Need a flashlight for the parents

[532nm]

Parents are in their 60's. Dad wants to get mom a light for the car (for use in case of breakdown, etc)

• Requirements;
• -no rechargeables (nobody would remember to keep them charged)
• -Lithium batteries ok
• -Alkalines only if it's an LED light
• -should be fairly bright (as bright, say, as an unmodified 4D Maglite)
• -cheap ($30 or very close)
• -not too big if possible (don't think mom wants to lug around a flashlight that looks like a police baton) but size is not really too critical.

I would consider crank-up/shake lights but all the ones I have tried so far are really weak in terms of light output. My thinking is that lithiums would last a good number of years just sitting in the glovebox whereas alkaline would be dead within 2 years or so. If the light gets used at all, an LED type would draw less power, narrowing the gap between alkaline and lithium shelf life. My EDC is a G2 so that's my current recommendation (they're just under $35 on ebay) but I am wondering if there are any 'regular' flashlights that would fit the bill?

 

[Lumenz]

I would definitely recommend getting a head lamp. If the light is there just in case something goes wrong with the car, your parents will want to be able to use both hands to work on the car rather than having to hold a flashlight.

I keep a Zebralight H501w in my car. I like the Zebralight because I can use it as a head lamp or I can just clip it to my shirt. However, it is about $60--twice what you are willing to spend.

 

[LED_astray]

First, how dexterous are they? (Arthritic fingers can have big problems with small push-buttons and even with small lights.)

If they can handle the switches the Eveready headlamp and flashlight pack ($36 at CostCo) might be your solution. Decent brightness, variable power, and come with Lithium AA which have the best shelf life you can get:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=221741

 

[leukos]

I think a G2 is a good suggestion, I'm sure you could pick one up on BST for around $30 if you watched for one. How about an Inova X5?

 

[Stress_Test]

The twist-on switch of the G2 ought to be nice and easy for them to operate.

Just make sure they're knowledgeable about battery safety.


I guess the only downside would be that it's almost too bright for closeup work. Maybe throw in an E01 or equivalent (w/lithium AAA) for poking around in a purse or glovebox?

 

[532nm]

Thanks for the suggestions; I'll take a look at some of the ones I haven't heard of before.

I am going to skip the Innova though; I bought an X1 and hated it. It's the only flashlight I've ever returned. Maybe I got a bad one or something, but I felt the ergonomics were awful on it as well.

 

[325addict]

I had exactly the same: my parents wanted a good flashlight also. I gave them a stock Mag 2C and they are very happy with it. No-nonsence UI that can't go wrong, and ordinary "get-them-anywhere" batteries are very important here... a twisty tailcap with a button on it is something only a flashaholic seems to understand
Really ANYBODY expects it to be a clicky switch! One day, my L1 Lumamax came back from someone who lent it for 10 minutes, he had the rubber tailcap-texture in his thumb
He had been pressing that button for 10 consecutive minutes.... and he's not the only one
Or, they come back immediately, complaining the switch is broken :shakehead

Timmo.

 

[532nm]

Ha good point. I noticed the same thing with liner lock knives (for some reason people only seem to know how to close the classic style 'buckknife' lockback knives). They hand them back to me open, with a shrug.

Stress_Test's comment has been in my head all day... that a G2 is too bright for closeup work.

So now I'm thinking of a dual-powered hi/lo type light. And as everyone surmised, it's got to be simple to use...

 

[adirondackdestroyer]

The new multi-mode Minimag 2AA rebel would be PERFECT for your parents.

It's a twisty that has 4 levels of output that are accessed by twisting the head on-off-on in less than 3 seconds. For example the first time you twist the head it turns on in high mode, if you turn it off and back on again in less than a few seconds it goes to low mode, next flashing mode, and lastly S.O.S.
It runs on AA cells, which would be much safer for your parents than 123 cells.
You can buy it at Home Depot,****s' Sporting Goods,Walmart for under $22.

 

[325addict]

Yes! +1 for the new multi-mode Minimag 2AA rebel!

This one will probably last longer, although smaller, than a stock Mag 2C with incan bulb....and AAs are really available ANYWHERE :thumbsup:

Timmo.

 

[xenonk]

I'd also recommend the Rebel Minimag, or possibly one of the Nuwai rebranded Rebels like the Energizer 2AA or Rayovac Sportsman Xtreme. Simple, bright enough and cheap.

The Minimag is a twisty, the Energizer a clicky and the Rayovac a momentary/twisty.

If it's going to sit in a glove box and see infrequent use, definitely use a couple of L91s as they can sit a long, long time without leaking and corroding the light on them.

 

[Kiessling]

The Icon Rogue uses AA cells, is ergonomically cool and feels good in the hand and has a very easy 2-level interface with a big button and it has great regulation for non-flashaholics that conserves runtime over longer burntimes.

My family gets Icon Rogues and later Modus lights since they have been released.

bernie

Pictures are of the 2xAA version.

high mode:

vs a SF P60L:

 

[DimeRazorback]

Icon Rogues are a great suggestion!!

 

[532nm]

I looked up the Icon Rogue and it is very nice, but it's $50 before shipping and tax...

How do I know if an AA mini maglite I"m looking at in the store is a Rebel or not?



Edited to add: Oops, there are two Rogues; one is $48 and one is $38. The cheaper one takes 1 AA and the other one takes 2x AA.

 

[alpg88]

4c maglite

 

[Linger]

www.Shiningbeam.com has lots of durable, low cost lights, including 1AA and 2AA variety. +110 lumen Rominsens and the like, they'll arrive lubed and ready to go, from $16 - $32 iirc. Single or multi-mode,

 

[NE450No2]

G2LED Yellow. Easy for them to see. Lithium batteries last a long time in storage, LED bulb bright with long run time.

 

[jchoo]

+1 for the Icon Rogue 1. It's $37.99 at most dealers, and some even offer free shipping - I don't know where you found one for $50.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/icon-flashlight-rogue-1.html

 

[adirondackdestroyer]

How do I know if an AA mini maglite I"m looking at in the store is a Rebel or not?

There is a picture of the packaging in the first post in this thread:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=221793

 

[M@elstrom]

I had exactly the same: my parents wanted a good flashlight also. I gave them a stock Mag 2C and they are very happy with it. No-nonsence UI that can't go wrong, and ordinary "get-them-anywhere" batteries are very important here... a twisty tailcap with a button on it is something only a flashaholic seems to understand

+1

Only it's got to be an LED variant though, you can't go past Maglites' super straight forward UI! :thumbsup: