How do you like the color rendering index (CRI)? In a YouTube video, a guy walks in the woods with a Partner A2 Pro. The tint, he says, is warm white. But to my eyes, the woods looked like a colorless moon. I commented as much. The video maker said the CRI looks a lot better in real life.
I have a hard time believing that a warm white light in a V5 or V6 bin can generate over 600 lumens out the front AND have high CRI.
My two 4300K XM-L2 lights use a modest T6 bin. They have a high CRI. But they’ll still no match for a Nichia 219C.
My 4300K XM-L2 light in U2 bin is incrementally brighter than my T6s. But its CRI is incrementally lower.
I keep somewhat dated 2AA lights in one of my BOBs: a Klarus P2A and a Jetbeam BA20. A quad of standard Eneloops and some Energizer Ultimates round things out.
They’re two mode twisties (250/30LM,) but they get the job done.
I got them almost seven years back.
Chris
I have a Prime A2, likely using the same warm white emitter as the Partner. While I like the warm tint, it’s certainly not high CRI. Better than a cool white, but that’s not saying much. Overall, I don’t really like it outdoors, as it does make things look flatter than other lights I have.
I like my new Manker T02, but it would not be a good choice for a bug out bag. It has no physical lock out so always draws some current from the cells, and the tailcap is a bugger to install without cross threading it.
But it looks good 
Sunwayman D20A has same issues, but it does have the cool red LED and zombies can’t see red light, so it has that going for it
My AA bug out light would be my single cell Lumintop EDC05. Bright, simple UI, magnetic tail, very well made.
I really like the Jaxman M2. It is reliable and has a wonderfully simple UI. The high is very bright and reaches out nicely for a 2xAA flashlight. The “low” is still fairly bright and lasts a good while. Some people might miss a lower low but this really works well for what it is. I prefer the 4300K version, which they strangely call “warm yellow” on the Ali Express page:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32794173177.html
They work well with Eneloop and Eneloop Pro.
Something interesting I noticed about the Jaxman M2, is that if you run it on two lithium primary AAs the two modes are almost identical. With alkalines or nimh the low and high are noticeably different as expected, even though it’s more like medium and high. The driver is very sensitive to the higher voltage I guess.
Yeah I dont like that strobe in main sequence either on the Zanflare, I just leave it in my car with some Lithium primaries, really liking the output on Tool 2.0 with just 1 AA, so not sure if it fits your request, the Sofirn 2AA is pretty good and cheap, Fenix LD or E AA lights are also pretty good but pricier.
Forgive my utter lack of electrical knowledge here but I remember reading something about the high mode being realized through a boost driver. I’m guessing whatever controls are involved keep the high regulated so you only see a boost from the voltage in low. Either way, I’m not sure you’re supposed to use lithium batteries. The information I’ve seen specifies alkaline and NiMH for the M2.
In another thread, people joked that this is the best flashlight for people who don’t know how to care for lithium batteries. Things might have changed in the last year or two but is this the most powerful 2xAA thrower for non-lithium users?
I’m talking about 1.8v Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries, which folks around here call lithium primaries, not the much higher voltage lithium ion batteries that most lights use these days. Lithium primary AAs are usually interchangeable with alkalines in most devices.
My Tool 25 XP-L HI arrived recently and I am very pleased. Creamy white tint with an excellent beam profile. Easy tail switch UI with 4 output settings and last mode memory.
Very nice little 2 X AA light.
I would be all over this if it didn’t have mode memory! Love the M-L-H mode order. Wouldn’t happen to know if an easy mod to disable the memory?
IMO flashlights are for minor annoyances, headlamps are for when it really shtf. It MUST be a headlamp. No way you want to be walking without both hands free in the dark. As noted above, imagine changing a tire, getting a water filter out and filtering water, or any routine task trying to hold a flashlight while doing anything…changing a baby’s diaper, etc etc. There are lots of good AA headlamps (Princeton Tec, Petzl, Black Diamond all have solid 3 AA versions) , however, getting one that charges with a USB would be nice so that in the event of electrical systemwide failure, you could charge it off a solar panel, your car or a power bank. The issue with all AA is that you need to use eneloops or lithiums as regular AA alkalines will destroy your stuff. Might as well get a solid 18650 battery then. Unscrew the cap so you don’t have parasitic drain, toss it in your bob and forget it. In fact, suggest wrapping it in foil so that a CMP or EMP won’t toast it.
Can anyone recommend an easily moddable 2xAA LED flashlight? Presumably that would have a boost driver, I think.
I’d like to drop in an amber LED on a 16mm or 20mm board, since those are easy to find.
My hands are getting a bit shaky for swapping emitters, so I prefer doing a simple board swap.
The Archer 1A has passed the Johnson durability tests. We have several in the house, including some for the little Johnsons. One of them has been dropped repeatedly, including on pavement, and it keeps going. It’s used as a nightlight and has over 8,000 hours runtime. That 0.1 lumen mode is surprisingly useful and goes hundreds of hours on a single battery.
I was just discussing this in another thread. My go-to 2xAA is the Jaxman M2. It’s simple. It has two decently spaced modes. Low is usually plenty and lasts a good long while. High is pretty powerful. I don’t know that I’ve seen better throw in a 2xAA either. There are three tints available. I prefer “warm yellow”. It’s not as pretty as some of the high-CRI Nichia and Yuji emitters I’ve seen but I don’t know that I’ve seen those in a 2xAA. I’ve taken mine camping and all over the place at night. I’m very happy with it.
I agree, its one of my go to 2AA lights as well. The large reflector puts it in the size range of a P60 host but like you mentioned helps a lot with the throw. With the original XML2 it offers a well balanced beam just a little throwier than a Malkoff M61L and about the same brightness. I keep meaning to mod mine with some 3535 sized LED, maybe in a high’ish CRI but it just works so well as is…
Everyone who owns one of these seems to really like it. Like you say, it just works so well. For the two modes and amount of power it puts out, I wonder what kinds of high-CRI emitters and color temperatures would be a good fit. If anybody has ideas, what steps would we need to take to initiate a BLF special edition?
Armytek Partner A2
I don’t know how big Jaxman is. The dude has a really firm philosophy he keeps to on his lights. So I’m not sure how a BLF edition would go. You can usually get a host if you message him, though. I’m a huge fan but he’s just a bit small potatoes as far as doing special things goes, sadly.
The XML2 offers a great balanced beam. Maybe an Easywhite high CRI like Zebralight used would be a good alternative direct swap? Of course, your pick of smaller LEDs would offer a much more pronounced, throwy beam. I would expect an XHP to work well though maybe a little floodier than the XML2.