Budget Flashlights for non-CPFers

[MikeSalt]

Ok, we all know that money is well spent on a good flashlight. However, most people cannot be convinced to spend as much on flashlights as we do.

Pretty shortly, during the Easter break, I will be reviewing several sub £10 ($20) flashlights which you might wish to recommend to these people.

Of course, being in the UK, majority of my purchases will be from the UK. If anyone, from any country would like to contribute with their reviews, please feel free.

I hope to get my first reviews soon.

Mike

 

[Alin10123]

Nice! let us know how it turns out.

 

[MikeSalt]

Ok, here goes, got 8 sub £10 ($19.65) flashlights to review.

I apologise that this is very amateur, and I sincerely apologise for the poor image quality. I wasn't able to borrow my sister's camera.

Mike

 

[MikeSalt]

MagLite Solitaire

MAGLITE SOLITAIRE

No introduction necessary, this only just qualifies for this category at £9.99 ($19.64!!!!!) in the UK. You all know what one looks like, so I'll just include beamshots.

Flood...

Spot...

 

[Lobo]

I find a test like this very interesting, it's something special with lights you can see, touch and buy in the store. And since our friends over the pond have a quite different selection, not to mention prices, it's very interesting to see what my fellow europeans find in the store, maybe it's more similar to what I can find myself. So keep em comin, brother.

 

[MikeSalt]

LED Lenser KeyFinder

LED LENSER KEYFINDER

This flashlight cost £6.99 ($13.74) from Maplins on special offer. It is just over 2.5 inches long and would fit nicely on a keychain. This is the Zweibrueder edition, not COAST, whether that makes any difference.

PROs

Proper 'forward' type clickie for momentary/constant on operation
Good size for keychain carry (including attachment point)
Pleasant black finish
Grippy knurling
High power output for this category

CONs

Clickie lacks tactical feedback
4x AG-13 button cells, urgh!
'Collimator' is nothing more than a reflective lined tube
Beam is obscenely ringy
Beam is particularly blue

CONCLUSION: Not recommended, overpriced for what it is.

 

[MikeSalt]

Poundland Twin Pack

POUNDLAND TWIN PACK

As the name suggests, everything costs £1 ($1.97, 1.47 Euro). And how did they improve on this value? They put two in the pack. The smaller one comes with batteries, the larger one does not. So I reckon they cost 50 pence ($0.99, 75 Euro cents) each roughly.

I will review these in two seperate reviews, but bear in mind that these are not available singularly.

 

[MikeSalt]

Twin Pack (1: 5mm LED 4xAG-3)

This is a keychain-sized flashlight, available in blue, natural or red (as here). It has a simple head twist switch, tighten for on. Simple enough!

PROs

Simple, reliable switch
Small and compact
Radial ridges give reasonable grip
Pleasant, artifact-free floody beam

CONs

Button cells
Weird battery holder, basically a section of PVC tube.
Difficult battery change.

CONCLUSION: Highly Recommended, good value on its own, even better value as a twinpack!

 

[mtbkndad]

MikeSalt,

I am really enjoying this thread and so far love the looks of those little red lights.
Keep up the good work :thumbsup: .
I am looking forward to finding out more about the larger red light too.

Take Care,
mtbkndad :wave:

 

[MikeSalt]

Twin Pack (2: Unknown LED 3AAA)

This has to be my favourite of the bunch, despite being the least expensive! This defies the law of equal returns massively.

PROs

Soild Aluminium Construction
Excellent in-hand ergonomics
Rear clickie with texturised rubber cap and excellent tactical feel
Good grip
Almost artifact-free beam (despite smooth reflector)
Nice, tight spot with usable spill
Lanyard attachment point (including lanyard)
Good output LED, so far unidentified but more similar in form to a power-LED than 5mm LED. (I'll get a better picture so you guys can help me)
Waterproof - has o-rings, and survived 15 minutes underwater (12 inches)with no ill effects. On a second occasion, I operated the clickie whilst underwater for one minute. All this caused was a small short-circuit until it had properly dried. All fine again now.

CONs
Not everyone likes battery holders (uses 100 ohms drop-down resistor)
Reverse clickie - not everyone's cup of tea

CONCLUSION: Not just the best value for money, but the best in this group! And you get the twinpack partner for your keys!

 

[Essexman]

Good work, now I'm off to find a poundland !
I'm intreasted to see what other lights you (and others) find for less than £10.
cheers

 

[Essexman]

Hello Mikesalt, we posted at the same time!
Are they AAA's in that holder? Could be a good host for modding? Can you show a pic of the emitter and what it's mounted on please.
Cheers again.

 

[MikeSalt]

Well, Essexman, they have a website (www.poundland.co.uk). You have two stores in Essex (where I assume you are from). Barking, or Basildon.

 

[MikeSalt]

Sorry, AAAs, yes. I'll just change that now, thanks.

 

[MikeSalt]

Poundland 5mm LED 3AA

Ah yes, good old Poundland again. No, I do not work for them. As usual, the price is £1, oddly enough! For any Modders-in-the-Making, this may be the torch for you. It is made of aluminium and if 8.5 inches long.

PROs

3AAs, good capacity, easy to come by
Acceptable beam quality
Semi waterproof (need to add an o-ring in the head, tail already has one)
Easy, thorough disassembly, ideal for modding
Take a look at the circuit board...

The LED is mounted on a 3/4 inch diameter PCB that just SCREAMS to be taken out and replaced with a regulated driver circuit and power LED .
Because it's so inexpensive, it is the perfect modder's beginner's torch. If you screw up, it's just a pound! Better than screwing up a £100+ SureFire.

CONs

I bought three of these, and one developed an intermittent flicker. I am very curious to know how a 5mm LED, direct-driven through a 100 ohm resistor leads to a convincing strobe effect.
There is no knurling, slippery to hold in the wet.

CONCLUSION: An excellent tool to get a non-CPFer modding, and then hooked on CPF!

 

[MikeSalt]

Cyba-Lite A31

This is available from many retailers including Millets. It costs £9.99, the same as a Mag Solitaire. However, I believe it to be superior to the Solitaire. Again, aircraft aluminum, and a high-output 5mm LED. Twist switch, slacken to turn on, slacken further for candle mode.

PROs
Very small, compact form for keyring use
Good grip due to shape and knurling
Good grip on twisting components
Uses an optic to give a nice smooth beam
Probably Nuwai in origin, all other higher quality Cyba-Lites are
Proven reliability, had this for over two years now
Full o-ring protection. Dunkable at least

CONs

Uses 3xAG-3 cells, good lifetime but an absolute pain in the jacksy to change
Plastic optic is looking a little scratched (lower output)
Expensive for what it is

CONCLUSION: Overpriced for what it is, but to be expected from more major retailers. Wins hands down in the MagLite Solitaire price bracket.

 

[MikeSalt]

Poundland Krypton 2AA

Ok, this is a failure of the Poundland lottery. It is absolutely the WORST flashlight I have ever encountered. Cost £1, and nowhere near worth it!

PROs
With a healthy amount of imagination, it could be a modding host

CONs
Advertised as having a spare bulb in tailcap, does not!
Poor machining
Attrocious switching mechanism. An attempt to copy the MiniMag switch, but a miserable attempt at that. It is intermittent in operation, and intermittent as you move the torch, sometimes dying completely. (photos to follow of switch and bulb)
Advertised focusing function does not actually work.
Dim, yellow output, with awful beam quality. Makes a MiniMag look like a clean beam
Bulb fitting unusual, not bi-pin as expected.
When supposedly turned off, the batteries are drained somehow. Once I picked it up to find the body hot (short circuit)

CONCLUSION: I wouldn't even recommend this to someone who had intentions of burgling my house it is that bad. Even crooks deserve better flashlights than this!

 

[MikeSalt]

Rolson 5mm LED 3xAG-13

Available from most markets and small hardware stores (may have a different name). It costs £1.99 (£3.91). The LED sits very recessed in the head.

PROs

Smooth beam despite lack of reflector
Light leaks from bezel holes (good 'on' indicator)
Small, keyring mountable

CONs

Push button difficult to operate
Slight urine-green tinge to beam
Button cell batteries (usual gripes)

CONCLUSION: Very good value for money, requires strong, mobile fingers for slightly awkward clickie.

 

[MikeSalt]

That's all for now folks, Thanks


Mike

 

[Lobo]

No, thank YOU.