Please help me select some budget flashlights

[Skylumen]

Hello Guys,

I plan to order the flashlights below to add to my flashlight collections. I like stainless steel because I think they look cool. If you know other cool stainless steel lights please suggest. If you find a better deal than the light I mention below please let me know. I like to collect flashlight just for fun. If you know of any great light not mentioned please also suggest. I will order them too! I am waiting to hear from everyone before I place my order.

BOB=BestOfferBuy
DX=Deal Extreme

Akoray K-109 CR123A Q5 11.8BOB Cheap but quality CR123A
Akoray K-106 AA/14500 230 Q5 12.51 BOB Cheap but Quality AA
TrustFire F22 AA/14500 220 R2 20.7 BOB Stainless Steel AA
ITP A2 SS AA/14500 80 R2 24 Ebay Stainless Steel Quality AA
ITP A2 Black AA/14500 80 Q5 20 Ebay Quality AA
Aurora SH-034 CR123A 220 Q5 11.61 BOB Cheap Stainless CR123A Q5
Aurora SH-034 CR123A 240 R2 15.03 BOB Cheap Stainless CR123A R2
TrustFire R5-A3 AA/14500 230 R5 16.11 BOB AA R5
UltraFire WF-501B MC-E 18650 800 MCE 20 DX Cheapest MCE
ITP A1 SS R2 $25
ITP A1 Black
ITP A3 SS
ITP A3 Black

 

[sol-leks]

I'd say the skyray sr5 is worth adding to your collection. You can get it with an xpg dropin on DX for around 22 bucks or you can get just the host to use for p60 dropins for 9 bucks on lighttake.

 

[Skylumen]

I already got the SkyRay SR-5

I got it for $18 on Ebay. Its damn good quality for that price! not too bright but I am satisfy.

Do you have any other suggestions from your collection?

 

[joe1512]

I'd go with the quality over quantity approach. Why do you need/want all those friggin lights?

You dont need 6 itp A1,2,3 lights cuz they all do the exact same thing.

Instead, get a nice titanium light with an XP-G for usage. the illuminati is nice and reasonably priced for what it does.


Also, I recommend one really nice Large light, such as teh itp A6 Polestar, or the TK45. You can still use AA batteries with them, but will have 1 light that is really impressive, instead of dozens of low-powered lights that just sit around in a drawer.

 

[Skylumen]

I'd go with the quality over quantity approach. Why do you need/want all those friggin lights?

You dont need 6 itp A1,2,3 lights cuz they all do the exact same thing.

Instead, get a nice titanium light with an XP-G for usage. the illuminati is nice and reasonably priced for what it does.


Also, I recommend one really nice Large light, such as teh itp A6 Polestar, or the TK45. You can still use AA batteries with them, but will have 1 light that is really impressive, instead of dozens of low-powered lights that just sit around in a drawer.

Hi!

Like I said. I just like to collect. I got no use for these lights really. But may be you are right. I should skim down on the budgets and collect less but quality Flashlights. I have only recently got addicted to flashlights and i have already spent $450. By the way. I got the TK-45. It was my first flashlight! Do you know how it compares to the A6 polestar? Any other quality lights you think are worth the money that you would recommend? Thanks!

 

[mcnair55]

Do a search of all the popular posts and your answers will be met.Instead of buying all the budget stuff take a look at 1 or 2 more expensive lights,you will never get much back on the budget stuff if you ever want to sell.

 

[Kindle]

I plan to order the flashlights below to add to my flashlight collections. I like stainless steel because I think they look cool. If you know other cool stainless steel lights please suggest.

The UltraFire C3 seems to be pretty popular.

There's the Trustfire EF23 but you already have the 1xaa version and the 23 isn't really that much smaller.

 

[Skylumen]

The UltraFire C3 seems to be pretty popular.

There's the Trustfire EF23 but you already have the 1xaa version and the 23 isn't really that much smaller.

I have already ordered the EF23. I will look into C3. Anything else you would recommend from your collection?

 

[Ecolang]

Aurora SH-032 18650 stainless, nice
Aurora SH-033 CR2 stainless, nice
Avoid the SH-035 it is a lower quality C3 stainless that goes blue with 14500s. Pity that as the others of the SH-03 series are very, very nice.

 

[randomlugia]

How about the Solarforce L2 in gunmetal? Clones of it include the Ultrafire 504B and the Uniquefire L2. They are all P60 hosts, so you can get a nice bright XP-G drop-in. Also check out the Aurora SH290 and the "Spicer Fire X-07" from DX.

 

[Kindle]

I have already ordered the EF23. I will look into C3. Anything else you would recommend from your collection?

Various budget lights that have gotten good pub here....

Tank007 E07 - About as small a 1xAA light as you'll find...essentially an EZAA clone. (OSRAM)

Trustfire Z1 - I'm a sucker for angleheads. (XP-E Q5)

Hugsby P31 - Seems to be gaining in popularity. (XP-E Q3)

Black Cat HM-01 - 1xaaa clicky. (OSRAM)

Tank007 TK-703 - Another 1xaaa clicky. (XP-E Q3)

Tank007 also has a few other models in SS - TK-506 & E3 (I have no experience with either light so you'll want to check out the threads on the appropriate retailer sites to check on quality).

Streamlight MicroStream & StylusPro - Excellent pen lights.

The Solarforce L2 series are arguably the best deal in quality 'budget' P60 hosts.

People rave about some of the Romisen lights from ShiningBeam.



Moving up a bit in price range...

Dereelight Javelin - Very nice 2xaa P60 host.

The Lumens Factory Seraph is about twice the price of the clones but worth it if you're using the stock drop-ins.

The Quark Minis (CR2, AA, 123) are available for under <$40, as is the Preon.


Finally are you a real flashaholic if you haven't picked up a Fenix E01?

 

[Ecolang]

Various budget lights that have gotten good pub here....

Tank007 E06 - About as small a 1xAA light as you'll find...essentially an EZAA clone. (OSRAM)


Finally are you a real flashaholic if you haven't picked up a Fenix E01?

Seconded most of your recommendations - the Hugsby is one of the best built budget lights I've come across.

Surely you mean Tank007 E07 rather than E06?

Is there someone out there who doesn't own an E01?

 

[Kindle]

Surely you mean Tank007 E07 rather than E06?

Doh! Yep. I have been the king of brain farts lately. lol (Typo corrected)

I actually have the E06 also and it's not bad either...Seoul SSC P4 for the emitter. You can swap heads with the TK-703 if you want (the SSC is floodier and the CREE is a better thrower). The integrated clip is nice.

The Poor flashaholics Top 10 for 2010 is a great place for inspiration as well.

 

[SirJohn]

The one problem with Ultrafire SS C3 at DX is that DX is no longer shipping htem with the XR-E Q5. They are shipping with an old XR-C even though DX has not changed the listing. A few people have reported that they have still been able to get the C3 with the XR-E Q5 via lightake within the past few weeks so you may want to try ordering that one from there, although as with all those Chinese sites, you are always taking a risk.

 

[randomlugia]

Finally are you a real flashaholic if you haven't picked up a Fenix E01?

Honestly I don't see why people say this. It's got a terrible beam pattern, and 1 mode of low output. The only good thing about the light is runtime.

 

[Skylumen]

Aurora SH-032 18650 stainless, nice
Aurora SH-033 CR2 stainless, nice
Avoid the SH-035 it is a lower quality C3 stainless that goes blue with 14500s. Pity that as the others of the SH-03 series are very, very nice.

Is the Sh-035 really that bad?? I was gonna order that one too! :-(

 

[Skylumen]

How about the Solarforce L2 in gunmetal? Clones of it include the Ultrafire 504B and the Uniquefire L2. They are all P60 hosts, so you can get a nice bright XP-G drop-in. Also check out the Aurora SH290 and the "Spicer Fire X-07" from DX.

Is teh SolarForce L2 R2 better than the Skyray SR-5?

 

[Skylumen]

Various budget lights that have gotten good pub here....

Tank007 E07 - About as small a 1xAA light as you'll find...essentially an EZAA clone. (OSRAM)

Trustfire Z1 - I'm a sucker for angleheads. (XP-E Q5)

Hugsby P31 - Seems to be gaining in popularity. (XP-E Q3)

Black Cat HM-01 - 1xaaa clicky. (OSRAM)

Tank007 TK-703 - Another 1xaaa clicky. (XP-E Q3)

Tank007 also has a few other models in SS - TK-506 & E3 (I have no experience with either light so you'll want to check out the threads on the appropriate retailer sites to check on quality).

Streamlight MicroStream & StylusPro - Excellent pen lights.

The Solarforce L2 series are arguably the best deal in quality 'budget' P60 hosts.

People rave about some of the Romisen lights from ShiningBeam.



Moving up a bit in price range...

Dereelight Javelin - Very nice 2xaa P60 host.

The Lumens Factory Seraph is about twice the price of the clones but worth it if you're using the stock drop-ins.

The Quark Minis (CR2, AA, 123) are available for under <$40, as is the Preon.


Finally are you a real flashaholic if you haven't picked up a Fenix E01?

Thank You for your Great Post. I am going to order 3 of the flashlight you mentioned above. Question...what makes The Fenix E01 better than the ITP A3? Besides the obvious run time advantage?!

 

[shipwreck]

I gotta say that I love the Solarforce line. I have 5 now with a 6th on the way. I've also collected some of their various flashlight body styles.

With the base L2 model at $24.99, it is a steal

 

[randomlugia]

Is teh SolarForce L2 R2 better than the Skyray SR-5?

What do you mean, 'better'? If you mean brighter, they are both P60 hosts so it depends on the drop-in you decide to use. In terms of quality, they are both very good. The L2 is simpler, but it also has a lot of accessory options, including battery extenders.