poor compared to new leds which would give 2-3 times longer runtime, but for 3.35$ what can you expect.

I prefer the 1xAA model because I can use rechargeables in them and there's no chance ruining it by overdischarging the battery.
Also rechargeables don't leak when stored.
Downside with this model is that when the battery is depleted the flashlight dies in minutes.

 

[mcnair55]

A little o/t but as spexmaniac says Kendle Mint cake or something near would be ideal for your kits.The product is from the Lake District but these days many decent sweet shops sell it.

Basically if you go to the Lakes on holiday you more than likely will buy a bar,sort of the thing everyone at some stage just does.

 

[dealgrabber2002]

check fleebay. I remembered seeing them for ~ $5 shipped

 

[jag-engr]

I actually read your thread on the other forum and something which is important like light you want the cheapest deal,you are so wrong on this.

I actually want the cheapest dependable light. It doesn't need to have great fit and finish, be bright, or have modes. It just needs to consistently work and have no frills.

 

[mcnair55]

I actually want the cheapest dependable light. It doesn't need to have great fit and finish, be bright, or have modes. It just needs to consistently work and have no frills.

I understand where you are coming from but how are you going to measure dependable? Dependable items have to pass rigorous tests before they are classed as suitable for packs like you are going to give out,if the light makes no big difference and is not for a life threatening scenario any cheap light will fulfill your needs I guess.

Years ago I was a member of the RNLI and the survival life rafts from ships at the time carried emergency kits sealed up comprising of several different items,after a time period they had to be replaced and presuming that still is the case.We had one to play with comprising of a huge multi man raft and the box of goodies,morphine was handed over to the local police for destruction but all other items we messed about with and actually used the smoke and flares for a mock rescue to raise extra funds in the summer months.