Your #1 compact budget light

[mleroux]

What is your #1 compact budget light? "Compact" meaning in the region of 20mm (head) x 20mm (body) x 100mm (length).

I quite like the Tank007 M20, with a Cree XR-E-Q4 and the ability to take a 14500. My brother-in-law has an M10, which doesn't seem bad...

 

[csa]

You should specify what you mean by "budget." I quite like my tigerlight H30, and at just under $50, it's the cheapest light I use on a regular basis.

 

[CPFnoob]

The Tank M10 can be had with a strong magnet in the back so it can be stuck to any metallic object, such as the underside of a car hood, etc...

 

[adnj]

Nitecore EX10

 

[kaichu dento]

For a $20 bill my iTP A3! Great lights and I bought a pile of them for giveaways that I'm planning on offering everyone wanting to trade for their L0D's that I gave them over the past couple years.

 

[sol-leks]

Quark Mini 123 and romisen rc-c6 II WW

 

[vali]

I consider a Quark MiNi AA a budget one... And in that size is just great (and I got a neutral white :p). The Fenix E01 is a very goo light too, but it will not win any brightness competition, plus the beam is a bit uggly.

Aside from those two, the programmable Akoray K-106 and (if you use it in CR123 form factor), the Romisen RC-N3. The Saik/Romisen RC-A3 have a perfect beam with a big hotspot like the XP-G, but is a budget XR-E and that makes it amazing (maybe a won the lottery with this one, hehe). The bad news is the short runtime it has.

 

[Flying Turtle]

I suppose this would be the Maratac AAA, if not the QMini 123. Not really sure what should be considered "budget". Maybe we need a poll. My vote would probably be less than $20, so neither of these would make it.

Geoff

 

[joe1512]

Amazing how 60 dollar lights are considered 'budget'.

I give +1 to the itp A series. The A3 is really nice and I can't wait to get an A1 for myself (shorter, a bit fatter, but around 250 lumens with an RCR123 for brief periods). It is also one of the cheapest quality small lights around. They are nice because you can put em on your keychain and then have the light when you need it. Without having to be a dork and carry around a flashlight all the time when I only need it rarely. (I do understand of course that many people use them frequently, but as a programmer not so much for me... hence I'd feel like a dork.)

 

[ShineOnYouCrazyDiamond]

May I reference this current ITP thread in regards to the postings here: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=263683

joe1512 - if you feel like a dork carrying a flashlight you may need to reconsider being a flashaholic. I carry a Drake on my keyring and always have a NDI and a M3 in my bag - no less than 3 lights - and I certainly don't feel like a dork, especially if I have to go into a dark corner of the datacenter and start tracing out cables.

 

[kaichu dento]

Not really sure what should be considered "budget". Maybe we need a poll. My vote would probably be less than $20, so neither of these would make it.

Amazing how 60 dollar lights are considered 'budget'.

Lot of threads like this where posters just take the chance to post their favorite light with little concern about the intent of the thread.

Turtle, you've about nailed it in my mind; $20 or less and nothing that uses more than 1 cell should be posted here, and that's rating it from a CPF perspective.
Get some of the general public looking at this and seeing $40-$60 lights in a thread for compact budget lights and they'd be most unlikely to agree.

Not that it would have necessarily made a really big difference but this is a good note to make when starting a thread about the value of being specific and possibly listing a top price range. :candle:

 

[mleroux]

Point taken; my idea of a budget light would ideally be $20 or less, although I could probably stretch the bracket up to $40... that means that a Quark Mini AA would fit my bill! Sorry about the nebulous price parameters.

As to intent—well, it is for legit research. Appreciate the input thus far!

 

[ky70]

Up to $20: Akoray 106
Up to $40: Quark Mini 123

 

[jk037]

I think the fact that I EDC both my Akoray K-106 (5-mode; can't seem to find the 3-more any more!) and my iTP A3 Eos must mean they're my favourites.

Between these two it's hard to pick a favourite; the iTP wins in terms of build quality and performance-to-size ratio, plus it has a great UI (starts in Med, and has no flashing/strobe/SOS modes) but I find the Akoray is a "nicer" size to hold in my hand, and having an AA rather than AAA cell gives it a runtime advantage. I run both on Ni-Mh batteries so maximum outputs are actually pretty similar. Since I seem to use the Akoray the most I think it must take a narrow victory as my favourite.

That said, I am also rather fond of my Trustfire XP-EF23. It produces a similar output to the Akoray and iTP, and has a nice simple 3-mode UI (although I'd gladly swap "strobe" for a "medium" setting), plus it's really nicely made and finished. Feels robust too; it's a little larger and heavier than many 1xAAA lights but IMHO this gives it a really nice "feel" in the hand. Only problem is that it's just too shiny and pretty to subject it to everyday use; I'd hate to scratch it or dull the finish! :o

 

[Ian2381]

That said, I am also rather fond of my Trustfire XP-EF23. It produces a similar output to the Akoray and iTP, and has a nice simple 3-mode UI (although I'd gladly swap "strobe" for a "medium" setting), plus it's really nicely made and finished. Feels robust too; it's a little larger and heavier than many 1xAAA lights but IMHO this gives it a really nice "feel" in the hand. Only problem is that it's just too shiny and pretty to subject it to everyday use; I'd hate to scratch it or dull the finish! :o

I also like my Trustfire XP-EF23 and was my EDC for a couple of months before changing to QUark MiNi AA, for the sole reason of runtime.
If it got an hour on Max then I would probably be EDCing it up to now.:bumpit:

 

[jugornot]

Romisen RC-N3 II. 123 and aa. $25. A fine gift ffor a Yankee swap at Christmas. Have given 4 of the ITP A3s as gifts to women. The A3s are for people who won't carry a light. All of the women have been surprised at the brightness of te little guy.Gave the rc-n3s to skilled tradesmen. 1 male one female. Also included a 123 battery, gave a little demo and they both were very happy.

 

[old4570]

:thinking: Ultrafire A20 [ Its the one I reach for first ]
2nd = Akoray

 

[alfreddajero]

Mine would have to be the N3 in 16340 configuration, love the small factor and the amount of light you get when using AW's.

 

[kaichu dento]

Going up to $40 I would definitely choose the MiNi AAw!

 

[MemphisMagD]

My Fenix L1T. Its the Leatherman labled version from Costco for $20. Liked it so much I got a second one off ebay for $25.