I’ve been on the forum for a while mostly reading about knives, my main hobby. I was just recently shopping for budget, small flashlights with a friend. I mentioned that there were forums dedicated to flashlights and she was amazed.
We picked up a couple of lights and when we got them home they both were not right. Bad connections in both of them I’m guessing. They both would kick out if bumped or jarred and had to be tapped on to get the light back. Since I wanted to get her a light for emergencies to carry in her purse this was not good. “Well, that’s why people discuss flashlights I guess.”, I told her, “So they know what to buy to avoid crap like this for one.”
I know this may have been asked many times. May I ask again if so?
What is the best, small, inexpensive, basic flashlight? Just a dependable light with no frills cheap enough to buy many of and give as gifts.
There are many but to avoid making you crazy with suggestions what is the budget per light? Also it would help if you told us whether you want a AA or AAA or Li-ion light
You can search for Thorfire and Hugsby, both make good inexpensive lights in a couple of "normal" battery configurafions i.e. 1×AAA, 2×AA etc.
Under $15 you can also get Olight i3e, Astrolux A01 that are good.
Convoy is well regarded but only has lights for speciality batteries most normal people don't have ;) With other cheap lights you'll most often be disappointed by fake LEDs and flimsy parts.
Sorry but OP asked for dependable lights he can give away. I wouldn't recommend li-ion lights that are also hot-rodded to the point where somebody could e.g. get a burn if not aware.
I don’t think you can get a burn with that light. It has a stepdown feature. I would recommend it to anyone that I deem competent even if they have no experience with li-ion.
With what many women carry in their purses, I wouldn’t want a light in there which developed much heat, one which switches on without a very deliberate effort, or a twisty which the jumbling of contents could unscrew. Women like pretty things and they generally have more acute color-vision so a CRI of 85+ will make it far more appealing.
For a tiny light the stainless BLF348 AAA is perfect, all the ladies who got one from me at Christmas love theirs. Only a keychain ring (which it lacks) could improve it. Use a Lithium primary cell to avoid the dreaded “alka-leak” corrosion problems. I don’t have enough experience to recommend a larger AA light but use the same guidelines above and she will like it. Anything heavier will probably not stay in her purse for long.
LiIon rechargeable lights are a whole different game and I would not recommend one for casual purse carry unless she fully understands the care and feeding these absolutely require. LiIon’s are lights for Pro’s and Hobbyists, not casual or occasional light users.
For birthday/holiday gifts I purchased a handful of these AAA Bronte BT01( Introducing the Bronte BT01 - full review), sweet little well made light available in various colors.
My current/favorite edc is the new AA/14500 Manker E11 ([Review] Manker E11 XP-L AA/14500)… very compact and super bright. The only thing it needs imo is a lockout feature… maybe V2.
I de soldered 2 of the 6 7135 chips on the NW S2+ and now it won’t get hot on MED.
Gonna remove 1 more, swap the tube for a 18350 one and that will be the purse light of my wife (among her pens there is a BLF 348 with engraving but she wants more power)
The red Convoy S2+ has a 60° diffusing optics, magnet (that looks very nice with the metal button) and clip.
Well, it depends…
What is budget ? under 20 ? under 30 ?
Who sell it to you ?
Do you agree MAP ? or look for alternative vendors ?
Might take a look at some MAD deals :innocent:
