I’m planning a 4 week tour on bike in Iceland in a month or so, and I’d like to use a AA flashlight as main light. Currently I’m using an Axa Basta led which throws around 10-15 lms., so I guess even a dx keychain led light will be an improvement The idea is to use the hub dynamo to charge a battery pack, and then use the AA’s for the light and other devices
My requirements would be:
-running on AA’s, ni-mh.
-Budget (up to 20-25 bucks including shipping to EU). I might even need to buy a couple of them.
between 100-300 lumens
-hi-lo-str., if possible
-good runtime
-flood-to-throw (the idea is using it for both riding and hiking, so the possibility of a wider beam is almost a must)
-preferably from dx, td, fpcal, manafont…. or ebay if you guys trust both the model and seller
I’ve been going trough dx and other sites, but i’m kind of newbie with flashlights and i always found very solid comments on this site (and being able to suggest sourcing only from dx-ish sites without getting my @#$ kicked is a plus)
I have some Sipik sk68 clones on my bike. I think they fit everything that you’re looking for. The ones I have are one mode but you can find some with three modes if you look around. You can get them for less than $10 each.
I have an important question, since you are going to be biking in Iceland.
Are you good at repairing lights?
Are you going to tear down the light and check and possibly redo all the connection?
I am almost thinking the build it yourself host would be perfect for a trip like this since you will know it’s put together correctly. Plus you could bring a spare driver and a small torch lighter to make repairs if need be.
@Rozen: that one looks nice. I thought of taking something larger but maybe it’s not necessary. I’m not doing offroad over there, and traffic/animals/ stuff on the road shouldn’t be a big risk… You said you have “some” on your bike…i guess it means more than one. May i ask why? would you suggest to place two on the handlebar? what about runtimes on regular ni mh AA’s and build quality? any recomendation about where to get them?
@E1320: i’m carrying stuff to repair the bike or myself if needed, but the flashlight was not included on those considerations. I’m not sure i would be able to do things properly apart from changing modules. Connections could mean soldering…I’d much rather take another ready to use light, even if less powerful… (anyway i’m taking my loved headlight and a bunch of those dx photonlight clones). But your idea is very good, i’ll disassembly prior to departure the lights to check everything is ok and to know how they work.
I guess I the reason I have more than one on my bike is that I can have one for back up if one goes dead. From the review on this forum “(review here)”:Review: Sipik SK68 AKA Cree Q5 Adjustable Torch, the battery life isn’t very good. I mount two on my handlebar, which seems to be the best place to mount them anyways. Mines were from ebay but they are one mode. I think you can find some with three modes if you searched. You can look through this thread for more information.
I have been using my EDI-T P4 for a bike light for a while and the new ones from DX are shipping as 3AAA version. I don’t know if it helps but it has 4 modes high, low, strobe and hidden ramping mode capable of a .06 candle low to conserve batteries. These are very good quality flood to throw lights at an affordable price. I have 3 of the 18650 version.
Interesting…. after i read your message, Rozen, i went through the threads. Consistent good reviews and consistent difficulties to get the model one wants, hehe. I’d go for the 3 mode one, but most sellers don’t specify, and some which do, don’t ship to Germany.
Lennart, i’ll be using a touring bike too. I won’t be riding very fast (weight and long riding times each day), how is the power when riding around 20-25 km/h? safe enough?
Romisen RC-C6 with N3 extension tube might be one of the solutions. See this review from CPF. You might find 3 mode one somewhere - see also Review: Romisen RC-C6 (Q3). Powered by 16340 is my favorite “EDC bike backup” which is always in my backpack. Lightweight and has nice wide beam, wider than most others.
For primary light I would also consider 18650 type of zoomies - stored a lot more energy and more flashlights to choose from, but the choice is yours
my plan is charging the batteries on the go, while riding. Tought of using a solar panel, but people say it’s not so useful in Iceland in august-september. I will spent 3-4 weeks sleeping without possibility of wall outlets. 18650 hold more power but take much longer to charge too, and i think ni mh are safer to charge with the bike’s ub dynamo. I’d consider buy 18650 for a few days, for for suh a long time… with aa devices i could always stop at a gas station and find something. Romisen has normally good reviews but in AA’s it seems there’s not so many to choose.
I go 6km every day,summer and winter(–20c).Remote stretch with no cars,just people and dogs.Two AA batteries give me extra light and runtime,but if I would go in traffic I would add some nonblinding extra strobe to make me more visible.
Have used other,stronger lights like xeno and UF2100 but they where not as reliable in winter climate.
it’s great how helpful people are in this forum. Hopefully i’m not facing such extreme temperatures (average from 5 to 15, i believe), but it’s good to know the flashlight can handle them. I commute everyday with a secondary blinking light. Not extra bright, but pretty effective in the distance range it needs to. Then, would you suggest to go for the sipik? if i finally go for it would be aroound 7-8 euro x 4 flashlights (mine plus my gf’s), so around 30 euro… not bad for 2 bikes and such setup.
If you ask me, I would carry two (of whatever you’ll choose) and third as a security measure in a backpack.
I would also consider to use mostly LSD type of AA batteries regardless of lower capacity. Sanyo XX comes to mind. Well at least spare ones should be of LSD type.
Regarding solar charging. I don’t have experience, but you have all day long, don’t you. So even if it charges realy slowly it might charge enough. Take a look at CPF there are few discussions about solar charging. Of course I would try everything at home in advance.
BTW, do you plan to ride at night or is this just for an hour or two?
thanks Ezarc for the info. Shiningbeams’s 18 bucks is a little too much, specially if i need to get 3 or 4. and it’s single mode, so runtime would be shorter than the others. The RC-G2 from DX is available (well, Dx, so you know…) from their eu warehouse buuut…single mode too :cry: I know a lot of people hate strobe, but i think it’s like the klaxon in a car: it really bothers, but when you need it, you’re glad it’s so bothering. Specially for biking, where being seen is almost as important as seeing. I found a seller on ebay offering the sipik for 7 bucks, quite tempting. @ledoman: I’ll be riding mostly with daylight, but since i want to avoid camp sites, it may take longer to find the right spot for the night, then setting everything up (tent…), and therefore my interest on the flashlights i take.
My experience with flashlights is almost none. Normally i do mountain sports and trail running so headlamps were more useful. My best flashlight is a xenon/led that i bought from Aldi 5 or 6 years ago (http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/pict/350436009903.jpg). Runs on 3 AAA’s, but bulky compared to the ones you all told me and no so efficient.
Can i have problems with the protection circuits of those lights? with the one from aldi, you can run the same batteries until they’re completely dead. Maybe not ideal, but useful sometimes, and, btw, they’re ni-mh.
I would use minimum of two lights per bike, both for safety and failsafe backup just in case. Based on your requirement and budget for two bikes, 4 AA zoomies lights around euro30, I cannot think of anything else other than 3-mode Sipiks.
Here's my recommendation: Sipik SK68 UF clone. BIC has always shipped within 2days for me hence the recommendation. This model is supposed to be 3-mode based on the reviews (quite a lot mentioned such), but not advertised as one. Then again, it's always hit-or-miss with the budget vendors.
4pcs = $32, and if you're buying for the first time, you can use any introducer name to get 5% off. $30 also qualifies for free registered shipping.
This one is declared as 3 mode and you can make offer or bid for lower price. I’ve made to get it for less than $6, unfortunately I’ll have to wait at least two weeks to arrive. But the seller is good, so there is low risk not to get 3 modes. Hope it helps….
The idea is to use the hub dynamo to charge a battery pack, and then use the AA’s for the light and other devices
