Hello. First time poster, long time casual lurker when web searches would land me here, but just never got around to registering...
My trusty Arc-AAA light has served me well for many years and has a permanent home in the change pocket of my jeans for quick access whenever I need it to find a keyhole in the dark or retrieve something that rolled under the furniture, etc. I carry something with more throw and power on nightime walks or other situations where I need it, but honestly, the little AAA gets the most use and is the one I always have with me no matter what.
Anyway, even though the Arc-AAA is realistically just about perfect for my needs, we all know how this hobby tends to suck you down the rabbit hole pretty quickly, so I can't help but wonder if there's another similar AAA light out there with some updated features that might just be able to best this little guy for my needs.
So without further adieu, here are my top criteria for a AAA light if anybody can recommend one that has it all:
I guess that about sums it up...sorry for the wall-o-text first post, but I really haven't been able to find anything I like better than my Arc-AAA so far, so I'm really curious if someone else has a favorite that can best it.
Thanks in advance for any input.
My trusty Arc-AAA light has served me well for many years and has a permanent home in the change pocket of my jeans for quick access whenever I need it to find a keyhole in the dark or retrieve something that rolled under the furniture, etc. I carry something with more throw and power on nightime walks or other situations where I need it, but honestly, the little AAA gets the most use and is the one I always have with me no matter what.
Anyway, even though the Arc-AAA is realistically just about perfect for my needs, we all know how this hobby tends to suck you down the rabbit hole pretty quickly, so I can't help but wonder if there's another similar AAA light out there with some updated features that might just be able to best this little guy for my needs.
So without further adieu, here are my top criteria for a AAA light if anybody can recommend one that has it all:
- As small as possible, preferably not much larger than the AAA battery that powers it, like the Arc-AAA.
- Preferably a natural white LED / high-CRI tint. I like the Nichia 219, but anything comparable is probably OK if it meets my other criteria.
- Not super picky about materials or finish, but I do care about durability / build quality. For example, if it's aluminum, I want clean machining with good grip knurling, etc. There is nothing more annoying than a light that you're supposed to twist on/off, but is so slippery you can't really grip it. I am willing to pay more for a light that feels worth it. (I actually really like the feel of that "Nitrolon" stuff that Surefire uses, but I don't think I've seen any tiny AAA lights made of it.)
- At least two modes, most importantly a very low "Firefly" or "Moonlight" type of mode, and then a "High" or "Regular" mode. This is probably the most critical thing the Arc-AAA lacks for me as it only has one mode with (rather good) circuitry that tries to "normalize" the output for maximum brightness over the life of the runtime. While this is great for 80% of my use, the one situation where it's not great is when I specifically need a very dim light for navigating the house at night without disturbing anybody who's just dozing off. In a "Firefly" mode, I want just enough light to not stub my toe or step on the cat, but if I'm aiming the light down at my feet, the spill should be barely noticeable to my wife up in the bed at that angle. More than two modes isn't necessarily a good thing. Simple is better. I am more concerned about the availability of the "Firefly/Moonlight" mode than the max output on high mode.
- In relation to #4, I am also not super picky about the UI, but I would prefer to be able to go directly into the mode I want rather than have to toggle through them. (Accidentally switching to high mode when you're trying not to disturb people sort of defeats the purpose of the "Firefly" mode.) That is why I am not a huge fan of the "turn it off and on to change modes" UI, though that might be asking a lot as that seems to be the only option I've seen for multi-modes on lights this small. Hopefully I am wrong.
- Should work well with Eneloop NiMH rechargeables or regular alkaline.
- Not picky about where it's made as long as the quality is high. (Since I live in the USA though, I do try to buy USA-made items when possible.)
- Budget: Would prefer to stay under $75 for this type of a light, but would consider exceptions for something that fit all my criteria perfectly.
- I am neither opposed to or in favor of a keyring attachment / pocket clip / etc on the light's body. I never actually carry the light on my keychain as I like it in my change pocket for quick access, so a light without any attachment / mounting options would actually be just fine.
I guess that about sums it up...sorry for the wall-o-text first post, but I really haven't been able to find anything I like better than my Arc-AAA so far, so I'm really curious if someone else has a favorite that can best it.
Thanks in advance for any input.