I agree completely. The Osram Golden Dragon, with its perfectly broad even warm tinted beam, has less of a hotspot and brighter spill than a XP-G. This has been discussed several times and is easily the best bang for the buck among 1 x AA lights. It isnt the most efficient LED/driver combo, but it sure puts out the photons. Used with rechargeables, who cares? Its certainly worthy of any collection and still does well on NiMH cells and can be used with alkaline. Its also a nice looking host.
Hugsby P31/P32 family for around 14$ , solid quality, bright output on AAs, clip!, tailstand, reliable (bought about 8 of them), perfect gift for non-flashaholics. P32 seems to be sold out at KD.
I'd agree with just about every recommendation here.
My personal favourite would probably be the Tank007 E07 but it's a close call with several others. It is small - there are smaller AA lights but not by much - and has adequate runtime for a pocket light.
The Uniquefire AA-S1 is a great deal and a nice light. Screaming bright on a 14500. I personally don't worry about runtimes on an EDC light - the above two both pull 2+ amps from an NiMH so you aren't going to get an hour out of either of them.
So are the P31/32 Hugsbys which are probably the most nicely made in this list. While it doesn't have a reversible clip, it has a reversible body - the threads are the same at both ends.
I like the AA-S1, but it is only 1 mode. I don't have the others mentioned here. But I really like the AAA Trustfire XP-E F23 in stainless steel. Makes a nice gift because it is pretty. The mode memory works well and it is impressively bright for a small light.
Hmm AA , BLF AA-Y4E = Impressive performance [ but a large light , and not under $15 ] , also Trustfire F20 . and the Tank 007 TK-566 though the beam is a little tight and ringy .
A really outstandingly good AA ? I dont think I own one yet . The F20 comes the closest for me .
+1 for SKYRAY S-A1.. Why: small, good memory mode, very bright on 14500, ok on ni-mh (pulls 2A), Was sub 10$,... Plan to swap q3 for an XM-L - should get at least 400 lumens on 14500. Not bad for AA sized light...
Agree...great looking and amazing quality for that price, the threads look like a watch or something of that kind... no problems also after 9 month of daily use...
12 models under 15$ ...every single one of them well built , everyone a classicly nice budget light .If you are conservative and don't like rolling the dice ...buy any or every Tank made under 15$..the only thing that they don't make ....is a bad light .
My favorite sub 15 dollar torch I own is the Skyray S-A1. It's bright, throws well and has working mode memory without the need for any mods. It's really a great flashlight and I like it alot.
I don't own any Tank007 lights or the Hugsby P31/32. Those are all super nice looking lights and I'm going to be collecting them as well I just can't find the P32 and don't want a single mode version but it will show up eventually.
Last time I heard about it, DX was shipping the 98mm version, not the much better 93mm version. That said, my one is a 93mm one from DX ordered when DX announced them.