Choosing a light for travelling

[yatsunil]

I'm looking for a light that I'll use on my travels - basically free and easy stuff staying in B&Bs, campgrounds and small hostels etc. I intend to use AA batteries as I think they're easily available everywhere. The light will mostly be carried in a day pack. I'm looking for at least two modes - a decent usable low and as high as I can get with a single AA. I've narrowed it down to four lights :-

1. Eagletac P10A
2. ITP SA1
3. Jetbeam Jet Pro 1 v3.0
4. Nitecore D10

I've search the forum and read most of the reviews. Can anyone give me any personal opinions why they'd choose any one over the others?
Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[curtispdx]

D10. Nice low, bright enough high and the piston drive is reliable and quiet.

 

[looky]

I agree with Curtispdx. Get a D10 and you won't be disappointed. It works very well every time.

 

[kimck99]

I don't have the first three lights you listed but I do have the D10. However, when traveling, I've started to carry the Quark MiNi AA. I like the size much better than the D10, expecially for traveling. I use 14500 battery with it but I also carry AA LSD for spare.

Hope this helps for what it's worth.

 

[olrac]

Zebralight SC50

http://www.zebralight.com/SC50-Flashlight-AA-193Lm_p_24.html

Amazing UI.:thumbsup:
Also available with neutral emitter as well.

 

[PapaGary]

Have you seen this article on travel lights on the Onebag site? It's what got me (and I would bet a few others) to the CPF.

 

[hogger]

If you would consider AAA batteries The preon 2 is a very stealthy usefull light IMHO. Not a bad price as well.

 

[mcnair55]

ITP A2, 3 modes offering l-m-h,very small and a very much liked light on here.Nice price and easy to get.

 

[uplite]

If I could have just one travel light, it would be a Zebralight H501w.

The versatility of the H501 is unbeatable. You can use it in your hand, on your head, around your neck, on your chest, on your belt, bike handlebars, etc, etc.

Also, a smooth flood is what you want for 95+% of travel use. Most of what you use a travel light for is reading, walking, camping, and getting stuff done within arm's reach. It really helps to have your hands free. :)

A low level, less than 5 lumens flood or less than 1 lumen spot, is essential if you want to use the light on planes, trains, buses, and boats without disturbing fellow passengers. :candle:

But I wouldn't bring just one light. Chances are I would also have at least one handheld dive light (e.g. Intova) that could also serve as a "throwy" backup lights on land.

If you don't pack dive lights, that ITP A2 looks like a great backup for the rare occasions when you need some distance/throw. Small enough that you won't notice it is in your pack. Cheap enough that you can give it as a gift to a corrupt border guard to "grease the wheels". ;)

-Jeff

 

[travelinman]

Zebralight SC50

http://www.zebralight.com/SC50-Flashlight-AA-193Lm_p_24.html

Amazing UI.:thumbsup:
Also available with neutral emitter as well.

I agree....Most people familiar with the zebralight brand would agree also. HOWEVER, don't expect to be happy travelling with only 1 light. There is no perfect light that does everything so you will eventually end up with at least 2 or maybe 3 different lights.

 

[spankone]

my nc d10 goes every where I go its a true must buy.

 

[Swedpat]

1. Eagletac P10A
2. ITP SA1
3. Jetbeam Jet Pro 1 v3.0
4. Nitecore D10

Of these mentioned options I have nr1 and nr4, and can tell some facts and my personal opinions about them.

Portability: Nitecore D10 is smaller and more compact.

Grip: Nitecore has an excellent knurling and a superior grip.

Runtime: they are quite equal at highest output, but Nitecore has much longer runtime at lowest mode due to much lower output.

As a 1AA travelling light I would choose the Nitecore. But the stepless brightness setting of D10 has never been in my liking, I don't like to guesstimate the brightness. Therefore the new D10 SP is a better choice, in my opinion. Instead of a stepless brightness function it has 3 modes. This model has the same max and min brightness as the ordinary model but it has a mid mode of 35lumens, which I find to be an excellent allround level for a 1xAA light. In other words: a Nitecore D10 SP will soon be on way to my destination! :D

Apart from these my personal opinions about D10, I agree with some of the other opinions in this thread that you should never bring with you only one flashlight. The proposal of Zebralight headlamp H501W is good, I have it as well and it will be included in my future travel equipment.

Regards, Patric

 

[Ian2381]

Get two,
Any of the suggested light and a backup - ITP A3, you wont even notice the weight when its in your back up. great output with 3 modes.:thumbsup:

 

[march.brown]

ITP A2, 3 modes offering l-m-h,very small and a very much liked light on here.Nice price and easy to get.

Absolutely agree with this ... Bought one and it was so good I have sent for another.

75.5mm long by 17.5mm ... 1.5 lumens for 60 hours on low ... 18 lumens for 7 hours on medium ... 80 lumens for 2 hours on high ... Always starts on low too ... Runs on one AA.

At the price , I can't think of anything better unless you want a smaller torch ... If so , the iTP A3 is 66.5mm long by 14mm ... Same lumens but runtimes are 50 hour , 4 hours and 55 minutes ... This ones sequence is Medium , Low , High ... Always starts on medium ... Runs on one AAA.
.

 

[yatsunil]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'm now seriously considering a headlight as well. Used to have a Princeton Tec candescent but it died a while back. Just got on the zebralight website - the new H31 looks very tempting but it's not even available yet. And it runs on CR123/16340. That means I'll have to carry two different type of batts. It's probably a better idea to get a headlight and flashlight using the same platform. I'm still firm on the idea of AAs because of their availability - Didn't see many shops stocking CR123s when I was in India, Nepal or even the smaller towns in Morocco. The ones I did see looked extremely dusty and dodgy. Come to think of it, even the AAs sold in Nepal were questionable!
I'm also not too fond of lights having infinitely adjustable beams - just one more thing to go wrong. A couple of well chosen modes is all I need. Arrgh.......this is getting more complicated than I thought!

 

[headophile]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'm now seriously considering a headlight as well. Used to have a Princeton Tec candescent but it died a while back. Just got on the zebralight website - the new H31 looks very tempting but it's not even available yet. And it runs on CR123/16340. That means I'll have to carry two different type of batts. It's probably a better idea to get a headlight and flashlight using the same platform. I'm still firm on the idea of AAs because of their availability - Didn't see many shops stocking CR123s when I was in India, Nepal or even the smaller towns in Morocco. The ones I did see looked extremely dusty and dodgy. Come to think of it, even the AAs sold in Nepal were questionable!
I'm also not too fond of lights having infinitely adjustable beams - just one more thing to go wrong. A couple of well chosen modes is all I need. Arrgh.......this is getting more complicated than I thought!

zebralight h50 seems relatively alkaline friendly.

 

[hyperloop]

well, i own a Jetbeam Jet I Pro v2.0 and its a great light, runs well off AAs and any AA sized cell (14500s, NiMHs), so far, despite quite a few drops, it's not malfunctioned and i like that i can program it and that flexibility allows balancing runtimes and output. It also LOOKS so nice IMHO.

I also own a Zebralight H501 which runs off AAs as well and that is a pretty nice light to have if you want to stick with AAs. The 3 levels are very usable especially the minimum level when in dark surroundings or for just reading in bed without waking anyone around you. I have the cool white led one and am considering getting the warm version as i am shifting towards neutral and warm tints.

For Nitecore, i own an EX10 not the D10 but its basically the same, i dont think the Smart PD models with ramping are available anymore but the new range looks decent with well spaced output levels. Nitecores are darn tough too, trust me on this i have severely abused my EX10 and its still working fine.

 

[OfficerCamp]

The Nitecore D10 is one of the most solid all around lights for the money. You will fall in love with it the second you use it. I have owned over a dozen Nitecores, and I keep buying, trading, and upgrading them. Currently, my favorite is my Whetstone D10 with a warm XP-E emitter and a trit slotted piston. I've seen them customized with MC-Es, P7s, annodizing, paint, bezels (EX-10) etc... The pursuit is endless, Enjoy!
Chris

 

[C4ReeN]

from those 4 option, i just have 2 of them.
Itp SA1 Eluma and Nitecore D10.
D10 is smaller than SA1.
but if i compare those two, my vote is on SA1.
It's more cheaper (almost half of the price) and i think it's more to thrower compare to D10 that have flood beam pattern.
therefor i choose SA1 compare to the other option and save the money to buy another A2 EOS for backup light.

Edit:
P.S: anyway i never love my D10 (but i'm not gonna sell it) , i hate twisted on/off and for me Fenix LD10 is better than D10.
the only reason i use D10 over LD10 is just D10 can use 14500, but SA1 can do also therefore i love my SA1 Eluma over D10. ^^

 

[yatsunil]

.... choose SA1 compare to the other option and save the money to buy another A2 EOS for backup light.

That's a good suggestion C4ReeN. Better to have two decent quality lights than just one expensive one. Thanks!