What do you recommend for a fairly cheap reliable LED Flashlight?

[LED Flashlights.]

I'm looking for somethng with 100,000 + hours light bulb usage.

I know they make hand crank ones, and ones you shake. Are they any good?

I don't mind using batteries, but nothing bigger then AA.

I really like the concept of a small flashlight with a really bright light.

 

[Grox]

Firstly, welcome to CPF.

What will you be using the light for, what form factor do you want, and how much are you willing to spend?

I would not worry about LED life if I were you - LEDs do not die suddenly as incans do, they just don't produce enough light. It is highly unlikely that you will be using the light anywhere near enough to notice the degradation - and by the time you do, you will probably buy a new light because your light has been so far superceded.

Shake/crank lights are generally not any good - the majority of cheapos are fake or of extremely poor quality. There are a couple of exceptions though (see flashlightreviews for reviews of these).

It sounds as though economy is important to you. Have you considered using high capacity NiMh rechargeable batteries?

Please also have a read of the welcome mat, which contains much useful information.

 

[LED Flashlights.]

Thank you, huhmmm, I guess a LED flashlight for less then 50.

I say less then 50 because you can get a great Mag Lite that isn't LED for less then 50.

I need a light that is bright enough to work on equipment in small dark areas and bright enough to light a pathway outside at night.

Thanks for the flash light review link.

 

[davidra]

The more you stay here, the quicker you'll learn that the phrase "great Mag Lite" is an oxymoron. There are hundreds of lights that will meet your needs in half or a quarter the size of any Maglight (other than the AA, which you can easily mod to meet your requirements). You might start by looking at the L1-D or L2-D at this link:

https://www.fenix-store.com/index.php?cPath=22_55

A little out of your price range, but will be a great first purchase of a quality light.

 

[Saiga]

Inexpensive, reliable,robust,long-lasting, compact, AA and enough light to "work on equipment" or "light a path" ? How about the gerber infinity ultra, i own fenix's,surefire's and streamlights,etc. and i'm very happy with this little light. ( and the company selling it,BTW).
http://www.basegear.com/gerberinfinity.html

 

[SEMIJim]

There are three AA lights you may wish to consider. The UltraFire C3 CREE, the LumaPower LM31 or the OLIGHT T15

The UltraFire is the least expensive of the three and ordering/shipping will be from DealExtreme (aka: "DX"), in China. Most people have been satisifed with their DX experiences. I own one of these lights. I'm pleased with it. However I'm well-aware that you're not going to get the most robust light in the world for $17, shipped. And, indeed, if you look you'll find a recent thread started by a guy who dropped his C3 and now it doesn't work anymore. Other than that: My only negative is it's only got one level. It's far too bright for close work, IMO. I like my UltraFire C3 CREE and would definitely buy it again for that price.

Next up: The LM31. I don't own one of these yet. But LumaPower has a great reputation and this light is generally highly regarded here on CPF. So I've got two on-the-way: One for a Christmas present and one for me . Advantages over the UltraFire: Two-levels; I expect, at about twice the price and with LP's reputation, a somewhat more robust product; and you can obtain it "locally." (Where "locally" = from here in the U.S.)

Last but not least: The Olight T15. I don't own one of these, either, but I do own an OLight T20. (The T15 is single AA. The T20 is two CR123's.) I'm pleased with my T20's performance, and expect the T15 to be about the same, just in a smaller package, maybe not quite as bright, certainly not as much run-time. Advantage of the T15: Five (5) light levels - certainly one to suit whatever your need. This is accomplished via a very nice UI. Like the LM31: The T15 has the advantage of being carried by local distributors.

The three AA lights can be fed with AA LIon batteries for longer run-times.

If you don't mind a slightly fatter, but shorter package: The LM31 has a CR123 counter-part: The LM33, and the T15 has a CR123 counterpart: The T10. You'll get more light, for longer, out of a CR123 than an AA. You'll want to buy your CR123's from someplace like BatteryJunction, tho, as they're hideously expensive in local stores.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

Jim

 

[Gunner12]

:welcome:

How about a WF-600(How's 100+ meter throw) with 2 18650 batteries and a charger(Or the WF-400 for a smaller, less throwy but cheaper light). It will take a month to get to you.

Do you already have a Maglite?

 

[LED Flashlights.]

Wow, what a great forum.

Thank you everybody.

I haven't made my decision yet.

I might check the hardware store to see what they have.

I might find a great deal on a generic LED flashlight.

 

[Marduke]

Whereabouts do you live? We might be able to point you to a really great deal at a store near you. Generic hardware store flashlights are rarely the best deal around.

 

[davidra]

Unless it's a Lowe's Task Force with a Cree LED.....

 

[Patriot]

Wow, what a great forum.

Thank you everybody.

I haven't made my decision yet.

I might check the hardware store to see what they have.

I might find a great deal on a generic LED flashlight.

Honestly, your chances of finding a flashlight that you'll really enjoy at the hardware store are slim. I take it that since you joined CPF, you probably have an interest in something more special and with more technology built into it than a Maglite. You said yourself that you really like the concept of a small bright light. One of the main interests here at CPF happens to be smaller, brighter lights with LED pretty much dominating that niche. The Fenix line of lights will undoubtedly have something within your price range in a very small package. They even have a AAA LED that is much brighter that a 4D mag. I encourage you to keep on looking into as many LED lights as you can, find something you like, and order it on-line.

Here is a link to Fenix Store.

https://www.fenix-store.com/index.php?cPath=22

My personal favorite Fenix one cell light is the P1D-Q5, and my favorite two cell light is the P3D-Q5 or P3D-rebel.

Good luck.

 

[LED Flashlights.]

:welcome:

Do you already have a Maglite?

Thank you.

Yes I do. I really can't say I hate it though. It really has a well built body on it. As far as for the light beam. It is ok when I need it. I have the 2 double D battery one. It's just too big for what I need it for.

The thing that I really don't like about it is replacing the bulb. It's just a annoying trying to look for one. What I've done a few times is just take a cheap generic flashlight and replace the old bulb with that one.

 

[LED Flashlights.]

I definitely will look into all the types of LED flashlights before picking one.

 

[Marduke]

Unless it's a Lowe's Task Force with a Cree LED.....

There are many more:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=180100&highlight=list

 

[a4d]

Thank you.

Yes I do. I really can't say I hate it though. It really has a well built body on it. As far as for the light beam. It is ok when I need it. I have the 2 double D battery one. It's just too big for what I need it for.

The thing that I really don't like about it is replacing the bulb. It's just a annoying trying to look for one. What I've done a few times is just take a cheap generic flashlight and replace the old bulb with that one.

Ya Fenix's are amazing i have an L2D Q5, 2AA's and really bright.

About the maglites i've been learning alot here about trying to mod one and if you want a different bulb it's called a PR base light bulb. Thats just the name of the base of the bulb. you can always get a brighter PR based light.

 

[Gunner12]

Thank you.

Yes I do. I really can't say I hate it though. It really has a well built body on it. As far as for the light beam. It is ok when I need it. I have the 2 double D battery one. It's just too big for what I need it for.

The thing that I really don't like about it is replacing the bulb. It's just a annoying trying to look for one. What I've done a few times is just take a cheap generic flashlight and replace the old bulb with that one.

Well, there is a Terralux Drop-in that will work in 2-3 cell maglites. It is much brighter then the MagLED drop-ins because of a more efficient LED(2x or more). There is also the Malkoffdevices drop-in, brighter then the terraluxand has a much better heatsink but is higher priced.

There are much better deals on bright flashlight online. If you are looking for LED, look for ones with the Cree XR-E(P4-R2 bin), Seoul P4 U bin or Luxeon Rebel 100 LED. The are the current generation LEDs which are twice as efficient as the previous generation LEDs.

 

[LEDninja]

All 4 of my MTE 1xAA SSC-P4 have QC stickers and they all work.

Next is the Fenix-l1t-v2 Fenix-l2t-v2. These are being discontinued so you may have to get the L1D CE L2D CE. Fenix store offers a 8% discount for CPF members discount code CPF8. You can pay more and get the various premium versions of this light.

For a smaller AAA keychain/pocket light L0D CE. Thre is a holiday version with a Q4 bin LED at no extra cost. Remember the discount code on your way out.

-----

For your Maglite you can get an LED upgrade module.

Here is a thread on other LED bulbs you can get.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=178595

Make sure the voltage matches your torch!!!

 

[Timothybil]

I'm going to go out on a limb here. Since you have almost no experience with a 'good' flashlight, I'm going to recommend the Streamlight Microstream. It's a very small LED the runs for about 1.5 hrs on one AAA alkaline. It throws about 15 lumens in a very nice pattern, and makes a good EDC (Every Day Carry). You can get one from Brightguy for about $16, IIRC.

1. It's not a lot of investment to get a good feel for a baseline 'good' flashlight.
2. It will let you experiment with an EDC grade flashlight so you can get a better idea of what we are all talking about when we discuss throws and spreads and beam patterns, etc.
3. It's cheap enough that when you decide what your next flashlight will be you can afford to give it to your SO or one of the kids/relatives and get them started on the road to being a flashaholic as well without a lot of pain.

I also have a SF G2 for about twice the price, and my next light will probably be a SF M3T.

 

[LED_Thrift]

Anytime someone asks about a medium priced AA light, three come to my mind immediately: Fenix L2D-CE or L2D-Q5; Streamlight ProPoly 4AA Lux; and Zebralight headlamp. I would have added Underwater Kinetics 4AA, but the original version, which sold for less than $25 is not available.

Fenix [2 AA] has good brightness and great efficiency. A bit long for pocket carry. Four levels help conserve power.

Streamlight [4 AA] Very rugged. Also very bright and very good throw with useful spill. Made in USA with GREAT warranty [basically, if it breaks for any reason it gets fixed or replaced]. Too large for the pocket, unless you got big pockets or don't mind having them stuffed. Fairly waterproof.

Zebralight: [1 AA] a very small headlamp which can be removed from the strap/holder easily and used as a handlheld or pocket clip light [or baseball cap light]. Very efficient. Has no reflector or lens, so the beam is all even floodlight. Great handsfree light. Amazingly small and bright.

Oh yeah - Welcome to CPF

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

If you have a Walmart nearby (and if you are in USA one can't be TOO far away!) Rayovac has 2AA 1W and 3W Outdoor Extreme lights that have push button/twist head like a tactical light and are both pretty bright.

At Target there are a few useful items as well. Energizer has a 1W 2AA side clickie light than isn't stellar bright but is nice of beam and tint.

Also River Rock 1AA 1W and 2AA 3W are nice. I carry the 1AA in my work shirt pocket (clipped like a pen) and the 2AA 3W is in my truck close to hand.

I don't yet have any Multi Level lights, but will get to try a Fenix LOP SE pretty soon.

The MTE 1AA SSc light mentioned above is bright! Mine came with a flaky tail switch so I took some tinfoil and made a permanent ground path, broke the head loose, cleaned and lubed the threads and I use it as a front twisty. As a bonus, I'm fairly certain it's even brighter this way!