Looking for the best 1xAA/1x14500. Budget around 50

Hi guys, last year I bought the Quark Regular AA R5 but I never received it, so Paypal sent me back the money of the purchase.

I was going to buy it again (this time with tracking) but I was wondering if there is any other light with better features.

Must have:

-AA 14500 support (AA are easy to find and 14500 because of the extra brightness)

-not so big, I want it to be my EDC, something like the Quark is OK.

-multimode with moonmode (less than 3 lumens, better if it is less than 1lumen) and at least an interesting high.

-not zooming

-clicky (like both, forward or reverse) or electronic switch


Also like

-well balanced throw/spill

-also like the hidden beacon, SOS and strobe modes of the quark.

-better if it is neutral white, but no problem if it is cold (even a bit bluish) white, but I hate greenish
-sturdy, water-resistant, "agressive" design
-Budget: better if it is less than 55usd, but I can go a bit more if it is necessary.

Zebralight SC51w (neutral) or SC51 looks different and could fit the bill. Not a clicky but a soft switch. Good brightness level even with a AA.

Mmm.. interesting features, but I really want the 14500 support for extra brightness (more than 250l). Edited the first post.

Zebralight gives 200lm with an AA so might not need a LiIon to shine. 14500 support lowers the efficiency on AA batteries, and sometimes burn the boost circuit, so I try to pick a AA only or a pure LiIon if I can.

itp sa1 is my edc..great on aa and even better on 14500..39.99$ and was tested at over 250 lumens at cpf in a sphere on 14500's..and actually they changes frpm xp-e r2's to xp-g r5's recently..I remember the xp-e going down a few bucks to be cleaed out on goinggear..well worth the price..

Hm... ITP come to mind (the only one)... for less than $50 and moon mode (well, actually you can buy SA1 or C7 for less than $40). That Quark cost $57 now.

Bryan @ SB sells all versions with R5 already (GG also, AFAIK)

new jetbeams or the klarus or the xeno o3

That quark seems very decent!

You may want to hold off a bit seeing how the BLF manafont Farka 09 ends up unless you really want to spend 50usd.

So many options and not so much money!

I've never understood which models of Jetbeams and Nitecores are available, and where to buy them..

I think I will finally go for the Quark, I've a kind of love story with it. The ultrafire C3 was the first led flashlight I bought, and it seems to be a Quark knock-off. In october I decided to buy the Quark, but it never arrived

Now there is a 10% discount in 4sevens with the coupon LUMENLOVE.. if I wasn't so skeptical I would believe it is a message from destiny LOL

57-5,7=$51.3

Good light. Don't know if it has good regulation, but at least you will not burn the driver with AA after using 14500 :bigsmile: The only "bad" thing I remember... is that too many model tends to have bluish or purplish tint :( So if you like neutral or warm tint... think twice.

Size comparison (from selfbuilts review): http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff97/selfbuilt/2011/E03032.jpg

ITP EOS A3 R5 throws a very broad light and is a flooder totally. Now SA1 Eluma R5 looks promising but I don't know if the brightness would differ much to the R2 version. Some say A3 R5 isn't much brighter than the original Q5 version. What would you guys recommend? A XP-E R2 SA1 for ~$40 (Lightake) or a XP-G R5 SA1 for ~$50 (inc. shipping from Goinggear)?