I own a bunch of flashlights with USB charging built-in but Iâve never used it because my Xtar Dragon VP4 Plus works much better. However, I do like the option of having usb charging just in case Iâm in a situation where the battery is depleted and I donât have spare batteries. I think it is useful as an emergency flashlight in the car, when used at work, at camping trips (solar charging), on vacations, etc. I have several non flashaholic friends that asked me specifically to help them buy flashlights with usb charging built-in. I think usb charging makes for great gifts that can be quite useful for non flashlight enthusiasts.
Iâve become rather fond of the shape of my Nitecore SRT, and think a downscaled emulation of that form could be a pleasingly pocketable alternative to my 18350 and 18500 lights. Not sure if there would be much advantage other than esthetic and play value, but those are the being temptations to most of my purchases anyway. :disguised_face:
I like being able to swap in an 18650 tube for the 18350/18500 when I anticipate more capacity need, and I donât see there being much of a comparable option for side-by-side AA format. But that wouldnât dissuade me from purchasing if it caught my fancy.
I have a Nitecore MT22A that I really like. Side by side AA light. Works well. Plenty of light. Easy to fit in my back pocket. I have a Zanflare 2xAA tube light that I use around the house and like it as well. I would tend to carry the Nitecore more just because itâs easier to carry. The Zanflare is kinda long to be throwing in my front pocket or something. Wouldnât even have to be 800lumens but thatâs okay. As long as some other useful modes were present it wouldnât bother me.
I like this idea, 2xAA optimized for long regulated runtime, NiMH or Lithium primary (disposable) cells, as a dirt-reliable blackout and backup light, compact, light, easy to use. Leave the max output lumen craze for the lithium ion crowd, there are already a ton of âpocket rocketâ designs out there.
over a decade ago, it was very popular for very inexpensive LED dropin mods for the venerable 2AA Mag, offering muggle operation and LONG run times (and decent output with NiMHs) and bulletproof reliability of lithium primary (disposable) cells as a long term storage / blackout / backup role. Iâd like to see a re-emergence of this design concept.
I like long lights, so nose-to-tail for me. Iâd be very interested in 3ĂAA nose-to-tail (1000+ lumens? ). Maybe a light that takes 1ĂAA, with two extension tubes? There was an Olight (I think) that did that, but it wasnât very efficient on 3ĂAA, which was the form factor I most wanted, so I didnât buy it.
If it was side by side, Iâd give a 2ĂAA light a fair hearing, but Iâd be a lot more interested in 4ĂAA (or even 6ĂAA) as two nose-to-tail sets placed side by side, like the Fenix LD41 or the Nitecore EA45S.
5000K and high CRI are major plus points for me.
I have no interest whatsoever in 14500 Li-Ion cells or lights with plastic body parts, though.
Personally I really have a weak spot for flashlights with a side-by-side battery compartment.
To me this design pattern looks great. The form factor also allows for multiple LEDs (e.g. white-red, or spot and flood).
Hopefully Manker can add a new similar side-by-side design.
Iâd be interested, would the body be similar to an existing light? Definitely 800lm version, there are plenty at 400lm already on the market with 2AA. No interest in 14500, as again these already exist). Use with NiMH or Alkaline.
would love a 2xAA or 14500 but in a side by side configuration. 18650s are too thick to comfortably carry in front pockets (for me) and single AA seem to small and eventually fall out. a side by side AA would be hefty enough to stay put hopefully.
18650 is too thick but side by side AA is better? A single 18650 light is still slimmer than a side by side AA/14500 light. After adding in the driver, reflector, e-switch or clicky or whatever, tail cap, and lens. A small 18650 is still a better light than a side by side aa/14500. Of course unless you are just looking at it from a easy to get battery when youâre out camping type thing then any aa will be easier to get than a 18650. But your assumption that an 18650 light is too thick to carry in your pocket is just not right. As you can see two 14500âs are wider than an entire 18650 light. Not to mention you go on to say a side by side aa would be hefty enough. So your looking for something not thick but still hefty. I had a wife like that many years ago.