Best Single AA flashlight for 2017/18 ?

[contigo]

thank you :+1:

bummer, i probably liked that one the best

[skinny_tie]

@contigo

so….the Jetbeam aa/14500….which battery wont it charge fully? i see conflicting reports

Looks nice otherwise!

According to this review by Enelooper it’s fine with Li-ion 14500s but undercharges Ni-MH AAs (backed up by Trevi_lux) - [REVIEW] JETBeam E10R 1xAA USB Rechargeable Flashlight

However, this Bc412’s sample massively undercharged Li-ion 14500s - Jetbeam E10R Review

Bc412’s light was undercharging so much I’m wondering whether it was defective, rather than a poorly designed charging circuit.

The charging issues and cool white LED have put me buying one so far, but I like my other JETBeams so much I’ll probably get one eventually.

[SKV89]

@Mkduffer

My vote goes to the UT01. I have 2, one in each tint and haven’t had any insurmountable issues with them. Just ordered a spare NW for $9.99.

What I like (in no particular order):

1. reversible deep pocket clip
2. reversible body (allows switching clip orientation without removing clip and scratching anno)
3. decent low mode
4. 400lmn high w/ AA, 800lmn w/ 14500 is very serviceable.
5. AA/14500 support. Paper clip mod resolves issues with protected 14500
6. Good modes and programmable
7. Very affordable
8. compact size
9. available in warmer tint

I would have considered the Klarus Mi7 a possible contender, but my had horrific parasite drain (emptied batteries in a day) and Klarus did nothing to help. Even so, I think I’d still prefer the UT01 because of the reversible clip, programmable (and more) modes, UI, better low mode and overall feel. I wish the UT01 had a better switch. In fact, UT01 with a Mi7 switch would be hard to beat, in my book. Jet-1 is also a contender, but the clip is similar to the Klarus, only 3 modes and again, low not low enough.

At $20, I think it’s pretty hard to touch the UT01. At $9.99, it’s a no-brainer.

Where did you buy the UT01 for $9.99?

[264]

@LTVictor

@264

Looks cool…………………

Looks fine yet what are the UI and specs? Thank you

I found this light once more:
https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10015804/7847900-ultrafire-u5-super-v-tactical-led-flashlight-w
Two for $10.55

[264]

This flashlight was delivered on January 11, 2018. It has become my all around favorite light. I chose the neutral tint option. It is a warm tint. So if it matters this is my current favorite AA/14500 flashlight.

[joechina]

@contigo

My wife is carrying an 18650 light in her purse and notified me last night she wanted a “smaller light”….so here i am on this thread.
I would like a AA/14500 light with usb charing built in one way or another (either in the battery or on-board charging. I see many lights suggested on this thread but very few have the usb charging option. Any suggestions for me? Budget please less than $30.

I am also open to an even smaller light than 14500.
Can someone help please?

Hm, have you considered the FW3A Groupbuy?
It’s a 18650, but verry compact, SK68 like. The design is not quite fixed.

[patmurris]

@contigo

My wife is carrying an 18650 light in her purse and notified me last night she wanted a “smaller light”…. I am also open to an even smaller light than 14500.

In the AAA/10440 form factor, i’m very partial to the Ultratac K18. Possibly the brightest in it’s category, very well made and nice to look at. A USB charger add-on is also available - which is a must have to charge small cells at a moderate current not always possible on most charger.

HKEQUIPMENT - 照明及戶外用品

[SKV89]

Wow the Ultratac K18 in that website has a Nichia option. Even Ultratac’s own website doesn’t even have that. The XP-G2 version runs at 110 lumens on AAA. I wonder which Nichia emitter it uses and which tint. I would buy it if it has 4000k or 4500k tint as I really want a good AAA or AA nichia warm/neutral light.

[Lightbringer]

@SKV89

Wow the Ultratac K18 in that website has a Nichia option. Even Ultratac’s own website doesn’t even have that. The XP-G2 version runs at 110 lumens on AAA. I wonder which Nichia emitter it uses and which tint. I would buy it if it has 4000k or 4500k tint as I really want a good AAA or AA nichia warm/neutral light.

I just got my Lumintop Tool with the 219… quite nice!

I’m not a fan of AAA lights, so I never got any Tools before, and this is my first, pretty much only because of the 219. Think it’s a 4000K 219BT, maybe 4500K, don’t recall offhand.

[Persechini]

I didn’t know the Tool AAA came with nichia, I reflowed a 219C into mine and the result is quite nice (except for the medium > low > high UI), and once I choose my favorite AA light it’s getting another emitter from my dead D4

[SKV89]

I also have two lumintop tool AAA that I recently bought from bangood but their color temp is more like 5000k. I was hoping for warmer temp

[Lightbringer]

@Persechini

I didn’t know the Tool AAA came with nichia, I reflowed a 219C into mine and the result is quite nice (except for the medium > low > high UI), and once I choose my favorite AA light it’s getting another emitter from my dead D4

Hmmm. Was thinking it was just H→M→L instead of L→M→H. It “resets” to M after enough off-time? That’d suck. I’d rather have true memory, or if no memory, start on L.

Guess I didn’t play with it long enough…

Fwiw, that’s one reason I never bothered with OnTheRoad lights, ’cause they all seemed to start on M. They look quite nice otherwise.

[Lightbringer]

@Persechini

I didn’t know the Tool AAA came with nichia, I reflowed a 219C into mine and the result is quite nice (except for the medium > low > high UI), and once I choose my favorite AA light it’s getting another emitter from my dead D4

Oh yeh…

https://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_637197.html

[contigo]

Wow thanks for the suggestions Patmurris and Joechina!
Awesome looking lights.
I know my wife would love the Ultratac K18 (maybe even the FW3A, and if not, its mine lol).

Thanks again!

[Persechini]

@Lightbringer

Hmmm. Was thinking it was just H→M→L instead of L→M→H. It “resets” to M after enough off-time? That’d suck. I’d rather have true memory, or if no memory, start on L.

Guess I didn’t play with it long enough…

Fwiw, that’s one reason I never bothered with OnTheRoad lights, ’cause they all seemed to start on M. They look quite nice otherwise.

Maybe the driver changed? Listings on GB, BG and AE are not the most reliable to check UI, and I’ve read in other thread somewhere that the copper and titanium versions have a different mode order. Maybe AE only had older stock and they have since updated the driver of the aluminium version

[SKV89]

@patmurris

@contigo

My wife is carrying an 18650 light in her purse and notified me last night she wanted a “smaller light”…. I am also open to an even smaller light than 14500.

In the AAA/10440 form factor, i’m very partial to the Ultratac K18. Possibly the brightest in it’s category, very well made and nice to look at. A USB charger add-on is also available - which is a must have to charge small cells at a moderate current not always possible on most charger.
HKEQUIPMENT - 照明及戶外用品

I emailed hkequipment regarding the type of nichia emitter and tint. They responded
“It is 4000k. Thanks .”
I’m assuming it is 219c 90cri 4000k.

I ordered it is the only place that sell this light with the nichia option and it is stainless steel so should look nice.

[Anthon]

Olight is going to release an AA flashlight with TIR optic and rear electronic two stage forward switch, with direct access to low, I it’s real it’s bound to be the best AA flashlight this year. Let’s hope it does more than 200lm with NIMH cells

It’s called i6t

[Finnno]

I like JetBeam Jet-1 MK better than JetBeam E01R, which seems to be preferred by most

[SKV89]

Reylight Ti Lan v3 on kickstarter. Seems like a killer light. The older models had great flood from the photos I’ve seen making it good for EDC.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1411363861/reylight-ti-lan-v3-custom-ti-aa-14500-flashlight?ref=2crz7f

[Lightbringer]

Yeah, the Lumintop “resets” back to M after a very short while. Ugh, that’s gonna piss me off, as I usually reset lights down to F (or at least L) so I don’t blind myself at night.