go-to light for outdoors, small size, pen clip, waterproof (to some degree) under $60

[deviantd]

Looking for 1 good go-to light to take with me on my outdoor adventures. I want something on the smaller side as i take 3 - 4 day trips and lighter is better. Smaller as in not too crazy long, thick or heavy, but willing to trade off for a good light. Don’t do too much night travel so pocket size / tactical light size.

would like this with a pen clip to keep accessible.

I live on the equator so at some point or another you or your gear will get wet so the more waterproof or at least resistant the better.

Lastly price. I tend to destroy gear so like to fine the best i can at good price points. Under $60 and closer to $40 would be the preference here.

 

[davecroft]

A couple to start you off:

Olight i2 - AA
Fenix LD01 - AAA

I have both and they are great lights for EDC you hardly notice them in your pocket. The LD01 is built like a tank but the Olight is pretty solid too, and is very reasonably priced. Both have strong clips.

 

[bon1]

I recently acquired an EagleTac D25A Mini which runs out of a single AA battery. It's 80mm long by 17.5mm wide and it has a pocket clip. As for modes, it has three different brightnesses plus a few disco modes relatively well hidden away. From their website: ANSI FL-1 lumens: 110 (first 90 seconds in turbo mode, then goes to high) / 86 / 19 / 3 and the runtimes for each mode are: 1.2 / 6 / 50+ hours (I think those runtimes are out of a 2,500 mAh battery, but they're still good with Eneloops). The weight is only 21.8 grams plus the battery and the light starts on the lower brightness setting so that helps conserve your night vision as well as the battery power. Also, this light can tail stand.

Finally, if you're willing to carry a bit more weight and a larger light, but still 1xAA, you could consider the Fenix LD12 which provides longer runtimes and four brightness modes instead of three for the D25A Mini.

Good luck with your purchase! 🙂

 

[deviantd]

I think the Fenix LD01 is perfect for my backup light / EDC. But for the main light maybe somthing that can last a bit longer and a bit more light. I dont need it as small as the Fenix LD01 was thinking maybe the 2 x AA size of light. Any ideas or suggestions. Again the more i think about i do need the water proof.

 

[CarpentryHero]

4sevens Preon1 or Preon2, I keep a Preon1 on my keys as a backup light.

+1 on the Fenix Ld01, I have it's predecessor the LOD and it's still awesome

 

[bon1]

For a 2AA light, I'd go with the Fenix LD22.

Let us know what you end up buying! 🙂

 

[JerryM]

For a 2AA light, I'd go with the Fenix LD22.

Let us know what you end up buying! 🙂

Have you or do you know of any tests for run times? I tend to doubt the manufacturers figures, for instance 42 Lumens for 15 Hours. Without a doubt long run times would be important for the stated use.
Thanks,
Jerry

 

[bon1]

Sadly, I have not found any reviews for the LD12 nor for the LD22.

 

[deviantd]

So far i got this to fenix for sure so it’s the ld 22 ld12 or PD 32. Maybe the 10 or 20 as they are on amazon for a lot less.

I really like the PD32 size and clip position seem perfect but would rather have a traditional battery also price

The LD 22 seems good but seems awkwardly long and the pocket clip seems backward. As in head up out of pocket.

The ld 12 seems very nice. kind of wanted a bit bigger longer lasting for the main but leaning this way.

 

[bon1]

I preffer to stay with the common AA size type of batteries (Eneloops)--the reason being that I can use alkaline cells in an emergency.

As for the Fenix LD22, the pocket clip can be positioned in both ways. Please, go to their official website where you will find plenty of information and nicely detailed photographs. Also, notice that the overall length for this light is 156 mm so that's about 10mm longer than an incandescent Mini Maglite. That sort of length makes it uncomfortable to carry it in your pocket, but the clip is positioned in such a way that part of the light will be sticking out of the pocket (like that, it's not so uncomfortable to carry and it's easier to grab the light. But there's a tradeoff as well). Also, I find that it's easier to hold a light in the ~150 mm of length for extended periods of time. Any light with similar overall dimensions should fit nicely in your backpack.

The Fenix LD12 seems really nice, but there's a couple users in another thread that are reporting that they're sometimes unintentionally activating the side switch (the one that changes the brightness modes), not a big deal but that oughts to be quite irritating. That's a pitty since I was really considering this light as an alternative for my current (and almost new) EagleTac D25A Mini.

 

[LEDninja]

Neutral-white Quark MiNi AA² Green Packaging $43.00
~140 OTF lumens. Water tight.

Maglite 2AA Mini Mag Pro+ LED Flashlight, SP+P01H Black Price: $28.99
245 ANSI lumens. 150M ANSI throw. Rain resistant.
The pen clip has to be purchased separately as part of the
Maglite AA Mini Mag Accessory Kit AM2A016, 108-000-446 Price: $4.25

 

[deviantd]

Going to go for the Fenix LD12. Think it has all i am looking for. Also its small enough that if i do need more light or battery life i wont regret the Fenix LD12 for a backup. If i find it enough then I will feel comfortable going down for a backup. thanks for all the help and will let you know what i think about the Fenix LD12 when i get a chance to test it out.

 

[bon1]

Thinking about it, it's probably easier to carry your Fenix LD12 together with a spare battery than carrying an LD22 2AA light.

Please, let us know what you think about your new light when you receive it as I'm still very interested in the LD12--specially about the possible accidental activations of the side switch.

Good luck! 🙂

 

[jorn]

I would go for a quark regular or tactical. Lightweight. It's current controlled (no pwm) and got really good runtimes. Moonlight mode is really useful when outddors with no/little ambient light, and it will run forever. You can dunk it, no problem with waterproofing. I love the warm quark turbo when in up in the mountains fishing. Runtimes have never been a problem, and the extra throw goes on and on when no ambient light. (only rocks,water and grass up there so a throwy light is great for me) No pwm controlled lights for me when moving in or close to water in the dark. I see the "strobe effect" im my side view when the water reflects the light back. Even the high Hz quark mini/preon can be annoying.

 

[reppans]

I would go for a quark regular or tactical. Lightweight. It's current controlled (no pwm) and got really good runtimes. Moonlight mode is really useful when outddors with no/little ambient light, and it will run forever. You can dunk it, no problem with waterproofing. I love the warm quark turbo when in up in the mountains fishing. Runtimes have never been a problem, and the extra throw goes on and on when no ambient light. (only rocks,water and grass up there so a throwy light is great for me) No pwm controlled lights for me when moving in or close to water in the dark. I see the "strobe effect" im my side view when the water reflects the light back. Even the high Hz quark mini/preon can be annoying.

So does the LD12's "digitally regulated output - maintains constant brightness" statement mean it's PWM?

Another fan of the Quarks.... having moonlight is like having a spare battery for me... and even forgetting about the massive runtime, it's my favorite mode for preserving night vision.

 

[jorn]

Dunno about the LD12, both my old fenixes did not use pwm. (A old tk11 and a tk20.) The neutral tk20 made me stop drooling for cool tinted leds. I prefer neutral to warm tinted lights when outdoors now. Everything looks better, and it's more pleasing to the eyes in the long run. Heavy rain also looks funky with pwm.