Light Recommendations for GF

[xiton]

Alright, so I need a budget light (under $25) for my girlfriend. She'll mainly just be keeping it in the car, using it here and there as well as emergencies. I'd like something in a AA format for ease of accessability. She dislikes twisties and would prefer a push button. I'd like to find something with a solid lumen output as well as a relatively long battery life. I'd prefer to stick with a single battery since they're easy to find rolling around in drawers (not underwear!).

Size isn't too much of an issue, though with a single AA I imagine it's not going to be too huge either way. Reliability is going to be important, of course.

What do you guys think?

 

[sol-leks]

If you want both brightness and runtime on one measly AA, you need something with multi-modes. There aren't a lot of good multi-modes under 25, but check out the K1 from shiningbeam.com, it might fit the bill.
Some other good options are:

-the akoray k106 from KD if you are willing to program it for her

-the aurora sh-035 from DX

 

[SirJohn]

The ITP A2 from goinggear with the CPF discount should put you right at $25 shipped. If you want to go to AAA, you could also do the ITP A3 or you could consider the Trustfire F23 from DX and the like. Battery life is awful on high but should be acceptable on low and it does look sweet as a gift.

It seems like too many people have been having too many problems with the K-106 where its risky whether you would actually get one that works. The SH-035 is really new so there is not much of a track record on it as to whether it is up to snuff, however, the other Aurora lights in that series have seemed pretty good.

 

[sol-leks]

he said she doesn't like twisty's......

 

[SirJohn]

he said she doesn't like twisty's......

I missed that. Well the F23 still works in a AAA format. The F22 is the AA format of it but the person would have to be a transformers fan and people report issues with the clicky. How bright does it need to be, you could always look at lower power single modes? (Streamlight Stylus Pro?)

 

[StarHalo]

You put a "light for my significant other" thread in the budget lights section? Harsh.. :ohgeez:

 

[polkiuj]

Icon MODUS

 

[SirJohn]

The Terralux lightstar 100 will run you about $28 shipped at batteryjunction.com using the cpf discount. A tad over your budget, but that may work for you.

 

[joe1512]

Romisen lights are pretty good for budget quality. You can look here for a nice consolidated list:

http://goinggear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=14_48

If I were you, I'd consider an CR123 light. They will be a lot brighter for the size. Sure, they need special batteries, but they won't leak like alkalines and you can give her a small box of them and she can put a spare in the glove compartment. THe light won't be used much, so battery swap shouldnt be much of an issue.
CR123s are available in stores, though kind of expensive for normal use. But for light use, they work great.

You might get one of the flood-to-throw adjustable beam lights, but I am unsure if they have multiple modes.