If you had $40.00 to spend on Amazon...

Appreciate the responses everyone.

Do you have a decent headlamp yet? I don’t see one in your signature.

You like Sofirn, so how about the SP40? About $35 with a 3000mAh cell, integrated USB charging, and an XP-L at 5500K.

I don’t own one, but my friend bought three and is happy with them.

Mostly interested in the soda-can types, thinner or thicker (that sounded odd) or throwers.
Small budget, I know.

I was going to mention the BLF SP36, but then I noticed your signature. Good choice.

Sofirn SP33v3 or C8F?

Or maybe Wowtac A4v2…

+1 :+1:

Since I did not see an AA size light in your signature, here is my suggestion which is "cool" temperature-wise only but very practical:

$25 for the "Lumintop TOOL AA 2.0" package (the Amazon link below includes both a clicky and magnetic tail cap, a glow in the dark Diffuser and a 14500 Li-Ion Battery with a built-in Micro-USB charging port on the battery):

https://www.amazon.com/LUMINTOP-AA-2-0-Flashlight-Pocket-sized/dp/B07X3BMZXS?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

I usually have a Ni-MH battery in the light instead of the Li-Ion battery because the lowest light level is then dimmer, which is how I like it for use inside at night. I also usually use the clicky tail switch, since the magnetic tail can de-magnetize credit and debit cards if it gets to close to them.

And $10 for an "Olight UC Universal Magnetic USB Charger" for Li-Ion or Ni-MH batteries:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071NZ5S3F/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have other more impressive lights, but this light along with the magnetic charger and an extra Ni-MH battery is what ended up in my travel bag and you can usually find AA batteries almost anywhere when you need one.

Thanks. I do own two Sofirn SF11’s and they run on AA’s. Got tons of eneloops.

Missed that. But sometimes less is more (1 cell instead of 4).

I generally avoid using rechargeable batteries in lights with multiple batteries if any of the batteries are in series, since over time one of the cells in series will inevitably become over-discharged compared to the other cells (and can eventually be damaged unless it is a protected cell) since the mechanical and chemical makeup of the multiple cells are never exactly identical.

Wurkkos FC11. It is at the lower end of your budget and is a nice little EDC light with high-CRI.

If you want a thrower then maybe the Lumintop GT mini or micro. You would need to get a battery separately though.

Thrunite T10 II NW (AA) for around 23 euro, that’s what I ordered couple of days ago.

You can’t have to many single AA flashlights!

If you already have a Sofirn SP 36 BLF, then you aren’t going to be able to come close to topping that for $40.

Sofirn has a deal on the Q8 for $40 right now I think. That is probably the best deal you’re gonna get.

I ordered the Sofirn BLF SP36 Narsilm. I already have the SP36 with Anduril. I wanted both! Ha!
My favorite lights are the SP36’s and Q8’s. One of each. I’m done. Boom! Thanks everyone.

I actually canceled that order. I am trying to see if I can get that same light but without the charger, etc… for a better deal.
I don’t need the charger.

Sorry to hear you cancelled that SP36 order, since I was looking forward to any comments you may have had on the differences between the two types of LEDs and on the different user interfaces. I am also curious how the SP36 compares to the Q8.

There are currently three types of SP36 lights listed on Amazon which include batteries:

1) $80 for BLF SP36 with Cree XPL2 LEDs and Narsilm user interface:

The Amazon description states "Comes Battery and Charger" but they probably meant "Comes with Batteries and a USB-A to USB-C charging cable" as I do not see a battery charger in any of the pictures.

https://www.amazon.com/Powerful-Flashlight-Rechargeable-Neutral-Brightest/dp/B07KFDN9NK/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=sp36&qid=1585932441&sr=8-1

2) $71 for BLF SP36 with Samsung LH351D LEDs and Anduril user interface:

https://www.amazon.com/Powerful-Flashlight-Rechargeable-Brightest-Excluded/dp/B07KFDS8ZS/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=sp36&qid=1585932441&sr=8-2&th=1

3) $67 for SP36S with Samsung LH351D LEDs and proprietary Sofirn user interface:

https://www.amazon.com/Powerful-Flashlight-Rechargeable-Brightest-Batteries/dp/B07TXDV1ND/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=sp36&qid=1585932441&sr=8-6

I’m interested in #3. Already have #2.

Hah? It’s got built-in usb-c charging. Dunno how much extra for 3 cells, but I vaguely recall it’s like 6bux extra or so, so ~2bux/cell.

Doubt you’d get a better deal, as their cells are quite decent.

Looked, prices are all over the place, XP-Ls vs ’351s, with/without cells, etc.

I also have the light listed as #2 in my previous post which is the "BLF SP36 with Anduril" and it is my favorite light (so far). I thought you were interested in the "BLF SP36 with Narsilm" which was listed first as #1 in my post (but not because it is the best, but because I listed the lights from most to least expensive). The "SP36S" that was listed as #3 in my post is the simplified version of the SP36 and it is neither Narsilm nor Anduril but is a proprietary Sofirn user interface.

One useful feature of the "BLF SP36 with Anduril" is the ability to check the actual measured numerical battery voltage when in "Battery Check" mode (even while charging) by counting how many blinks the light makes. This feature is not available with the "SP36S".

Forum member "jeff51" reviews the "SP36S" in the thread listed below and compares it to the "BLF SP36 with Anduril" including what is missing in the simplified version:

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/58792

Below are links to the manuals (found in posts on this forum) for the three versions of the SP36:

BLF SP36 with Narsilm Manual:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1T2Hs6b4nkUH6BiDvrCL0pCw1VTeHqjmS

BLF SP36 with Anduril Manual:

http://myosuploads3.banggood.com/products/20190516/20190516040231Anduril-SP36usermanualdraft02.pdf

SP36S Manual:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oZvw8Pybww_O198ynTl8yNXkUjUG9ohw

The Thrunite Neutron C2 V3 is a nice light. Rechargeable and comes with a high cap 18650. Two piece body tube so you can run it on 16340 or 18350 as well as 2x CR123’s. Ramping UI. It’s a pretty nice light for the money. Amazon LINK

The Wurkkos WK-30 is a great and unique light - [review] Wurkkos WK30 white/red/UV light - and within your budget.

https://www.amazon.com/Wurkkos-Flashlight-Rechargeable-Blacklight-Waterproof/dp/B07TKJH528