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.
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.
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 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.
Thorfire TG06 (old version ) is as close as it gets to what you want for an inexpensive model. About $15.00
4 pack of eneloop AA batteries about same price.
4 pack of eneloops with charger a few dollars more.
Lightbringer’s advice concerning chargers and batteries is good.
Xtar WK50, Jetbeam BA10, or Klarus old model AA flashlight if you can find them for sale. Discontinued models that do not use 14500 batteries.
In that case you could also can go ‘old school’ with a Maglite mini Pro+ led and a leather holster (tube), so you can draw your light….like drawing a gun…
Modern times ? Charging with usb stick during lunch breaks…Convoy S9 (12,99 with a code at GB) and has memory…sit back and relax for this commercial break Convoy S9
That’s probably a great choice, I can’t say for sure since I don’t have that one. I use 3 fenix lights for work with the same form factor (2 buttons etc.) and set up several coworkers with them over the years. Only 1 failure but it was an extreme abuse failure. The guy was flipping the light up and catching it…except he missed. Fenix still honored the warranty and sent him a new head right away.
LOL shoulda worded that one a little differently. Since he reads this too I’ll go ahead and state that his brain is fine but there’s a lifelong coordination issue. :person_facepalming: He suggests that anyone claiming to have an indestructible product should send him one for a few months and see what happens to it.