AA flashlight with easy strobe for elderly/crosswalk safety?

My current recommendation to neighbors is the Sofirn SF13, 2xAA light with an easily accessible strobe (fast 2 half presses on the tailswitch).

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32829346218.html?mp=1

I’m curious what others know would meet the same criteria —- AA cell/s and easily accessible strobe.

These days I’d also consider USB rechargeable li-ion powered lights, but reluctantly as AAs are easier for some folks to understand.

I’m in a neighborhood that has had several fatalities where drivers didn’t see an older person in a crosswalk.
I use my strobe lights day and night when crossing the street.

Just slap a bike light on a backpack or a reflective vest, that way it stays in for the whole walk and their hands aren’t full.

>bike light

Yes, I’ve looked at bike lights, but they’re mostly pretty pricey compared to the $10.73 price for the Sofirn SF13

For example the Lumintop B01: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33046014882.html. — very nice but gack, $35.87.

And reflective vests work if the oncoming driver is using headlights, but they’re not particular standouts otherwise.
The two fatalities I know of were drivers turning off of relatively high speed main streets onto side streets and immediately hitting elderly people in crosswalks. Too fast and inattentive.

Strobe to blind other road users? Brilliant idea….
Wear reflective vest and think twice before crossing the road.
Mike

If you point it to the ground it doesn’t blind people! That should be the aim of strobe in the crosswalk.

Perhaps one of the best lights using AA and with “ready to use strobe” is the Klarus XT1A. But, it is more expensive than the Sofirn, and has a con: to have the Strobe function ready in one of the tailswitches (e-swith) you need to have a configuration of H - M - L on the other switch (cliky switch).

After using the Klarus XT1C for a while for that reason (walking at night and warn drivers) I started using the Emisar D4 (v1) with a yellow cap of a juice bottle, always with the light locked to have the momentary press for Turbo.
I can click for just 1 or 2 seconds and it will have plenty light.

Maybe you can see if there is a middle term between using an AA light and a cap or diffuser !

Hi,

I prefer to avoid to promote eBay lights, sorry no link. But I think this one will fit the job perfectly:
Cost ~ $4 USD: Mini LED Flashlight Q5+COB Zoomable 4 Mode torch flashlight AA 14500

  • Works with 1 single AA Alkaline or NiMH
  • has a SLOW blinkling mode (~1 per second)
  • has pocket clip to be attached on the side pocket / hand bag
  • the COB light is on the side, so when it blinks, the light spreads in front of the user instead of shining the feet

The zoomable flashlight itself is horrible. But becomes very bearable after adding diffusion film and an orange filter film. Although would be OK as-is for a non-flashoholic person to use occasionally. The COB light on the side, however is perfect: bright and and lasts quite a long time on a single AA.

The biggest trouble is the operation of the button. Like all eBay lights, it has the next mode memory issue. But if the light is powered off for maybe 2 minutes, then the memory disappears and starts on high brightness. In short, everytime the light is turned on, the user will likely need to half click a few times to reach the desired mode. I find that exceedingly annoying, but in fact it’s not really a big deal once you get used to the operation. Especially if you don’t use that flashlight frequently.

Outside of this, the 2nd best choice would be a bike tail light. Models running on AA or AAA would cost about $2. I think red version, with very few modes more convenient than the fancy ones with too many mode requiring a lot of clicks to select the right mode and to turn on/off.

I thought it would go without saying that blinding oncoming traffic would not make the user safer.
Consider it said. Nobody has recommended a flashlight bright enough to dazzle a driver, right?

Nobody I can think of would be dumb enough to aim super bright lights at oncoming traffic.

With the possible exception of the people who buy and use those blinding headlights that far exceed anything a flashlight puts out.

Point the bright light at the ground, wave it up and down or back and forth. It’s to get attention.

And shine it on your light clothing, pointing it downward.
BTW, if anyone wants to end their life, just go to Berkeley and walk across Ashby or Telegraph Ave, day or night. Guaranteed to work.

Thank you for clarifying your intent, but be aware that in reality a non-trivial percentage of the people you know would do exactly that if it wasn’t clarified for them.

I live in an location that statistically is one of the best educated metropolitan areas of the country. That doesn’t seem to stop many people from driving down the road with off-road light bars turned on, aiming blinking bike lights straight ahead, or installing HID headlights without checking the aiming.

Nah, get something like these, 8bux for a 2pak.

Æons ago, I got something similar for the gf who was into running/jogging but also had idiots zooming around blind turns without looking. Those were about as big as a pack of smokes, the red part pried off gently (neoprene gasket to seal it and hold it in place), and you’d stick in a few AAs/AAAs (forgot) to just bleep red LEDs in whatever pattern. Single pushbutton control: off, blink, alternate, zigzag, and constant-on, iirc.

Cost me 20bux each, but were pretty nice.

Anyhoo, those had a mounting bracket for a bike, AND a belt-clip so you could “mount” it on your pants/shorts/whatever right over yer bum. An actual tail-light.

Sometimes you just wish you were carrying an RPG, eh?

I know I do…

Okay, something like this

only mine was a “rectangle with rounded corners”. (Shhh! Apple might sue!)

As for the lantern, it is bad. I absolutely did not like it and it is unlikely that anyone will like it at all. It served me exactly 1 hour until it just went out and did not turn on again. I use a lantern for my kitchen outside and my family and I spend a lot of time there. While searching for information about good lanterns, I came across very positive reviews about the lantern, which I found on https://www.amazon.com/Vont-Flashlight-Flashlights-Water-resistant-Accessories/dp/B089T8HDBV and now I’m really thrilled. We use it for a few weeks and it is like a new light. Guys, don’t waste your money on junk that you won’t need later.

Surely using strobe to blind and dazzle a driver of an oncoming car is quite a stupid thing to do??