Need a good 2xAA light

[Mike89]

I'm tired of my cr123 lights. Tired of having to go online to buy batteries for them. Want to switch to AA lights, preferable 2 x AA but I'll check into single AA lights also. Figured this was the place to get some good recommendations.

I also have 2 Fenix P3Ds, 2 Fenix P2Ds and a Fenix T1 I'll trade for AA lights.

Thanks

 

[LEDninja]

Find the 2AA body for your L2T.
Seriously though a 2AA light can match only a 1*CR123A light in output and is almost twice as long. There was a reason you modified your L2T.

Short 2AA
4sevens Quark MiNi AA² (currently out of stock)
This is the shortest 2AA I know of. Twist on off.
Goes Lo Mid Hi. Fenix tend to go Mid Lo Hi.

1AA
Most 1AA top out at 90-100 lumens which is less than what you are used to.
Nitecore and Zebralight have some brighter ones but I don't own any so can't comment.
Xeno E03 is also supposed to be bright but I have been reading about switch failures lately.

RCR123A
Some 1*CR123A lights are compatible with RCR123A. Others are not.
Most Fenix CR123A are not. Quark MiNis are not but the full size Quarks are.
You can get a Quark 123 with clip or no clip.
Problem with the Quark Regular is on head loose it goes moonlight low medium high. The 3rd mode is my most used indoor mode. Very annoying click click-click click-click.
I got a Quark X neutral AA² Tactical with a 1AA body. This allows me to program my 2 favourite modes for head tight/head loose positions. With 1AA the Max is not at full brightness but still very bright. (My 14500 arrived today, charging now so I can get full brightness back with the short 1AA body.)

My suggestions:
Either
Quark 123 Tactical (no clip) or Quark 123 Tactical for EDC and the Quark 123² Turbo for your bigger light plus RCR123As and charger.
OR
Quark AA² Turbo and Quark AA Tactical
OR
Quark AA² Tactical with a 1AA body.

 

[Mike89]

$57 for a Quark is a bit more than I wanted to spend. I just ordered a Fenix E21 for $31 (including shipping). I'll have to look for the AA tube for the L1T, though that light is quite a bit dimmer than today's lights.

 

[UpstandingCitizen]

Why doesn't the EagleTac D25A2 Mini get more attention? It's a fantastic 2xAA light that costs about $40, it comes in NW or CW, and also has the great 10 year warranty.

Oh, and it's practically identical in size to a very popular penlight (4Sevens Preon 2). Here's a size comparison between the two aforementioned lights:

EagleTac D25A2: Length: 5.1", Diameter: 0.69" (head), 0.67" body, Weight: 1.03 oz.
Preon 2: Length: 5.05", Diameter: 0.55", Weight: 0.88 oz.

So the EagleTac is 0.05" longer, the body is 0.12" wider, and overall it weighs 0.15 oz. more than the Preon 2.

 

[brunt_sp]

I'm also adding 1XAA and 2XAA flashlights to my collection which used to be 18650 exclusive. It started with the purchase of a Zebralight SC51W and I am now adding bodies for the Malkoff M31 modules. My additions include Malkoff's 2XAA little twisty but if you use Oveready's AA delrin sleeves then you can use the Surefire 9P, G3 and 18mm alternatives. (For the G3 you are advised about a 15 minute max continuous use due to heat issues unless you opt for the M31L)

 

[ScaryFatKidGT]

a couple questions 1. Do you go really through than many CR123's?? You can get them for around $1 a piece if you buy a bunch.
2. What about RCR123's or 17670's?

Finally I didn't like the LD20 I like the Klarus ST10 and 20 a lot better GoingGear has them on sale right now? You already have a TK40 so thats a good larger light. The LD15 is a nice little one and the quark Mini AA.

 

[HotWire]

Try the Shining Beam Caveman or the Surefire Outdoorsman. Both great lights!

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Moving this to the Recommend me a light forum.

Bill

 

[fccwpe]

Just got the fenix LD20 R5 and I am most impressed. Hi (180 Lumen) then half press of the switch on the base to strobe. Slight turn of the bezel and you get 5 lumen for map reading, half press to 30 lumen , half press to 80 lumen, half press to SOS. Really great light so far and around $55. Runs on 2 AA's and it will stand on it's base for a lamp. About 6 inches long and quite narrow.

 

[Mag-man]

Available some time this year (2012) are the Minimag Pro and Minimag Pro+. link removed 2AA's with night shattering 200+ lumens. Focusable. Multi-power settings. I figure it'll run about $40-50.

 

[reppans]

I like Quarks for the moonlight and lego-ablility. I have the AA^2 with extra AA body, it's perfect for my needs and the spare body makes a great batt container.

 

[tjswarbrick]

Personally, I love my 2xCR123 lights - the 2xAA's are just too long and skinny for me.
I find 1xAA great for EDC.
If you're not looking to spend too much,
I gave the Fenix LD20 and JETBeam BA20 as gifts, and both were very well received. Either one is worlds brighter than my Terralux-Upgraded M*g 2xAA, with a much nicer beam.
I have neutral-tint EagleTac P20C2, and LuminTop P2C - and both are just great. If it were me, depending upon desired feature set and price range, I'd seriously consider a ET P20A2 or LT P2A over the above.
For single AA, the quarks get rave reviews, but I don't have one so cannot comment. But I'd consider it in neutral white.
I really like handling my JETBeam E3S, but it's a little heavy, slippery, and cool white to be my ideal carry light.
I just picked up a Xeno E03. I like that I can run it off ANY AA-sized battery (Alkaline AA, generic NiMh, Eneloop, L91 1.5V Lithium primary, 14505 3.0V Lithium Primary, or 14500 Li-Ion rechargeable...) The tint and beam are very nice (again, I got the neutral.) My switch feels great, but I've only had it about 3 days now, so that may not mean much.
I've also considered the Maratac AA, but I've found I prefer clicky's, and the ultimate brightness isn't terribly impressive - though it truly is more than adequate for a small carry light.

Good luck!

 

[Tbone559]

Klarus P2A...awsome light!

 

[sniper]

You have a biiiiig job....they are all good!, or at least most of them!

 

[Mike89]

I ended up buying the Fenix E21, Jetbeam PA40, and the ShiningBeam Caveman. Think that's going to do quite nicely along with the TK40 I already own. If I would have done more research about the last two beforehand, I wouldn't have even bought the Fenix. Anyway, looking forward to getting them. Now through my cr123 to AA transition, I have to figure out what to do with my cr123 lights as I'm not buying anymore of those batteries.

 

[Thekapow]

In my eyes the olight t-25 beats them all, if it just had some more grip to it

 

[STR]

I'm tired of my cr123 lights. Tired of having to go online to buy batteries for them. Want to switch to AA lights, preferable 2 x AA but I'll check into single AA lights also. Figured this was the place to get some good recommendations.

I also have 2 Fenix P3Ds, 2 Fenix P2Ds and a Fenix T1 I'll trade for AA lights.

Thanks

All I focus on are lights that use AA or AAA batteries only. I don't even want any other batteries since those are mostly what we use in all our other small gadgets including our cameras so to me there is no reason to even look at other battery options even if they are old standard lantern 6 volt or D or C battery types.

The JetBeam BA20 in my opinion is a great 2 AA light plenty bright and certainly much brighter than anything else I own for the wall of light it throws out there on high! I find the simple operation and the overall package to be pretty much complete and like the way the pocket clip on this model can work well on Riggs jeans with the leather wrapped pocket. Since these jeans are what I wear the most it is nice to find something that will actually clip over and around that leather wrap. Not all will trust me. The other thing I really like about the JetBeam is the momentary switch option and its also like that on their PA10 which is yet another great single AA light putting out just as much light on high as anything else you can compare it to and probably even more than most others if you use the rechargeable batteries it can handle which as I recall are the 14500 3.7 volt 700 ma lithium ion type it was rated for. It may only last half an hour on the highest mode but its pretty impressive for that time all the way down to the last drop of battery juice it can provide before it flutters out.

The JetBeam BA10 is another fine light simple to use and plenty bright. These all three by JetBeam seem to be the top AA or AAA lights I've bought. Next would be the Streamlight models. I have a Protac 1AA and while impressive and somewhat sentimental even I can't deny it takes a back seat to these newer updated much brighter and more capable lights. Once you use the PA10 you'll be hard pressed to wind your clock backwards to go to another small light. Its that good!