Hi, flashlight newbie looking for a recommendation. I'm a long-term, ultralight urban traveler: I have a 28L backpack with a laptop and change of clothes and that's about it. I'm stepping up from traveling for a week or two most months to traveling indefinitely and working (I'm a web programmer) as I go and wanted to replace my absolute worst piece of gear.
Previously, I've used a cheapo 3-AAA LED flashlight I got promoting some tech company or another, but it's always frustrated me because it's bulky for how little light it throws and never quite right for any of its jobs. So I was really happy to find this forum full of experts. I've been reading posts for the last few days and decided to fill in the (awesome) checklist to ask for recommendations.
I found some other threads, but wanted to ask again because they're all at least a year old and about hiking/backpacking more than urban travel. For reference, backpacker, quick question, good hiking discussion, small light discussion.
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
Online.
2) Budget:
I'd like to spend under $75, but I don't know enough to know what's reasonable. Hard maximum is $200, I don't like carrying very expensive things.
3) Format:
I want a flashlight so I can get around in unfamiliar cities and buildings, but I'd also like some provision for hands-free use so I could read books, or pack in the dark - maybe by clipping to my shirt? I have no idea what's available.
Not a headlamp. I meet and travel with folks for work and I'm already pushing the limits of business fashion.
4) Flashlight-specific format/size:
Keychain or EDC small. I'm traveling, so weight is a concern.
5) Emitter/Light source:
LED for size and battery life. I'm not particular about color as long as it's white enough for me to read a page, and I don't need a lot of light.
6) Manufacturer:
Don't mind putting a light together (have a soldering iron and very basic skill) but I'd prefer manufactured.
7) Battery
I'm traveling with Eneloop LSD NiMH for my various gadgets, so taking AA or AAA is a must. I have no room for more formats and when I go too long between recharges I'm able to buy AA/AAA everywhere; coin batteries are often difficult.
8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need?
I don't have any familiarity with lumen measurements, so let me describe my three most-common scenarios:
I read in the dark on planes/trains/buses and I'd like to do so comfortably for a few hours at a time but without excessively disturbing other passengers.
I need to un/re-pack in a dark room (hostel or other shared accommodations) and mostly need spot light to make sure nothing's forgotten under the bed and that what I expect to be in a bag is actually in there.
Less frequently than the above two, I'm in an unfamiliar city and need light to walk over broken pavement or otherwise look at nearby (< 10m) things.
9) Throw vs. Flood:
I pretty much answered this above, a few times a week I need a very little light for < 1m to read, every week or two I need 1-3m of looking around, and every 2-5 weeks I need to walk around a bit. So for every use I need flood more than throw.
10) Runtime:
3+ hours for reading, 10-15 minutes for packing, 10-60m for walking. I currently travel with 4 AAs and 4 AAAs and can swap them in as needed, and I don't mind adding 2 more of either to my travel kit if needed for my long-term reading.
11) Durability/Usage:
Very important. Luggage always gets banged around a bit, and it's hard to replace things on the road. I'm willing to pay for quality (though I have no idea, in this context, how much quality costs).
It doesn't need to survive prolonged immersion, but it must be usable in rain and survive, say, getting a glass of water dumped on it.
12) Switch Type and location:
I have no preference. I do not need to signal or blink the light.
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection:
I need two, maybe three levels. Maybe this means I need two lights for the two very different uses, I don't know.
14) Material/Finish/Coating
Whatever's light and can deal with, say, getting dropped from a table to a stone floor every once in a while. I've got a pretty strong sense of smell, so it would be nice if it didn't leave my hand smelling of metal (U.S. coins are particularly bad about this).
15) Special Needs/extras:
Maybe a diffuser for the reading use?
Some kind of hands-free clip, strap, etc. I don't know what's available.
Lighter is better, but anything handheld is probably going to be OK.
So, in summary:
Need a hardy little AA/AAA flashlight for reading and occasional urban use, everything else is negotiable.
Also, is there a glossary or intro anywhere? I haven't been able to find one in the sticky threads, and I want to understand terms. As a nerd, it frustrates me to have to tell little stories instead of pick options.
Previously, I've used a cheapo 3-AAA LED flashlight I got promoting some tech company or another, but it's always frustrated me because it's bulky for how little light it throws and never quite right for any of its jobs. So I was really happy to find this forum full of experts. I've been reading posts for the last few days and decided to fill in the (awesome) checklist to ask for recommendations.
I found some other threads, but wanted to ask again because they're all at least a year old and about hiking/backpacking more than urban travel. For reference, backpacker, quick question, good hiking discussion, small light discussion.
1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?
Online.
2) Budget:
I'd like to spend under $75, but I don't know enough to know what's reasonable. Hard maximum is $200, I don't like carrying very expensive things.
3) Format:
I want a flashlight so I can get around in unfamiliar cities and buildings, but I'd also like some provision for hands-free use so I could read books, or pack in the dark - maybe by clipping to my shirt? I have no idea what's available.
Not a headlamp. I meet and travel with folks for work and I'm already pushing the limits of business fashion.
4) Flashlight-specific format/size:
Keychain or EDC small. I'm traveling, so weight is a concern.
5) Emitter/Light source:
LED for size and battery life. I'm not particular about color as long as it's white enough for me to read a page, and I don't need a lot of light.
6) Manufacturer:
Don't mind putting a light together (have a soldering iron and very basic skill) but I'd prefer manufactured.
7) Battery
I'm traveling with Eneloop LSD NiMH for my various gadgets, so taking AA or AAA is a must. I have no room for more formats and when I go too long between recharges I'm able to buy AA/AAA everywhere; coin batteries are often difficult.
8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need?
I don't have any familiarity with lumen measurements, so let me describe my three most-common scenarios:
I read in the dark on planes/trains/buses and I'd like to do so comfortably for a few hours at a time but without excessively disturbing other passengers.
I need to un/re-pack in a dark room (hostel or other shared accommodations) and mostly need spot light to make sure nothing's forgotten under the bed and that what I expect to be in a bag is actually in there.
Less frequently than the above two, I'm in an unfamiliar city and need light to walk over broken pavement or otherwise look at nearby (< 10m) things.
9) Throw vs. Flood:
I pretty much answered this above, a few times a week I need a very little light for < 1m to read, every week or two I need 1-3m of looking around, and every 2-5 weeks I need to walk around a bit. So for every use I need flood more than throw.
10) Runtime:
3+ hours for reading, 10-15 minutes for packing, 10-60m for walking. I currently travel with 4 AAs and 4 AAAs and can swap them in as needed, and I don't mind adding 2 more of either to my travel kit if needed for my long-term reading.
11) Durability/Usage:
Very important. Luggage always gets banged around a bit, and it's hard to replace things on the road. I'm willing to pay for quality (though I have no idea, in this context, how much quality costs).
It doesn't need to survive prolonged immersion, but it must be usable in rain and survive, say, getting a glass of water dumped on it.
12) Switch Type and location:
I have no preference. I do not need to signal or blink the light.
13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection:
I need two, maybe three levels. Maybe this means I need two lights for the two very different uses, I don't know.
14) Material/Finish/Coating
Whatever's light and can deal with, say, getting dropped from a table to a stone floor every once in a while. I've got a pretty strong sense of smell, so it would be nice if it didn't leave my hand smelling of metal (U.S. coins are particularly bad about this).
15) Special Needs/extras:
Maybe a diffuser for the reading use?
Some kind of hands-free clip, strap, etc. I don't know what's available.
Lighter is better, but anything handheld is probably going to be OK.
So, in summary:
Need a hardy little AA/AAA flashlight for reading and occasional urban use, everything else is negotiable.
Also, is there a glossary or intro anywhere? I haven't been able to find one in the sticky threads, and I want to understand terms. As a nerd, it frustrates me to have to tell little stories instead of pick options.
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