Looking for a simple but decent 1AA

tundraotto · February 6, 2019, 10:43pm

LOL! - I can see where they are coming from. I would have said Wuben E05 but the UI is the worst I have ever used. The utorch wins, even if it’s button is not as fantastic….the output is - on both.

peg_matite · February 6, 2019, 10:55pm

I haven’t seen all the others mentioned here, but Tool AA 2.0 has a great “pure white” tint, to my eyes anyhow, for a humble little single AA light.

Lightbringer · February 6, 2019, 11:20pm

Love the SP10whateverversion, and it got plenty of mention here.

Don’t forget the Thorfire TK05. Great pineapple knurling, goes low→high.

Jetbeam Jet-I. Has mode memory (the Jet-II always starts from low), but tint is a bit on the greenish side. Twisty, so extremely hard to turn on accidentally in a pocket.

Jack_Kellar · February 7, 2019, 2:01am

Another vote for the Tool AA V2.0. It has 4 modes but checks out all the other boxes. I have mine and it’s one of the torches I like the most, and this is coming from a big Convoy fan.

teacher · February 7, 2019, 2:08am

Sofirn SP10 V2.0

Sofirn SF14 V2.0

Lumintop Tool AA V2

Barry_Lyndon · February 7, 2019, 3:04am

I recently purchased the Sofirn SF14V2.0 for $12.99 through Amazon via the Sofirn Facebook deals page. It was shipped free (Prime-eligible) from a US warehouse, and arrived in about 3 or 4 days.

I too was looking for a simple light, as a gift for a non-enthusiast who appreciates high performance. This one seems to fill the bill. It has three modes (low, medium, high), no blinkies, and no memory. Just click to turn on (always starts in low), and half-press to cycle through the brightness levels. Click again to turn off. That’s it. I think the levels are very well-spaced … all three are useful, and differentiated from one another.

On high, it’s blindingly bright for a AA light. I compared it side-by-side with my Zebralight SC-52W using a pair of identical IMR14500 batteries, and the Sofirn is brighter. So the factory claim of 650 lumens might not be that far off. It does light up my entire backyard.

It includes a lanyard, a decent pocket clip, and spare O-ring.

That seems ideal… price and mode-wise and brightness too.

I have an older Fenix LD10 (single AA). It’s alright, fairly bright on high, but I don’t like the modes (combinations of clicks and turning the head); but mostly, the battery life isn’t great and I think it has some parasitic drain. I paid like $40 several years ago and now feel like that was a total waste.

Moola · February 7, 2019, 7:58am

Awesome work fellas!
Indeed, I have some reading to do, haha.

I do prefer a warm-neutral white tint.
I have some solarforces and convoy S2+ and an old 4sevens.
But good point on accidental activation on side switches. I considered it but didn’t think it’d be that much of an issue.

I’m from Tasmania and spending 5 months across Europe from April.

teacher · February 7, 2019, 8:06am

/\ Sounds like a great trip!!

wle · February 7, 2019, 3:10pm

I liked the UT-01 but it suddenly failed with no warning, apparently the switch. Would not come on or do anything ever again, this was after maybe 18 months of frequent but not rugged use.

They are worth trying due to their low price.
Decent UI.
Very small.

funkychateau · February 8, 2019, 12:14pm

Barry Lyndon:

I recently purchased the Sofirn SF14V2.0 for $12.99 through Amazon via the Sofirn Facebook deals page. It was shipped free (Prime-eligible) from a US warehouse, and arrived in about 3 or 4 days.

I too was looking for a simple light, as a gift for a non-enthusiast who appreciates high performance. This one seems to fill the bill. It has three modes (low, medium, high), no blinkies, and no memory. Just click to turn on (always starts in low), and half-press to cycle through the brightness levels. Click again to turn off. That’s it. I think the levels are very well-spaced … all three are useful, and differentiated from one another.

On high, it’s blindingly bright for a AA light. I compared it side-by-side with my Zebralight SC-52W using a pair of identical IMR14500 batteries, and the Sofirn is brighter. So the factory claim of 650 lumens might not be that far off. It does light up my entire backyard.

It includes a lanyard, a decent pocket clip, and spare O-ring.

That seems ideal… price and mode-wise and brightness too.

I have an older Fenix LD10 (single AA). It’s alright, fairly bright on high, but I don’t like the modes (combinations of clicks and turning the head); but mostly, the battery life isn’t great and I think it has some parasitic drain. I paid like $40 several years ago and now feel like that was a total waste.

Playing around with this light, I discovered another interesting feature. Both ends of the body tube are identical, which means you can take the light apart and flip the tube around 180°. So you can have the belt clip oriented either of two ways. First, in a lens-down configuration for pocket carry. Second, with the clip reversed so that it can be attached to the bill of a cap and used as a headlamp.

Jack_Kellar · February 8, 2019, 12:25pm

funkychateau:

Barry Lyndon:

I recently purchased the Sofirn SF14V2.0 for $12.99 through Amazon via the Sofirn Facebook deals page. It was shipped free (Prime-eligible) from a US warehouse, and arrived in about 3 or 4 days.

I too was looking for a simple light, as a gift for a non-enthusiast who appreciates high performance. This one seems to fill the bill. It has three modes (low, medium, high), no blinkies, and no memory. Just click to turn on (always starts in low), and half-press to cycle through the brightness levels. Click again to turn off. That’s it. I think the levels are very well-spaced … all three are useful, and differentiated from one another.

On high, it’s blindingly bright for a AA light. I compared it side-by-side with my Zebralight SC-52W using a pair of identical IMR14500 batteries, and the Sofirn is brighter. So the factory claim of 650 lumens might not be that far off. It does light up my entire backyard.

It includes a lanyard, a decent pocket clip, and spare O-ring.

That seems ideal… price and mode-wise and brightness too.

I have an older Fenix LD10 (single AA). It’s alright, fairly bright on high, but I don’t like the modes (combinations of clicks and turning the head); but mostly, the battery life isn’t great and I think it has some parasitic drain. I paid like $40 several years ago and now feel like that was a total waste.

Playing around with this light, I discovered another interesting feature. Both ends of the body tube are identical, which means you can take the light apart and flip the tube around 180°. So you can have the belt clip oriented either of two ways. First, in a lens-down configuration for pocket carry. Second, with the clip reversed so that it can be attached to the bill of a cap and used as a headlamp.

So they also adopted the Lumintop modularity? Neat, more of this is always good.

Unheard · February 8, 2019, 5:02pm

Lumintop EDC05. Moon, Low, Mid, High, Mode memory on long press only, works nicely with protected 14500 cells, too. Nice large spot with a bright spill, both on the soft side. Can be programmed (three intensities per level). CW has a nice clean colour.

hank · February 8, 2019, 5:12pm

Are both ends bare metal so you can lock it out by loosening the tailcap?

Nev · February 8, 2019, 6:02pm

there’s no flashies in the jet 1 MK pro

robertsig · February 8, 2019, 6:23pm

I also recommend the Jaxman E3

LightObsession · February 8, 2019, 8:41pm

Has anyone done runtime tests on the Lumintop EDC05 using NiMh?

I’d be quite surprised if it could hold 400 lumens for more than 45 minutes.

Tumbleweed48 · February 9, 2019, 5:27am

Has anyone been using a DQG Tiny AA long term?

I’ve always been curious about them, but user comments are not plentiful beyond the initial reviews.

Macka17 · February 9, 2019, 8:41am

Thank’s Nev. Mixing it with another one. (Astrolux AO1 on second lap?)

We travel quite a bit. Usually 2 to 3 months a yr.
I take lappie for boss lady and Tablet for self. with a Liitokala 202
charger. So battery’s no problem. Usually my Astrolux S41 nowadays.
Stainless head, 18650, Cree chips. with Nichia Head unit in case as spare.
Used to be my Imalent DN35, Maagic all rounder.
but this more versatile but less range.
I throw a Jetbeam Jet 1 MK in wife’s case and a BLF 384 in her handbag.
I carry either my Astrolux AO1, or a little stainless Convoy AAA on keys too.
ALL but the S41 will run on AAA/AA, Ni Cad. Lithium, or Lith4.
Liitokala charges ALL. 2 cells. and takes no room. It’s charging 2 x 26650 cells at present, Out of L2.

Thank u Lightboks.
But that memory thing never bothered me. (old fart. lot’s a patience.)
I just (automatically nowadays) remember to turn light to low b4 turning off.
It comes back on that every time then. Great torch hey….I’m after a copper one if anybody knows or has one?. Have 3 x 348’s, nice but boring.
AO1 SOOOO much nicer in hand and looks. and at under $10AUD ea.
Can’t be beat.

funkychateau · February 9, 2019, 7:06am

Yes, identical both ends. But I doubt you’d ever need to lock it out, because the tail switch is stiff enough and shielded to resist accidental activation in a pocket. And there is zero parasitic drain because the battery is completely disconnected when the switch is “off “.

teacher · February 9, 2019, 7:15am

/\ +1 to what funkychateau said. I cannot imagine ever needing to use manual lockout considering the stiffness of the switch. But it’s there if you want to use it.