I've been reading the forum quite a lot and tried out a few of the lights. Here are some opinions for comment on "What is the best LED light for 'this' usage?"
Backpacking backup light...Photon II, white or turquoise
Keychain, casual use...Photon II, red (lasts 125 hrs.!; like 'forever')
Keychain, heavy use...ARC AAA, turquoise
Reading light...Infinity, blue-green
Camping away from battery source...Infinity, blue-green (41 hr AA life)
Tenting/night 'walks'...Eveready LED lantern (available in white only)
Night hikes...Princeton Tec Attitude
Lightest headlamp...Petzl Tikka
Best all around (if you can only have one?)...ARC AAA turqoise; keychain, flashlight, back up, night vision, etc. 5 hours of really quite bright light that doesn't get progressively dimmer but won't leave you stuck with no light since it then switches into 'moon' mode; light, small, sturdy, easy and cheap battery changes.
Most POWERFUL and best all around...new ARC LS? (but, pretty pricey, seems to use up the battery really fast, but also REALLY bright)
Best color?
3D vision or accurate color (wires, etc.)...White!
Brightest...Turquoise!
Night vision...Green or turqoise! (not red, interestingly enough)
Cheapest batteries for regular use?
AA RayOVac Renewal rechargeables (but recharge before 1/2 used for best life)
Longest lasting batteries?
Eveready AA lithium (best in the cold, too)
Cheapest throw away?
AA Alkalines from house brands on sale (Walgreens @ 25 cents each, recently)
Best shelf life? ...Lithium!!!
(although, readers of this forum seem to go thru batteries so quickly, maybe shelf life is a truly moot issue)
AA gives you the most battery choices (brands, rechargeables, availability, lithium), but locks you out of some of the most interesting lights (ARC AAA, Princeton Tec Attitude, Petzl Tikka).
Just a summary of much of what I've seen.
BTW...I'd think for the reliability, you'd always want an LED light around. But, if you can carry two and you want a really bright flashlight for 'once in a while' use, that is very economical to buy; you can hardly go wrong with a regular, old fashioned, 2-AA flashlight with a Krypton bulb. They are pretty dang bright and REALLY inexpensive.
I'd be very interested in other views.
Got any...?
Backpacking backup light...Photon II, white or turquoise
Keychain, casual use...Photon II, red (lasts 125 hrs.!; like 'forever')
Keychain, heavy use...ARC AAA, turquoise
Reading light...Infinity, blue-green
Camping away from battery source...Infinity, blue-green (41 hr AA life)
Tenting/night 'walks'...Eveready LED lantern (available in white only)
Night hikes...Princeton Tec Attitude
Lightest headlamp...Petzl Tikka
Best all around (if you can only have one?)...ARC AAA turqoise; keychain, flashlight, back up, night vision, etc. 5 hours of really quite bright light that doesn't get progressively dimmer but won't leave you stuck with no light since it then switches into 'moon' mode; light, small, sturdy, easy and cheap battery changes.
Most POWERFUL and best all around...new ARC LS? (but, pretty pricey, seems to use up the battery really fast, but also REALLY bright)
Best color?
3D vision or accurate color (wires, etc.)...White!
Brightest...Turquoise!
Night vision...Green or turqoise! (not red, interestingly enough)
Cheapest batteries for regular use?
AA RayOVac Renewal rechargeables (but recharge before 1/2 used for best life)
Longest lasting batteries?
Eveready AA lithium (best in the cold, too)
Cheapest throw away?
AA Alkalines from house brands on sale (Walgreens @ 25 cents each, recently)
Best shelf life? ...Lithium!!!
(although, readers of this forum seem to go thru batteries so quickly, maybe shelf life is a truly moot issue)
AA gives you the most battery choices (brands, rechargeables, availability, lithium), but locks you out of some of the most interesting lights (ARC AAA, Princeton Tec Attitude, Petzl Tikka).
Just a summary of much of what I've seen.
BTW...I'd think for the reliability, you'd always want an LED light around. But, if you can carry two and you want a really bright flashlight for 'once in a while' use, that is very economical to buy; you can hardly go wrong with a regular, old fashioned, 2-AA flashlight with a Krypton bulb. They are pretty dang bright and REALLY inexpensive.
I'd be very interested in other views.
Got any...?