Best AA capable flashlights for 2024?

[Schokokeks]

I just received them today and after playing around with them for a few minutes I must say I am happily satisfied and impressed for the price I paid. I do see how for "tactical purposes" it would be limiting because the brightness would keep changing as you turn the light off and on frequently but for casual use this is exactly what I wanted. I don't know how people could complain about the size being too big, I guess I'm not picky enough but I think it's a very nice size. Time will tell if the rechargeable lithium it came with is any good but it arrived charged and does provide much brighter light than a new AA alkaline after comparing both. For the price I am actually surprised it comes with a rechargeable battery. I am very happy with the purchase, I might look to pick up a few more as spares even cheaper after your suggestion of aliexpress now that I actually have them in the hand or store in the car or emergency kits. I'm sure it's not the best light out there but for under $20 it's better than any of the crappy ebay lights I've tried.

That's great to hear. My Ali one will be here by the end of the week.

I think they're blowing them out because they flopped, but instead of selling them as a tactical light, they should just sell them as a simple, three mode EDC thrower. They're actually decent lights with a simple UI.

For $20, they're a RIDICULOUS value. Like you said, they come with a Li-ion 14500 with USB charging port with a choice of colors and emitters - for $20, AND they run just fine on an AA light.

They are my absolute favorite light to buy for a younger person. You can use the AA if Li-ion is a concern, and then transition them as they get older/more responsible, etc. Just a great light for a kid in the scouts or something.

 

[ghostguy6]

I just received them today and after playing around with them for a few minutes I must say I am happily satisfied and impressed for the price I paid. I do see how for "tactical purposes" it would be limiting because the brightness would keep changing as you turn the light off and on frequently but for casual use this is exactly what I wanted. I don't know how people could complain about the size being too big, I guess I'm not picky enough but I think it's a very nice size. Time will tell if the rechargeable lithium it came with is any good but it arrived charged and does provide much brighter light than a new AA alkaline after comparing both. For the price I am actually surprised it comes with a rechargeable battery. I am very happy with the purchase, I might look to pick up a few more as spares even cheaper after your suggestion of aliexpress now that I actually have them in the hand or store in the car or emergency kits. I'm sure it's not the best light out there but for under $20 it's better than any of the crappy ebay lights I've tried.

I am actually quite impressed with the Acebeam 14500's I own. They claim to have 920mah while most others are 750mah. When compared to my Klarus cells they did preform longer. I wish there was a Canadian source so I could buy more cells.

 

[Nox]

I would second the Skilhunt E2A, as I've just bought one and really like it. Good machining, nice anodization, a beaded lens with a glass cover to protect it and 4000K high CRI as well. Very well made for a sub £15/$20 light. I do, however, think a double clip on such a small light is annoying, and a single clip would have been better.

 

[Schokokeks]

I would second the Skilhunt E2A, as I've just bought one and really like it. Good machining, nice anodization, a beaded lens with a glass cover to protect it and 4000K high CRI as well. Very well made for a sub £15/$20 light. I do, however, think a double clip on such a small light is annoying, and a single clip would have been better.

The double clip is the best part! Attach it in a way that it's cantilevered up past the switch, and it's an amazing DEEP carry clip!

 

[Burgess]

Great thread here !


Tell me, please:

Does the Acebeam TAC-AA accept un-protected 14500 cells
with a higher capacity ?
(like Vapcell 1050 purple, or Vapcell F12 gold)
(button-top)


Does it accept Protected 14500 cells ?

Thank you, everyone, for your assistance.

 

[Schokokeks]

Great thread here !


Tell me, please:

Does the Acebeam TAC-AA accept un-protected 14500 cells
with a higher capacity ?
(like Vapcell 1050 purple, or Vapcell F12 gold)
(button-top)


Does it accept Protected 14500 cells ?

Thank you, everyone, for your assistance.

It has reverse polarity protection for AA, so I don't want to try a flat top, but a button top F12 didn't quite fully thread on, and I didn't want to crush anything, so I backed it off. But, it would not turn on.

It also COMES WITH a protected, USB-port 14500.

 

[Burgess]

Hmmm . . . .

So it can handle (comes with) a Protected 14500,
but yet it CAN'T handle an UN-protected F12 cell ? ? ?
(too long)

 

[Schokokeks]

Hmmm . . . .

So it can handle (comes with) a Protected 14500,
but yet it CAN'T handle an UN-protected F12 cell ? ? ?
(too long)

Correct, the F12 is ever-so-slightly too long. If you WANTED to risk crushing it down, I bet it'd work. I had no interest in forcing it closed as I use the included cell, and use the F12 for random other things.

 

[Burgess]

Received mine, and Sadly,
does NOT accept *ANY* of my
various 14500 cells !


Truly ironic that their PokeIt AA flashlight
(which is Much Smaller)
has no problem accepting
Conventional 14500 cells,
but this "TACticle" version cannot !
< sigh > < facepalm >

 

[Schokokeks]

Received mine, and Sadly,
does NOT accept *ANY* of my
various 14500 cells !


Truly ironic that their PokeIt AA flashlight
(which is Much Smaller)
has no problem accepting
Conventional 14500 cells,
but this "TACticle" version cannot !
< sigh > < facepalm >

Maybe I'm the weird one, but I tend to just have a "designated battery" for most of my lights.

I use the included 14500 with the Tac AA, but primarily got it to have a throwier AA light. They work great with eneloops!

 

[gurdygurds]

These are my current favorites.