Best throwers for non-aholics? AA & AAA's?

[Liszt]

Gifts for spelunkers & miners - often damp in there, just eats whatever light there is. Easily pocketable is a priority, too. 2/AA would be my first choice for power & runtime. I've been looking, but it is like trying to drink from a firehose around here . . .lol! And always, thanks for being part of the resources!

 

[flatline]

It's my understanding that if throw is your sole criterion, then the JetBeam Pro v3 AA flashlight is the best of the 1xAA lights (at least among the <$100 lights).

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

--flatline

 

[TorchBoy]

I (and everyone I've shown it to) have been very impressed with DX's C30 zoom head torch. It's inexpensive, easily pocketable, and with NiMH cells throws an amazing amount of light. It's like having a portable flood light and spot light combined. I presume you're not thinking of giving away primary light sources - the lack of runtime wouldn't be suitable for continual use for a whole trip. You might prefer a version with a lower mode.

 

[TorchBoy]

As flatline and my suggestions show, it might be good if you were to specify a budget for these gifts.

 

[Liszt]

I had noticed the C30 at ledshoppe.com for $10.99 w/holster - a dollar more than DX. Only thing is I have orders hung up at both DX and ledshoppe, man they are sloooow about responding. Assuming I get things straightened out, I'll order both DX models. Can't go too far wrong at those prices. Might just get a jetbeam, too, then decide who gets what for gifts. If friends get gifts, I should get one too, don'tchathink? Thanks guys!

And no, these aren't for primary lights. The times I've gone caving, I've wished for something that would penetrate further down a tunnel or shaft.

Still fishing for more leads . . .

 

[kts]

Fenix TK20 :thumbsup:

 

[NonSenCe]

umm.. i would never suggest something cheap from dx for a caver/miner use! its your life that depends on it down there. and i dont trust cheap ones to handle the crude enviroment and abuse.. just keeping moisture out in zooming type head is a big hurdle. and i wouldnt trust a 10 dollar dx light to hold any water out. (even the more expensive led lensers have been known to suffer from bad seal)

and never just one light.. one is none, 2 is one apporach..

yeah the price range is needed.. to give some suggestions:

for that i think the fenix tk20 sounds the right choice.. strong build, long runtime, yellow rubber grip. 56dollars or so.

one step cheaper: eagletac p100a2. about 40 dollars. (but already FAR off the strength of the tk20)

and one step down again the romisen rc.n3 upgrade version from shiningbeam.. about 25$.. my n3 is just days old so cant be sure yet.. but it is well liked by many here too.(main reason i wanted to try it aswell)

cheaper than that.. hmm.. i woulnd get one.

 

[bullterrier]

2*AA format JetBeam Jet-I Pro EX - V2 http://www.bugoutgearusa.com/jetiproexv2.html it will be mine next flashlight

 

[tsask]

Streamlight Pro Poly 4 AA luxeon?

 

[CaNo]

Gifts for spelunkers & miners - often damp in there, just eats whatever light there is. Easily pocketable is a priority, too. 2/AA would be my first choice for power & runtime. I've been looking, but it is like trying to drink from a firehose around here . . .lol! And always, thanks for being part of the resources!

The title is very broad. When you say Best throwers for "non-(*flash*)aholics", are you referring to a no-name brand? A brand that can be found in a local store (which will be recognized by a non-flashaholic, i.e. Maglite, RiverRock, Energizer, etc? Or something cheap/inexpensive?

 

[waddup]

id look for a light thats is WATERPROOF and has LOOOOOOOONG runtimes and almost indestructible.

if i was down in a hole, a deep dark wet hole, id want a light with me that i could trust.

no idea what that light is tho?

id probably take along 2 or 3 just to be safe.

a

Princeton Tec Impact XL

would probably be in my pocket for example.

 

[xenonk]

If you need a secondary AA light to penetrate water vapour I would strongly recommend a warmer tint LED. Tight collimation may not help if you're being blinded by blue backscatter from a cool tint. The Fenix TK20 comes to mind as a possible option.

 

[StandardBattery]

It's my understanding that if throw is your sole criterion, then the JetBeam Pro v3 AA flashlight is the best of the 1xAA lights (at least among the <$100 lights).

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

--flatline

+1

Fenix TK20 :thumbsup:

+1

 

[Zeruel]

Gifts for spelunkers & miners - often damp in there, just eats whatever light there is. Easily pocketable is a priority, too. 2/AA would be my first choice for power & runtime. I've been looking, but it is like trying to drink from a firehose around here . . .lol! And always, thanks for being part of the resources!

lol.. Ok, I'll tighten up to 4 droplets.
Fenix TK20 is a popular choice that's durable and has a warm tint.
Fenix LD20 is probably the slimmest and lightest. Bright too.
Nitecore D20 is bombproof and floody bright.
EagleTac P100A2 throws the furthest and simple to operate.

Erm... shouldn't gifts for spelunkers and miners be headlamps?

 

[slipe]

I second the C30 suggestion for a cheap light. I've used the 18650 version on my boat for several months with no ill effect. The boat is on salt water and there is occasional spray. I clean it when I get home after it has taken some salt spray, but it seems to have held up well. I'll know better in a couple of years how well it holds up to those extreme conditions, but so far it has been OK.

At 20 feet it will burn a bright square in the floody beam from any of my P7s. The throw is exceptional for a cheap light. There is very little light spill from the tight spot, which makes it great for finding markers without a blinding reflection from the white deck. The flood is also great when anchored.

The 18650 version comes with a well made holster. I don't know whether DX sells it separately for the AAA version, which you would probably want for a non-flashaholic. If the Ledshoppe holster is the same one it is well worth the extra buck. Edit: I put their crappy photo into Photoshop and enhanced it. It definitely isn't the same nice holster as the DX version.

Assuming the primary cave light would be a reliable headlamp, it would make a nice cheap light for looking into deep places and for flooding large areas. If you go through with the order let us know how they work out.

 

[JBorneu]

Fenix TK20

 

[vali]

Fenix TK20 is a popular choice that's durable and has a warm tint.
[...]
EagleTac P100A2 throws the furthest and simple to operate.

Does anyone has tested them side by side to know which is the one with more throw? :candle:

 

[qwertyydude]

I'm about to pull the trigger on DX's sku.29095 it looks a lot better quality than the C30.

 

[Zeruel]

Does anyone has tested them side by side to know which is the one with more throw? :candle:

EagleTac P100A2 is the best thrower amongst these 3, just a tad more than LD20. I've no reason to believe TK20 outthrows it unless someone can prove otherwise? :shrug:

 

[Toaster]

Does anyone has tested them side by side to know which is the one with more throw? :candle:

Measurements done by selfbuilt and Light-Reviews both confirm the P100A2 has a slight advantage in throw compared to the TK20.

Now having seen the beamshots here, I think the P20A2 may equal or perhaps even exceed the P100A2 in throw. Light-Reviews should have a review of the P20A2 soon which will answer that question.