Best 2xAA with Multiple Modes

[Trancersteve]

I own a Romisen MXDL RC-G2 that I bought from DX a couple of months ago. I am quite happy with it but wouldn't mind a 2 AA cell unit with multiple dimming modes and which has very bright decent throw for walking on a forest trail (I will have accompanied a floody headlamp).

Any suggestions? There are a couple on DX that are 2 Cell + multiple modes but reviews are quite mixed!

Many thanks

 

[dealgrabber2002]

Try Shiningbeam new XPG-R4 Romisen RC-N3. 2 mode. Great runtime. Can use 2AA or 1 cr123.

Depending on price,
4sevens Quark series
FENIX series is excellent.
Solarforce (L2r is the 2AA) is good too

I only get Romisen from shiningbeam because he uses a much better driver and better LED. Not to mention great services. And you don' t have to wait weeks for a light.

 

[sol-leks]

I love my romisens, but if modes are what you are really interested in, I would get something else. The multimode versions from shiningbeam have modes which are way too close together.

 

[ky70]

I am also on this quest and have not yet found a suitable budget light with a decent low mode that runs on 2xAA. If the romisen lights had decent low modes, they would have a lot of my money coming they're way.

 

[rekd0514]

Try Shiningbeam new XPG-R5 Romisen RC-N3. 2 mode. Great runtime. Can use 2AA or 1 cr123.

I believe it is an R4.

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-213/**NEW**-Romisen-RC-dsh-N3-II/Detail

I have had mine for a week or so and love it so far. I use the 2xAA mode with some duraloops.

 

[march.brown]

Solarforce gets my vote too ... Single mode , three mode or five mode dropins all readily available for just over £8-00 ... I have three Solarforces but my choice is the 18650 format ... 2AA is available and gets good reviews ... Top value for money.
.

 

[Jash]

Quark 2AA Tactical.

Certainly not the cheapest light in the 2AA format, but probably the best thought out one.

It's versatility is great and the lego options make it a winner.

Of the half dozen 2AA lights I have, it is by far the most used, and most loved.

 

[SirJohn]

The solarforce is a good cheap option. You can get the 3 mode version for $23 shipped by buying items 280428612537 and 280428612614 on e-bay.

For a bit more, don't forget about the ITP SA2. Variable brightness can give you whatever level you want. (there is a 10% off coupon for goinggear floating around)

I personally love my fenix ld20 but like the Quark 2AA, I generally don't consider it a budget light. (Although I got an exceptional deal on mine.)

 

[joe1512]

You might look at the itp SA2. It is around 40 bucks with multiple modes that you can persistently program to any brightness level desired. It uses an older emitter, but can hit 190 lumens.
http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-186/ITP-SA2-Eluma-Cree/Detail

They have an older C-series that you might be able to find cheap that is very similar and bullet-shaped. That one didn't last long though.
Closest I can find is the 1xAA version:
http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-85/ITP-C7T-Tactical-Cree/Detail


I am afraid the romisen's don't really have very good modes. It is typically high, medium, and strobe.

 

[dealgrabber2002]

I believe it is an R4.

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-213/**NEW**-Romisen-RC-dsh-N3-II/Detail

I have had mine for a week or so and love it so far. I use the 2xAA mode with some duraloops.

Thanks... changed my post.

 

[sol-leks]

I was thinking the kingpower k2 might be a good choice but shiningbeam doesnt seem to have it anymore, guess they are sold out. They still have the k1 though which might still interest you.

 

[dealgrabber2002]

I was thinking the kingpower k2 might be a good choice but shiningbeam doesnt seem to have it anymore, guess they are sold out. They still have the k1 though which might still interest you.

I had the Kingpower K2... solid as a rock! great throw, bright, and good beam pattern.

 

[sol-leks]

I never owned one but it always seemed like a great and under appreciated light. You would be hard pressed to find another multi-mode light with a current gen led for under 30 bucks. Too bad it is nowhere to be found....

 

[alejo71]

I believe it is an R4.

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-213/**NEW**-Romisen-RC-dsh-N3-II/Detail

I have had mine for a week or so and love it so far. I use the 2xAA mode with some duraloops.

I have the RC-N3 II Q5 "old" model by Shininbeam, and I think is a great budget flahslight, nice hot spot, good build quality, and Bryan after-sales service (it's a plus)...:twothumbs

 

[Trancersteve]

Thanks for all the input!

Well I keep looking at the 4sevens Quark AAx2.. Ideally I would want to go for that. £48 delivered though and I can't quite justify that kind of money!

The ITP SA2 looks wonderful with a 5 lumen lowest mode and light level selection it also seems to have an extremely efficient regulation circuit... Can get it for £32 delivered.

Quick few questions after reading selfbuilt's ITP thread the ITP SA2 has a much better run time than the Quark AAx2 (R2). How much has that gap been closed now the Quark AAx2 has a R5 emitter?

 

[Surnia]

shouldn't have changed at all, the Quarks are designed such that they give light consistently at the same time frames (moonlight mode is an exception), so the quarks took advantage of that aspect of the new emitters rather than extended runtime.

Another great thing I discovered a few weeks ago, a water bottle cap works PERFECTLY as a diffuser. The inside lip works great on the D10, while the outside edge (with the cap threads) fits VERY snug on the SA2. Ensures it won't come off, and after some usage it becomes second nature snapping it on and off when you want a flood beam vs. throw capability.

 

[kramer5150]

You posted this in the budget light forum, so my recommendations are geared towards that. Two 2xAA lights that I have found to be good for the $$ are the fore-mentioned RC-N3 and minimag rebel. The MM can be modded to single mode by using the Rebel-2D pill, that will get you ~100L OTF.

 

[Ian2381]

I'll also recommend the Solarforce L2r,

Buy a L2r body in Ebay and a separate drop in so that you can choose between 5 and 3 modes (0.8-4.2v). My solarforce lights has been superb so far.:twothumbs

There's a sale of L2r Body in ebay. I'm buying it now.:twothumbs

 

[odd]

+1 for solarforce
great quality and thanks to the lego system you can always switch to antoher host ( eg 18659 battery) or another dropin.
itc shop on the bay has sale on the host....

 

[sol-leks]

wow I had to jump on that solarforce too at that price, I am getting the SS flat bezel as well.
Any recommendations on drop-ins for it?

EDIT: Looks like the solarforce lc-1 3 mode drop-in is the closest to what I'm looking for, recommendations for where to buy it?(Cheapest preferred as long as its fairly reliable)