Which NiMH AA light to chuck in my glovebox?

Just something to throw some NiMHs in and has decent runtime so I can leave it in my glovebox for a few years at a time without worrying about it going dead on me.

I’d prefer it to be around the $30 or under so when it does inevitably get scratched/dropped/thrown I don’t cry like a baby. It has to be easy to use so I can just throw it to a kid and they’ll be able to operate it. I am pretty susceptible to PWM (the low mode on SRK doesn’t bother me per se, but I don’t like using it) so I would prefer no PWM which I noted in JMac’s review the Starry Light has. Are there any other suggestions? I just want this to be a beater light that ‘just works’ and will work when I expect it to so internal build quality should be decent.

So far I’ve picked out
Nitecore MT21A @ $33:

Fenix E25 @ $35:

Starry Light SA-22 @ $25:

I EDC a Nitecore MT2A an earlier version of the MT21A and find the modes and general lumen/runtime balance about right. I only use it for less than 30 mins or so - so far.
I carry 4 spare NiMH AA’s and reckon it’s good for anything I’d need, slips in my EDC pouch with the spare batteries plus a load of other stuff and it’s not too heavy.
EDIT………. I carry a flexible diffuser for it as well and on med or low it makes a good work light.

Is there any PWM on the lower modes?

Not that I’ve noticed but I have just got turbo mode in my eye and it’s difficult to type. Not recommended. :slight_smile:
Build quality is flawless as well.

It tucks away nicely, the diffuser is on the left hand side sharing a strap with my EDC slipjoint.

I assume any of those will be fine, i left a Crelant V21 in my glove box, about the same as the nitecore you linked, i have not had to use it yet but its loaded with eneloops and ready for action

i have 6 flashlights in various places in my truck. maybe to many ?
( a sipik SK68 & a Reactor single-AA in the glove-box, a Defiant 3-mode 3-AAA zoomie & a big Defiant 3C tripple-XP-G2 2-mode in the center-console, a 12-LED generic flooder under the back seat, a Coast zoomie in the toolbox.)

SK-58. Maybe XP-E and/or 3 modes.

Since you will already have a quality flashlight for your car, you should also pick up a cheap AA headlamp.

If you ever have to spend any time doing something besides walking or looking in the back seat for something, then the headlamp will be useful, using a flashlight to do repairs is really annoying and sometimes almost impossible.

Do you think if it was magnetic it would be better? Depending on the light, one could stick a neodymium magnet to the tailcap.

I don’t like magnetic, and they never seem to work well anyway as far as getting the light exactly where you want it, and they don’t move with you.

For the car I keep a good headlamp for the obvious reasons of changing a flat or working on the engine, but I also keep that never mentioned 27 led light from Harbor Freight, that is actually a decent light for the car, it is magnetic and has a hanger, but I keep it so that I can put it on the ground facing up UNDER the engine, to cut down on shadows as I use my headlamp from above.

As long as you have alkalines for it, you can even give it to someone else who is broken down, when you can’t stay to help through a long repair, or a total breakdown.

i have one of those that i modded with wideangle warm white LEDs to make it a flooder work light.

Better yes. Not as good as a headlight though. A headlight is generally aimed where you are looking, and when you bend down to look under and past some hoses for example it will be more likely to shine where you need it.

LOL, I’ll be glad when i do my first mod, modding something like that seems like fun.

Here is a 60 second review of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO2TsKSb-kI

Here is a coupon for a free one. http://images.harborfreight.com/hftweb/home-page2014/images061014/FathersDay2014.pdf

I also suggest that people stop at a thrift shop for one of those small, soft sided lunch coolers, or a six pack cooler to keep their flashlights and batteries or other electronics in and store them in the trunk, the trunk is a little cooler than the car interior and the glove compartment.

You’re right - I do keep a BTU Shocker inside my car which I will use before this one.
I’m just looking for something I can set and forget so on the off chance that I have no other source of light, I’ll use this. This isn’t a work light, I already have a headlamp (Ultrafire UF-H6) which I have no complaints about.

I want it to be a light I can bring out and use after long periods of being in storage (hence the requirement of NiMHs).

No flashlights would go bad from sitting in a car would they?

I don’t know if this is a good deal or not. https://www.blingdaily.com/

Terralux TT-2 115 LM Stealth Grey Tactical Impact / Water Proof LED Flashlight

Sale Price: $19.99

That light is going for $51.00 at battery junction and $30.00 at Amazon. http://www.batteryjunction.com/terralux-tt-2.html

No the flashlight itself wouldn’t go bad, but the battery inside might (hence why I wanted a light to use NiMHs).
The 1*AA lights are nice, but because they only hold 1 AA battery, the run time isn’t too impressive. I want something I can keep in the car, take it out and use it for 25 minutes and put it back in the car without worrying about the batteries dying one me the next time I pull it out.

It might be better to use a lithium primary than LSD NiMH. They can work at low temperatures and have the highest shelf-life.

A headband is another idea. I have a Nitecore HB02 which can fit an AA light.

Here in Melbourne we don’t really ever get to below 0C, so I’m good there. And primary lithiums cost like $5 per cell over here. I’m okay with charging every 2 or 3 years to save money.

Probably heresy for a true enthusiast but you could also consider a crank-wind rechargeable as an emergency backup. Never need to worry about the batteries being flat.

I keep one in my vehicle but I'd much rather use a good AA light which I usually have anyway.

A Balder SE-1 (with extender), Thrunite T10/Saber or Shadow mini TC6 are all good affordable choices though there is a little PWM on the Balder now I think about it.

Olight S15 with extender is good if you loosen the tailcap but perhaps a bit over your budget.

Note that many lights can be given a "magnetic mount upgrade" quite simply using rare earth magnets and heat shrink tubing on the pocket clip.