Nebo Larry vs HF puck

I don’t see much of anything bumping the Harbor Freight 24+3 LED 3xAAA puck for value, $3 on sale. I needed some filler to hit the $35 free shipping at Amazon, and decided to pick up a Nebo Larry light 8 LED 3xAAA, mine was $8 from Amazon Warehouse as a product return, normal price is about $11. The larry is also pretty close to the EZred pocket LED flood, and there is a Larry2 with more LEDs.

HF is sort of a defuse spot from the 24 LED main bank, maybe 3 ft wide 8 ft away. Larry is flood covering most of a 8x8 wall 8 feet away. Overall light output seemed about the same, but HF brighter in the middle spot area.

HF comes with 3x el cheapo AAA alkalines, which lasted me maybe 10 hours and six months sitting around. Replacement requires removing 3 screws that at least going into metal threaded inserts, medium time consuming, but nothing to break. Eneloops were a very tight fit lengthwise. Larry has a twist off 1/4 turn lock/unlock end piece, no issues I could see, comes with 3xAAA Nebo brand, mine were dead.

Both have a kind of rubbery shell, neither one looks like dropping is a good idea. Mine came from amazon with a crack in the lens over the LEDs, maybe the reason it was initially returned, but its no issue to me, and Amazon took care of it (refunded and said keep the light due to that and dead batteries).

Puck has a strong round magnet in middle of back and hook with various positions.
Larry has a pocket clip with a strong magnet that rotates, which is handy when laying it on the ground, or clipping to your pocket facing away from you.

Larry seems a bit better construction, HF puck I’ve had one of mine fail in light use, replaced no questions over the counter within 30 days.

Bottom line, different enough and cheap enough that you should have both. I have two or three of the pucks, only issue, those cheap initial batteries aren’t going to last, Eneloops x3 cost more than the light.

18500 pack pull thread is only $1.50 each - 1 cheap cell with decent capacity is pretty good deal vs. cost of the 3 ’loops … I really should order another pack …

Puck is side by side AAA, Larry is end to end in a tube, so fat 18500 is a no go.

the fix for these is a 103450 cell and a tp4056 board.no more messing with screws.makes it worth using.
the hf light is sometimes free with coupon.

Too much work, if the screws on a puck become and issue, get a basically better light for a few bucks more. Generic Larry types are cheap.

The value I see in the puck is that its so cheap, put some alkalines in them and toss in the tool bag.

i have a 27led puck with slide off cover.
still doesnt address the fact that 3 aaa is a terrible choice for such a device.
it still got modded.even if you have to buy a new cell on ebay $6 shipped and a 4056 board you are still ahead.thats 2 changes with alks.
a samsung “blackjack” extended pack contains the cell and 2.99 shipped new.ebay

I buy alkalines cheap, last ones were Sears Diehard $7 for 24 in either AA or AAA, so less than $1 fills a puck and if little used lasts a couple years. Going DIY I think I would opt for better LEDs, maybe like are used in typical light bulbs and use a block of wood to make a case with a couple 18650 cells.

Pucks are cheap, but MUCH better lights are available if I want to spend some time and money.