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. 
Bah, I wrote too soon.
Yeh, exactly as the above, ‘though people do like the “big head” of the M*g. Easier twistin’.
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.
solar charger!
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.
This one looks pretty nice.
Too bad it’s too pricey. T__T
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.?
This one looks very nice as well.
Sure wish the price will be reduced. it’s really too pricey for a AA cell light.
We need a Kronos A5
I personally find the Revtronic and the Moonlake lights great for backup. If only it’s priced a lot less, these lights will probably sell more.
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.
+1
I just remembered this one:
http://www.sbflashlights.com/L3-Illumination/L3-Illumination-L11C-Nichia-219B-p373.html
Ticks most boxes, apart from price.
(Can’t remember why I never ordered one…)
Why the tail-clicky, if you don’t mind my asking?
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 bit lot easier to handle.
Could you use this for blackouts? Docooler Outdoor Solar Powered LED Spotlight Lamp 6 LEDs For Pool Use- Amazon.com
The charger part and the light part have a 10’ cable between them, so it would be good to prevent total darkness in some central part of the house, for bathroom visits and general moving around without need of a flashlight, just run the cable through a window with the charger portion outdoors, it also uses a single AA battery.
And advice I give to people about that: keep the AAs outside the light (eg, scotch-taped to the side) in case they leak, and have a spare (set) also kept separately. Nasty nasty nasty when alkies leak inside a light, and then grow fur and solidify. 
To make it easier and neater to keep your alkalines separate from your light, these 4aa cases do the trick, some places also sell cases for 2aa, or 4 and 2 aaa cases.
https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10001929/5130500-4-aa-aaa-14500-10440-pp-battery-protective