Looking for options for new light to newbie..

[NonSenCe]

so help a newbie like me out..

just wondering what flashlight pops in to your head with these demands..

1. one AA battery. (must work with alkalines)
2. neutral or warm tint
3. 1st mode has to be high or medium. (not low like i like mine to be)
4. Simple UI, preferably 2 to 3 modes max), no blinky modes.
5. pocket clip.
6. clicky not twisty (tactical preferred)
7. ok quality
8. price under 70$

two people i know, want a new flashlight to use at work. (well..ok maybe third will be turned also to new lights when the first two get theirs)

the light has to be pocketable to be edc everywhere, so cant be too long or big. and the battery must be easy and cheap to get. and they get free alkaline AA from work, hence the 1AA requirement makes lot of sense. (and give me time and i can make them to use rechargable nimhs eventually hahah)

mostly they need it to light their path or corridor or room.. 2-10yards distances.. much rare occasion they need to spot something over 30yards away. so a bit floodier type like xpg is best option in my mind.

i recon they would be fine with 40-60lumens no matter what the led is.. thats enough output and still not too hard for the normal alkaline battery to power.
and to them it is still bright. (and that low´ish output also would offer pretty good runtimes too)

my thought for good option to them is what i carry myself pretty much everywhere.. and i know its a good option. but i wonder if there are other options.. because im biased..

so my 1st vote goes to Quark Tactical AA. only 2 downsides i can see for those two guys its going to..

1. the twisty head to change modes.. they would like it to operate from the button. single hand to operate it. twisty needs two.
2.the pocket clip is pretty high.. it might fall off as they are getting in and out of truck, crouching and bending down and climbing stairs and ladders and jumping down from back of a truck, alot during the day.

the 2cr123 model i had stays put, but the aa version feels like i could drop out because the overhang of the tailcap outside the pocket.. i carry mine in holster so i cant be sure. i think it dropped from me once in beginning and thats why i chose the holster carry.

but the quark gives a chance to program it once to two modes (neither beeing max mode) and call it good. and the floody big beam of xpg. and the neutral /warm tint (even if i need to buy the AA bodies as extra on top of the light i dont think its a deal killer.. as i can use atleast the other 2AA body myself)

my second vote goes to: Jetbeam pro1. i think there still is neutral tint version..? its 3 mode, but programmable anyway one wants. (medium-high-medium or something like that) not tactical clicky, but the two way clip is nice. not xpg either. but thats just me thinking floody is better for them in their use.


so are there any other contenders?

 

[B0wz3r]

A Jetbeam would be a good choice. Very well built and designed, with an easy UI.

I'd also suggest a Zebralight. The SC50 comes in both a cool and a neutral white (which is actually a little on the warm side). Its UI is a little more complicated but it allows you to start in either high or low mode. It's also only 3.2 inches long, and comes with a very nice clip. The side click is very nice too, gives more holding options than a tail clicky does.

 

[wyager]

Why not a regular quark AA head with the tactical switch?
Beyond that, I recommend
quark MiNI
Nitecore D10

 

[jhc37013]

Look at coming real soon (end of October) Zebralight SC51, just search for it here on CPF there is active threads going on. It's a 200 lumen AA light about as long as your index finger and can run on any type of AA sized batterys but NiMh is recommended and its a bright flood light like you say is preferred.

http://www.zebralight.com/SC51-Flashlight-AA-200Lm_p_43.html

 

[NonSenCe]

whats offered so far..
jetbeam pro1: ** got one** i really want to like my old pro1 (version1 i think). i like its programmable. i like the clip that can be used up or down. i like the throw ability. the ano and color is cool. the light itself is just bit longer than other AA lights i have. and size matters in my pocket carry stuff. its biggest failure is white tint. if there would of been neutral tints for sale when i got it, i think i would of saved lot of money and wouldnt of buyed so many other lights since. it is just nearly there in my favorites. (i hardly ever use it but everytime i take it to my hand i like it and cant imagine selling it hahaha)

quark mini = twisty. not an option. **got two of those**

regular quark = has blinky modes. and do not start from medium output. and also has more than two three modes. **got one. hate it. because of the blinky mode in the end of the cycle. (ok i have two regulars, ti version too, but i dont use it at all.. i just admire it sometimes, if it were a tactical model.. i would use it.)**

zebralight sc50= the sidecliky is too easy to turn the light on in the pocket. **got one too**

that clicky is my main pet peeve with it.. i have hot pocket everyday with that light, it just keeps turning itself on in my pocket and always in max mode.. and the guys i am looking light for would have that happen even more often. (move lot more actively than i all day)

if the sc51 will have a lot stiffer cliky, then i buy one or two to myself and them a pair too. I LOVE the sc50w i have. but cant just use it, because the clicky is too loose. and loosening the tailcap is not an option. makes it once again a light that you need to use 2 hands to turn it on. that is definate no no in edc light. and in work light definate no. even tho it dont have momentary output i wouldnt mind offering it to everyone looking for a light ..just the damn clicky is too easy to turn on.

nitecore d10sp and d11=well now.. how i forgot this one.. (must be because i personally didnt like the non-ramping UI.. felt that it was step backwards from them.. and that 47s dont have them anymore)

so does nitecore offer neutral tints now? -all i recall are r5 whites.

**yeah got one of these also**
used to love my d10 r2 model.. it has pretty neutralish white tint (got lucky with the tint) --now where is it.. gonna carry it tonight hahh. the d10 is my most worn out looking led light.. it was my pocket edc for months without rival. then came neutral tint quark tactical. that just offered me momentary output and warmer tint. less modes in use but plenty for me. i did carry them both at the same time long time.. then i got quark mini, preon, ipt a3 and zebra sc50.. (all but itp offered warmer tint) so the d10 ended up in rotation with the others.

but i think i dont know how the cliky works in the d10sp model.. wonder if it has more "feel" to it. (they be using gloves often now that winter comes)

in the d10 and ex10 i have, the clicky feel is a bit iffy at times. it dont work 100% of the time. (never has worked perfectly, no matter what tuneups i did) and for beginner (with gloves) i think they are better off with button cliky that protrudes outward and makes a solid "click" sound.

gimme single AA light looking a bit like downsized fenix tk11, with fenix tk11 clicky feel and sound, with romisen n3 medium-high modes.

hell.. i clearly just need a "quark tactical" with 2 modes that are accessed without twisting the head..

still looking for more options.

 

[mcnair55]

Just a good solid easy to use and easy to buy light.

Starts on high,just gentle press to half power,press to end or press gentle for the 3rd(unwanted mode)