I'm looking for a flashlight recommendation for my daughter. Prefer 2xAA that can also take primary lithium batteries due to cold weather. I'd like something a step up from a mini Maglite and preferably a decent CRI. That way if it ever leaves the car for a more important duty, it's up to the challenge.
The flashlight that I have similar is the Eagtac D25A2 w a Nichia 218C, but that was purchased in 2018. It also has more functions than required.
thanks.
*Convoy T4
*Jaxman M2- I have one and I really like the super simple 2 mode UI
… It does have an old XM-L led though…
Convoy T4 with 519A fits your requirements perfectly, and it probably the only light to do so.
Another vote for the Convoy T4 with 519A and lithium primaries. That’s what we keep in our vehicles.
Only one step up from MiniMag-lite?
Or one small step for man a giant leap for….
It costs 10 times as much but the guy running the company is on CPF apparently and a flashaholic too.
That Convoy T4 looks perfect. I'm gonna buy a couple. Thanks.
There was also a 2AA Lumintop tool at one point, might be cheaper than the T4, if the UI etc is suitable for you.
Edit: looks discontinued.
Here’s a 2AA search of the Paramatrek site.
The T4 looks like it’s current winner for this category.
The Acebeam Pokomon has an included Li cell with built-in charger (in the cell, not the light), but can also take 2 alkaleaks or similar 1.5V batteries in a pinch.
Best of both worlds.
It’s got an aspheric lens, so throws a nice even blanket of light, not the usual hotspot + spill.
Convoy T4 or Zanflare F2 if You can find it with “normal” price.
I have both, Zanflare is my first ‘BLF adviced’ flashlight and I use it very much. It has annoying strobe in modes sequence, but everything other is very good.
I bought Convoy T4 519A 4500K before 2 months and it is excellent flashlight but it can discharge NiMH batteries to very low level without warning.
Of course when You have a little more attention in usage, that is not a problem.
Wait, I thought the T4 was a mechanical switch. Is there parasitic drain?
No. I believe acobp is referring to the usual ‘flash’ warning for low voltage while the light is in use.
It is mechanical switch and it don’t have parasitic drain.
This flashlight is overmuch stabilized and don’t have low voltage protection when work on NiMH AA.
It continues to work with voltage of 0.6 volts and that will be 0.3 volts per battery or if batteries are not of equal capacity than we have a case that one of them can go to turning in polarity. It have very effective boost converter and it is very long stabilized with brightness with consequence of rising current from batteries.
With 14500 it have protection and in my example it kick in with about 5.9 volts and light turn off when voltage came to 5.5 volts.
I try this on DC power supply to be more precise.
But don’t get me wrong it’s a very good and usable lamp and with a little care in use it won’t overdischarge the NiMH batteries.
When it comes to the use of alkaline and lithium iron batteries, I am sure that this lamp will consume every last atom of energy from it, which is desirable when it is case of use primary batteries.
I apologize because I know that my english is not good 
The bigger concern is if the T4 turns on in a bag or pocket, and overdrains the NiMH cells.
In use, there is a very noticeable brightness drop at a reasonable low NiMH voltage.
I only use NiMH in my T4.
Dumb question: Once I set the program the mode in the Biscotti interface, how long does it last without any power? Is it permanent? Since it's a mechanical switch, I was wondering if that makes it permanently set when not powered on for months at a time.
It stays however you leave it, it doesn’t matter how long.
This might be heresy around here, but how about the MiniMag Pro+.
Simple two level UI and a claimed 332 lumens. I have been meaning to try one…
I suppose there is about a 1.97% chance it has a high-CRI LED, so anything is possible.
Answering that would take finding the specific Cree XP-G LED they use. Cree lists from 80 to 90 CRI depending on the SKU and the binning.
OTH, and I know I cannot decide for the OP, high CRI on a 2AA muggle light for the car might not be the most important criteria for choosing a light…
For most muggles, they just want light when they need it. No need to ID a specific flower or mushroom when changing a tire or fishing keys from underneath a seat.
I see they are still using a plastic lens though. But you can get a coated glass lens from Mag (or several other places) for cheap.
Anyway, I am not proposing it for the ultimate solution, just something that might be considered. I have a bunch of the older ones (going back 15-20+ years). All have LEDs, glass lenses, and tail clicky switches, but they have been dead reliable. They even have a 10 year warranty. Just one more option to think about.
Those mini mags are twisty lights. Some may prefer a real switch. The T4 wins in price, UI options, emitter options and probably more.
The mag will have a crap beam with a hole in it and require twisting the head to preferred focus every time you turn it on.
The T4 can be programmed to the preference of the user once then you don’t have to mess with it again.
I hate to be condescending to my friends and relatives...but I'm going to be. Lol. They don't know what they don't know. I think that's true of all-of-us regarding things outside our wheelhouse.
Back in the dark ages (pun intended), all flashlights had a CRI of 100. Most people don't know that LED's are inferior in many ways, even if they do output more light. If I can pick the right flashlight for my family, then they won't need to learn about such things.
You never know when color rendition may become important. I needed a flashlight just the other day to help remove a splinter from my finger, something that can happen anywhere in any environment. I can't say if red R9 was important for that endeavor, but it certainly didn't hurt. I also can't control if they decide to remove the flashlight from their car and use it for something else.
As several people on this forum have said, including me, "the only interesting flashlights are high-CRI flashlights."