Pocket Friendly Recommendation

[Lock1454]

Hi all,

So I've recently gotten into carrying 'cool' gadgets on my person when I head out. For a flashlight, I had gotten a Fenix PD30, and it was great - but it was a little bit big for pocketing (~ 4.6" L, .85" Dia), especially if I kept it in the sheath. The flashlight had busted on me (can't switch out of turbo mode), so I took the opportunity to get a refund from the seller. Now, I'm looking for a more compact, pocket friendly light that maybe uses AA / AAA for convience sake, but CR123A is not a total deal breaker. I'd like it to be around $20-40 range, and a bit smaller than the PD30 (~3-3.5"L and <=.8" Dia?) but still have a respectable amount of light (80+ lumen?) and battery life, a few modes would be nice. Is there such a light that exists with all of these qualities and in this price range, or am I just pipedreaming? If so, perhaps just some recommendations for affordable flashlight that are pocket friendly?

I tried reading the sticky about budget lights, but I just got lost in all of the information and lingo since I'm not really too knowledgeable in this field.

I appreciate any suggestions and advice. Thanks in advance! =)

 

[MattK]

Lots of choices though going to $50 would make the list bigger:
Some $25-40-ish
LumaPower LM31 (CR123) , Incendion(CR123) or ConneXion (AA)
Fenix L0D Q4(AAA) or LD01(AAA)
Icon Rogue 1(AA)

at $50-55 ish
Olight T10(CR123) or T15(AA)
Fenix LD10(AA), P1D(CR123), L1D (AA), P2D(CR123)
Proton Pro(AA)

All of these are quality lights from respected brands that are 70+ levels, 2+ levels and in your size range.

 

[sol-leks]

I second the LOD and LM31
or maybe a nitecore if you're willing to raise the budget a bit higher, possibly a zebralight too. I always thought those made nice pocket lights as well as headlamps. If you want something more budget than any of those, this one got pretty good reviews:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16607

 

[Ajay]

Before I got my Nitecore D10 I was using an ultrafire c3. I highly recommend you get the D10 or similar high quality light but if you need cheap go for the ultrafire C3 at DX. I bought a total of six c3's over the last seven months for family and they have all been working great.
http://dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1993
http://www.dealextreme.com/search.dx/search.c3
I don't use AAA lights but I guess a Fenix LD01 after some coupons/sale might be under $40. I don't own any Fenix lights as yet but everybody seems to praise them.

Good luck in your search.

+1 for MattK's suggestions also.

 

[victor01]

+1 for Nitecore D10

IMO for 50+ dollars, it gets your money worth for it's compactness, build quality, battery commonality, output flexibility and the totally solid Piston Drive switch allowing both momentarily or toggle operation. A revolutionary light

Get it at 4sevens.com and use CPF8 code for 8% discount

 

[Lock1454]

Thanks alot everyone, I really do appreciate all the suggestions. The $40 limit was kind of because as I've said I've recently gotten into all these cool things, and my bank account has felt the pain (where did that $700 go damnit?!!?), so I'm now really trying to stop myself from spending too much more on these cool gadgets.

Will definitely check over all the suggestions - really appreciate it! If anyone has anymore, I'm of course very willing to hear them

Also, is dealextreme actually a reputable site? I know it has a terrible reputation among another community I'm a part of due to their selling of ripoff electronics (Memory cards, chargers, etc.).

 

[kts]

+1 for Nitecore D10

IMO for 50+ dollars, it gets your money worth for it's compactness, build quality, battery commonality, output flexibility and the totally solid Piston Drive switch allowing both momentarily or toggle operation. A revolutionary light

Get it at 4sevens.com and use CPF8 code for 8% discount

I dont know about build quality and totally solid piston..LOL...http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=222012

This is the latest breaking news for the D10

Buy another Fenix and be happy, it seems like theyre the best chinese flashlight maker for now, I got 5 Fenix lights, they all work the way they should and I have never heard of a Fenix coming apart.

 

[victor01]

I dont know about build quality and totally solid piston..LOL...http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=222012

This is the latest breaking news for the D10

Buy another Fenix and be happy, it seems like theyre the best chinese flashlight maker for now, I got 5 Fenix lights, they all work the way they should and I have never heard of a Fenix coming apart.

Wow, there might be something with quality control. If such failure happened to me, it would seriously impact my attitude about this light (and time for new EDC ) Glade mine's still in perfect shape.

 

[Gary007]

I'm currently pocketing these two, a Nitecore EX10 and a Liteflux LF3XT, although a bit more $$ than you specified and both are CR123's.

 

[Ajay]

Also, is dealextreme actually a reputable site? I know it has a terrible reputation among another community I'm a part of due to their selling of ripoff electronics (Memory cards, chargers, etc.).

I have ordered 7 lights and many other items from DX and I always get my stuff in about 2 weeks here in NYC. I think it's ok to take the risk and order from DX when the item is cheap. I would never order fenix, jetbeam or other "good brand name" lights from them just the usual *fire lights.

 

[Me+Light=Addiction]

I have ordered 7 lights and many other items from DX and I always get my stuff in about 2 weeks here in NYC. I think it's ok to take the risk and order from DX when the item is cheap. I would never order fenix, jetbeam or other "good brand name" lights from them just the usual *fire lights.

LOL, you would never order a Fenix, jetbeam etc... ? You know why they got a good name? Great quality, great service, great outputs. Dealextreme is good for regular people, maby, but for flashaholics and every day carriers I wouldn't trust on a light from dealextreme or anyother "you get what you pay for" site.

 

[vb14]

Also, is dealextreme actually a reputable site? I know it has a terrible reputation among another community I'm a part of due to their selling of ripoff electronics (Memory cards, chargers, etc.).

Check it out yourself here and here.

 

[Lock1454]

While browsing over the lights, came up on a little question... Is there any significant difference between Fenix L0D and LD01? It just seems that the LD01 is a bit brighter version of the L0D (and cheaper)?

Now to figure out if I can live with a twist bezel switch as opposed to the tail switch :\ Just kinda seems like a twisting head switch would be a bit annoying and requiring 2 hands to operate - but on the other hand the tail switch seems to add a good 1/2 inch to the length :\

Thanks for the help guys! Really do appreciate it

 

[Ajay]

LOL, you would never order a Fenix, jetbeam etc... ? You know why they got a good name? Great quality, great service, great outputs. Dealextreme is good for regular people, maby, but for flashaholics and every day carriers I wouldn't trust on a light from dealextreme or anyother "you get what you pay for" site.

:hahaha:LOL. Let me clear this up. Never order any Jetbeam or Fenix or Tiablo from DX because it may be fake.

Order those great lights from other distributors. I was not bashing Fenix etc.

 

[drillbritz2ov]

hello just a quick word about my new edc the fenix pd 20, awesome little light its 1/4 the weight of my LL p7 and just as bright good throw an all imho .lol cliff

 

[MattK]

While browsing over the lights, came up on a little question... Is there any significant difference between Fenix L0D and LD01? It just seems that the LD01 is a bit brighter version of the L0D (and cheaper)?

The L0D offers: Five output modes: 30 Lumens(3.5hrs) -> 11 Lumens(8.5hrs) -> 75 Lumens(1hrs) ->Strobe -> SOS

The LD01 offers: Three output modes: 27 Lumens (3.5hrs) -> 10 Lumens (8.5hrs) -> 80 Lumens (1hrs)

So, you get 2 more modes with the L0D - Strobe & SOS.

 

[Lock1454]

Yeah, didn't realize the L0D1 was lacking the strobe and SOS modes - silly me. Kind of have it narrowed down to the L0D, P1D and PD20. I originally came into it thinking I was going to avoid Fenix because of the screw PD30 I got (and the fact I'd have to pay the freight to China for repairs), but it's kind of seeming like they are the ones that fit the bill the best for what I want :\

 

[HKJ]

Yeah, didn't realize the L0D1 was lacking the strobe and SOS modes - silly me. Kind of have it narrowed down to the L0D, P1D and PD20. I originally came into it thinking I was going to avoid Fenix because of the screw PD30 I got (and the fact I'd have to pay the freight to China for repairs), but it's kind of seeming like they are the ones that fit the bill the best for what I want :\

If your are from US, 4sevens would be the place to buy Fenix.

The L0D, P1D(PD10) and PD20(P2D) are very different lights. Generally Fenix lights are good, but many other lights are just as good, but with slightly different abilities.
JetBeam has lights with 3 programable levels and they are easy to program with both different brightness and strobe/sos settings.
Liteflux is the ultimate in programable lights, but check the flowcharts posted here before buing one.

 

[Lock1454]

check the flowcharts posted here before buing one.

*clicks link.... brain splodes*

I'm guessing those are... Instructions / charts explaining how to program the light's modes?

So with programmable lights, you aren't forced to have manufacturer presets, but rather you choose where to save the settings at whichever brightness levels I want anywhere up to it's max?

 

[Lock1454]

Been mulling this over all day and still have no damned idea what to go with =( Bah! Now I'm kinda teetering towards the pd20/p2d... Maybe I should save myself the headache and just carry a whole bunch of matches?