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Survival and Preparations Long and short term survival and 'prepping'. |
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Best Budget Flashlight?
Looking for a AA, preferably single AA, flashlight that is actually durable and reliable. These will go in the cars and each room of the house for emergency and occasional use.
I have plenty of good expensive lights for camping, shtf etc, so don't need anymore of those. Just looking for some good, under $20 lights that will actually work the few times a year I need them to, and I won't be upset if my kids lose or break them. I've tried several different brands of these that people on here recommended in the past and they are absolute junk. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, and some were DOA. Definitely not something you can rely on. Got any suggestions?
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"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." Thomas Jefferson |
#2
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Bigger than you want but $10 each and they work great. https://www.costco.com/.product.100319990.html
These are smaller $5 each but don't get good reviews. https://www.costco.com/Duracell-LED-...100320474.html They are also on ebay if you don't have Costco. |
#3
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Here are quality AA lights starting at $27.00. If you go lower than that, you can't expect reliability (as you noted).
https://www.fenix-store.com/aa/ |
#4
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Go to a 99 cent store. They have those led flashlights that take AAA batteries, they also have a led lantern that is pretty bright for 99cents. And in the candle section there are some plain white candles.
Big5 has the flashlight packs. I actually have those free flashlights from Harbor freight in every room. I use those more than the better flashlights. The ones from Costco mentioned above are.real.good also
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Been gone too long. It's been 15 to 20 years since i had to shelf my guns. Those early years sucked. I really miss the good old Pomona Gun Shows. I'm Back. |
#5
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These. Seriously.
https://www.amazon.com/Goldenguy-Q5-...ree+flashlight If you want a durable, water resistant, 1 AA battery light with a bright and adjustable light, this is it. At $3 each, I have these literally everywhere. And if you use Eneloop batteries, even better. You don't need a $50 Streamlight.
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It cannot be inherited, nor can it ever be purchased. You and no one alive can buy it for any price. It is impossible to rent and cannot be lent. You alone and our own have earned it with...Your sweat, blood and lives. You own it forever. The title is....."United States Marine". |
#6
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Funny- I was cleaning out a desk drawer and I found 2 old cassette recorders
Both had batteries that leaked- AA Then one of the Costco lights with 3- AAA batteries- all had leaked The Chemlights in the drawers are still good.... My thought process has changed- Keep flashlights without batteries for emergencies and chem lights for immediate light.... And an "in use" flashlight with batteries ready to go.... but not a flashlight in each room
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Rule 1- ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED Rule 2 -NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY (including your hands and legs) Rule 3 -KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET Rule 4 -BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT IS BEYOND IT (thanks to Jeff Cooper) |
#7
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I really like the Coast HP1. They work on one AA or one 14500. I keep them loaded with a 14500 and keep a couple spare AAs in the bag with them. Adjustable focal beam too. Been using them for a couple years and have them in the cars, around the house, at work, in my bags, no issues. They hover around $8-9 and sometimes can be had for less.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=ATVPDKIKX0DER |
#8
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Fenix. Probably more than $20, but excellent tools for the money.
If you are really on a tight budget, Harbor Freight sometimes gives away LCD flashlights worth much more than the price paid....really, not bad for non critical use lights. |
#9
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Yess!!! I purchased 10 2) packs and gave them to family Awesomest $10 lights ever
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#10
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I bought one of these a few years ago and loved it.I was bummed when i lost it last year so found another and bought it.Its small aint the brightest out there at 50 lumens but its plenty and perfect for camp and easy to carry.Battery life is pretty good too.I also have a 1000 lumen light with the 18650 battery its great but the light part is bulky i keep it in my truck and will use as needed.
https://www.nebotools.com/prod_detai...=94&subsubcid= |
#11
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Coast HP1
Mine has been completely thrashed for a couple years and the only thing that broke was the belt clip. Now I carry around a Thorefire TG06. Has great features for a sub $20 AA light. |
#12
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Not many consider battery availability in a crunch...
The OP has his ducks lined up looking for AA battery illumination cause AA will be the easiest to find when the time comes... As mentioned, Fenix makes some good ones...here...listed by AA https://www.fenixoutfitters.com/flas.../aa-batteries/ My wife and I each EDC this one... https://www.fenixoutfitters.com/feni...ed-flashlight/ Run 1 each of these in our BOBs... https://www.fenixoutfitters.com/feni...ight-2015-edt/ And 1 each of these (3total) in our Vehical Med Bag and BOBs https://www.fenixoutfitters.com/feni...-led-headlamp/ Everything AA...the importance of a good LED lamp is the ability to maintain rated lumin thru the battery life...not dimming until battery death...fenix battery life / lumin ratings are truthful based on my experiments of our purchases... BTW...these chemlites... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 are made in the USA...are the brightest color for 30 minute duration (there is an orange 15 minute which is even brighter)...you can get dimmer that last longer, but we find 30 min from a really bright chem light is good for us. FWIW...they are MilSpec, and our test unit from purchase lasted an hour Edit: just want to point out that chem lights come in colors, some colors are naturally brighter than others...and are manufactured by color and duration. My research found the brightest color USA made was orange for 15 minute...they don't make a 30 minute orange...but their 30 minute yellow is second brightest...second shortest Do your research for brightness and duration desired...here... https://getcyalume.com/tactical/defe...FQpsfgodzIsP4A and don't buy Chinese
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ESCAPE IF YOU CAN A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. "The Second Amendment ex-tends, prima facie, to all instruments that constitute bearable arms, even those that were not in existence at the time of the founding." - The United States Supreme Court - Last edited by ProtectThe2nd; 03-20-2017 at 9:38 PM.. |
#13
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Good info thread. Looking to move partially away from some of our 18650 flashlights to AA with Eneloop batts.
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#14
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Look no further than these. I probably have 20 or more scattered about. Yes, they really are 300 lumens. They also run at 100. Rugged as hell. And the beam pattern is the best I've ever seen. Seriously. Buy one and you'll buy a dozen or more.
https://www.amazon.com/TerraLUX-TLF-...umens+TerraLux http://lightstarproducts.com/product/tlf-3002aa-bk/
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Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them. - Rabindranath Tagore A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it. - Rabindranath Tagore Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see. - Arthur Schopenhaur |
#15
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I buy China-special cree zoom(ables) flashlights every now and then from eBay.
I a few that can accept 3xAAA OR and 18650's (in the same device), so I have options, but they are quite fat to accommodate 3xAAA adapters. I have gone through a few different variants and the twist ring style sucks, so if it has a different color ring for the zoom... the ball bearing and focus pitch can be squirrely and fall apart quite badly, and the zomm-adjustment detents suck. These are my current faves, and are SMALL for an 18650 flashlight: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-1200LM-...N8kBCNR2fUmDqQ I like the back button recess, and no sharp edges on the zoom lens housing. I am an eCig users, so I have 18650's galore, and these are great little lights. I keep a few in the kitchen drawer, one in the nightstand, one in the car, one in the backpack when traveling, and have a UV variant for hotel stays... |
#16
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Its not what I would EDC. just giving them to kids and for camping they work fine.
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Last edited by Red-Osier; 03-21-2017 at 6:10 AM.. |
#17
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Yup, Fenix E12, 130 lumen max output (8/50/130) $27+/-. Ive been using one for work (tech industry), for the past year+, been dropped, scrapped, whacked, many times... held up perfectly, far more than I ever expected from a $27 FL.
Oh and it completely fits in the palm of my hand. |
#18
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I haven't made the jump to an 18650 light yet but a Convoy C8 is calling my name.
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#19
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Convoy C8 Clear is next for me
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#21
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I buy a handful of these every year and put them in everyone's stockings at Christmas. They're plenty bright, surprisingly well made and they last longer than you'd imagine. I have several of these staged in various places around the house ready for use. This is a good, cheap light. |
#22
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Yep, rechargeable 18650s. I wasn't clear in my original post. I was thinking about moving the 18650 lights to the car's GHB, and especially the RV, and going with smaller AA units at home where we don't use them as much and can recharge more easily.
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#23
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Bushnell makes a single AA for about $20 and around 150 lumens IIRC .... nice light ... the 3 way smart switch will crap out though ..... and their warranty isn't worth the paper it's printed on
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If you start thinking like a Free Man You'll begin to feel like a Free Man And pretty soon you'll begin acting like a Free Man |
#24
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Thse are great flashlights. I buy the ones marked "ultrafire" and ypu can get a five pack of assorted colors for the same price as the linked ones. The first one i ever bought, two years ago, i use daily at work in construction and its still working fine. At 3 bucks a pop, i have 20 of them now. I nev er look for a flashlight anymore... Quote:
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No government deprives its citizens of rights without asserting that its actions are "reasonable" and "necessary" for high-sounding reasons such as "public safety." A right that can be regulated is no right at all, only a temporary privilege dependent upon the good will of the very government officials that such right is designed to constrain. |
#26
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"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." Thomas Jefferson |
#27
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As to the chem lights, I really like the idea. A lot. Any idea on the shelf life on those? I see they say 4 years on some, but I read some comments on other forums of people saying the cracked some 20+ year old ones opened and they worked. What is your guys' experience with them?
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"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." Thomas Jefferson |
#28
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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DLXI6C6..._Cl.tzbN4EN3PW To take that role. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk |
#30
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My EDC is the Streamlight Micro Stream. Single AAA fits nicely in my front pocket and a reverse clip I can clip to my baseball hat bill. $15.99.
http://tacticalgear.com/streamlight-...13/1761/1&dl=b
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Army Veteran 2/31st F.A., 101st Airborne NRA Patron Life Member/CGN Contributor CRPA Member |
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