Compact AA EDC?

What are the current smallest AA devices out there? I had one of those DQG Tiny AAs from half a decade ago but it’s no longer with me. It wasn’t perfect but it was nice and cheap but most of all it was absolutely tiny! I’d like something to take over its role.

All of the forum darlings like the SP10 are simply way too bloated for my liking. At that size I may as well carry my SC64. It seriously looks like slim pickings.

It’s hard to get much smaller than the Maratac AA twisty, at 3” x .7” from CountyComm. 5/45/245 lumens.
For a side switch light, the Zebralight SC5w is reasonably compact.

Had a DQG slim w AA tube, was as small as one can get.

My current fav small is the Fenix E12 v2. Particularly after reflow upgrade to Nichia219B sw45k.

Lumintop Tool AA with magnetic tailcap(instead of rhe switch) is pretty small, slim and cheap…

twistys are always the smallest light available

https://www.ff-light.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=71

https://www.ff-light.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=63&product_id=74

Depends on what you want and what is more important to you - sounds like length is important, while I care more about weight + thickness at the AA size.

If I wanted an emergency light smaller than an SP10 or so, it’s going to be a twisty AAA or something tiny like the Lumintop Frog, those things can just disappear anywhere.

Lumintop FWAA is quite short (70mm vs the Fenix E12 at 77mm) but has a sensitive e-switch. Probably the smallest option other than a twisty. The only catch is that it needs to be locked out and/or set such that the top of the brightness ramp isn’t going to melt anything.

Zebralight’s AA offerings are about the same length as the FWAA with a bigger head and a side switch. Still small, but like you said: It’s basically an SC64, except this one is shorter.

91x17mm

Don’t know for sure, but my personal choice for one with a proper switch (albeit “reversed”) that makes it easy to use effectively under more conditions, and also uses a ‘conventional’ reflector, is the Eagtac D25A MKII at 87mm length, and is also available with a choice of emitters. If a ‘TIR’ optic is OK, it would probably be the Fenix E12 V2 at 76.6mm length (which also has a ‘real’ switch). The ET has a slightly smaller max (head) diameter and also supports 3.7V 14500 for higher max output if that matters. There’s other stuff out there I haven’t bothered to even check out that could be smaller, but those are a couple of names I have at least some confidence (and thus interest) in.

Smallest (in legth) with clicky switch on the tail must be DQG Slim Ti AA.
Fenix E12 V2 is also small, as well as the Enogear Stainless Steel (sold by Fireflies).

The Lumintop FWAA is the smallest tail e-swith.

Then you have the “twisties” than tend to be even smaller.

is dqg still in business
?

I think some twisty DQG AA in stainless steel are still available on Ebay. Or they were when I checked a couple months ago.

My recommendation would be to go with an Eagtac D25A. It’s not powerful or a new design, and it’s not as small as a DQG. But it is very slim, grippy, and has much better interface than any twisty and even better than most clickys.

If you’re willing to upgrade to 14500 (same size cell as AA but in rechargeable 3.7v lithium ion), then you can get a massive leap forward in power and UI with an FWAA.

one of the thinnest AA capable lights available… There is also a Ti version called D3A

the FWAA is not an AA light

I base my choice on UI, not size
my priority is a light that can go sublumen, with ramping, ,

The only AA with both those features, is the SP10 Pro. That is why I just ordered 2 more.

If the Nitecore D10 was still available, I would buy that instead, because I Much prefer a tailswitch.

Thanks everyone but I didn’t like any that were available so I resorted to pocketing a Ti Ti5 I had. The hunt goes on.

I actually have one of the old D25A’s which they released many years ago in 219B variety. The Ti traps too much heat though. I forgot to mention I would prefer a magnet which makes the pickings even slimmer.

Check out the Skilhunt M150. I’m very favourably impressed with mine.

I have 18350 lights smaller than AA/14500 lights. 18350 is far superior in terms of battery.

I’ve been carrying the SP10 Pro for a spell as I am waiting on a replacement TS10. For me I am willing to give up the AA for the much better temp / tint on the TS10. I also like the tail switch. However, if the SP10 Pro had a better LED — something like an SST20 4000k I would probably go back to that and definitely gift some to people without them having to know about LiIon.

It’s a pretty easy mod too, if your are so inclined.

I've heard that some SP10 Pro's use an insane amount of threadlock and take specialized equipment and lots of effort to open. I was very tempted to get one when they had a sale but in the end decided against it because of the risk--I absolutely cannot tolerate the LH351D emitter.

Hmmm. That one looks interesting but a little more than I want to spend. Has anybody ripped the wrapper off the bundled 14500 to see what cell it is?