Choosing a AA light

[aEx155]

I've been on and off CPF ever since my old Romisen died. Having no money at all I couldn't really replace it easily; the only thing available was a Gerber Firecracker so I picked that up and have been using it ever since.

Now that it's around holiday time I'm hoping I'll be able to get a little more fund for a new light, so I'm hoping someone can help me decide.

I'm trying to get a new AA light, preferably a simple 2 mode clicky light. It doesn't have to be extremely high output, but it's high should be as bright or brighter than the Gerber. The cheaper, the better, but around $35-$40

I've seen the Quark lights, the Fenix lights, and a few other, and they really are nice, but I don't really want to pay for all that functionality.

Does the new 2 AA Minimag with some kind of clicky switch add-on sound like it'll do the job?

I also still have the remains of my Romisen RC-N3, and since the LED still works, I'm thinking, would I be better off repairing that? (at which point I'd move over to the Homemades forum)

 

[Zeruel]

Try Akoray K-106. You'll even have leftover budget to get more AA batts.
Or Nitecore EZ AA from 4Sevens. Now with 25% off (Code NITECORE25).

 

[aEx155]

Try Akoray K-106. You'll even have leftover budget to get more AA batts. Or Nitecore EZ AA from 4Sevens. Now with 25% off (Code NITECORE25).

I already have enough NiMh AA, which is why I want a AA light.

How is the reliability of the Akoray? I've heard of people having problems with it. I've also heard of problems with the number and kinds of modes. Does it vary too much?

The problem with the EZAA is it's a twisty light, which I'm not fond of.

 

[Zeruel]

K-106 has 3 modes which can be programmed to any setting.
Problems? I've heard of problems from all brands of lights, you name it.
For a $20 light, I think it hold its own pretty well. Mine did, that is before I sold it.

 

[Audiowiz]

I have to say I have a lot of lights, but for 2-AA light a minimag with the nite-ize LED and a nite ize clicky works great and you have your choice of colors too.It's only one mode, though

 

[alfreddajero]

What about this....there's also a regular version also that has strobe and sos.

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-85/ITP-C7T-Tactical-Cree/Detail

 

[aEx155]

K-106 has 3 modes which can be programmed to any setting.
Problems? I've heard of problems from all brands of lights, you name it.
For a $20 light, I think it hold its own pretty well. Mine did, that is before I sold it.

I know it's a cheaper light which is why I read some people having reliability problems versus something like a Fenix.

What about this....there's also a regular version also that has strobe and sos.

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-85/ITP-C7T-Tactical-Cree/Detail

Link no workie.

 

[Probedude]

Your RC-N3 died too? Was it the 3 mode version?
My single mode RC-N3 works great still. Brother's RC-N3 3 mode died.

Just picked up a 2AA Maglite LED at Lowes for $10.97. Great quality and throw.

 

[pobox1475]

http://www.lumapower.com/77.html

LumaPower's are often overlooked. I had the first gen ConneXion and recently gave it to my son. Good dependable light. The latest version goes for about $45 and is available in black.

 

[aEx155]

Your RC-N3 died too? Was it the 3 mode version?
My single mode RC-N3 works great still. Brother's RC-N3 3 mode died.

Just picked up a 2AA Maglite LED at Lowes for $10.97. Great quality and throw.

It wasn't a 3-mode version; it was the Q5 version from shiningbeam.com. I'm leaning toward the new LED Minimag, but I just need to figure out a good clicky switch for it.

LumaPower's are often overlooked. I had the first gen ConneXion and recently gave it to my son. Good dependable light. The latest version goes for about $45 and is available in black.

I really do think getting a good quality light is a good idea in the long run, but I'm compromising performance for price, which puts anything above ~$40 out of my price range.

...preferably a simple 2 mode clicky light. It doesn't have to be extremely high output, but it's high should be as bright or brighter than the Gerber. The cheaper, the better...

 

[shark_za]

If you look on some online auction sites you can still find the Leatherman Blast with LGX200 torch combo for around $45 and only the torch for about $25.

Its a Fenix L1T V2.0 with a pretty leatherman name on it.
One of the nicest beam profiles you will see, 90 lumens on high, simple twist to about 16 lumens low.

 

[alfreddajero]

Here it is, i guess bryan ran out of the T version. You can have the best of both worlds, reliability and performance.

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-84/ITP-C7R-Cree-Q5/Detail

 

[pobox1475]

I really do think getting a good quality light is a good idea in the long run, but I'm compromising performance for price, which puts anything above ~$40 out of my price range.

Okay, then this fits perfectly.

A) Clicky
B) Multi mode
c) Top quality
D) <$40


http://www.cfrlights.com/servlet/the-471/pocket,-rocket,-memory,-mode,/Detail

 

[NonSenCe]

have you considered iTP lights? iTP c7 or their new lineup SA1?

or the R2 led 47s quarks that are on discount now.. they are what.. 44 dollars now? that wouldnt stretch the budget too much in my mind.

 

[Gunner12]

Lumapower is a pretty good company, so is iTP. I'd go for one or the other.

If you can bump the price range up a little, the Quark AA or Mini AA could work too.

 

[alfreddajero]

You also might want to check out the SC series of lights as well....i know im goin got get the AA and cr123 lights for xmas.

 

[aEx155]

How does the Lumapower LM301 fare using a SSC-P4 instead of a Cree Q5?