Good Light For Keeping in Car For Emergency

ArmyTek Elf C2. You can use it as a headlamp, stick it to the side of the car, or handheld. It’s easy to use with many brightness levels, you can charge it through the built in port, and tailcap lockout will eliminate standby drain.

If you think about changing a tire or checking the oil in the dark, a headlamp is the only thing to consider in my view. There are so many good choices out there. Pick something with no parasitic drain and toss it in the car. You’re done thinking about it.

Although I will not that I have several in there, the old ones when they get replaced by the new stuff I take out hiking get tossed in there. So an old Black Diamond Storm, and old Mammut, and old Petzl, etc. I use to have a fenix headlamp in there, one of the 18650 models which had parasitic drain. The ONLY time I had what amounted to a near emergency where I really need it, ie. walk out in pitch dark woods up in the mountains with a heavy pack (no tent or sleeping bag though), no trail, no cell coverage, it was dead.

I always have a backup, in that case it was the tiny Petzl coin cell version. Saved my bacon.

I thought the BD06 would be a good choice because it could be topped off in the car once in a while. The problem is that runtimes have not been posted anywhere…I wanted her to be able to have light available for several hours….just in case.

BTW, if anyone is familiar with the light….I have the Biscotti in it (I think that is what it is called) so it has 12 modes as well as memory on and off. It is brand new….however, suddenly, I cannot turn the memory mode off. Something happened to I guess the hardware/firmware…I prefer to have the memory off.

I appreciate the suggestion to keep a headlight in there. Anyone have any suggestions for a reasonably priced one.

The Wowtac A2 is a popular budget headlamp that also works well as a handheld. It’s $20 on Amazon and comes with a USB-chargeable 18650. Wowtac is Thrunite, so quality will be higher than a lot of similarly priced options.

I personally have cr123a lights in both mine and the wife’s car. Mechanically locked out. Ugly (super aggressive knurling) bushnell ones from ebay. 650 and 350 lumen models. I don’t think i paid $20 for either of them.

Last two cars i had I never used the lights i kept in them. Went to trade them in and found the lights. Glad i never needed them, but, glad they still worked too.

I do keep an additional 14500 light in my car, in the glove box, as i use it once in a while and can swap with a charged cell every few months. 123 light is a backup for that one, should i ever need it.

Something small you can hold in your teeth for using both hands.
You don’t need 1000 lumens.
100 is fine, most of what you are doing is close up and in the dark more or less, already.
Anything too bright ruins your night vision.
I mostly use a $2 1xAAA light, and or a $4 CR123a light.
single mode.

Also, I always have a 500 lumen Utorch UT01 or something similar or bigger, in my actual pocket (hence the term “EDC”),
so the car light is only used when I don;t want to dig the other one out of a pocket.

Another reason the car light doesn;t have to be fancy.

Head mounts are OK if you expect to be using it for 45 minutes, but for 5 minutes, it is too much trouble.

Well, depends on what total needs are. Lumens, defensive tool, features, etc….

The best would be some strike defensive tool.

Maglite 625 lumens

Batlight shaped like baseball bat lumens vary

Tactacal

Olight Striker, Klarus XT series

The ON THE ROAD U16 and M3
are both very nice small size lights

both have magnetic backs so you can stick them
on your car if broken down, changing a tire etc.

The U16 that I received from GB has a usb charge port on the side
so it can be charged up in the car with a USB 5v lighter type charger

the battery included in the “full pack” of both lights is also very good quality

I carry the M3 every day in my pocket
I think it is a fine light .
( the full pack for the M3 includes a small charger and battery)

M3
https://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_361934.html

U16
https://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_642833.html

In my car I keep a Convoy S2+ and a Convoy C8 as my two emergency lights.

C8 (Primary)

  • Good throw so besides can use this for signalling or searching
  • Waterproof (IPX8) so it doesn’t matter what kind of if you need to use it outside in the rain if your car breaks down or there is an accident etc…
  • Low mode is perfect for looking for things around your car (High and medium are far too bright for “up close” work)

S2+

  • Compact which make it good to use in confined spaces such as looking into the small spaces in the engine of your car at night
  • Nice floody beam so you can see more of your foreground
  • Good to have as a backup for your primary emergency light

Here are some other things I would consider having inside your car to make sure you are never without a light:

  • A battery charger that has a car power adapter
  • Spare batteries
  • A secondary flashlight incase your primary one fails

https://www.illumn.com/sunwayman-f20c-xm-l2-red-blue-780lumens.html

Selfbuilt reviewed this light, compared it favorably to Surefire quality.
At $22.30, a 62+% discount, going to be tough to top this Closeout while they last.

(*They don’t pay me, honest…. fact is 35 of the last 37 lights I have purchased all came from the last gasp ‘closeout special’ section from the folks who got the Rosey Nichia ball rolling in N. America years ago.)

That is a great deal, and there’s also the shorty version for only $15:
https://www.illumn.com/special-deals/sunwayman-f10r-xm-l2-red-blue-290-lumens.html

I keep a Jetbeam E10R in the glove box. I like the magnet on it. Plenty bright and flashy mode. Rechargeable too. I also keep a cheap headlamp, 100 lumens or so with some NiMh AA’s in it. Figured that would cover most of my needs in the car. I always have a light on me as well but the wife doesn’t always carry one so the ones in the car are mainly for her. I highly recommend a headlamp somewhere in the car. It’s nice when you are under the hood or changing a tire and can have both hands free.

You can choose ArmyTek Elf C2 . It’s great

Something that concerned me with lights kept in cars was using rechargeable lithium in a hot or freezing car. Is that a safety issue vs nimh or primaries?

Thrunite TH20 and a 4-pack of Energizer Ultimate AA’s.

All cells prefer moderate temperatures, including CR123 type primaties, however, they tolerate extremes better than rechargeable lithium cells, and are a clear choice over alkaleaks.

You will need both hands in an emergency so a headlamp is the way to go :sunglasses: i use the Manker e03h nichia with a lithium primary but i agree the elf c2 is a better choice

XANES 1305

It’s a budget light but this is the one that I leave in my car and I love it.

I did a review on it here: Review of XANES 1305 - An excellent auto/emergency budget light -possible 21700 fitment

It’s an excellent auto/emergency light.

Main features:

  • Adjustable head for any position, including straight and 90 degree angled.
  • Tail magnet to stick on the car body, under hood, trunk etc.
  • Wide flat base to set it on the ground and angle the light directly to where you’re working to change a flat tire, etc.
  • Dual LED system for Flood/Throw and Dual Color modes.
  • Regular XM-L reflector LED for general use and longer throw.
  • Circular COB LED ring that provides a floody neutral white beam for close up use, and red LED’s that can be set to either steady-on or flashing.
  • The flashing red LED’s are useful as a electronic “road flare” or traffic warning light.
  • Side/top switch on the head that works extremely well and has a great feel for a budget light.
  • 1x 18650 battery or 3xAAA with the included adapter. (may also fit 21700, see my review for details)
  • Rubberized textured inlay on the body tube provides excellent grip.

It does not have USB charging.

I highly recommend this light for keeping / leaving in the car as a back-up light and and for roadside emergencies.

Banggood: https://www.banggood.com/XANES-1305-XM-L-T6COB-1500Lumens-Foldable-Magnetic-Tail-LED-Inspection-Flashlight-p-1202261.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN
Aliexpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/JIGUOOR-1305-XM-L-T6-COB-1500Lumens-Built-in-Battery-Foldable-Magnetic-Tail-LED-Inspection-Flashlight/32860838996.html
My review: Review of XANES 1305 - An excellent auto/emergency budget light -possible 21700 fitment

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Hi.
A person. male or female. should have TWO torches in any car.

One. something like a S2.

T’other. Should be a Gel power pack. which combines a Jumper for strting car with flat battery,
Compressor for blowing up Soft tyre.
Flashing lights for emergency breakdown in the dark.
IE Put in front\behind veh when stopped in dark,
facing oncoming traffic.
With a small “Searchlight\lanp” on one end.

Fits in corner of boot\tray and always ready.
I double it up for bike, Wheelbarrow, Sack Trolley tyres too.
That lets them know you there. Strobe torch flashing in their eyes mean YOU don’t want to be run over.

Always double up on things when you can.

….or trunk if not familiar with the Queen’s proper English…lol.