Recommend me a single cell light please...

[Spidey82]

Hi everyone,
first of all, i'm please to be back after not logging in for years...
i have been reading lots of post and great reviews for the past few days..

back to topic...
currently my EDC is streamlight microstream 1xAAA.
I own 2 of it... one with a more greenish tint.
And each battery change is abt 2-3 mths

I wish to upgrade to something with a higher throw and output.(i like it bright!!)
2 things i simple love abt the microstream and wish to have it on the upgrade.
-the clicky switch. (i'm fine with other switch type as long as its easy to on/off and not turn on accidently)

-the pocket clip. (i clip it to my left pocket so it has to be tight and secure. If without clip, let me know where to get a compatible one) (*Impt)

other requirements
-multistage output (at least a 2 stage, one that max out every thing it can produce, one that gives me long runtime with a decent output to look for thing in my room/desk ect. Flashing and SOS is not a requirement.)

-a good throw (i don't know how to define this, .. maybe twice or more den the microstream?? the further the merrier)

-single cell (fine with AA or AAA as long as the AA justify its size by giving more output.)

i prefer to use alkaline or E2 lithium. Can consider lithium ions rechargeable, only worry is self-discharge or forget to charge.

Budget wise, i would keep the options wide.. as long as its worth what i'm paying for..
(and decent lights from DX?? i'm currently waiting to order stuff from lighthound too. i dont' mind getting more den one light )

i know i have been away for a really long time, so lots of read up to do. Pardon my "newbie" post
would love to know all your recommendations.
Thanks.
Linfeng

 

[Beacon of Light]

Bang for the buck from the same company how about a single AA Streamlight Tasklight. You'll get 80 hours on low. Pretty good in my book. Maybe a little bluish beam but works for me.

 

[Beacon of Light]

A step up from that might be the Gerber Infinity Ultra. Fairly bridght compared to the low modes on both the Microstream and Task Light, and the run time is similar to the low mode of the Task Light.

A step up from that where you get multi modes (high/medium/low is the Connexion or Connexion X2. Great run-time on a single AA and the cost won't break the bank as they are $37-$44 each. The beauty of the Connexions are you can save the setting at whatever mode you want and it will turn on at that setting instead of the wasteful ramping up or down of other more EXPENSIVE lights.

Honestly I bought a Proton Pro based on the long runtime from suggestions here in the very thread I started about longest run-times on AA or AAA lights, but had anyone mentioned the Connexion I would have been better off. I own both now and I consider the Proton Pro the inferior light even though it has more modes and debatable run-time advantage (the Proton I have been using as a reading light over my laptop at night for 2-3 hours set right before the brightest of the red settings. More than twice in the week I have owned it, it turned off by itself, meaning the battery is low. Not my idea of a long runtime at all, heck my old River Rock headlamp will last all week on low for the same function with 2 AAAs no less) .

The clicky on the Connexion is much much nicer than the hard rubber that hurts your thumb on the Proton Pro, plus the Proton Pro damages batteries as the negative prong gouges/dents the negative terminal of any NIMH I have tried in the light. Lights are supposed to coddle the cells not rip them to shreds. Talk about out of touch in the year 2009...

In any event you would be well advised to buy a Lumapower Connexion or Connexion X2. I can't praise it highly enough, I even prefer it to the only twice used Fenix LD20 that came highly recommended here. I will say though the Fenix is a nice light, the Proton Pro just seems like a good intentioned light with poor engineering/ execution.

 

[carrot]

Nitecore D10 or Leatherman Serac S3. 'nuff said.

 

[Moonshadow]

D10 is a good choice, although for a simpler two-stage with a clicky that works exactly as you describe (two settings: full blast and adjustable with a good long-running low), the NDI (Nitecore Defender Infinity) would be worth looking at too.

 

[Beacon of Light]

You guys are recommending $60 and $70 lights and I guarantee this guy would be happy with a $37 Connexion. I say this from experience from when I asked in my thread about runtimes people were giving me the BS that I needed a Nitecore or a JEt I Beam, and the truth be told I still kinda prefer my Gerber Infinity Ultra even to the Connexion, but that is where I am at.

 

[Silverback]

I recommend the Nitecore D10 as well.

 

[Zeruel]

Quite a few lights can meet your requirement. Some I can think of are D10 and NDI as mentioned, also EX10, Dereelight C2H for a pocket rocket and Liteflux LF3XT but no clip. Personally, I'm pro D10 and EX10. You can check out the AA shootout reviews Part 1 - 4 by Selfbuilt.

Btw, you from Lion City? same as me? :thinking: If you are, we're having a get together this Sat, feel free to join us and check out the lights, well, at least mine.

 

[Flying Turtle]

I think you'd be mighty happy with a Fenix L0D or LD01. Not a clicky, but the twisty head works fine. Good throw for such a small light, and comes with a pocket clip.

Geoff

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

E1B Backup off the Marketplace (or online) is ~$80-100

I'm a Surefire person though....

 

[PsychoBunny]

I agree with the above, a Nitecore D10 is right up your proverbial ally :thumbsup:

But, I have not tried some of the other lights mentioned, so what the heck do I know!!

 

[BigBluefish]

I'd get a LumaPower Connexion, Connexion X2, or, if you can live with the twisty instead of a a clicky, the Fenix LD01, for which I think you can get a clip.

 

[PetaBread]

Spidey82, If you're ok with using 1 X CR123, then I recommend

the LiteFlux LF3XT.

 

[Marduke]

+1 for D10 with it's clip.

I also recommend using LSD (low self discharge) NiMH cells such as Eneloops.

 

[Ragiska]

A step up from that might be the Gerber Infinity Ultra. Fairly bridght compared to the low modes on both the Microstream and Task Light, and the run time is similar to the low mode of the Task Light.

A step up from that where you get multi modes (high/medium/low is the Connexion or Connexion X2. Great run-time on a single AA and the cost won't break the bank as they are $37-$44 each. The beauty of the Connexions are you can save the setting at whatever mode you want and it will turn on at that setting instead of the wasteful ramping up or down of other more EXPENSIVE lights.

Honestly I bought a Proton Pro based on the long runtime from suggestions here in the very thread I started about longest run-times on AA or AAA lights, but had anyone mentioned the Connexion I would have been better off. I own both now and I consider the Proton Pro the inferior light even though it has more modes and debatable run-time advantage (the Proton I have been using as a reading light over my laptop at night for 2-3 hours set right before the brightest of the red settings. More than twice in the week I have owned it, it turned off by itself, meaning the battery is low. Not my idea of a long runtime at all, heck my old River Rock headlamp will last all week on low for the same function with 2 AAAs no less) .

The clicky on the Connexion is much much nicer than the hard rubber that hurts your thumb on the Proton Pro, plus the Proton Pro damages batteries as the negative prong gouges/dents the negative terminal of any NIMH I have tried in the light. Lights are supposed to coddle the cells not rip them to shreds. Talk about out of touch in the year 2009...

In any event you would be well advised to buy a Lumapower Connexion or Connexion X2. I can't praise it highly enough, I even prefer it to the only twice used Fenix LD20 that came highly recommended here. I will say though the Fenix is a nice light, the Proton Pro just seems like a good intentioned light with poor engineering/ execution.

sounds like you don't know how to use it. you running it on high or something? the pro has 230+ hours of runtime on low white.

try reading the instructions that came with it.

 

[mon90ey]

+1 for the LD01---:thumbsup:

 

[Benson]

Akoray AA/14500, model number either K-105 or K-106
(DX doesn't even list it by model number, and ships seemingly identical lights with both model numbers for the same sku.)

It's got a recessed forward clicky, which allows it to tailstand (good for lighting up a room). The downside is that the clicky is about as tough to thumb-toggle as the microstream's, and (being a forward clicky) it doesn't have momentary on (which the microstream does quite easily). Thumb-toggling is workable, though, with 5 minutes practice, and finger-toggling is excellent.

It has a wire pocket-clip; not quite as strong a grip as the microstream's, but I suppose you could tweak it if you wanted more grip. It grips strong enough for a jeans pocket, IMHO; I EDC it that way.

The description at DX still lists an older version with a 6-mode UI, but actually shipping lights all are 3-mode fully programmable with mode memory. It comes set to High-Medium-Low, IIRC, but you can set each mode to your choice of any brightness, any strobe frequency, or a couple of specials (flashing & SOS, IIRC)

It runs off AA or 14500 Li-ion -- even alkalines :green: work fine, but I have only done real testing with LSD NiMH and Li-ion. So if you're interested in Li-ions, but don't want to commit, it could work nicely. (If you don't switch to Li-ion, though, I'd recommend you go to NiMH -- rechargeables of whatever sort mean you can change batteries early (so you never run out when you're using it), without throwing money in the trash.)

For throw, here's some approximate centerline lux measurements at 36":

• Microstream, LSD NiMH AAA: 340 lux
• K-105, high, LSD NiMH AA: 1000 lux
• K-105, high, Li-ion 14500: 2400 lux

Because of the larger emitter, and OP reflector, the Akoray actually has about 50% broader hotspot than the Microstream, but it is way brighter at full output, so it out-throws it anyhow.

 

[Viper715]

+1 for Nitecore. 4sevens over in the Market Place dealers corner is having there garage sale you can pick up a first gen Nitcore Defender for $50. I also like the D10 EX10 you can get the clips from 4 sevens also. The fenix lights are also good LD01 is a good choice. I've been looking at the Liteflux lights too. Good luck with your choice. Here I'll throw in the normal "buy them all keep the one you like."lovecpf

 

[andrew123]

Definitely go for the d10 or fenix ld01. those are the only lights I own and love them! you won't be dissappointed.

 

[cave dave]

Since you have been gone a awhile do a search on Eneloop Nimh batteries. This technoloy has fixed the self discharge problem of traditional Nimh. They are better in every way than Alkalines.

PS If you recharge once a month or so then traditional high cap Nimh may still be better.