I'm looking for a a light to carry clipped to my pocket for work. Beside this I carry a pen, a sharpie and a non-contact voltage tester. I really liked my old Streamlight Microstream. I bought an ITP A3 XPG-R5(claims 96 lumens, but doesn't seem that bright), but I'm really not impressed and it has no pocket clip. It can be a bigger than a single AAA light as long as it easily clips to the inside of my pocket. I'd like to have at least 50 real lumens, 100 would be better. Single mode is best for work, as I only use it for quick inspections. Any suggestions?
Uniquefire AA-S1 would fit the bill but might be a bit large for shirt pocket use. Will give around 100 lumens on an AA NiMH and 225 lumens with a 14500.
Thanks Don. That light looks to fit the bill. I am concerned about the pocket clip. It doesn't look very sturdy. I need something with a sturdy clip because I use it often. I do not care much about battery life as it probably only sees 5-10 minutes of use each day. Use of primary cells is important as that is what is stocked where I work.
Not the most budgety solution but a darn good one is using a fenix LD01 head on the streamlight microstream body. It'll do 60+ OTF lumens on a crappy old alkaline, but well over 230 with a 10440. You still retain the good clip and clicky in a disturbingly small package. Another option is using the stylus pro body with the fenix head, which will allow 2xAAA with max brightness in between the alk and li-ion. It is multi-mode, but starts in medium which should be plenty bright and you have the other two modes if you need em.
I think I can get over the multimode if the rest of the features meet my criteria. It is especially slim for a AA design which is important to me. Kinda $$$.
srfreddy, you're right about the flood. I use this light in lighted areas to inspect all kinds of nooks and crannies. I need some concentrated throw to it. Like I said, the Microstream was great, possibly because of the larger reflector.
I just recieved a Hugsby P31. Beautiful AA light with an awesome pocket clip. It is 3 mode however but a quick easy tap of the tailcap puts it into low mode if high is too much. Seems to be of fantastic quality, and its very small to boot :)
Don, I'd say I have purchased at least 3-4 lights based on your reviews, and each and every one I have been more than happy with. Thanks for the time and effort you put in. It helps a ton!
Both of them has almost identical regulation. Fenix has slightly better throw because of the SMO reflecto (if I remember well) but with 14500, Xeno has better lightbox. With AA Fenix is slightly brighter.
BTW, Electroman, have you tried your A3 with 10440?
The A3 gets hot real fast on high with a 10440 but since it is at least as bright on medium with a 10440 as it is with an NiMH on high this works well enough with the older models that go medium-low-high. On high I'd not run it for more than 5 seconds with a 10440.