Quality AA budget lights?

[RWD13]

While putting together my bailout bag I thought what if I can't find cr123a's when I need them? Then thought that there has to be quality AA lights out there that can be purchased withen a budget /not talking about a two cell mag either/ prefferably waterproof not resistant.

Im thinking anything that uses 1-4 AA's is reasonable and anymore AA's than 4 and it becomes redundant.

 

[davecroft]

You could do a lot worse than the Fenix E11.

 

[RWD13]

That seems like a pretty good light I didn't mention the "budget" is a max of $50 so anything up to $50 is alright.
id like a few diff choices to choose from also. :)

 

[Bwolcott]

That seems like a pretty good light I didn't mention the "budget" is a max of $50 so anything up to $50 is alright.
id like a few diff choices to choose from also. :)

go on goinggear select flashlights and use their filter on the left for AA flashlights

 

[RWD13]

The klarus p1A looks pretty good for the price does anyone have experience with one?

I have to say I do stay away from lights like the "olight i2" or if anyone heard of maratacs single AA/AAA twist for on light because every light that is twist on twist off instead of a tail switch that I've owned just craps out after a while not even a long while withen a month with daily use is all it took for two of them. I can't say that lights that are turned on in this way are crap but I don't want to need something and it not work when I need it.

 

[reppans]

Goinggear just had great sales on Quark AA^2 Xs... I bought a bunch at ~$42. Great light for BoBs on account of ultra-efficient moonlight levels that should run for 500hrs+ on Alks (more on L91s), yet bright enough for most tasks I'd need to do in the dark. 280 lumens on the high end from the XML emitter.

 

[Grmnracing]

Goinggear just had great sales on Quark AA^2 Xs... I bought a bunch at ~$42. Great light for BoBs on account of ultra-efficient moonlight levels that should run for 500hrs+ on Alks (more on L91s), yet bright enough for most tasks I'd need to do in the dark. 280 lumens on the high end from the XML emitter.

Great flashlight! I give 5 out of 5. This is my EDC. I wish I bought more for the Goinggear.com 4sevens rebranding sale!

 

[ikeyballz]

I think the quark 2AAx is all sold out at GG :(

 

[radu1976]

That seems like a pretty good light I didn't mention the "budget" is a max of $50 so anything up to $50 is alright.
id like a few diff choices to choose from also. :)

There are tons of people for who even a 20$ light is an expensive one as they normally buy 5$-10$ lights. But for others 'budget' light can be anything under Surefire or HDS prices.

I would say that an INOVA X1 dual stage 6/55 lumens is one of the best choices for a 'budget' light. You can find it for up to 20$ shipped. Despite using not the most efficient emitter, lasting almost 3hrs on HIGH with an ENELOOP - not 1:45 hr as advertised - makes it an efficient light. Throw is very decent, beam quality and tint also nice.

 

[Gryffin]

Most of these suggestions aren't' what I'd call "budget".

Take a look at the Balder SE-1. It might be the best $23 you'll ever spend on an AA flashlight.

 

[Sub_Umbra]

The Maratac 1xAA has a very high build quality at around $30. Lo|Med|Hi and very reliable. I've been EDCing one in Nat III Hard Ano for a couple of years. Getting a little long in the tooth by cpf standards, but still a great deal for a dependable light IMO.

 

[RWD13]

I mean I don't need to many lights I like things that are diff yet at the same time bright and practical like soon I'm buying a fenix tk45 because it's neat to me it looks diff and is bright like I want and a the same time I'm going to buy a fury against because it's my fave edc light. The tk45 runs on AA's /8 of them -.-/ but to me that's good in case I can't get cr123's. I'd like at least two $50 or under forward click tailcap with two modes high/low. I think spending hundreds on a light is just not for me I'll go up to $200 on a good light but no more than that so far.

 

[Labrador72]

You might be able to find the Fenix LD10 or Fenix LD20 for under 50 - I did! : )

 

[reppans]

I think the quark 2AAx is all sold out at GG :(

Seen another site or two that still has old logo stock - $45 shipped both regular and tactical versions.

 

[budynabuick]

Most of these suggestions aren't' what I'd call "budget".

Take a look at the Balder SE-1. It might be the best $23 you'll ever spend on an AA flashlight.

I purchased two of these. XML Lighthound and/XPG Balder. Long run time on NiMh and crazy bright on 14500. Light as a feather as well. I love-em!

Keith

 

[RWD13]

Actually out of nowhere I remembered how much I liked my inova X1 I think that's the one that took a single AA. The one I had was hit by a truck than ran over by the car following the truck and it was on the whole time. I used it all the time and had it for a while the reason I don't still own it is because I lost it in a swampy area.

If someone knows of a single AA light with the same build and simplicity of the inova X1 that is a little brighter I'd love to know.

 

[flatline]

If you like the Inova X1, then that's the one to get. It's quite a competitive light at its price point and having the lower mode lets you conserve your battery some. Personally, I find it to be an unpredictable light and I can never tell which mode it's going to start on (usually starts high and then switches to low a fraction of a second later).

If you like the beam of the Inova X1, another light you might consider is the Energizer Tactical AA. It's about $5 cheaper than the Inova, has the same emitter and pretty much the same beam, and has a great clip. No low mode, so you'll get 2+ hours of runtime with no way to extend it.

Autozone sells a Duramax AA that is a couple of bucks cheaper than the Energizer AA, but it uses a TIR optic, which means you get a large well defined hotspot and almost no useful spill. I find it to be a good light to use during the day when spill is useless anyways, but for all other purposes, I consider the Energizer to be superior.

--flatline

 

[RWD13]

Sorry you said the inova X1 had the lower mode and I'm confused.. Are you talking about its single mode? My inova x1 only had a single mode something around 50 lumens or something with the momentary on twist on tailcap. I'm very sure it had a single mode and and I like the plain design of it not having a clip actually.

 

[RWD13]

Hmm I take that back it seems they have added the second mode after I already owned one. You say unpredictable that seems like it would get annoying are they all like that? I liked the one I had with a single mode but a lower second mode wouldn't bother me but the unpredictability of which mode comes on sounds a little lame

 

[BarryG]

If you are looking for a single mode, twisty and AA, sounds like a Peak El Capitan. Your choice of 8 levels, your choice of material made is USA, lifetime warranty and can take any AA size battery!
em-mgt.com has a large selection

4sevens Mini AA, Fenix E11 and Nitecore EZAA might be worth a look too.



Barry