Real world need: multiple AA alkaline flashlight. cheap, UI not important

This post kind of make me think of this one I made way back….so many great projects here with lanterns, uv lights, soda can formats, many 18650 lights, some AAA……but sadly not one good 2xAA flashlight by the BLF community. I am sure many of us would buy multiple units of it for gifts….

I think you have the right answer in your sig: they’re needed for a survival trip. Whohahah :smiling_imp:

If you drop the demand for two batteries, the Coast HP1 would be a good candidate (IMHO).

Coast HP1, I would like one for gift to a not flashaholic. Where we can get in Europe for less than 10 or 12 USD (shipping inluded of course)?

Can’t help you with that. I accidentally stumbled upon this. Amazon sells them in the US and the UK, but not in Spain.

Wow, nice! I’m a sucker for 14500 lights, I like UTORCH and at that price, I just had to order one! :person_facepalming:

Got me thinking about this kind of light and clearly the answers are far and few between . until yesterday I stumbled upon another ALDI flashlight find . With DJOZZ in mind I bent backwards to buy a 300 lumen /100 lumen /strobe/ 4AA battery side button light made by "Lightway" . I think it has a xpg3 in it and from the looks of the emitter it looks a bit neutral with a good amount of yellow phosphorous on the emitter . (But a bit of nasty tint shift that disappears with a little diffusion film ) heavy as hell/(360 grams with batteries) . 2 inches at the front and a half orange peel / half smooth reflector . The damn thing has a bunch of throw . Your first thought is .Jacob A60 . The light is begging for a slip on and off diffuser like a cap off a hair spray or spray paint can . at ONLY $6.95 I again wrestled with yet another light I really didn't need :P I didn't see any PWM but also wasn't really looking for it. The light reminds you of the fenix E 21 in that the low isn't low enough to see a clear difference from high to low and having to cycle thru the three modes High /low /strobe just to get to OFF reminds you why you became a flashaholic in the first place . It takes full side clicks to get to the next mode 3 hours on high and 13 hours on low is what they claim and it's probably pretty close to reality . The light needs a true low ,a slip on and off lens cap type diffuser and a better UI but for the price it's damn hard to beat . 4 free Aldi AA alkaline batteries included

Yupp, I fell in love with the 14500 form factor and carryability (that a word). This Utorch came at the right time to burn another hole in my pants.
Btw, that deal was still active (reactivated?) last night.

I have the Sofirn sf13 and when someone ask me for a light that is the one I give them and it’s about 300 lumens. It’s a great flashlight for non-flashaholics, very simple to use.

The Sofirn SF13 looks nicer actually than the Zanflare. Does it really put out 320 lumen?

Yes it is really 300 lumens.

good thread. thanks for the heads up on the utorch deal.

ROFLOL!
btw if length is not an issue and you are dead set on aa alkaleaks go for a 3aa.
look up peukerts law for a good explanation.
also cheap boost converters in these cheap lights aggravate the issue by being terribly inefficient.going without one and using 3 cells which land closer to led vf means simpler and more reliable.
driver can be a resistor or in many such light dd.

Any recommendations for an inexpensive 3 AA light?

Interesting jump to 3x AA. Following.

Sofirn may be a bit brighter in the highest mode but for the same price (Zanflare with coupons) Zanflare offers neutral white emitter, bigger reflector and battery indicator.

I think there is a pretty big price difference. Around 5usd last I saw. Does the difference justify the price difference?

There’s a code on Gearbest ( F2GIFT) that allows you to buy the F2 for $9.99.

What about those lights from gamma/praxis etc.?
They are not bad for that type of situations.

They may work but…
Say that one of those gets over 200 lumen, my flashoholic handicap gets in the way: they are too big for what they do, with ugly light and for the same money I can buy a nicer flashlight in China.

It is hard to find a good build , nice design, more than 300 lumen AA light less than $10, $10-$15 will have more choice