Flashlights, inexpensive

[jackknifeh]

I have gotten a few what I call nice flashlights (Fenix) in the past few months. I really like them and the amount of light they put out is phenomenal. I have a single AAA battery light that I can easily walk my dog with and I have a 16' leash. The light is far brighter than I need for 16' distance.

But, if you don't want to spend $25 (at least) or $50 or $100 there are cheap LED lights that put out a huge amount of light for under $10. I've gotten two AA lights. One claims 80 lumens and the other almost 300 lumens. I know that isn't OTF or any of the other technical specifications but if you want a beater light that puts out BIG light for a small price these are an option. An ebay search for the below is what I got but there are lots.

Item Title: Mini CREE LED Flashlight 7W 300LM Torch Adjustable Focus Zoom Light
The seller is jkeeestore but like lights, there are lots of sellers. I just got the light today and his shipping is fast and it didn't come from China. It probably started there but not the last step to my house.

We get beater knives so why not a beater light to carry with our beater knife. :)

Jakc

[Blerv]

Thanks for sharing Jack :) .

Indeed you can get some very affordable lights. In fact, that one you mentioned is a clone to the Nitecore Extreme. I would add a number of $10-15 lights on places like Kaidomain and Dealextreme. All of which put out a huge amount of light given the advances in tech.

It's hard to say a Para2 is twice the knife of a Delica (functionally) as both are amazing tools! Even the Byrd line or Tenacious screams value. The problem for me is that with technology quality ramps up pretty dang quickly with lights. This usually ends up with thread quality, durability and functions.

My dream beater would probably be making a Frankenstein from Solarforce or just buying something from ITP which is now owned by Olight. Also, I bought my Dad a Foursevens Preon 0 which is pretty trick for $22 shipped.

Regardless as you said we aren't in an age of shake-lights and D Cells anymore. Thank...God... =)

[jackknifeh]

The two lights I've gotten for less than $10 I wouldn't consider to be the quality of any Spyderco knife. More along the line of a Wal Mart $8 knife. Better than the knives at the gas station cash register but definately not even close to the quality of the Spyderco value folder line. When I said beater knife I didn't mean any of the Spyderco selection. :) So, if I ever loose one of these cheap lights I'd probably say "thank god" before I'd say "oh my god!". :) Well, they're not that bad. :D

Jack

[tonydahose]

i have this one
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire- ... 6340-39671

and like it alot. i bought an extra one for my helmet, the thing is bright. you can buy some rechargeable CR23 batteries and a charger for a about $6-10 on ebay.

i carry a 4sevens lite on my keychain and i cant say enough about the lite or the customer service.

[JAfromMN]

I trust my light like I trust my knife.

I've found you get what you pay for most of the time.

[Clip]

I've been looking at flashlights for a while now and really wanted the Olight M20 since I'd carried an adjustable-focus Coast LED lenser for so long. I haven't ever broken down and ordered it though. Maybe if I stare at it long enough it'll just show up in my mailbox. Thanks for tips on the cheap ones!

[hawaiihunter]

maybe spyderco should make flashlights

[Blerv]

maybe spyderco should make flashlights

The manufacturing models are completely different. It seems the best efforts in either market are done at obsessive full-throttle levels only.

I wouldn't mind seeing some type of collaboration or a maker doing a run of Spyderco blessed lights (like Mac's Customs) but they wouldn't be cheap.

[Spyderjo]

I bought a 3 pack at Costco for $15. Each takes 3 AAA batteries and has amazing power, looks, functionality, etc. Made in China. Excellent value.

[.357 mag]

I like my fenix. Its worth the extra money. Alot of power for one AAA battery. Fits in the pocket nice.

[jackknifeh]

I like my fenix. Its worth the extra money. Alot of power for one AAA battery. Fits in the pocket nice.

I agree completely. I use a Fenix LD-01 (single AAA) the most. It is connected to my Jester and is with me all the time. It has a pocket clip so the Jester is easy to retrieve by just grabbing the light. I also ended up with a Fenix E-11 (single AA). For a larger light I want a Fenix LD-40. That will be all I'll ever need I believe. Actually, the small ones are all I'll really need but I'd like a really big one also. The LD-40 isn't really big compared to what is out there but I don't need a flashlight that will start a fire. :)

But the really cheap ones are nice as loaners, places were damage is likely, etc. I'd hate to loan my LD-01 as much as I'd hate to loan the Jester (or most of my knives). Actually I just gave away my only "loaner" knife so I need to replace it. AHHA! Something to shop for. :D I plan on getting the new Chaparral when it is available. Maybe that will be my "loaner". :eek: NOT! :D I'll be keeping my eyes open at the Wal Mart knife selection. They do have some pretty nice knives actually.

Jack

[Donut]

i have this one
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire- ... 6340-39671

and like it alot. i bought an extra one for my helmet, the thing is bright. you can buy some rechargeable CR23 batteries and a charger for a about $6-10 on ebay.

i carry a 4sevens lite on my keychain and i cant say enough about the lite or the customer service.

Did you get it just because it has Fire in the name? :)

[w3tnz]

I trust my light like I trust my knife.

I've found you get what you pay for most of the time.

I agree, I'm of the mentality "do it once, do it right" you could go through 5 $10 flashlights before needing to replace 1 $50 one.

My edc flashlight was only $50 (4-7's quark AA tac) and I wouldn't want anything less. The only other light I use on a regular basis is my fenix TK21 which is on my nightstand, puts out about 300 lumens, has alot of functions, the strobe and tac bezel are invaluable for using it as a crude SD weapon, although I would usually have a knife in my other hand

I also wouldn't loan/give anything "cheap" to someone I cared about, I recently gave my jester sprint and a Ti quark to my girlfriend. She rarely uses either but I feel better knowing that they WILL work.


But all that said and done, I know alot of people with the cheaper cree powered lights and they are good bang for buck, maybe im just a gear snob :P

[Blerv]

Foursevens/4sevens (dang I hate the new name) is a solid brand as is Fenix. Like all brands though they do have duds from time to time. The cheaper lights just generally die easier due to marginal wiring and looser tolerances. The latter means a trip in the washing machine is much more likely to kill the light :p . They also have gritty threads, less perfect beam profiles, sickly tints and others nuances.

As for cheap lights you typicially get good performance if anything. The more expensive lights usually get better binned LEDs but I've seen XM-L's and XP-G's in cheapos so most of the output is based on how hard it's being driven (or battery choice).

Here is an example of a great cheap XM-L. Frankly for $30 it's hard to beat:

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showth ... -(CW-NW-WW!)

[tonydahose]

Did you get it just because it has Fire in the name? :)

didn't even notice it :) this thing is bright as a big bonfire though. we had a rollover on the highway next to some train tracks...the driver took off probably because he was drunk (it was 3am and there was a bunch of empty beer bottles in the truck) we had to search for about 1/2 mile of the tracks in each direction to make sure he didn't pass out on them and then get cut in a few pieces. that lil light lit up far and wide and made searching alot easier .

[sharpguitarist]

hey guys,
i just picked up a duramax aa from autozone.
price paid: $12.99.



this light puts out 50 lumens and is just under 4" long, just right for pocket carry.
i haven't carried it much yet, but it has a very focused beam that is quite bright.
my only gripe is that the pocket clip is pretty flimsy, but i usually attach a suspension clip to the light anyhow, so i don't use the clip.
for an affordable light, you might want to check these out.
later,
don

[Lord vader]

i have this one
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/trustfire- ... 6340-39671

and like it alot. i bought an extra one for my helmet, the thing is bright. you can buy some rechargeable CR23 batteries and a charger for a about $6-10 on ebay.

i carry a 4sevens lite on my keychain and i cant say enough about the lite or the customer service.

That sure is a lot of light output 280 lumens, for that price,I will definitely have to get on of these.The only con I see is the battery life,only 50 minutes on fresh batteries,but I guess that is to be expected with 280 lumen output.

[rosconey]

my cree ultrafire arrived today-20 bucks shipped with car and home charger also extra battery-

[Lord vader]

Speaking of cheap lights,I bought one few days ago to use at work for eight dollars and change. Its a Black&Decker with 60 Lumens of output,it pretty bright,its just slightly off white light,but not to much. You will get 6 hours of battery life,it also has a pocket clip.I clip it to the inside of my pocket and don`t even notice it there.And comes with a lifetime warranty.[ATTACH]20029[/ATTACH]

[Chiles]

I have a streamlight microstream. It runs off a single AAA and is set up to have constant rightness and then when it runs out it just shuts off. No dimming effect out of it. It's smaller than my delica and is waterproof and breakproof really. Mid 20 lumens and I use it every single day. I never leave home without it.