BANG 4 THE BUCK CHAMP POLL

[FASTCAR]

Im curious:

What do CPF folks think is the 1AA and 1 AAA BFTB champ?
Im not asking the guys that have 1 light an assume its the best on earth.

Those that have many of these lights please chime in.
I have tested 100 or so lights, nearly none are this format.

The reason I made this thread is :

I do some work at a hospital for kids.My gal thinks it would be "cute" if I handed out 25 lights.She seems to think the kids would love them.

Brand matters not, I don't want total junk though.


**Remember, I dont just want the most lumens. This is about the ratio of quality and price.

Thanks
Fastcar

 

[TigerhawkT3]

You could get Fenix, SL, Inova, or DX (Ultrafire/etc.) lights. Could you give a more specific price range?

 

[bondr006]

I would keep it simple. One mode clicky or twisty. I would also suggest AA batteries for the run time, and they are cheap and easy to find. That said....DX has a bunch that fit this description. Your other option is the RiverRock 1 Watt AA at Target. It is a single clicky, and puts out 30 - 40 Lumens. My 4 year old loves his.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5611

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4949 Very good deal at $8.95

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3266 Looks nicest IMO $19.95

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1890 Another nice one. 80 Lumens $12.95

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4753

 

[fishx65]

If lumens don't matter, I would say the little Dorcy. I love my DX MTE's but have read about flickering problems which I wouldn't want to disappoint a child with. $150.00 for 25 Dorcy's! $500.00 for 25 River Rock 1AA's.

 

[jirik_cz]

If you have no problem with buying lights from DX, I would definitely recommend 1xAA Ultrafire C3 ( sku.1993 ). It is not the brightest 1xAA light, but it has good build quality and good runtime. Check review on http://lightreviews.info/uf_c3/review.html
Here on CPF is a lot of threads about it too.

 

[Grubbster]

I would recommend the Dorcy 1AAA light you can pick up from Walmart, Kmart, etc. They are about $5 a piece and are great for kids. They come in a lot of colors and are pretty hard to tear up. Local availability is a big plus.

 

[orbital]

+

FASTCAR, keep it simple for the kids.

I let my nephew play around with my UltraFire C3 and he was thrilled.
(the look in his eyes was like he just found treasure)

The C3 is good quality, decent amount of light, and at $17 with holster its hard to beat.


http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1993

 

[L.E.D.]

+1 for the hFlash HF2. $19.95 and the thing kinda looks like a Surefire L1 Lumamax (probably not as high grade of aluminum, but whaddya expect) and is very well built, not to mention outperforms an L1. Also, with lithium, this thing outperforms my 4D Mag w/ Terralux 6EX w/ SSC P4 in overall output (not throw of course). The light does not get burning hot either, due to it's sheer mass. I've read that the circuit is nice as well, TOPMET. Great deal at 20 bucks, considering I spent 40 on the Digi-Tac I at Fry's Electronics (unregulated 1aa 1 watt lux with not as good of build, manufactured out of the US as well). If I saw the hFlash for 60 right next to the Digi-Tac, I would've easily gone with the hFlash.

---Quote from bondr006---
I would keep it simple. One mode clicky or twisty. I would also suggest AA batteries for the run time, and they are cheap and easy to find. That said....DX has a bunch that fit this description. Your other option is the RiverRock 1 Watt AA at Target. It is a single clicky, and puts out 30 - 40 Lumens. My 4 year old loves his.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5611

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4949 Very good deal at $8.95

((edit))hFlash HF2---> http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3266 Looks nicest IMO $19.95 <---hFlash HF2((edit))

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1890 Another nice one. 80 Lumens $12.95

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4753

 

[Gunner12]

I'd avoid the Simply Cree and the DX-one mode. Bad build quality and the first one isn't very bright.

The Kaidomain 5-mode seems pretty good but I don't think you would want kids running around with a strobe mode on.

I'd recommend the Ultrafire C3, the hFlash, the MTE Seoul, or the MTE C2.

 

[edc3]

FYI, be careful with the really cheap Chinese flashlights. I bought a couple for my neice and nephew and the switch cover had a very strong petroleum smell. There's a thread here about that somewhere. With all the safety recalls on Chinese products lately I'd hate to see all those kids get something potentially dangerous.

 

[L.E.D.]

The hFlash smells clean, and it's built as it smells (at least on mine). I'm getting some slight thread roughness on the tailcap, but it's my fault as I'm running the threads and O-ring dry for now (no silicon or molybdenum grease, until I take it on the next backpacking trip).

 

[FASTCAR]

I can afford what ever it takes. Cost is no object... BUT ,if I can get a great light for 15 a pop why spend 50.

Call me goofey or whatever for helping out the kid.I guess I believe in giving back.


I will grab batts from my local Costco in bulk and give each kid a few.
Nikki wants to wrap each light in a box with a bow.

I guess if I had to set a limit , lets say Max of $25 a pop.I would prefer better then a lux...meaning cree or seoul.

I will visit again on 9/7 or 8.
So, those that have owned/tested several of these lights..please chime in.


Sigh..Nicole just said "I can't wait to see all the little faces LIGHT up"
It is a sad day when my woman has lumen jokes.



FASTCAR

 

[FASTCAR]

For the most part im anti DX. Most I have seen ( bar the 50cent key fob lights) are total junk.

Pehaps not ALL the DX lights are crapola.

Any CPFr own several DX lights..as in..actually played with them a few days?

 

[orbital]

Sigh..Nicole just said "I can't wait to see all the little faces LIGHT up"
It is a sad day when my woman has lumen jokes.
FASTCAR

+

Its a GREAT day when your woman says a lumen joke, your lucky!

I have a few AA/14500 lights from DX and Kaidomain, and all of mine are fine,,,
UltraFire C3
Rexlight 2.0
DexLight X.V.

Even with upping your cost/light, I still think you cannot do better than an UltraFire C3.
C3 with holster and a some batteries would be a great gift for anyone, all for about $20 each.

:thumbsup:

 

[cy]

another vote for dorcy AAA light. if you want to go cheaper yet.

countycom has an excellent $1 coin light. that's what I hand out for boy scouts.

I would recommend the Dorcy 1AAA light you can pick up from Walmart, Kmart, etc. They are about $5 a piece and are great for kids. They come in a lot of colors and are pretty hard to tear up. Local availability is a big plus.

 

[FASTCAR]

Thanks orbit, your the kinda guy I want to hear from.

All tests I see on AA and AA lights are on endloops.

I wonder how the runtime is on a say a C3 with normal alkalines.

Maybee 2x2x2 knows.

My plan is to clean each light with Deoxit and install a battery, then test each light.Im thinking I will throw 2-4 spare batts in each box.


* On a side note : For Oct 31 I will be handing out DX key fob lights. The 50cent kind.Im sure the kiddies get bored with pounds of candy.I got 300 already and donated most to the marines , some weeks back.The photon type clone.

Hell I may get some tonight and throw 1 on each box with the AA light as well.

Well enough for being nice. I do have my hardcore image to hold up.

 

[mattblick]

From DX I think the Ultrafire C3, the hFlash, or Ultrafire 602c SSC would be good choices.

Another thought would be the Jetbeam C-LE ver. 2. The new version is going to be clickie instead of twistie. The version 1.2 is sold out at Emilion's, and word from Jetbeam is that the new version should be available next week. Assuming the price doesn't skyrocket this may fall under your $25 cap.

 

[bspofford]

I have four kids, and I would never give a bright LED to the little ones. They tend to stare right into the light point blank! Get something very dim with a switch. Cheap keychain lights tend to make them happy, and I don't worry about blinding them. A web site called ?cheaptotes recently had old tech dim 9 LED 3XAAA lights for a dollar or two, and I bought a bunch for my kids and their friends.

 

[FASTCAR]

Well I said kids.I would guess they range from 11 or so to 16 or so.

 

[TigerhawkT3]

So, these kids, they're cooped up in a hospital, yes? I'm guessing they don't need much output or throw, just something with decent runtime and durability. How about E0s? They're great for indoor navigation, they're small and light, pretty durable (I've seen one fail twice, but that's with lots of rough treatment), and great runtime on 1xAAA.

Do you want something more useful for them, or more fun (throw/output over runtime)?

How about getting a cheap Lux light (like DX's 3164, 5689, 1120, etc.) and modding it with a Seoul (or the cheaper KLC8)? Heck, if you send me the lights and new emitters, I'll mod 'em for you, no charge.