A Good AAA Pocketlight?

leatherman

leatherman

leathermoderator
Moderator
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Nov 30, 2001
Messages
13,564
Can I get some recomendations for a good AAA pocketlight? I have several larger lights, but lately got the itch for a nice little light that can either go on the keys or just in the pocket.

I know about the ARC, but the technology seems a little behind, but I do hear they are working on that. :)

How's the long term reviews on the Fenix lights? The LOD (sp?) looks promising.

Thanks!
 
I've got a number of Fenix lights, including the L0, love 'em! Can't go wrong for the price or function. :thumbup::thumbup:
 
Well, the ARC (which you know about) is a great little light. I have one stock ARC-P that is great, though it is "just enough" light for most dark indoor tasks.
I have an ARC that was customized by "millermods" at CPF with a Cree led, running with a very low level (about same as stock) and then 350mA on high....it's fantastic, but I think it cost me over a hundred bucks. Arc also just came out with the next level up in theeir lights, still only promises 9 lumens (likely more like 11, though). Still,it's a 5mm with crazy runtime, sufficient for "emergency lighting")

The other keychain has the Fenix LOD-CE with the cree that first came out in them, so probably a P bin. It is a great little light. It looks a little beaten up (as compared to he arcs that look BRAND NEW). But it is just as bright as ever. A nice usable low level (about the same as the stock ARC-P, I think), a solid mid level, and a pretty impressively blazing HIGH level. I run regualr AAAs in both lights. I got the blac color, a better coating might keep it looking nicer. It's been on my keys for over a year.
For the money, I don't think there is a brighter and more versatile light. There are of course th DRAKE, Draco, and WEE (from Lummi) out there....they are insanely bright andinsanely cool. The Wee is my favorite right now. 30 minutes of 50 lumens on a tiny rechargeable out of a flashlight that s smaller than a single CR123 battery. With the "goodies" and a charger and tritium it'll run you a hundred-ish bucks. For an extra 20 bucks you can also get the lower emitter (25 lumens--1.5 hours runtime) or the brighter one (80 lumens, 15 mintues runtime).

An other questions, or if you want opinions on other things, feel free to PM me.
 
leatherman said:
Can I get some recomendations for a good AAA pocketlight?
Click to expand...

Personal close-task lights -

The Dorcy 1AAA - at $5.94 from a local WalMart is a classic -
inexpensive with lots of redeeming features -

A Classic Revisited - Dorcy 1AAA
(long thread with lots of info)

Fenix E0 "Dart" $19.99 shipped -
very long runtime 11+hours to 50% and about 25 hours total on a single AAA

Fenix E0 "Dart" - comparison review

Multi-level - the Fenix L0D series (Fenix Digital L0D RB80 or Fenix Digital L0D CE $46.50 shipped)

Fenix L0D-RB80 Comparison Review

Fenix L0D-CE Comparison Review

Either of these two on high can be brighter than even the legendary SureFire 9P - xenon 3x CR123......

StairFenixL0Drb80LiDesat.jpg
StairFenixL0DCELiDeSat.jpg

StairsSF9Pdesat.jpg
StairFenixL0DCENiMHdeSat.jpg


BUT this is kind of "cheating" the L0D's are using 3.7V Li-Ion rechargeable 10440 (AAA sized) battery which give this kind of spectacular brightness - however be warned the light does start to get hot pretty quickly on High - so I would only use it for short durations on high.

Please read the reviews they are no slouches even on ordinary alkaline or NiMH AAA batteries

--
Vincent
http://UnknownVincent.Shutterfly.com
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2006
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2005
http://clik.to/UnknownVT2004
http://clik.to/UnknownVincent
 
I had ARC's, moved on to PEAK, now have Fenix LOD. Fenix is great, I'd reccommend them as first choice.
 
Another vote for the 5 dollar Dorcy aaa. I've been using the heck out of mine for a couple years now and it's been reliable as a rock. Great battery life, and enough light that I can walk the dog the last walk of the day at night in the woodswith no problem. And if it gets dammaged or lost, its only 5 bucks.
 
Dang it, VT, nice reviews you got there. :thumbup:

I have about 10 Fenix lights, and maybe 40 Arcs. The Fenix E0 is nice because it isn't spendy, is plenty bright in a completely darkened room, and has a long runtime.

The L0D-CE is anther good one. Though spendy, it is really bright, has 3 levels of output, plus a strobe and stupid SOS. Its on the Powernoodle Top 10 list.

cheers
 
+1 for the L0D-CE. Mine has been in my pocket since the day I got it along with a SAK, a Mini-Bic and my cell phone- I just checked and it still looks new. Works beyond belief if you're new to good lights (I was). I had a lot of fun blowing people's minds at work when I got it- it's that bright. Very satisfied, well worth the $$.
 
I have the Fenix EO for the resons powernoodle mentioned. I wanted an affordable, long battery life, very compact, decent output for emergency situation light. It won't light up the whole room but it will get me out of a jam quit nicely.
 
Wow! Some fantastic info here! :D I cant thank y'all enough. :)
 
I am a huge fan of the Arc-P myself!! I can not say enough good things about it. I highly recommend it.
 
I've had a couple of Arcs- they are probably, no definitely the most overrated AAA lights today. In the very beginning of LED lighting technology, the Arcs were respectable little lights. Sadly though, the Arc company refuses to utilize current technology by not using high performing emitters in their lights. The latest, newest Arc light (and I'm not sure if it is even available yet), offers a whopping 9 lumens output. 9 lumens? A joke in comparison with the Fenix L0D lights.

Modern web ninja mythology has granted a holy status to the Arc AAA, but in reality, they fall woefully short in comparison with other AAA lights using modern technology.
 
For me there are two different classes of AAA light, the how much light can I get or the enough light that will it last forever. LED technology changes lot for year to year, I've decided that quality manufacturing and features like type III coating to be important. Just because there is a new LED or functions offered doesn't mean our old light is obsolete. Buy quality and keep t forever.

In the first class you have the jacked up lights w 1W LED light things up like they were a Mag 4D cell light. Fenix is great, but I've found I like the JetBeam Mu (four stage, w/ an indicator that lets you set what level you turn the light on. +real great manufacturing). Peak's Baltic and Pacific have larger reflectors, better color, and better quality than the Fenix which is why I carry them.

The second class are the light that do enough and you don't have to keep feeding them all the time (.5 LED's). Lights like the Arc AAA and Peak LED's Matterhorn. Arc AAA-P has enough of light and carries real well. The Matterhorn can be had at a verity of levels and colors (snow is has the best color I've seen), the three LED head is an amazing light if you want flood. I've maybe changed the batteries once in three years on these lights.

I hope that I've helped with your decision.
 
The Fenix LOD Luxeon Rebel is a remarkable little flashlight. I don't think it lasts as long as advertised, at least not with my rechargables, but it's still fantasic for such a tiny light. Got mine at Lighthound.com
 
One of the main reasons I love the Arc-P, is because I feel they have a superior build quality over Fenix. I have some Fenix lights; in fact I have an LE-LOD, but I still keep my Arc-P on my key chain. No, it does not have the latest LED technology, but so what. I love mine.
 
If money had not been a factor when I made my purchase I would have bought an Arc AAA-P. But for half the cost I bought the Fenix EO and it has performed well. I even forgot to take it out of my pocket one time and ran it through a complete washer/dryer cycle. Still works perfectly.
 
The EO is arguably a better value at half the cost of the Arc. ($19 v. $39).

But the Arc is built like a tank. I think you could drive over it with your car and not damage it, whereas the Fenix may turn into a pancake. The Arc reminds me of a military vehicle - way overbuilt.

So it is whatever floats your boat. My E0 rides in a little emergency bag I keep in the vehicle, along with 4 AAA lithiums. Thats about 44 hours of emergency light in a tiny package.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top