For lights that cheap, brand/no brand they are all cheap stuff. I remember when I was a scout and someone had a zoomie (aspheric lens) It was really cool. This is just a random search on ebay: cheap zoomie

I have this light and it is moderately bright (for an AA it is decent) zooming mechanisim is a little loose, but it looks good.

Ahhh I still remeber the scout oath and law lol. Good luck with your scouts, buddy.

Nowadays these bulky sk68(reference number 4)with varying quality are not the best bet in my eyes but I am sure that a lot of people would be amazed with it.

I like these small AA zoomies(reference number3) more. Smaller and my versions are despite it wasn’t written in the description with 3 modes: high, low , strobe.

10 pieces cost with BLF coupon 29.81$ At banggood…

Batts: https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10001898/1136600-nice-15v-3000mah-aa...
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Reference thread

If you want to order from USA for faster shipping…

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-CREE-Q5-LED-Flashlight-7W-300LM-Adjustable-Focus-Zoom-14500-AA-Torch-Light-/131065693956
http://www.ebay.com/itm/800LM-7W-CREE-XPE-Q5-LED-ZOOMABLE-14500-AA-Mini-Flashlight-Torch-Lamp-Waterproof-/310978546314
http://www.ebay.com/itm/800LM-7W-CREE-XPE-Q5-LED-ZOOMABLE-Mini-14500-AA-Flashlight-Torch-Lamp-Waterproof-/310851947298
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tactical-Waterproof-Mini-EDC-LED-Flashlight-CREE-XLamp-XP-E-R2-80-90-Lumen-AA-/181333000743

I agree with all of the above suggestions.

Beware those that don’t remember the setting they were on, and won’t go back to the first (low, or high) — instead each time you turn them off and later turn them on, they’re on the “next” setting.

This is a big pain.

When my son was in the scouts we got them Mini Maglites. Nothing goes together much better than BSA and Maglites. Two great American traditions.  Shame you can't touch the LED minis nowadays for $10 or less.

Sipiks are great, but bulky. There’s a million different knockoffs, so be sure to get a good one.
The lights werner linked seem like a better option.
I’ve got a solarforce Z2 in the mail which I’ve heard good things about, but its a little over budget at $17. Same price for the X2.
Take a look at this group buy if you can go with AAAs.

How about Stainless C3s ?
Usually less than $10

http://budgetlightforum.com/node/1350
http://budgetlightforum.com/node/7105
.

this might work (I think the ‘group buy’ is over); still under $10, it’s an AAA
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_51974.html

if given with either Energizer Lithium AAA primary cells
http://www.energizer.com/batteries/performance-lithium/ultimate-lithium/...
(they will last a long time and they work in freezing cold weather, which other cells don’t handle well)

or NiMH rechargeables (if a charger is available, maybe exchange charged for discharged cells to teach the habit of not throwing them away)

But don’t use alkaline cells (they will leak, just because they last so long — I’ve had LED flashlights that were still plenty bright after the alkaline cell inside had already gotten so weak it corroded, unlike the old incandescents that got dim while the cell was still in good condition)

And it should go without saying, don’t give them lithium-ion cells (not safe for youngsters, because the worst case of “let’s see what will happen if …” isn’t acceptable).

This is pretty good for 1 AA cell.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-Compact-Tactical-Flashlight-809-2741-D/203138569

This is the Amazon link Sorry !

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IEMUOWU/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?i...

These do have some QC performed on them and you can easily return if they don't work/break. 

http://www.banggood.com/Smiling-Shark-SS-5022-3W-LED-Mini-Flashlight-Waterproof-Torch-2+AA-p-78059.html

Smiling Shark SS-5022 3W LED Mini Flashlight Waterproof Torch 2*AA

Utilitech flashlight. 200 lumens. 3*AAA cells. Perfect light for the Scouts!  All 5-star reviews.  $8.97 each

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=472907-50387-DFL-7048&lan...

The issue with purchasing budget lights from a Chinese vendor as gifts is that sometimes they arrive DOA .So  then you have to order more and wait 2-3-4 more weeks or someone goes without or I guess you could order a few extras.

https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10003894/1278200-c3-cree-xp-e-r2-248...
$8.43 XP-E R2

http://www.ebay.com/itm/C3-Stainless-Steel-CREE-Q5-3-Modes-Waterproof-LED-Torch-Flashlight-14500-Battery-/261293005365?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item3cd646da35
$9.39 XR-E Q5

I'd go for the sk68 1mode (clone). From the above mentioned options they are the cheapest, have the least issues (always had to 'repair' C3's upon arrival, and they had the tail cap covers popping out), the zooming is huge fun for kids, you drop them, you throw with them and they still work, and they come in fun colours! (and they are optically better than the thin zoomie above, but that would be a non- issue for kids). I think the bigger size is actually an advantage for kids: easier to find among their garbage (I assume here that an american scout is also just a kid, or do I underestimate them? )

I 100% concur with the SS C3. One of my all time favorite budget rigs. It is built like a tank! Only issue I have seen with them are cold solder joint. But…that can be a issue with all lights. lol I also ordered glow buttons and have some spares. If you want, you can feed them 14500’s and they can handle it for brief jaunts.

The light JohnnyMac suggested has great output & decent build, but it chews through bats like candy. I have 3 of them. 2 have battery drain issues. They will soak them dry in a weak on the shelf. Curious if others have experienced the same??

I also would suggest when you order if its in the budget to buy 2 extra lights. Just in case one is DOA.

Although I suggested the C3,
as djozz suggests I actually would prefer to give away coloured SK68s to kids,
in fact recently bought 6 for that purpose.

http://budgetlightforum.com/node/1663#comment-553912
.

Ricflair wrote:

I 100% concur with the SS C3. One of my all time favorite budget rigs. It is built like a tank! Only issue I have seen with them are cold solder joint. But...that can be a issue with all lights. lol I also ordered glow buttons and have some spares. If you want, you can feed them 14500's and they can handle it for brief jaunts. The light JohnnyMac suggested has great output & decent build, but it chews through bats like candy. I have 3 of them. 2 have battery drain issues. They will soak them dry in a weak on the shelf. Curious if others have experienced the same?? I also would suggest when you order if its in the budget to buy 2 extra lights. Just in case one is DOA.

Mine's fine but has a 14500 in it, last charged ~4 months ago.

Maybe rethink of the idea from hank, a lithium primary works fabulous in such a light.
I always put either a nimh(if I know the recipient has a charger) or a lithium primary in the AA and AAA lights I gift away.
These cost around a dollar per cell if you order 5 packs with coupon BLF.

If you compare batteries lithium primaries are outstanding

HKJ review of the NICE cell

These are my favorites as well along with No. 2 without the zoomie, they are a little longer and slimmer than the SK68 and just right length that you can get a good grip on to push the end cap button. The SK68 are too heavy, short and bulky, great as gifts, but not as practical for real world use.

It’s very rare to have a bulk order not functional.

A few simple things to narrow down the problem:

Did you try different AA batteries?
Did you try a 14500?
Take the tailcap out of the scenario, take a piece of metal (paper clip or wire), place a battery in the flashlight, and connect the negative pole of the battery to a bare aluminum point on the flashlight (top of the batter tube or unannodized threads).. Does it light up now?

The light JohnnyMac referred to is a really great 3AAA light. Also sold by Homedepot under the the Defiant brand name.  Haven't seen either around here since last Christmas season though.

I didn't know you could get SS C3's for so little.  Don't forget the BLF discount code.

Tractor supply has a couple different polished AA lights on clearance.   Don't know anything about them yet.  They also have a 2 pack for $10 of very compact 2AA camo lights that look interesting.

Ricflair,

I've had that same parasitic drain problem with 3AAA lights in general from time to time.  Don't know what causes it.