Will that fit?
TrustFire Mini 01
Aluminum copies of it
Maratac Copper CR123, if you have a large budget, live in the US and it doesn’t need to be purely practical.
Most 18650 lights work well, except for run time, on two CR123a cells.
I would consider (after all I read here) all lights with two CR123a cells as too dangerous for muggles - so 18650 lights only if a 3 AAA adapter fits, but that’s not an ideal solution.
Fenix LD12, LD15 and LD22
Crelant V11A, V21A
Xtar WK50
…
all good with white Eneloops.
Lumintop Tool AAA...normal people tend to prefer small, portable lights.
Can get it for 14.5 at BG with code.
Slip one of these into that antique penlight, maybe?
(if I could find the thread again I’d suggest that for Fasttech, since TaoBao is a wholesale site.
But these little threaded LED replacements for the old penlight bulbs are hard to find, and do substitute well for people who need better light but won’t do well with a new flashlight because they’ve used the old one for 20 years ….
4XAA Nitecore EA45S
Anything like that more affordable for muggles?
I’m looking for a cheap (<$20) multi-AA light too.
I need an option when people that are just not meant to be given Li-Ions ask for a bright light…
LED Lensers are similarly priced, but there is an old 4 x AA model at a reduced price here: http://www.tmart.com/Lenser-P14-LED-Flashlight_p236578.html.
For a real budget price, there is the 3 x AA Warsun X65 Here: http://www.banggood.com/Warsun-X65-CREE-XM-L2-3Modes-1200LM-Zoomable-LED-Flashlight-p-981340.html.
For 4 x AAA, there is one here: https://www.fasttech.com/products/1601/10009845/1864903-trustfire-878-cree-xm-l-u2-5-mode-900lm-cool. 4 x AAA doesn’t have any more charge in it than 3 x AAA, but it will maintain more constant brightness.
There are also C and D cell lights.
That Warsun looks perfect, thanks! I’ll definitely try it.
EDIT: Except it’s sold out at BG 
Will keep looking.
Once you’re buying special batteries and chargers, you might as well go 18650. When they’re not in series and you use quality cells, 18650s are pretty safe to handle. Just don’t short them and charge them when they’re dead. Most lights will tell you when they’re dead, but those that don’t become super dim anyway. Protected cells, will, of course shut themselves off.
Are there any 18650/USB lights worth having under $30? Warsun makes one; can the build-in charging be trusted? Convoy makes one, but it requires an adapter, which greatly reduces the convenience of USB.
For a lot of people, the Nitecore Tube is more than adequate. Charges from USB, fits on a keychain, beats a phone flash any day. Costs $10.
Have a voltmeter and understand why you need one.
You should take a look at the thread I started on more or less the same subject:
The shiningbeam caveman looks good, a bit over budget, but not bad.
Blf 348 with 219 looks good.
The AAA holders I have are 26650 size I think, so you might just look for 26650 lights.
Take a moment.
Did we mis-somting?
Years ago I learned to work on what people value. (not for a hobbie of course)
Maybe If “normal folks” who dont want (as in did not get one for onesself) or dont appreaciate them maybe the best thing we can do is to not get the a light.
I know it sounds crazy, but think about it,… what better way to either build an appraciation (maybe when they remimber next time they want one) or the concept of flashlight just does not show up for them (in which case wrestling over what kind to get them, is … wasted effort).
(ok let the stoning begin!)
Nah. The world is changing too fast for anyone to keep up with everything.
The mass marketers of crap are pushing everyone to take what they want to sell.
The “poorly made in China” slow degrading of products that began good is a sickness.
People have to cooperate — and flush out deception — to recommend what’s good.
What’s good can change very fast.
That’s a good point. But I have family members who don’t like blue leds, but probably won’t want to bother with li ion or looking for a light. so it’s a good idea at times.
I’m surprised that the SK68’S arent on the list. Here’s a thread about gettinga solid pill:
That takes it right out of muggle territory. A light or charger with a built-in status display of some sort is a better fit for most people. On the flashlight itself, a colored LED to indicate full/half/near-dead is about perfect. For a charger, the indicator lights on the latest ML-102 are about perfect.
That is a great idea PD! I like it 
I’ve been on the lookout for so long but trying to keep the costs under $10 because I surely can’t afford a bunch of $30 as gifts 
EDIT: If you could add the estimated MSRP/price in brackets besides each light would be great!)
Thrunite T10 - AA NW - $23.95 - 169 lumens
http://www.amazon.com/ThruNite-T10-Lumen-Single-Flashlight/dp/B00JZOZBCE
Thrunite Archer 1A V2 NW - AA - $29.95 - 175 lumens
http://www.amazon.com/ThruNite-Archer-1A-V2-NW/dp/B00K70NECE
Although, why don’t you consider just giving them a light with the battery and charging built-in like the S15R for $26.95? ( http://www.banggood.com/Olight-S15R-Baton-CREE-XM-L2-4Modes-Rechargeable-EDC-LED-Flashlight-p-948431.html )
Gearbest has them, but their free shipping is unreliable. http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_188635.html You should pay extra for tracking and maybe faster shipping.
Fasttech has them for a bit more https://www.fasttech.com/products/3562500. Amazon has them for a bit more than that.