What are your favorites in various size classes of budget flashlights?

[quest4_pfct_xxx]

I am curious what people have that they like in various size classes of LED flashlights. I started with incandescent Maglites maybe 40 years ago, but the current crop of LED's are a completely different species. Some of my favorites:

Unique / sub-AAA: I have an Olight EOS that is very compact, and is a nice keychain light. 150 lumens is acceptable in a pinch. Tried a Nitecore Tip2. Bright and seemed great on paper, but I did not find it that useful / compelling. Big and clunky for a keychain.

AAA single cell: Couple of Thrunites. I love my Ti3 V2 for the .04 lm moonlight mode. Had it forever, and it has held up nicely. Gone thru a bunch of Ultra Tac and Glarees, but they didn't seem to last long. Running 10440's in them gave bright output, but not sure if that might have burned them up prematurely.

Multiple AAA: I actually have some Duracell 3*AAA and 4*AAA lights from Costco that I sorta like. Less of a pocket light, and more something to keep in the house.

AA / 14500: I still have a couple of Fenix 1*AA's and even some 2*AA floating around, but I have been using mostly budget lights for quite a few years. A few Lumintop Tool and Ultratac A1's have ended up being my go-to in that size. Just getting a Zebralight SC53cN tomorrow. Pushing my limits for 'budget', but hoping that might become a favorite.

18650 / 21700: Have gone thru a few budget 18650's (Lumintop, and some off brands) They are generally bright, but I haven't found anything that I really like yet in the 'large battery' group.

 

[vicv]

For AAA I like my olight i3e eos
14500 I like my Wurkkos ts10
18650….i don't have any modern 18650 lights anymore.
21700 I like my convoy m21a, but my Wurkkos ts21 is pretty good too

 

[AMD64Brunette]

For AAA, I love my Peak Eigers.(I have 2 of them,both brass High CRI.)

14500 is ruled by my Lumintop Tools.( Have 2,one cool white now, and 1 Nichia 519 version arriving today.)

For 18650 I like my Zebralight SC64w,and H600w.

On the 21700 side, I only have my Zebralight SC700d for now.

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

Unique: Luci Lux Inflatable Solar lantern- warm white lantern, rechargeable by solar, jacket pocketable, was about $25.

Nitecore Tip 2- well built waterproof USB rechargeable keychain light with multiple hands free options. Hard to beat light for everyday carry, short hikes, or backpacking. $45.

AAA: Olight i3e EOS 120 lumen- best light to carry when someone needs to borrow a light. Don't have to explain how to change levels and it doesn't take up space or cost too much if I don't get it back.

Fenix EO1 v.2- best AAA light for me to keep and use

Multiple AAA- Duracell headlights from Costco (come in 3 pack often on sale for $15). They are dimmable. They are very bright on high for $5 headlights. They have red l.e.d.s too.

123A/16340: Sofirn HS10 headlight. $22.

1 AA: Acebeam H40 headlight. $30. Puts out 1050 lumens on one 14500 and is dimmable.

Multiple AA: Husky 450 lumen 3AA flashlight with magnetic base and pivoting head. Was on sale for under $10 when I got it. Has good runtime on batteries with decent brightness and you can mount it to car for camping or refrigerator in house to get light where you want it for hands free use or in place of lantern.

18650: Solarforce L2. $17. More for the l.e.d. drop in of my choice.

21700: Nitecore NWL20 floodlight. $35 with battery. Built in usb-c charger. Multiple mounting options with magnets, carabiner, and adjustable stand.

Multiple D cell: 4D/26650 Duracell 2000 lumen dimmable solar usb-c rechargeable lantern and power bank. $20 on sale at Costco.

Large flashlight: Infinity X1 5000 lumen flashlight. $30. USB-C rechargeable and powerbank function (8 amp battery from 2 4 amp 26650s).

Sam's Club Power on Board 35 watt metal halide H.I.D. spotlight. Bought at auction for $13-17 each years ago. Had to change batteries but have two still functioning. Beam can reach 10 miles away in the right conditions.

 

[GunnarNyb]

I have purchased several low priced 18650 zoomable flashlights with brand name "Skywolfeye". These have been surprisingly durable and reliable. I use salvaged 18650s from old laptop battery packs, probably better quality than most cheap batteries from eBay/Aliexpress:
"Skywolfeye TLY-6501":
Approx $2. Maybe 10 years old. Zoomable with claimed CREE 500 Lumen emitter (probably closer to 200). Very good quality lightweight aluminium housing, but only plastic lens. Intended for button-top 18650s, I fixed this by soldering a small nickel strip on the chip, so I can use flat-tops. Almost waterproof, improved by applying teflon tape on the front lens cover. Only design fault it that the lens protrudes slightly outside of the cover, fixed by inserting a thin paper washer in front of the washer
"Skywolfeye S2":
Approx $3. 8 years old. More solid and heavier model (82 g) with (claimed) XML-T-6 emitter. Significantly brighter than the above. Spring on the chip allows both flat-top and button-top 18650s. "Tactical" design with jagged front bezel
"Skywolfeye ?":
3-4 years old. Used to be approx $3 (even lower with "choice" offers from Aliexpress), now seems to be around $5-6. No model name, also sold without brand name. Zoomable, T-6 emitter, USB charge port. Better design than the two above, with power button moved up front, and with only one thread (no rear cap). Also with a belt clip. Claims to be waterproof, which may be questionable since it has a charging port with a flimsy rubber lid. Very convenient with built in charger port, so not dependable on access to a 18650 charger.
I always keep one of these in my pocket, in my car, in my backpack, at the cabin... Also give as presents to friends, including a salvaged 18650.

 

[Monocrom]

Got a category missing.
Single CR123A:
Nebo Newton Torchy 300.

Not a fan of Nebo at all. But this little guy at $9.99, can't hate on it.
Bought one quite awhile back, tested it out for my main YouTube channel. Overall, very impressed. Not a fan of the funky looks nor the magnetic tailcap. But for that amount of money, it's quite impressive what you get. (Only real downside is that it's not rated for rechargeables. But a Watson, or SureFire 3.0volt RCR123 cell should work as the voltage is the same as a lithium primary CR123A cell.)