I agree. The Thrunite T10 / T10T have had pretty much nothing in the way of direct competition. It would be great to have more options.
The appeal of AAs over Li-ions for me is the ability to have large numbers of NiMHs sitting at full charge for when they are needed, without worrying about degrading their capacity like Li-ions. Likewise, I like to use NiMH batteries when a light is going to be left in a bag or vehicle and be used primarily for emergencies.
And since many people who ask me for flashlight recommendations don’t have a rechargeable ecosystem running, I would like to see more lights with physical clicky switches to keep the lights from draining alkalines to the point where they leak (and because I have had issues with twisty switches [and physically locked-out lights] working their way on or off in pockets or bags).
Yeah, something like the SingFire 348, but for AA would be great.
Just on / off, no modes for all i care.
Easy to use for everybody.
Put a Nichia in it and you have a great light.
Yes, I would like something in the sub $10 range so that I can buy a half dozen and replace the $3 spk lights that I have. My Eneloops are still my reliable go-to power source for lights.
One thing I wanted, and see an actual market for, is something along the lines of a MiniMag. No adjustable beam (ie, no Doughnut Hole Of Death when twisted to a flood beam), just a fixed-distance aspheric or maybe a mule if bright enough.
Simple twisty on/off for non-flashaholics, maybe old-timers who’d just leave the light on whatever random mode it came on, for general-purpose use grubbling around in cabinets and looking for dropped earrings (or pills, in the case of old-timers) on the floor, that kind of thing.
I threw together a couple of match-mods with wide-angle TIRs, and people love ’em. Simple elegant design, simple UI (!), decent light. And 2 AAs makes care’n’feeding of the critters equally simple.
Hmm, what’s 800mA into an XM-L2? At least 200lm? Not too shabby…
Even ~100lm into a 219 would be nice.
Reminds me, I’ve got some 5Ds I’d like to try. Hope it’s nice and rosy.
I live in a country where at least 20 Typhoon visits per year. Like right now, the northern part of the country is being ravaged by a Signal 5 Typhoon, with winds blowing over 225 kmph. Power will be out for few weeks, 18650 cells won’t be useful after probably a week of use. There’s an abundance of AA/AAA everywhere in my country, it’s just that there are no good lights available below $20 here.
Perhaps the Thorfire TG06 would be suitable? I haven’t used one so I don’t know what the modes are like but it’s less than $11 from a couple of places.
It does look nice.
With a high CRI LED (Nichia) it could be something.
It is a bit pricey, but I guess that could come down via a group-buy.
Never heard of Moonlake, is there somebody here that knows anything about quality etc.?
Agree, while I have a lot more 18650 lights, I only keep a AA lights in the car glove box. AA are available nearly everywhere from your local gas station to dollar stores.
Agreed. Though I have to say I absolutely love my Jetbeam Jet-I MK. Yes, it has a not-so-good (meaning “bad”) clip. And it’s a twisty (though a good twisty). And the tint is cool. I’d love it even more if it had a high CRI emitter and a better clip, but it’s still my favorite EDC at the moment.
I’ve been hoping that On the Road might jump into the fray and put out a great, affordable AA / 14500 model in the same way they hit the budget 16340 space with their M3. I doubt if they’d put a 219C in it, but we can pray.
Or Astrolux? Manker? Whoever it is, someone should put out a great, moderately priced AA / 14500 torch with a high CRI emitter soon. I’d buy three of them.
I agree. 18650 lights may have great chip in them, higher output and other cool things, but nothing can beat a good old single AA tail clicky for emergency situations.
I’m happy with my twisty Jet 1 and modded MiniM*g, etc., and tail-clicky WK50. Well, the switch on the WK50 kinda bites. I guess given those 3, 2 twisties win out over the 1 clicky.
For a small form-factor, a twisty is (to me) a bitlot easier to handle.