Best AA flashlights?

Looking to buy a single AA and a multiple AA flashlight. What are the best deals available?

What are your criteria for determining what’s “best”?

Some would say the SK-68 is the best 1xAA torch (or 2xAA or 3xAA, with extenders), because it’s a great value for a few bucks. Some would say the Zebralight line are the best, since they have the brightest and dimmest outputs and longest runtimes in a small package. Some would say a simple 1xAA twisty is best because it’s smallest. Some would choose a L10 w/ 219 emitter because it has the best beam tint. etc, etc, etc…

For a multiple-AA light, the Nitecore EA4 is pretty popular. Similar to the Rook or Padme. Some of Fenix’s AA models might be of interest too, or a 2xAA Quark, or … etc. I haven’t really looked much at multiple-AA lights though, because Li-Ion can get me the same or better performance in a smaller package.

Best deal for me is something that is great value for money, not something that is let's say $100 and cannot justify the price... :)

You might be happy with a Romisen RC-G2 from shiningbeam.com. The Xeno E03 is popular too.

Hi
Multiple “aa”, no doubt Nitecore EA4.
Single aa, I’m happy with Nitecore MT1A and EagleTac D25A clicky XP-G2. I’m Waiting for a Sunwayman C15A, and I want to buy a Klarus RS1A.

SK68 clone and the Klarus P2A are good contenders. :slight_smile:

Marc.

depending on what you want to spend these are my recommendations:

$5-6 - sipik sk68 clone - a very fun light and for the price everyone should own one - three or even five of them… they work well on aa and 14500 and make good gifts (buy on ebay)

$30 - xeno e03 XML2 or nichia 219 - a good middle of the road light - can be had with your preference of xml2 u2, t6 neutral or nichia 219 from edcplus.com - just be careful of “blue” and “red” colors… they really are purple and pink in my experience

$54 - zebralight sc52 from illuminationsupply.com - use promocode sc52restock for probably the best price you will ever see on this light currently… i was on the fence about this one… but pulled the trigger after i saw TWO used ones sell in 1 hour on CPFM for MORE than the new price… i will be posting a full review, but from the zebralights i have owned in the past im sure its great… runs on aa or 14500 … the 14500 does not effect the modes at all, it gives the light a “turbo” 500 lumen mode for the first minute and then steps down to 280 lumen and behaves exactly like an AA nimh is loaded

also check out the eagletac d25a XML2 (cw and nw available) on light junction for around $52 - i ordered one of these yesterday - i owned the d25c at one point and the head flickered when i got it… but eagletac customer service made it right very quickly… (i shipped the head to china for about $4 and it was back at my door in 2 weeks fixed)

also be aware that lifepo4 batteries are good for some aa lights if you want the bang of a 14500 with a little less heat… they will run about 3.6-3.65 volts fresh off the charger and will be nearly as bright (Depending on the emitter) in a direct drive mode, without the danger and heat of a 4.2v li-ion

hope this helped!

Sorry if I have said this before but for a 2xAA light it doesn’t it gets any better than a Shiningbeam Caveman. Not in my experience anyway.

i have to try this one soon :slight_smile:

for 2aa i only have tried the 4sevens quark aa2 and i have a terralux 300 lumen 2aa light i got free sitting in my car

it looks like the caveman is available in t5 and t6… is the t5 neutral? its cheaper than the t6?

Have it, hate it.

As said, SK68 for a cheapy or SC52 for quality with heaps of modes

I don’t know about the T5. I had the T6. I’m going to buy some of each soon.

For a single AA don’t forget the L3 Illumination L10. At $20 it is a great value for an XPG2.

For 2xAA, I’ll second the ShiningBeam Caveman recommendation. Especially given that there’s currently a thread dedicated to Bryan’s excellent customer service!

right now i am only buying xml2 aa lights… all the xml aa lights will soon be replaced by xml2 sooner or later

I see the Nitecore EA4 is a favorite recommendation for multi-AA. What about the Blackshadow/FandyFire Rook? Any good?

If you ask for the best multi-aa EA4 can not compare with Blackshadow / FandyFire Rook.
”EA4” is top quality, and it is not more expensive than the others.

the rook is wired parallel - 1.5v on primary alkaleaks, 4.2v on li-ion, it also has no tailcap lock out and can drain your cells there were early reports of very high parasitic drain.

I’d like to find a nice multi aa light but nightcore can f* spiders, I wont be giving them any money, which leaves jetbeam with a question mark too :frowning:

At current pricing, the EA4 is a better buy than the Rook. When the Rook was less and the EA4 was more than it is now, the Rook was more appealing.

LOL yeah after reading some about the whole fallout I am very turned off by Nitecore as well.

Close…. but I would HIGHLY recommend spending $5 more for the Nichia 219 high CRI emitter. It is a fantastic light! My 4-mode white version is definitely one of my best buys to date. Can’t recommend it enough.

Buy it HERE

That’s a good light, as is the ShiningBeam Spark (which converts to a 1xCR123 light for travel or better pocketability). The 47s Quark, EagleTac P and D series, and Crelant V21-A are all good 2xAA lights, and the ET GX25A3 looks interesting, but I haven’t owned it.

Both BlackShadow and Fandyfire have the mentioned problems? Is you also take out Nitecore, then what is else is available with multi-AA cells? I see that there are options when it comes to single cell, but with multi-cell the case is different.