Cream of the Crop?

[lenny]

Just wondering what the best single AA and AAA lights are with the following requirements:
- max brightness
- flood pattern
- less than $50

I could care less about run time, materials, clickie or twistie etc.
Oh, and where can I get em?

Thanks all,
Lenny

 

[jayhackett03]

OH! perfect

www.fenix-store.com

 

[jayhackett03]

Fenix L1D CE
Fenix L2D CE

 

[LowBat]

Wasn't there a thread talking about a Cree based AA flashlight coming out for around $30?

 

[redskins38]

jetbeam did, mine is on the way hopefully there arent any problems with mine. Cause there have been quite a few reported

 

[lenny]

Oh, should've posted one more stipulation.
I don't need any multi mode multi brightness lights.
Make it a simple on/off.
Lenny

 

[carrot]

Try Fenix L1P and mod it with a Cree. Or you can buy it pre-modded from Fenix-Store.com. The L1P is a great light as-is, but the Cree/Seoul will make it brighter...

 

[lenny]

I can't find the Cree mod'd L1P at the Fenix store.
Where is it?
Lenny

 

[lenny]

Anybody?

 

[Lobo]

Or you can just buy an L1D, it pretty much works a single level light if you dont want to use the other levels. But not sure that a 1AA creelight is the best way to go if you want flood...
Another thought is that you can unscrew the head on the L1D, and use it in candle mode, doesnt get floodier than that.

 

[x2x3x2]

The Fenix lights fit your first 2 criterias, however i dont think they give good flood beam pattern tho..

 

[Badbeams3]

Yeap, flood is the problem.

 

[LEDcandle]

Wasn't there a thread talking about a Cree based AA flashlight coming out for around $30?

Cree AA twisty for $30 is the Jetbeam CL-E, which is apparently sold out at all available sources as this time. Groupbuys organised by CEJ and x2x3x2 (who later transferred it to Unforgiven).

Cree AA clickie for $30 is the Rexlight, currently still pending release. Kaidomain will be carrying it and probably dealextreme too. Not sure who else will be carrying it.

The other stuff from Fenix and Jetbeam are $50-80.

Liteflux and Lumapower have some stuff in the works too, but Litefluxes first Cree/Seoul offering will be a AAA light called the LF2. Lumapower has a nice AA light coming too. Prices unknown.

Lenny, how much flood do you want? Most of these lights have a very nice spillbeam as well as good throwing hotspot. However since they are all small lights (and small reflectors), the size of the spill is perhaps not uuber wide like a Maglite with a LuxV LED. But with the new Cree/Seoul LED output, within its capabilities, they have both throw and flood.

If you really want to eliminate the hotspot, you can use a diffuser or put some transclucent tape over the flashlight lens. Or you can take out the reflector and sputter it with hairspray or clear lacquer.

If you want area lighting kind of flood, check out the Liteflux for ideas. They have a new screw on head that is like a miniature 'traffic wand' for area lighting. You might be able to get a makeshift cap to emulate that effect.

 

[flashy bazook]

the Lumapower M3 is supposed to be adjustable vs. flood (beam) characteristics, and will be available in 1xAA (plus others) formfactor.

you need to wait a bit, though, as it has yet to ship so no beamshots and other independent reviews are available yet.

also, the first version to be made available will include the extra tubes so will retail for more than $50, but at some point it may be made available in single-tube versions so may fall to $50 or below.

if you don't find anything else that you like, just keep a lookout for the M3.