Please suggest some lights for overseas "Medical Mission Trip"

[ExZeRoEx]

My friend and a couple of people from his church are going overseas to Africa to setup a clinic in a poor area. I was hoping to provide them with some AA lights since I was told there is no electricity there.

There are 7 of them total, and I only have one AA light that I can send with them as a loaner. So I need to figure out 6 more lights to equip them with.

So a few criteria:

AA, for size and common battery size.
Multi-mode, hope to at least have a high and a low for runtime.
Cheap, college student budget here. So I'm probably in dealextreme/kaidomain territory here.
I think my budget will be around 100 for 6 lights. I might be able to push it higher judging on the options presented.

Not sure if I forgot anything, if I did it will probably come up later.

Edit: I feel really weird saying this, but if anyone has any AA lights they don't really use or care about anymore. Please consider helping me out (donating). :help: If this request is inappropriate, I'd be glad to remove it.

 

[Niconical]

Re: Suggest some lights for overseas "Medical Mission Trip"

The Romisen RC-N3 II 2-mode from shiningbeam might be a good choice.

 

[MattK]

Re: Suggest some lights for overseas "Medical Mission Trip"

Think about some FreePlay Indigo lanterns. We've had quite a few African and S/C American aid organizations use them at aid camps and clinics and they're always hugely popular and get left with the locals - no batteries needed, just some free labor which is always plentiful.

Also, I would highly recommend a 2 x AA light. Longer runtimes and I think some better choices are available. Some good choice are the Fenix E20, TerraLUX TLF-3L2AA or TLF-3C2AAEX, Inova Bolt BLT-2A, etc.

 

[tygger]

I would suggest at least a few headlamps. Here's a real world review on the Zebralight headlamp you may find useful. Not that you need that particular light, if the area your friends are going to is relatively dry a much cheaper headlamp (energizer, etc) would probably work fine.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=178839

 

[ExZeRoEx]

Well, a lantern is so far a maybe, not too sure about headlamps, and I think they would have penlights for checking patients. I'll have to ask.

 

[StandardBattery]

I would suggest at least a few headlamps. Here's a real world review on the Zebralight headlamp you may find useful. Not that you need that particular light, if the area your friends are going to is relatively dry a much cheaper headlamp (energizer, etc) would probably work fine.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=178839

+1 Zebralight Headlamp See that quoted link. Definetly this light should be one included. They are not really cheap, but I think they're essential. If you can't swing the budget, then still consider some headlamps, but less expensive ones.

I think you'll also need a couple other general purpose lights with a bit more throw. In the AA category the Fenix L1T or L2T would be good or maybe look at a couple EagleTac AA lights.

Let us know later how it works out.

 

[ExZeRoEx]

Hm, one thing I noticed about EagleTac is that their low isn't really that low.

I would have to say that Zebra is a bit too expensive, I haven't even gotten around to getting myself one
So what are some popular lower priced headlamps?

 

[StandardBattery]

Sorry I'm not that familair with other headlamps, and the number of AA based headlamps is small. There was a great deal on the RiverRock at Target that uses CR123A cells, and someone modified it for just a few dollars to use AA batteries in an external pack. If you can use 3xAAA then there are more retail lights. I'd post your question in the Headlamps forum.

I was not thinking that the EagleTac would replace the Headlamps, and thus the lack of a real low was not an issue. It was more of a pairing with the Zebras which are pure flood and the best work/task lights, but can't solve all lighting requirements and thus a couple EagleTac would compelment them.

Maybe you could budget the lights as Medical Supplies and then leave the lights for them when you leave. I'm sure they will need some emergency lighting, and even if they end up with generatorthe lights will be very handy.

 

[ExZeRoEx]

I'm not part of the group, just a friend who is trying to help them out of my own pocket. So there is no handling of their budget on my part.

 

[Viper715]

PM Sent

 

[jhc37013]

Hm, one thing I noticed about EagleTac is that their low isn't really that low.

I would have to say that Zebra is a bit too expensive, I haven't even gotten around to getting myself one
So what are some popular lower priced headlamps?

There is some 1xAAA headlamps from walmart that are small and work well, atleast indoors I dont think I would want to use them in a downpoor outside. Other to consider that are inexpensive is the Black Diamond lights sold at lighthound.com. http://www.lighthound.com/Black-Diamond-Equipment-Cosmo-Headlamp_p_2992.html

There is also the Gizmo from Black Diamond thats around $15.

If you want to step up to around $35 the Princeton Tech EOS is always popular around here and is sure to hold up to bad weather and abuse.
http://www.lighthound.com/Princeton-Tec-EOS-Headlamp-Black-Body-Black-Bezel_p_1558.html

 

[ExZeRoEx]

Looks like they don't have their own penlights yet. Anyone know if the Streamlight Stylus Pro's LEDs would be okay, color rendition-wise?

Edit: Seems some people have said they are and aren't blueish.

 

[Flic]

Can you tell us where you are located and when the team departs?

 

[TMedina]

Mini-mag x2 and x3 AA. About $20 for the x2 and $25 for the x3.

They aren't sexy or glamorous, but definitely reliable and rugged.

Not to be nosy, but will they be supplying their own batteries or will the church be providing?

As an emergency light, I'd even think about skipping individual light issue and see about getting a 3-D maglite with a Malkoff drop-in. The individual members can see to their own lighting preferences and you can provide a specialty item they probably wouldn't know anything about to begin with.

Just my two bits.

-Trevor

 

[LightWalker]

I have a headlight that I recently bought (uses 3 AAA batteries) and a penlight that I have barely used, it uses one AAA, that I will send you, just PM me your mailing address.

 

[ExZeRoEx]

Can you tell us where you are located and when the team departs?

They are going in August.

And what do you mean where "you" are located? Where I am located, or where they are located?

 

[Flic]

They are going in August.

And what do you mean where "you" are located? Where I am located, or where they are located?

I was asking where you were as I may well be ready to send you some goodies. August gives us ample time to sort things out.

 

[Mdinana]

As a nearly-done med student, and 9 year EMS veteran, here are my suggestions:
A penlight won't do squat for checking a patient. It's for eyes. And even then, they're not that good. I can't imagine the possibility of using a penlight in an un-electrified building. And if they're outdoors, chances are the sun will be constricting their pupils pretty good anyway.

Where in Africa?? My girlfriend did over 2 years in West Africa, so fairly dry, and last time she took an 2xAA Energizer from Target, which was plenty bright. That was a medical trip too. Her thoughts:
-"a headlamp is really handy."
-Batteries weren't expensive, but didn't last long (I'm wondering if they're not alkaline?) Perhaps including a decent number of batteries would be worth it?
-Lantern could be useful. More so when she was sitting at desks, doing paperwork, talking with people. This way her headlamp wasn't in their eyes.
- In her village, the Energizer was plenty bright. Didn't use it much in the city.

Another thought. If they're bringing their own otoscopes/opthalmascopes, are they bringing rechargable batteries, or the handles that take the "C" batteries?

Oh, on a different note, she says BRING FLAVORS FOR THEIR WATER! Like kool-aid, power-aid, etc. Plain water gets real boring apparently.

Good luck!

 

[mossyoak]

I've done a few mission trips. And can say this. Don't plan on finding batteries. Bring enough to last. 123's work well. And don't go cheap on the light. You'll regret it later

 

[saildude]

You did not indicate what the exact use was for - I am assuming general moving around at night etc. I like the Streamlight ProPolly 2AA LED - Under $ 20- online at places like Bright Guys - I have several and use mine daily - rugged - water resistant - 15 hours run time on 2 AA Alk Batteries so not a lot of batteries to carry with them - not fancy - one light level - great for moving around at home -

A solar charger and some rechargable batteries would be good but would put you over budget -

A link to a short review I did some time back is below

good luck

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=176741