Rookie Looking For Recommendation On Flashlight

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

Peace! I am looking for second flashlight in addition to ITP Light A3 EOS I bought on Amazon. I am looking for stronger light than to use in household, rather bright one reaching 50-100 meters, working on 1-2 AA batteries and supporting lithium batteries as well just in case which are riskier to use if bought from China i assume. I won't use flashlight often and will not keep always batteries inside hence compartment door's quality should not be neglected.

I have looked on the following found on DX, TD and FP:

  • SIPIK SK68 Cree Q3-WC 120-Lumen Convex Lens LED Flashlight
  • TrustFire R5-A3 Cree XP-E-R5 3-Mode 230-Lumen Memory LED Flashlight
  • Uniquefire S10 Cree R2-WC 220-Lumen LED Flashlight
  • HUGSBY P31 HA-III Cree Q3-WC 160-Lumen 3-Mode LED Flashlight with Clip
  • Aurora SH-00271 CREE Q5 WC 3-Mode 200-Lumen White LED Flashlight with Clip

Being rookie in terms of knowing functionality of advanced flashlights and rare batteries like 14500, 18500 etc. that hard to locally find which are specifically bought from China, honestly I would want best value for money and I will appreciate your enlightenment.

Thanks.

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Hi and welcome to BLF, killswitch!

Good list you have there. You might consider also looking at the Balder SE-1: http://www.intl-outdoor.com/balder-se1-xpe-r3-xpg-r5-xml-t6-325lumens-edc-flashlight-p-230.html

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good budget light list there. Get the R5 -A3 in XPG

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Welcome killswitch, nice to have you with us BetweenRides is right, you do have a promising shortlist there, but it would help if your requirements were a bit more detailed, e.g. do you want your flashlight to be able to 'tailstand', that is, stand securely on its end pointing directly upwards so you can use it as a candle? This feature is essential for me, other folk aren't so bothered.

Next question would be do you want your light to have strobe mode? Again, this is a requirement for me, but many people HATE this feature. Do you want lots of output modes, e.g. high, medium and low, or are you happier with the straightforward single (high) output? Do you like the idea of a zoom which has an adjustable beam pattern?

Your list contains a mixture of these features, so maybe you're open to suggestions on all aspects of this? I'm not trying to make your first visit to BLF too complicated, just that there are literally dozens of flashlights out there that meet your criteria, so any help you can give us will make it easier, otherwise you'll likely end up with too many suggestions

Personally, of all the lights I've so far bought, if I had to choose just one to keep in the house for ocassional and reliable use, it would probably be the Romisen RC-29 zoom. Romisen RC-29 CREE Q5 WC 3-Mode 180-Lumen Convex Lens LED Flashlight with Strap (1AA-114500) - Free Shipping - DealExtreme

It's a little dearer than the Sipik SK68 zoom on your list but I personally think quality is higher. The beam can open up to illuminate a room, or be narrowed down to a penetrating 'light sabre' which will reach well over 50m, and much further with a li-ion battery. I have one and I'm very happy with it, although I also like my Trustfire R5 A3 and my SK68's. But, as I say, if I had to choose just one, it would probably be the RC-29, if only for the reassuring build quality and feeling of reliability.

Sorry to be long-winded but those "which one should I buy" questions are always difficult. BetweenRides' suggestion of a Balder SE-1 is also a very popular choice. I don't own one (it won't tailstand and doesn't have a strobe mode) but it's an excellent light for the money and a real favourite among BLF members. Good luck.

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Welcome to BLF. Lots of good suggestions here.

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Welcome to BLF!

+1 for Balder SE-1, but you will be happy with almost any of the listed lights.

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Welcome killswitch,

Yea, the SE-1 or the BD-1P if you need 2 AA. Great lights at a low price. EDC+ has them too.

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SE-1 can be extended to 2xAA too (Do NOT use 2x14500!)

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in the reviews section the Top5 most often viewed are:

#1 Xeno E03, ~29$

#2 Sipik SK68/clones, ~10$

#3 Romisen RC-29, ~15$

#4 Trustfire R5-A3

#5 Hugsby P31

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When i browsed thru these reviews i immediately felt strong attraction to the Romisen. The review was positive, so i bought it, .. and never regretted the purchase. I still enjoy it as much as on its first day. You could do it like me: go after looks and trust your instincts. Especially if you dont need the torch very often, the factor (or aspect or criterion) of "continuing joy/enjoyment" should play a major role in your purchase decision, and call me superficial or names .. imho looks matter, be it my future wife, future daughter, or a newly purchased flashlight!!

If you're exclusively after functionality, features and performance and really dont care about joy and looks, then check out the Shiningbeam series which imitates quarks. Money well spent.

Good luck on BFL!!

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Welcome to BLF I only have one of the lights you have listed. It is the sk68 clone and carry it nearly every day. Very funtional light to me. Nice flood and good throw. I mainly use it in the flood mode and when you use the 14500 battery it really makes alot of light!

I have bought about 15 of these off of ebay from seller tomtopp. He ships fast (6-11 days to Texas) and if you make him an offer of $6 he will take it. I am partial to these lights it was my second led light that I owned (first was COAST LED LENSER zoomie).

The sk68 also works good with eneloops and alkaline batteries.

edited - was on iphone now on PC

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For a budget price I like the R5 with XPG on your list, but you might also want to consider an UltraFire C8 or similar larger reflector XML that is still pocket-able. These can be had very reasonably, also.

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/c8-xml-t6-900lumen-5modes-led-flashlight-118650-p-6402

http://www.tmart.com/CREE-LED-XML-T6-1200LM-5-Modes-LED-Flashlight-Electric-Torch_p129252.html

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ultrafire-c8-t6-cree-xm-l-t6-800lm-5-mode-white-led-flashlight-1-x-18650-110264?item=6

http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/602323/210915531-536110824/UltraFire-C8-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-Light-Bulb-1300LM-5-Modes-18650-Flashlight-Torch.html

My son got the one from TMart and the only thing I don't like about it is there is no spring at the positive end. Other users here like Manafont products but I haven't used them, yet. I had good support from this seller on AliExpress for a different light.

IMO, the XMLs need a larger and deeper reflector for a more balanced (throw and flood) beam like the C8 has. The C8 is about 45mm diameter and the next step up is ~55mm. Most XMLs will handle 50 meters easily, but 100 meters really needs a big reflector (generally largest you are comfortable with) to get all that beautiful XML goodness thrown out there. Prices also tend to jump a good bit beyond the C8 when you go to the bigger heads.

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If you want a low budget 2xAA light then the Small Sun ZY-A25 is very good. To the eye it performs just like a Sipik SK-68 on AA or NiMH but it is not driven as hard so that plus the 2 cells gives it a runtime of pretty much 3 hours. Plus the ZY-A25 has a mid mode so use that close-in and runtime really soars Forget using it as a shortie with CR123A's unless you have a cheap source for those. The light will not handle 16340's.

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Aloha and welcome to BLF killswitch!

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Welcome to BLF, Killswitch.

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I suggest a Klarus P2A,: 2xAA, XP-G R5 LED, two modes by twisting the head, 245 ANSI lumen on high, good compromise between flood and throw. Get some enelopps with the sanyo 2-bay charger and you are done.

Lithium primary! batteries are no problem in about all 2xAA lights as they have 1,5V, 14500 LiIon are 3,7V! Same size much more voltage!

If

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Easy, get one of each!

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I second the Klarus P2A. I'm extremely sensitive to PWM, and AFAIK it's the best deal on a fully current-controlled 2xAA light.

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Another thing I want to add is that I need flashlight for hunting mosquitoes in the dark with zapper in my flat. I think I need flashlight with capability of adjusting the beam so I can see wider. Since I never had flashlight with strong beam, I don't know if strong beam can make me more effective at spotting the sucker.

Oh yeah, take a look at this one on Tmart.com by typing in the following in the search:

CREE Q3 3W 210 Lumen 1 Mode Mini Focus Flashlight

The following two are on eBay:

Super Tactics CREE LED 300 Lm Flashlight Torch Lamp AA

7 W Super Bright CREE Q5 LED Tactics Flashlight Torch

What would be your thoughts? Super Tactics looks nice fo r$6.19

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Welcome to the club, killswitch!

Of the flashlights listed in this thread, I have a Sipik SK68, an original Romisen RC-29, a C8 (from KD), and a Xeno E03 X-ML.

I think the Sipik is the best compact zoomie, and the Xeno is my favorite flashlight right now. Both do best with 14500 cells. The Xeno is great for every day carry.