I’m new to flashlights and need a recommendation for an emergency travel light. I plan to use it while both U.S. hiking/camping as well as on trips overseas (which will be limited to mostly urban environments.) It needs to be less than 7” for airplane travel. I don’t plan to actually use it, except for emergencies, so it should have a good mix of flood/throw, as it might be used for searching through high grass for a lost object, or illuminating a hiking trail after dark. Multiple brightness modes would be good…maybe something in the range of 1/100/250, but those are just estimates based on my limited knowledge of application. It needs to be durable, and I’m only interested in a product from a Western country. For ease of use, it should use rechargeable AAs. What would y’all suggest? Thanks for your help!
Going through all of the AA lights under 7” in my database the only one that comes close to meeting all of your requirements is the $106 Malkoff MDC HA 1AA.
You’re referring to Nichia stock, right? And Nichia v. Cree XP-G2 is a matter of personal preference, or is one better by consensus?
Yeah, I’m trying to get as far away from China as possible Basically, U.S. or Europe, for reasons both of quality and of labor practices. Do you have any suggestions other than Nitecore?
My usual suggestion for a high output sturdy compact AA light would be a $57 Zebralight SC53c. But those lights are made in China. (US based company though.) Pretty much all of the best lights are made in China and the Malkoff is the lowest priced good option.
Princeton Tec and Maglite are more affordable but not really good. If push came to shove and I needed to crawl out of a collapsed mine shaft then I might begrudgingly use the $25 2xAA Mini Maglite Pro+. Imho that is their least bad AA light.
I second the Nitecore MT22A, a very high quality, tiny, robust and lightweight torch, though not conforming to some popular opinions of LED tint, CRI or UI. I like and trust this beyond almost any of my other torches. A couple of Eneloops, or better still Energiser lithium AAs and you are good to go.
Otherwise maybe consider a good head torch, more useful in my usage, such as one of the Petzl Tactikkas, running off x3 AAA of any description, or even a lithium rechargeable pack, made in France, to similar standards.
I carry both on my long distance hikes, if I run out of power (unlikely) I can pick up some alkalines at any shop, garage etc.
Frankly anything using rechargeable lithium cells is not suited to my application, much as I love them when not in the wilderness for several days.
Polycarbonate is a more rugged and much lighter material for this sort of device than boring cylindrical aluminium tubes. Only used when tooling charges can be amortised, instead of just sending a CNC program to the lowest bidder, and waiting for the copies and counterfeits to emerge.
When I want to carry such a device and weight, performance and reliability is important I also have a Nitecore with die-cast magnesium alloy body taking x2 18650 (or x4 CR123) side by side. They also do one which takes x4 AAs. The Jetbeam PA40 is also an oldie x4 AA but still great, in this form-factor, polycarbonate body too.
These are all pricey, reflecting quality and excellence, but substantial discount codes are often available here.
Strictly speaking, it’s a matter of opinion. The XP-G2 has slightly better efficiency, at least compared to the high-CRI version of the 219B, and will produce a slightly more focused hotspot in most optics.
On the other hand, the color vividness and accuracy with a 90 CRI 219B compared to an unspecified CRI (usually about 70) XP-G2 is large improvement. That colors are more saturated and similar to how they appear under sunlight with the 219B is not a matter of opinion, but a verifiable fact that can be tested with a photospectrometer. This makes it easier to detect and identify objects that blend into their surroundings and to see details. Many people find the light it produces considerably more pleasant to use as well.
So my opinion on the tradeoff is quite strong. I always replace low-CRI LEDs in lights that come with them.
Consider Utorch UT-01
$10-15
1xAA
VERY small
non-annoying UI
5, 60, 150,400 lumens {i think}
more if you get 14500 Li-ion
Minuses: LED color is a bit cool
It isn’t ‘from a western country ’ but i am not sure where you will find that under $100, which seems like a lot for something you will rarely use.
Basically, U.S. or Europe, for reasons both of quality and of labor practices. Do you have any suggestions other than Nitecore?