Recommendations for <$20 EDC

[rmteo]

a. Pocketable - 100mm (3.94in.) or shorter, 22mm (0.87in.) diameter or smaller.
b. Reasonably bright - 100 lumens or better.
c. 2-mode (hi-low) - preferably 3-mode (hi-mid-low).
d. Single AA or CR123.
e. Tailcap clicky.
f. 43gm (1.5oz.) w/o battery or lighter.
g. Pocket clip, wrist lanyard would be nice.

 

[Mjolnir]

For under 20 dollars, you are probably limited to something from DX or one of the other chinese lights.

 

[HKJ]

If you want a metal flashlight, check this thread: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=223240

Or check you local shops for a plastic light.

The problem with the cheap metal lights are quality insurance, mostly they work ok, but not always. If you want something that always works, you have to use more money ($50+), the Fenix brand is a good light in that price range.

 

[BigBluefish]

The LM33 ($25 @ batteryjunction) will give you about 80-90 lumens on high, 15-20 on low. 1 x CR123a. Reverse clicky. Off-low-high. No clip, but comes with a lanyard. A very smooth beam. A good quality light made by LumaPower a reputable company. I often carry one when I'm not carryng my Fenix L1T v2, which is also nice but way over your budget @ about $42.

 

[Benson]

a. Pocketable - 100mm (3.94in.) or shorter, 22mm (0.87in.) diameter or smaller.
b. Reasonably bright - 100 lumens or better.
c. 2-mode (hi-low) - preferably 3-mode (hi-mid-low).
d. Single AA or CR123.
e. Tailcap clicky.
f. 43gm (1.5oz.) w/o battery or lighter.
g. Pocket clip, wrist lanyard would be nice.

PMing you a recommendation...

 

[notsobrite]

the romisen rc-n3 is about $25 shipped from shiningbeam and is well worth it. i think it is really close to matching your needs, and it comes with a 2aa battery extension so if you ever need to use aa batteries you're covered. i've bought a few lights from dx and this is much better quality than any of them. oh, nice bright beam too!

 

[BBnet3000]

unreasonably high standards for the price. those features are easily available but cost at least $50 for a decent light.

 

[Zatoichi]

the romisen rc-n3 is about $25 shipped from shiningbeam and is well worth it.

I was thinking that too. It's even cheaper from DX, but worth the extra few dollars for shiningbeam's Q5 version.

Another suggestion (R/CR123 only) is the Romisen RC-C3 from DX. I don't have this one but it seems well thought of. By all accounts it's bright, but with not so good runtime. $13.20 shipped.

 

[Black Rose]

The new Romisen RC-N3 II Q5 dual mode (high-medium) from Shiningbeam might be an option.
It's over $20 but not bad with the CPF discount.

 

[vali]

Im too with the RC-N3 suggestion or maybe the Akoray K-106.

 

[NonSenCe]

my vote goes to shiningbeam too.. a bit over budget but the lights are better quality than those ordered directly from china (DealExtreme) and you get FAST shipping and you have it in days! DX might take anywhere from 14 days to 2 months!

shiningbeam: romisen rc n3
http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-123/Romisen-RC-dsh-N3-II-Cree/Detail
option of using either 1*cr123 or 2aa light. but not sure if it has a clip.

then from dealextreme:
akoray 106 -should be able to program the output to 3 different modes. 1AA light that has a clip too.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16607

ultrafire a1: cr123 battery. clip.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16844
(i have that and like it.)

akoray 109: cr123 model (should be otherwise like akoray 106)
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15877


my advise, if you are not used to cr123s.. check the pricing. locally and online. AA lights are generally cheaper to use as batteries are cheap everywhere. thats why i suggest the rcn3 as it also has option of using it also as larger flashlight with 2aa tube.


(ordered romisen n3 from dealextreme about month ago and i am still waiting for it.. in retrospec i should of spent more to get shiningbeam model.. FAST shipping and better led. and especially now that it has hi and low)

 

[carrot]

I recommend a Ti Haiku.

Nice sig btw.

 

[PetaBread]

Why ask for a <$20 light when you got a sig like that? :thinking: :sigh:

 

[old4570]

Ultrafire WF-602C 5 mode . $10.78 Posted .
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2875539&postcount=272

Ok DX is a little slow , but if your not in a hurry . If you want to spend $20 - Buy two .


This , http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16844 came in after I ordered my 602C ... Might be what the flashaholic needs .

 

[rmteo]

I recommend a Ti Haiku.

Nice sig btw.

Thanks - figured you would appreciated the irony.

 

[sol-leks]

Get the new rc-n3 q5 II from shiningbeam
24.95
Hi/lo
good output, solid build.

 

[Armed_Forces]

$20 ehh? ..good luck with that.


Save your money until you can spend it wisely.

..or, just get a case of Budweiser and call it a night. :devil:

 

[rmteo]

Ultrafire WF-602C 5 mode . $10.78 Posted .
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2875539&postcount=272

Ok DX is a little slow , but if your not in a hurry . If you want to spend $20 - Buy two .

Very nice - thanks, Matt.

 

[jhc37013]

The LM33 ($25 @ batteryjunction) will give you about 80-90 lumens on high, 15-20 on low. 1 x CR123a. Reverse clicky. Off-low-high. No clip, but comes with a lanyard. A very smooth beam. A good quality light made by LumaPower a reputable company. I often carry one when I'm not carryng my Fenix L1T v2, which is also nice but way over your budget @ about $42.

+1 I like the LumaPower LM33 you should look into it at the very least. It really is a good light for $25. Like BigBluefish mentioned it is a good alternative to the Fenix L1T or PD2 if you don't have the funds for a Fenix. It has a really nice beam with lots of spill and a good forward clicky with LO-Hi setting.

 

[Benson]

akoray 106 -should be able to program the output to 3 different modes. 1AA light that has a clip too.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16607

That one has 3-mode programmable in recent lights, but the description still says 6-mode.

akoray 109: cr123 model (should be otherwise like akoray 106)
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15877

This one has the same 6-mode description, but it was still shipping with the 6-mode (non-programmable) driver, as described, quite some time after the 106 switched over. They may have switched to the programmable driver by now, but don't count on it.