Need a techy light for a girl who doesn't like techy lights.

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abonhamc

Newly Enlightened
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Aug 26, 2012
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Hello all, I've been lurking for some time and I actually bought a Quark 123 from advice that I read here. Thanks for that!


I'm prowling for a flashlight for my fiancée. She almost killed her iPhone using a flashlight app tonight while playing with our dog outside. It wouldn't have been a problem except that her flashlight app didn't turn off and remained on in her purse. Again, usually not a problem, but I worry about the finer details of scenarios if there had been an emergency and I would like to separate flashlight and phone as I've done reasonably well for myself. Knowing her best, I have supplied a few of her needs. Can anyone suggest something adequate please?


My absolute needs are:


-Inexpensive. Sub-30 US dollar range. She may not even use the thing and I'm not ready to take in more toys myself.

-AA/AAA battery use only. I don't mind hunting for rare batteries, but she's too busy for that.

-As small as possible. The light will be on her keychain.

-Durable. Waterproof/resistant if possible. She's not gentle on keychains.

-Sturdy threads/sections. Her old Maglight unscrewed itself from her keys and disappeared into oblivion. Not good. I'd like something very solid.


Then I've got some requests:


-Good tech. Brighter is better. We lose power several times a year and need reliability. Sure, I could pick up hundreds of replacement flashlights from the dollar store, but we all like good toys here, right? 😉

-Moderately tactical is fine, but she's not crazy about aggressive gnarling on the grip and super strong anodizing. An unassuming strength is best.

-Readily available. This one may get lost/destroyed and I don't want to hunt used forums and eBay for a new one.
-Push-button operation. She's going to be working in a hospital and those parking lots are dim, if light is needed, it is needed immediately. No fiddling accepted.

-Very few extra modes. She doesn't need SOS, Morse code, or blink. Moon and the Sun are the only two settings she'll use.



So there you have it. I can't imagine that this will be easy so see what you can think of and let me know. I know the importance of a well made light so I want this to be as painless for her as possible. Something that is touchy or tricky will not be used. She's not overly demanding as a social worker/student, but if she's in a bind or in the dark, I want to know that she can illuminate what's in front of her.

Thank you very much for all your suggestions!

cleardot.gif
 
For a key chain definitely AAA, for simple and inexpensive I would say look at the FourSevens Preon P0, Fenix E01 or E05 and Olight i3.
 
Lobstradomus said:
For a key chain definitely AAA, for simple and inexpensive I would say look at the FourSevens Preon P0, Fenix E01 or E05 and Olight i3.
Click to expand...

With a respect to you, the OP did specify clicky switch - all those are twisty's


I'd go a Preon 2 with a clicky switch.
 
readily available, and no ebay? Seriously?? really??
okay then i wont bother any further with your recommendation request and just throw in this:

streamlight, pelican, terralux, amazon, bye.
 
One of the few AAA lights with a button I came across while looking for a keychain light myself was the Inova XS. There is a review thread with some feedback from someone that bought it: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...D-Flashlight&p=3927207&viewfull=1#post3927207

The comment says that girls liked it, so it might work for her. I'm not sure about the UI though, according to the review, the button is only for momentary and you need to twist for normal on. It only has 2 modes so it shouldn't be that complicated. An advantage of the flashlight unscrewing in the back could be that it is pretty obvious when it comes apart and the biggest part is missing from the keychain.

It's sold by an outdoor shop around here, so you might be able to find shops that sell it.
 
A clickie switch might get activated in the pocket, but a twisty might be unscrewed. A twisty with a slightly thicker O-ring might give enough friction. For a clickie, the HypeTec P1A could work, a twistie, the Thrunlite Ti could work too.

:welcome:
 
Olight T15. Fairly simple UI, good performance and reverse clicky (less tactical). I find that it's a good, cheaper alternative to the Fenix LD10.
The Olight i3, i2 and Fenix LD15 are also good ones if she is okay with twisties.
The Jetbeam BA10 is also good, it has a forward clicky (which is better than the reverse clicky), but it only has two modes.

If you think the light will get lost, then buy several of them and put them away as backup lights.

Although I don't really know what you mean by "good tech". Because what comes to my mind is something like the Sunwayman V11R which is quite a bit over your budget.
 
The Xeno E03 just got a nice upgrade it starts at $30 with a couple dollars shipping. It uses AA or 14500, durable, double o-ring, different tints, square threads, XM-L and very pretty. The red is like candy I like the blue also. Jason @ EDC+ has a sales thread over in the marketplace. You also get strobe/sos/beacon mode but they are hidden so you can show her later not to overwhelm. Normal mode is med/low/hi IIRC.

I think this is especially good match because it is pretty, bright, and simple while getting a real WOW factor later with 500 lumen 14500 or from the hidden modes.

EDIT: I missed the keychain carry the E03 may be too large
 
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yliu said:
Olight T15. Fairly simple UI, good performance and reverse clicky (less tactical). I find that it's a good, cheaper alternative to the Fenix LD10.
The Olight i3, i2 and Fenix LD15 are also good ones if she is okay with twisties.
The Jetbeam BA10 is also good, it has a forward clicky (which is better than the reverse clicky), but it only has two modes.

If you think the light will get lost, then buy several of them and put them away as backup lights.

Although I don't really know what you mean by "good tech". Because what comes to my mind is something like the Sunwayman V11R which is quite a bit over your budget.
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Thanks for your response. For clarification, good tech meaning something that will be fairly long lasting over the older stock maglight bulb variety. I doubt the color temperature would be a consideration for her, but I would like to find something that lasts a good while on each battery change. I don't need alien technology, but just something with a bit more punch than the offerings at the local hardware store. If that makes any sense.
 
Thanks very much for all your suggestions. I may have to reevaluate the twisty style because the push button looks like something that is the most difficult to find in a small package. So far, ones that stand out to me are the following:

- Fenix E11 (long but narrow)
- Xeno E03 V3 (long but narrow)
- ThruNite Ti (small all around)

Anything smaller/thinner than those? Alot of the suggested lights look really good, but are just a touch too big. She had a keychain maglite before so I imagine that 3-4 inches long is fine as long as it's pretty narrow. I know I'm splitting hairs here. Thank you again, I hope I'm not being too difficult!
 
The Steamlight MicroStream may not be the brightest AAA at 28 lumens, but does have the following desirable features:
3.5" long and .60" diameter.
Tailcap clicky with momentary on/constant on.
Shockproof and water resistant IPX4
Pocket clip and lanyard included.
Priced under $20 (currently $16.88 Amazon Prime)
Lifetime warranty from a reputable company.
 
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Jetbeam E3S. 1xAA, two modes, stainless steel, and it can use the Nitecore EX11 pocket clip if you're handy with a file to widen the mounting holes in the clip a bit. I've given several as gifts.
 
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I know you want a clicky...but I really think your best bet is the preon p0. Two stage interface, no funky strobe/SOS/??? modes hidden or otherwise. The P0 sits on my keychain and has NEVER accidentally activated (I leave it half turn from full lock). A clicky switch is far more likely to activate in a purse/keychain too. The P0 is just so small you don't even notice it on your keychain. I tried a P1 on the keychain and didnt like it...but the p0 is perfect. Its the size of an AA battery - no joke! You can fit the preon P0 totally inside a Quark AA..
 
I'd second the Streamlight Microstream. If you wanted to spend a little more, Preon P1 with a Preon P2 tailcap, or EagleTac D25A.
 
I have 2 ideas, but neither perfectly fit your criteria. It sounds like she needs something really simple with an uncomplicated UI and without zillions of modes with strobes all mixed in. It should also be small and purse-able. I have already bought 4 lights that fit this criteria for 3 women and my Dad. I bought the same light for each of them, but it doesnt run on AA or AAA. It runs on cheap CR123's I say cheap, because when you order the light I'm talking about, you will also order its batteries from the same place for $1 to $1.45 each. The light is the uber-simple, but super tough and small Jetbeam BC-10. It costs $33 normally, but with a coupon you can get it for probably $30. It has just 2 modes, a 30L low and a 270L high. The 30 lumen low is perfect for just about everything. In fact my Mom forgot that hers had a high mode, and she used it for 9 months on low and found it very bright. It's also got good throw. All you have to do with it is buy about 4-6 CR123's when you order it, and you'll be set for at least a year or 2. The Panasonic CR123's last around 10 years, so you can buy more and store them for $1.45 each. The CR123's that you'd be using in the next few year could be the Titanium Innovations CR123's, which cost $1 each and work great! Its got a rear clicky switch.


Next. The other light I was thinking of is the smaller, cheaper Thrunite Ti. You can still get them for about $15 from Thrunite retail store. They are thick, tough and come in many cool colors like gold, red, blue, green, black. There are 2 versions, the firefly model with a .3L low and 70L high, but I'd recommend the other model with the 3L low and 70L high. I think 3L is more useful than .3L, and if you only have 2 modes, they should both be as useful as possible. I can see my way around my back yard at night with my 3L low mode on my Thrunite Ti.(I have 3 of them). The only thing about it that makes it not fit your criteria is its twisty switch, but its very easy and quick to find and use.


Aside from that I dont know that you are going to find a truly great light for under $30. The Jetbeam BC-10 is worth every penny of $33 though.:thumbsup:
 
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ScaryFatKidGT said:
Jetbeam BA10? $33 from batteryjunction?
Click to expand...



^Yeah the Jetbeam BA-10 is another good choice, and runs on an AA battery, and fits your criteria, but although its 'B' series sibling, the BC-10 doesnt perfectly fit your criteria because of the CR123 batteries, its the same price but is significantly brighter on both modes, lighter and smaller. I think it would be worth dropping the AA or AAA criteria and just ordering several inexpensive name brand CR123's from the same store you buy the light from, which would probably be batteryjunction.
 
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