LED light recommendation

[blackwaterstout]

Been reading a lot that last few days as a flashlight newbie and would like your advice. Looking for a small flashlight ideally about the size of my hand but not any longer than a minimaglight. I'd like the light to have at least 2 modes. One low around 30 lumens and 1 high 100+ lumens. I'd like to get decent runtime so I'm not overly concerned with battery type. (I'll buy whatever type gets me the best run time). I assume it would use a cree or seoul or some non-luxeon LED.

I am on a budget so I'd like to get the best bang for my buck. I was originally looking at a 1 or 3 watt Rayovac sportsman extreme and some of the other cheaper lights from brick and mortar stores but they all seem to be single mode.

I looked at the inova lights at Target and those are single mdoe as well...... Not to mention expensive.

IS there anything that fits the bill for me?

 

[Marduke]

You'll be hard pressed to find a 2-mode light of your description in a common B&M store like Walmart, Target, etc. You may want to check www.fenix-store.com for something like the L2T V2.0 with 15 and 140 emitter lumens. However, it's 2x the price of the Rayovac 2AA 1watt and 3 watt.

That being said, I love my Rayovac 2AA 3watt because it's a battery hog. It does a good job of using up batteries left over from other devices, and gives me the chance to play with my toys more (by toys, I mean my plethora of rechargable batteries). For a low mode, I'll use my Fenix E0 clipped to my pocket.

 

[Gunner12]

There are quite a few lights that will fit your description, most cheaper ones are at Dealextreme and Kaidomain. For $40, you could get 2 rechargeable 18650 3.7v Li-ion battery, a charger and a flashlight(I'd recommend the WF-400, High-Low-Off clickie).

If you want normal batteries(AA), multimode, and sub $30, how about the C8 Cree, MTE Rebel 100, MTE Seoul C2, KD 5-mode, Jetbeam CL-E V2.0 or the LM 31.

:welcome:

 

[blackwaterstout]

Thanks fella. As much as I'd like to get a Fenix I just can't afford one right now. Maybe down the road. The jetbeam and the LM31 both look very nice too but they are a little pricier than the others.

Looking at the C8 Cree it sounds like a great light as well. Only thing is I'm a little confused as to how the cycle switch works. If I'm using the light in low mode and turn it off will it turn on in a different mode next time I hit the switch? If that is the case then that sucks.

 

[Gunner12]

1 AA won't give you 100+ lumen high with the current LEDs, that is why I recommended a 18650(18mm wide, 65mm long 3.7v rechargeable lithium ion battery) powered light. 100-120 lumen high and I'm guessing (I don't have the light) 50-30 lumen low.

I don't know how the switch works on the C8. I'm guessing it's: Click, high, half press(pressing until the light turn off, before the switch"Clicks") or turn on and off for next mode.

There aren't many AA lights with just high and low, especially at your price range(the LM31 is the only one I could thing of).

I would suggest buying a 18650 powered light. The are around the length as the minimag but about 1.5-2 times wider then the minimag and IMO fits the hand quite nicely.

 

[jumpstat]

Don't really know your actual budget, but from your wishlist it can come to quite an amount. Personally, it is wise to actually look around and see whats on offer to fit your requirements. <50$ may or may not get the 100+ lumens you are after unless its a chinese design. Look at Liteflux, Fenix which are quality chinese lights. They have many models that may be suited to your requirements.

 

[john46268]

The LumaPower LM31/LM301 is on sale at BatteryJunction right now for $31 and is a very nice light. It puts out 80 lumens on high and runs on a single common AA you can buy in any kwiki-mart on the planet. There is also a coupon for cpf members, but I don't know it right off hand, someone will mention it. It is a sturdy metal case and pocket size. Very nice. Don't know what lumens low is, but its pretty low, sure to last a long long time.

LumaPower LM31 80 lumens 1 x AA with Seoul SSC P4 LED

http://www.batteryjunction.com/lumapower-lm301.html


Happy Lighting! :wave:

 

[defloyd77]

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6131
Same C-8 but also comes with a 2aa extension for a little more. One reviewer says the cycles go as follows High>Off>Low>Off>Slow Strobe>Off>Fast Strobe>Off but if it is a reverse clickie, you won't have to click that many times (hopefully).

 

[blackwaterstout]

Well I went ahead and ordered the C-8 from Deal extreme. I got the version with the extension tube in case I want to run two bats. Looks like two bats on hi mode will pump out 120 lumens. I was also looking at the above mentioned MTE Rebel 100 but it is out of stock. I think if I like the C-8 and the service is good form Deal Extreme then I might go abck and order the MTE. Or I might look at a light that uses the 18650's.

I live in the WV USA. Their website said that it will ship in 2-3 days and arrive in 2 weeks. Is this usually pretty true? I liked the fact that they don't charge for shipping so it makes it pretty economical.

 

[Gunner12]

Usually DX products arrive in 2 weeks to a month in the US. Longer if it's back ordered.

I hope you like your new light!

 

[LED_Thrift]

Well I went ahead and ordered the C-8 from Deal extreme. I got the version with the extension tube in case I want to run two bats. Looks like two bats on hi mode will pump out 120 lumens....

The lumen claims from most vendors & manufacturers are usually inflated and can't be compared directly among brands.

 

[blackwaterstout]

The lumen claims from most vendors & manufacturers are usually inflated and can't be compared directly among brands.

Yeah I figured that. Even if it can pump out 100 thats cool with me. I wanted something that had a bright beam in case I need it. Yet also have a softer beam for when I don't need the extra lumens.

Just out of curiousity, How many lumens is my traditional 3D Maglite incandecent?

 

[LED_Thrift]

...Just out of curiousity, How many lumens is my traditional 3D Maglite incandecent?

Check out FlashLightReviews.com for comparisons between many, many lights. It does not have the latest lights because the author 'retired' from doing reviews a few months ago. It does not give lumen figures, but gives comparison numbers for each light.

 

[Gunner12]

I'm guessing the 3D mag to be about 40-45 lumen max. Keep in mind that the Maglite will throw further then the C8 because of it's bigger reflector.

 

[defloyd77]

blackwaterstout, please share your opinion on this light when you get a good feel for it, I am very interested in getting a 1aa/2aa DX light but I am stuck between the C8 and the C3.

 

[blackwaterstout]

blackwaterstout, please share your opinion on this light when you get a good feel for it, I am very interested in getting a 1aa/2aa DX light but I am stuck between the C8 and the C3.

Most definately I will. I just got an email from DE confirming that my light has been shipped. They gave me some wacky tracking number that I have no clue carrier it belongs to. Said it should arrive in 10-14 days. Looking forward to getting my first tactical style light.