I Need a New Light For Work, Help!

Hi Aveo2010, welcome to BLF! :+1:

Hum, there is a light - Lumintop EDC05 - that I don’t know if it has a bit of throw, once it has XPL-HI Led! But I can’t be sure as I didn’t see outdoor pictures so far.

It has memory as you asked, and 4 levels + Strobe and other special modes.
It can run with a AA (alkaline or Ni-MH cell) and with 14500 Li-Ion battery as well.

For a nice throw, you have the above mentioned Sofirn SF14 that has only 3 modes (Low, Medium and High), no memory, but a good throw!
However, please remind that most of these lights will work “better” and give higher outputs (including throw) with Li-Ion batteries than with AA cells!

Make a nice choice :wink:

Thanks for the replies!

I’m currently trying my Fenix E12 at work with eneloops. I really miss the momentary on, and it’s really frustrating toggling through the modes since I only use high here. The E12 brightness/throw works 90% of the time, it’d be nice to have a little more.

Maybe a light that starts on high would be ok.

I probably won’t be using 14500 batteries, but I will look into them.

I’m trying to replace my Coast PX25 with something physically smaller, that has similar performance using alkaline or eneloops.

Sorry if this another suggestion that misses some of your points, but did you looked at the Fenix LD12 (2017 version)?
It has Momentary On and had 4 modes + hidden strobe! Works on AAs and 14500s so maybe you can check it! This is a review of member Walk Into the Light:

Fenix LD12 2017 is a very good choice. The Thrunite Archer 1a V3 is a bit larger but almost the same as the LD12 but $20.00 less.

Indeed :open_mouth: My suggestion was mainly due to the momentary ON and due to being “throwy” :wink:
Let’s see the choice of Aveo2010 :money_mouth_face:

I’m getting frustrated trying to find the specs on these lights. Seems like you have to read reviews to find out if they have momentary on and memory, and even those contradict each other somethings.

Do any side switch lights have momentary function?

The Thrunite Archer 1a V3 has monentary on and mode memory. The Sofirn AA flashlights do not have momentary on but do have mode memory.

The Lumintop edc05/ Utorch UT01/ Manker E11 all have electronic switches so they do not have momentary on function.

I have had a couple of Fenix LD12’s. I sold them because they were not as bright as other single AA flashlights. However they were very well made and reliable.

Wellp, it’s not made anymore, but the XTAR WK50 would’ve ticked almost all the boxes. 1×AA, tailswitch, forward-clicky (ie, momentary-on with a half-press), memory, decent output, very compact. Decent output, yeah, but not so much as to light up a room. You’d need a light that could take a 14500 Li cell to get enough oomf to impress.

Never know, you might find a few purveyors out on the interweb that might still have some WK50s to sell.

I’d dare say the vast vast majority of lights with a tailswitch are all reverse-clickies, so you ain’t getting any momentary-on with them.

The old VG10 (not the VG10S) had a FC, the Solarforce L2M had/has a FC, there are a few out there, but like I said, the vast majority are RC. People seem to like to click-on, then half-press to change modes.

Thorfire had a few (like the VG10) which originally came with a FC, then they’d release an S model of the original and go to a RC.

Y’know, I have a light, think it’s a Sofirn, that has a FC tailswitch for on/off (and sideswitch for modes). I know the Zanflare F1 has a RC, but I do recall one that had a FC tailswitch. Thinking it might be a SP32 or SP32A. But they’re 18650 lights, not AA. Still, they’re fairly small tubelights, so aren’t that much bigger, especially compared to a fat 3×AAA light!

Klarus Mi7 ticks all boxes except tail switch and memory, but it has a lockout feature and direct access to moonlight and turbo, so compensates for both to some extent. Very solidly built quality light, often going for around $20. Small for an AA/14500 as well, thinner than a UT01 for e.g.

I haven’t given up yet! Might take me a few days to look though all these suggestions. Keep them coming!

XTAR revived that form factor I haven’t tried it yet but it looks pretty good.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Xtar-VENUS-WK16-Cree-XP-G3-LED-Multi-function-EDC-Handy-Outdoor-Flashlight-Torch/192378815651?\_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D44040%26meid%3D255b480b1ad54b80b337f466d636bdbf%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D3%26sd%3D292144333062&\_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850

Well I haven’t decided on anything yet…

How about this light? Litesam ED08. I could only find 1 review plus the Amazon buyers. Looks good, and it comes with a battery. I would need to buy a charger though.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B076KBKNKP/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1517149256&sr=8-2-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=14500+flashlight&psc=1

Avoid any come-with battery unless it’s from a reputable seller/mfr. I’d do it with, say, Sofirn, but not “Litesam”.

And 25bux??

Get a Sofirn SP10B (~14bux), Thorfire TG##, and buy a pack of eneloops (varies) and a LiitoKala 100/100B/202 (<5bux).

You’ll likely be lots lots happier.

Am I looking at the wrong light? SP10B doesn’t have tail clicky or momentary on.

What is a good budget friendly 14500 battery and charger?

Thanks

These are good, I bought a pair last year from another seller for about a buck less but it’s still a pretty good price.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Efest-IMR-14500-3-7V-Rechargeable-Lithium-700mAh-High-Drain-Battery-Flat-top-/400650465875?hash=item5d48a0f253

The charger lightbringer mentioned is good for either nimh or lithium rechargeables.

Make sure to read up on lithium battery safety before you use them. You can’t just throw these in your pocket, purse etc. like regular batteries. If you short them with keys or coins or something they can deliver all of that power in a shower of sparks or go into thermal overload.

If you treat them with respect they’re great though.

“I Need a New Light For Work, Help!”

Aveo2010? What kind of work exactly?

I work at a power plant. I keep my light in my pocket. I use the light to see gauges and inspect equipment. Trace out pipe and conduit on the ceiling. I also use it as sort of a “pointer” to show people what I’m looking at.

In that case, many options bellow 50$. You can even buy a small laser key-chain for less than 8$ :+1: