With so many lights out there, I was wondering if we could try to find some sort of consensus of best lights for the respective cash.
For example, if someone was looking for a really cheap but decent sub $5 light to give away or stash in drawers and vehicles, what would be a good light? There are a lot of junk out there so any good lights and positive experiences will be helpful in sorting the wheat from the chaff.
My vote for a good sub $15 light goes to the Rominsen RC-G2. They are about $12 and are well known for the quality and good output.
I have not seen a sub-$5 torch I could recommend yet. Perhaps 10-for-$2.99 Fauxtons.
Sub-$10 goes to the Sipik sk-68 and its clones.
Sub-$15 would have to be an on-sale iTP a3, or Romisen anything.
The Thrunite ti is worth the extra dollar stretch to $16, IMO.
I think the best sub-$20 flashlight is the UniqueFire UF-2100.
+1
but I'll add that, I like my C3 lights and paid ~$10
also, I haven't gotten these yet but I've heard good things so they're on their way :)
sub-10 http://www.dealextreme.com/p/cree-q5-270-lumen-3-mode-white-led-flashlight-1x18650-102636
sub-15 http://www.dealextreme.com/p/smallsun-zy-c10-s-cree-q5-wc-230lm-3-mode-focus-adjustable-white-led-flashlight-1-x-18650-108290
Me neither. The only $5 light I still use with some regularity is the Richuang P36 and that's only because I have a bunch. For what it is, I like it though: first and foremost cheap, direct drive, single mode, TIR, takes 16340s and primaries, clip on my year and a half old samples is usable, plenty bright on 16340s. For me, it's very much a "toss it in a bag and forget" kind of light. There's not a whole lot to it, but then again there's not a whole lot that can break.
For an AA how about one of those Balder SE-1´s?
intriguing thread.
sub5$: 14500: Sipik clone with DD coupons/dinopoints
sub10$: AA: Klarus P1A with DD coupons/dinopoints/giftcards
sub15$: 14500: any Romisen (e.g. RC-G2, or multi-mode RC-29), 10440: Tank E09
sub20$: AAA: Lumintop Worm Alu, 10440: iTP A3 EOS Upgraded (Lo-Med-Hi sequence)
sub25$: 14500: Xeno E03 with ebay discount
sub30$: AAA: Klarus MiX6 with DD coupons/dinopoints vs. Lumintop Worm SS
sub35$: 14500: any Quark AA with low voltage head (from CPFMP)
sub40$: 18650: any Eagtac 1x 18650 model (from CPFMP)
Depending on from where you buy the item, prices will differ a lot; that's why such categories "sub15$" etc arent helpful. In my listing you would wonder too how i achieved those prices, so.
Forget about the pricing. Just list what your best-value'd torches are. Mine are the aforementioned models. happy new year
Same problem here
what i paid is relative .YMMV
cheap lights I like
mini tac 3.50 free light just pay shipping,tank 737 ,tank 566,edi-t p-4,sipik58,4$ home depot lites,7$ woot 2D mag clones.f23 stainless.
I can imagine that RICHUANG P36, which Oxy Moron recommended, as being half decent. A non-zooming Sipik SK68 16340 light with TIR lens should be pretty much identical, beam and output, to my Hugsby P2 which I use a lot in 16340 configuration.
I reckon that P36 is the first (probably) half decent light I've ever seen at the $5 mark.
EDIT - Just noticed its not a Q3 or Q5 but an unknown emitter so maybe not.........
Great replies so far! Try to go by what they cost more than what you paid just because a something like a Klarus P1A is really more of a $30-40 light in the regular market. It is not fair to compare it to lights that were built to sell for $10.
hehe, true Speedsix. but hey, this is the budgeteers’ place after all isnt it? hahar
Yes, I see your point. If you can get a Klarus P1A for $10, that is one heck of a deal. It is just that if you had coupon codes and gift cards and such, you could lower the price on anything. If you use the actual selling price, the coupons and all that can still be applied but not everyone has all the same coupons all the time.
I am going to check out the Sipic clones and see what they are like.
WOW my computer crashed last time I replied to this comment ...maybe because I was punching the keyboard ..i hate that light ..ah.. ick awful pink tint no output ..lame ..terrible light .. Sub 5$ is real tough ..
I thnk oxy moron just got a good one ..i had a mxdl 3AAA lexeon tir last year from dino that I liked .it took a 14500 and a collar adapter and had a very sweet tint ..i sold it and missed it and tried to replace it this year .... nope not gonna happen 3 out of 3 suck same with the 3 lights he's talking about .. 3 out of 3 is a bad ratio.
under 5$ i can't even find a body i like well enough to put a spare emitter (q5 q3 etc ) in ...
$11.69 - $1from the DD surveys = $10.69...
Maybe not as impressive as the 7$ Sipik SP68, but its a quality little light...
I got a $7 shipped Sipik clone from EBay. I am impressed. I just ordered two more to give away to people who still think those 10 LED 3AAA lights are good flashlights.
I gave a Rominsen RC-G2 to a co-worker who was using one of those cheap 10 LED lights and he picked it up and turned it on while looking at it to check the brightness and his head snapped back. He didn’t expect so much intensity.
HA HA HA LOL!
That so reminds me of one of my friends! No matter how many times he has done it to a new flashlight I get, he still does it to the next one!
He was really shocked last time though. That one was a direct drive XML testbed I use for various ideas! LOL again!
Sounds like my brother who was checking out the Christmas present I got him... A C8 XML driven @ 3+A. He knows I am a flashlight nut and that a light from me would be bright but did it anyway. First thing he does is look into the head and bump the switch, which went straight into the High mode. I know he was seeing a green spot for a while...