My ideal light for a trip ... please adivse

Forum users,

I'll be backpacking for a month around Spain in August and I'm somewhat of a gear nut. For example, my my daypack is :
http://www.maxpedition.com/product/product_vp_jumbo.htm

I've been searching for a light for EDC on my trip that meets the following, ideally, but I can't seem to find the right combination on my own:

-Takes 1 AA battery
-Has both white or blue and at least one red LED
-Costs under $30 if possible
-Compact tube form factor
-Throws a good amount of light (eliminates Gerber recon)
-Available now

This looks awesome but is too expensive and pre-order only:
http://www.photonlight.com/products/proton/index.html

This was the best I could come up with, but it's 3xAAA so a bit bulky:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8818722064

Surely there's something out there? I will open up the floor to the experts!
Thank you,

Marc
(mesotheliomaasbestoslawyer.biz)

let me know if you find the light... i'd buy one with those specs

maybe a fenix L1T w/ a homemade red filter? i dunno

Hello Marc

Welcome here

The proton light was the first idea I have had.
Another idea is a few cheap keyring lights in red and blue and a Fenix L1P or L1T.

Best regards

____
Tom

If you skip the price limit and the red led, maybe you can go for the Fenix L1T.

I like to have a light that has long life (low output option) if I'm going out for a trip.

I'd say get this soon to be released one:

Nuwai X-1 (1 AA)

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/nuwai_x-1.htm

And

Some type of red button cell led for your key chain:

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/lri_freedommax.htm

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/amart_key.htm

Fenix Civictor, $30 shipped from 4 sevens right now. I LOVE mine. Same output as L1P - which is VERY good. Runs bright 3 hrs on good nimh, nearly 4 on a lithium, nearly 4 hours (with dimming) on an alky. BETTER size, feel, and reliability than the L1P or other clicky clones. I agree with others on red LED - get a cheap red button cell at 99 cent store.

The simplest solution would be either to up your budget... or get two lights.

The Fenix L1T or L1P from http://Fenix-store.com would suit your needs well, except for the lack of a colored LED. The L1P (and probably L1T) throws surprisingly well for its size. It uses 1AA. Around $40-50.

For a red LED light, you could look for a Streamlight Stylus in red (or blue, or green) or a Gerber Infinity Ultra in red. Stylus uses 3AAAA batteries, and the Gerber uses 1AA. You should be able to get the Stylus for about $10, and the Gerber for about $15-20.

It's not exactly the form-factor you want, but you might want to consider the Streamlight Night Com -- which I think you can get at fox-intl.com for a good price, I think around $30.

Unfortunately, it uses 2x CR123 batteries, but they are available for $1 each at http://amondotech.com. I use their Titanium brand batteries, and can recommend them.

If not for the price limit and battery restriction, I'd recommend the Surefire A2 Aviator wholeheartedly, for $150 from TacticalSupply and OpticsHQ.

I am a fan of the Pak-lite, not aa cell,but 9-volt, and can be had in various led styles. Was made by a backpacker,check out 9voltlight.com for info.

These are some fantastic suggestions. Thank you one and all (and keep them coming ).

If I were to go with the red LED as keychain only, is there a preferred one for combination of brightness/longevity/cost? The blue one on my keychain is from EMS and seems to work well.

- Marc

I have a cheap Photon clone from a CPF dealer and it works great. But you can also find Photon brand Red lights locally usually. I too would prob go with either a L1P/T or an Infinity Ultra if runtime was more important. Then a red photon or clone.

MarcM001 said:

If I were to go with the red LED as keychain only, is there a preferred one for combination of brightness/longevity/cost? The blue one on my keychain is from EMS and seems to work well.

Click to expand...

I recommend the Photon Microlight I or Photon II (depending on if you need a constant-on switch). They are superior to the "clones" in durability and have gold-plated contacts to resist corrosion. LRI also has a no questions asked warranty -- if you break it, they fix it. http://photonlight.com

Runtime with a red LED is said to be 120 hours.

The Photon III and Photon Freedom Micro are good lights too, but when attached to a keychain they tend to get accidentally turned on (unless you set the Freedom to momentary-on). I keep my Freedom attached to my Leatherman Micra.

My choice would be an Inova X1 and a red PHoton II. In one light if you up the price the Proton has both the Red and white light covered in a variable light.

Lee1959 said:

My choice would be an Inova X1 and a red PHoton II. In one light if you up the price the Proton has both the Red and white light covered in a variable light.

Click to expand...

While I love the X1, it does not throw very well, especially compared to the Fenix. However, it's a really good light, and puts out plenty to see with.

I would go for the Fenix L1P - with a Lithium cell (primary) it would cover most requirements. The Inova X0 is a good light but bulkier and takes CR123s. Imagine what these would cost in Spain.
NOTE! *** If you're going to any big town watch out for pickpockets - they work in teams and, while not aggressive, are VERY clever at distracting you. On the metro one guy distracted me - I felt in my wallet pocket and there was a hand there already! Sadly for them I gripped hard and broke a couple of fingers. But he/she was out of action for weeks. (The pocket was sealed with 2 buttons, a Velcro flap and a zipper - took him/her about 2 seconds to get through that)...

MarcM001 said:

-Takes 1 AA battery
-Has both white or blue and at least one red LED
-Costs under $30 if possible
-Compact tube form factor
-Throws a good amount of light (eliminates Gerber recon)
-Available now

Click to expand...

Two words:
Gerber Recon
(just because, aside from the SF Kroma -not yet available, there isn't another light that meets all of your requirements and I think the Recon gives you a decent amount of light for close-up tasks).

If it has to be 1AA then L1T , or if it has to be under $30 then get the Nuwai X-1 and Photon clone (Fauxton 99c), but the L1T woould be much more useful in the long run, having two levels.


Happy backpacking -

I`d opt for a Fenix L1P, and do the 10 ohms head mod on it.
This light is WAY more useful than an L1T because the low is low.

You dont have a red beam that way, but ...