Wowtac A5 Flashlight in both Natural White and Cool White available with 20% off coupon gets you a 26650 Flashlight that hold 1800 lumens for 90 minutes for $39.96 ( at least according to ZeroAir reviews).
I think the most recent summary is this: AmazonBasics appears to have changed their supplier over the years (some now made in China) so it’s hit or miss while Eneloop is consistently good (albeit expensive). YMMV
The only lights I have that use AAA are a doxen the $1.00 ones from Walmart with 9 LEDs and 2 obtained in Korea with 27 LEDS that all use 3 x AAA..In all these cheapies I put Kirkland alkalines from Costco(64 pack).
My BT mice and a couple of remotes employ AAA that also get fed alkalines.
I have 7 lights that use AA and 3 of those take 4 each.They get fed Envelope Pro,Sanyo XX or white Eneplops
I have some Amazon Basics (black w/green stripe around + end) in both AA and AAA —- they compare pretty close to Eneloops as far as light output —- the Eneloops edging them out with a AA Tool 2.0 — capacity is spot on with rating when they’re new — but unlike the Eneloops hold capacity for several years the Basics drop off slightly after a couple years ( not nearly as bad as Eifest though)
I’ve bought these EBL AAA on several occasions with good results — capacity is slightly under their stated capacity ( 1000-1100) — they’re cheap though
The problem with anything NOT standard Eneloop is they degrade rapidly by comparison. Not standard Eneloop = far less recharge cycles, storage capacity takes a steeper dive as they accumulate charge cycles and they certainly wont continue to cycle for a decade of use. Ive never spent more than $2 per Eneloop and they go on sale all the time. Why anyone would even look at other cells seems pointless. Ive probably been through 20+ brands of nimh AAA and AA cells. The only ones I have not discarded are Eneloop/Duraloops. My oldest AA nimh cells are Eneloops purchased in 1990, and are still being cycled today.
As I started accumulating cells, I invested in a pair of Powerex MH-C9000 chargers to assure proper charging/termination/health of the cells. Even with those advanced chargers, all cells not Eneloop gave up before 5 years in the rotation with all my other nimh cells (approx 150 cells total).
Stop wasting money to fill the landfill. Standard Eneloops all the way.
Having said that, Im glad to hear some people have weened themselves off alkaline.
Powerex MH-C9000—Great charger ——— I guess that’s why people buy all different levels of everything —need—uses —etc
I’m a retired contractor but still won’t put most of the garbage tools in my hands most people use —- to each his own — but I do understand if you barely use something why buy the best —- If you have lots of devices that may only get recharged once a twice a year— why not use a lesser cell —Use the Eneloops where they are most needed
That’s my situation. I have so few AA/AAA doodads (not just lights) that it doesn’t really pay for me to “splurge”. A few teevee remotes, that’s it.
For lights, I’ve been using those EBL 14500s for most, Tenevolts 1.5V for lights that can’t handle >3V, LFP for boost-driver lights (brighter w/o frying the circuit), and that’s pretty much it. Only for those eeee-vil 3×AAA lights that Some People insist on buying :person_facepalming: did I think that maybe NiMH might work.
