Looking for a AA/14500 light for EDC

LED Flashlights – General Info 1 x AA / 1 x 14500 Flashlights
1

I am looking for a single cell AA/14500 light for EDC so I thought I would ask the BLF braintrust for their recommendations… I will primarily be running 14500’s in it for the extra performance.

Moon mode is a must have.
No PWM preferred.
Side switch preferred.
Reversible clip for hat mounting and deep pocket carry.
Beam quality is preferred over sheer lumens.

I like the Klarus Mi7 but I wish the mode spacing was better and it had a clip.

Clearly I have been spoiled when it comes to LED flashlights.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Bob

2

Strangely, some colors of the Mi7 DO come with a clip.

3

Olight S1A, great light for the price. Good moon mode, nice beam profile. Did have to change mine to a more tolerable tint.

4

How about a Manker E11 or UTorch UT01? I don’t own an E11, but ordered the UT01 in both cool white and neutral. So far, been pretty happy.

Edit: Would be nice if it took protected 14500 without modding. There’s a paperclip mod that’s supposed to be easy. I just ordered some Sanyo UR14500’s and been using those.

5

Jetbeam jet1 mk? It does use PWM on lower modes though. Fots protected 14500 just fine. Although it gets super hot running on 14500 on high.

6

Just got a Utorch Ut01 and carry that from time to time… really starting to like it a lot. Super small and light weight when wearing shorts and clipped to the front pocket. Been using eneloops in it, but looking to get additional 14500 batts for it. Love the moonlight, low, med, high settings and the hidden blinkies… awesome buy right now at Gearbest for $16.99.

7

I use these in my Manker T01 and Utorch UT01: http://www.banggood.com/2PCS-Sanyo-3_7V-840MAH-UR14500P-Rechargeable-14500-Battery-p-911043.html
I have some protected Xtar 14500s, but they’re too long, don’t allow the tailcap to make contact with the body. I think you could wrap part of a paperclip around the battery to complete the circuit, but I’ve never done it personally.

8

I like the Jetbeam, but it’s not a side clicky and the clip isn’t reversible. Still, one of my fav lights to give away to muggles.

9

Cool… thanks, I will check those out. Never ordered from banggood yet, always amazon or gearbest. Can’t find any 14500’s on gearbest anymore and the Amazonians won’t ship to the 808 state … Mahaloz.

10

NiteCore EA11?

Not the best runtimes…but I quite like mine.

11

Have a Nitecore EA11… awesome super bright with a lot of features (red light)… Accidentally left it in my travel bag for about a month or two while I wasn’t on work travel with a nitecore IMR 14500. When I went to use it later, the battery was totally dead… 0 volts. Can’t even revive on a charger… Almost positive the light didn’t accidentally turn on since it was in a case. (not saying never, just unlikely)

EA11… super bright, lots of features, sort of complicated to remember how to use all the features in a pinch… but huge wow factor from a small light. Pull it out and use it here and there, but it makes me nervous and don’t leave a battery in it any more if not in immediate carry/use. Run time is totally weak as you said…

12

If I plan on not using it for more than a day or two, I do loosen the tailcap to prevent that. I have no idea why there is so much parasitic drain on these lights. But other than that…it seems to meet all your criteria. So why not keep using it?

13

IMHO, Klarus Mi7 and UT01 are the best VFM 14500/AA proposals this period. We simply can’t ask for more at a price less than $20. :money_mouth_face:

14

Very true… Good to point that out… I now loosen the cap to prevent the drain when I carry the light which I didn’t say. :+1:

New users to the EA11 might be very disappointed to find a dead battery if they don’t do so… Other than the crappy runtimes on moonlight and low it is a very good light if you know its limitations!

15

Where are you seeing Mi7 for less than $20?

16

My Mi7 came with a clip.Right now im using a manker E11,its a good light.

17

The Mi7 supports any 14500 battery type. Thats a huge advantage. Utorch and Manker dont.

18

There are so many choices these days it is good to see what others like.

Thanks for the replies.

Bob

19

UT 01 and Manker E11 are a direct match to ALL your requirements. Go with whichever you can find cheaper… they are the same light.

Best part about them is the modes are user programmable. You can set exactly how low you want your low to be and how hi you want your turbo. And there are two user programmable modes in between. They do get hot though at the brightest 775 Lumen setting so thats more of a hand held short burst only setting.

They perform admirably well with eneloops too, in the neighborhood of 400 Lumens at the brightest. AFIAK No other 1-AA light can boast this… 775L = 14500 and 400L = NiMH.

I have EDCd mine since the group buy in Dec., no complaints. Snapped this a second ago, visiting relatives. Paired with efest IMR and Olight travel charger its a great travel rig. I also use this setup with a 11000mah battery bank as my primary handheld backpacking light.

20

You can check also Trunite Archer 1A V3.
I like mechanical tail switch and NW tint.
First one assure no tarasit drain and fast switch on and off operation. With 14500 you have 60 minutes at 300 lumens wich is more than enought.