Ok, first of all this is NOT for a Christmas gift! I have a friend of mine who I usually see once a year who I will be staying with a few days in late January. I know I will be showing him my new found love of flashlights and impressing him with them. I'd like to give him one as a gift and would like recommendations for one that will run on simple alkalines or NiMh, have decent runtime, and a good "wow" factor. He's a hunter and somewhat of an outdoorsman, so I'd like it to be something geared toward that use (ie. practical). Doesn't have to be an edc kind of light. I would like the quality to be decent; I don't want to give him junk. I'll set the budget at $15 to $20.
I was thinking of picking up a couple of those ebay Sipik 68 clones and passing him one. What are your thoughts? Doesn't have to be 1000+ lumens! Just a "wow" factor for a non-flashaholic.
I would say that a good quality flood-to-throw is pretty impressive. The nice even flood beam lights up an area and provides non glaring hot-spot light to work with. Its a lot nicer than typical flashlights as a work light. The throw aspect is really cool outside to see wayyy off with, even if its a small area. Plus it looks like a cool lightsaber which is neat...esp in the rain.
I'd go shop at shiningbeam and find one of their Romisen flood to throws that uses 3xAAAs and uses an XR-E R2 bin emitter. That emitter is the best for these types of lights. XP-G is newer but fatter and not nearly as good for throw. The 3xAAA has 4.5 volts in series giving it enough juice to power the XR-E a bit harder than just a single AA. Plus you can use 2 CR123s in series which will overdrive the emitter a bit more. (They usualy only do 400 mA on high mode anyways)
Most cheapo lights have a Q4 or Q5 and the R2 bin emitter with a true XR-E does make a pretty big difference.
The Romisen is decent quality and a step up from the 7 dollar jobs.
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Another alternative is a keychain light. An 1xAAA keychain light is pretty cheap and provides a lot of light and is always available. The form factor is pretty convenient and some people wont mind putting it on their keychain. The risk is that...if they don't then the light is basically useless and sits in a drawer forever.
Either way, give him a pack of Lithium Ultimate L92 batteries which will last a lot longer than an AAA alkaline, plus not leak.
Joe, you mean this one? I didn't think you could get much flood from an XR-E R2? Jack - I like the 2AA ones I see there at Shiningbeam. Neither of these two show runtimes though. Will wait to hear further opinions.
cheap, SS looks expensive and will not scratch, he can ever carry it thinking at every switch on I have a wow friend xD
cons.. hot in high, runtime btw he can carry many AAA xD
or an XP-G AA very versatile with his beam that is a mix of flood and throw
or like you said a zooomie light, is ever cool, Sipik 68 have best quality/price ratio but a tank007 xr-e 3xAAA/18650 is another world https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/2523
..con I hate 3xAAA solutions, almost same runtime of 1 good AA btw don't need voltage up on driver so are much more efficient btw if he become addicted can ever use 18650 or dunno if will fit 26650
I'm also giving lights to friends. If I were more knowledgable (and wealthier!) I might try to tailor the flashlight to the recipient more specifically but for now I have four mates who are going to get a Sipik 68 and I'm positive they'll all be blown away; I'm really looking forward to their reactions when they click it on for the first time.
I chose this model for several reasons. Simplicity of use and "wow" factor for a non-flashaholic. Very useful flood-to-throw function. Easy availability of batteries. Option to upgrade to 14500 batteries later (you can "wow" your mate twice with the same flashlight). Small size always easy to have with you. Tried and tested reliability. Incredibly low price means you can buy three; one for each of you and a spare just in case you're unlucky enough to get a dud or one thats not quite as nicely finished as usual.
Pretty much anything you get in 3AAA isn't going to have long runtime. 3AA would be better. That SAiK would be fine if the reflector were done with Krylon for an OP job. Then it would have a good beam. The stock lights I have bought have been too ringy and I end up doing the OP on them and the 3AAA don't have long runtimes unless it's a low powered emitter.
Too many variables, Which emitter?, which board? there’s a lot of variables there. Without knowing the specs of each light it’s just a guess, but I would bet on 2AA.
I don't want to go with Lithium-ions. I'll let him decide if he wants to go that route after I visit. Besides, I'd have to buy him a battery & charger if I gave him a lithium-ion powered light!
I thought about getting him a "People's Cree". This was one of my first "higher-powered" LED lights and blew me away for the first few months I used it (bought it back in March 2011). Bought it for bike headlight use on a 5 day bike touring trip and it was phenomenal for that use. Gives hours of use off 3 AAA's, throws plenty far, and has very good spill. I actually replaced the Lowe's Task Force 2C with this light as this one was better suited as a headlight. So I don't believe that 3AAA lights are no good or junk. They may not be "1000 Lumens", but they can still impress. I still recommend this light.