Affordable flashlight quality / longevity

Venice said:
When it comes time to look for a flashlight, you kinda need to set at least some parameters that you are looking for.
Mainly what is the intended purpose. Is it just for the pocket in case you need light? Walking the dog at night. Checking the north 40 for varmints etc.
If you just need a pocket light for general purposes then a AA or AAA light is fine. If you can move up $10 or so, the Peak Eiger in aluminum is my choice in that price range. They are probably the most rugged lights I have ever seen and made to order in the US. Many options are available. Here are some.
4Kb4Bt3l.jpg

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I gotta say the price point and the fact that this is American made certainly peaks my jnterest.

Care to elaborate a little on the operation...ect ?
The website says its adjustable and stuff, but not how it operates.

I really kind of like a light that I can just plug in and charge, but if I could get a couple of quality rechargeable lithiums and charger for a reasonable price I could see buying one as long as it's simple in operation.
 
Probably the most noticeable thing looking at the Eiger is the potted electronics in the head. after the light engine is built and installed in the head, they fill it with shock and water resistant epoxy (the one on the right).
D1YdXn5l.jpg

You can choose the body style (pocket, keychain or lug), optics and led.
Also the method of operation; twisty or plunger (which does both) and single mode or QTC (Quantum Tunneling Composite (which you will have to look up as way too complex to discuss here) the allow for variable increasing output.
Obviously the simplest is single mode; on or off. These lights also use either regular or lithium ion batteries for approximately twice the output.
As you can see, the light is rather simple; choosing all the options, not so much.
Here is the plunger option for quick on and off.
4Kb4Bt3l.jpg
 
Venice said:
Probably the most noticeable thing looking at the Eiger is the potted electronics in the head. after the light engine is built and installed in the head, they fill it with shock and water resistant epoxy (the one on the right).
D1YdXn5l.jpg

You can choose the body style (pocket, keychain or lug), optics and led.
Also the method of operation; twisty or plunger (which does both) and single mode or QTC (Quantum Tunneling Composite (which you will have to look up as way too complex to discuss here) the allow for variable increasing output.
Obviously the simplest is single mode; on or off. These lights also use either regular or lithium ion batteries for approximately twice the output.
As you can see, the light is rather simple; choosing all the options, not so much.
Here is the plunger option for quick on and off.
4Kb4Bt3l.jpg
Click to expand...

All that stuff is just kind of over my head, I'm probably not the person they have in mind for these lights.
 
I’d highly recommend the Lumintop FW3A. This one was sent to me by my friend greatscoot greatscoot .

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The Anduril interface isn’t all that hard to figure out and you won’t even use 99% of it. The strobe modes are a lot of fun - my daughter loves the candle mode for reading books.
 
If you are looking for AAA or AA Lumitop just came out with an AA version of thsi light as well as well. The Four 7's Preon isn't to bad either and Olight has some really nice AAA aand AA lights.
 
I have a bit of a torch fetish ;) It is really hard to go wrong with Fennix, Olight, Streamlight, Surefire or Zebralight I have or had various models from each and none have let me down. For more budget light LED Lenser have been good to me as well. Never ever leave (better yet never use) Duracell batteries in them....ever....not once.....
 
Hickory n steel said:
All that stuff is just kind of over my head, I'm probably not the person they have in mind for these lights.
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.......you don't have to understand it, just know that it is quality (which is why you asked here) and will more than likely serve you well.
 
greatscoot said:
If you are looking for AAA or AA Lumitop just came out with an AA version of thsi light as well as well. The Four 7's Preon isn't to bad either and Olight has some really nice AAA aand AA lights.
Click to expand...
Do you mean the FWAA? I don't think it will run on an AA. It takes a 14500 that supplies 3.7v.
 
Well I was not looking for another flashlight and the microstream USB will probably continue to be my primary, but a member offered me a Copper AA maratac for a very reasonable even trade.

Should be right up my alley, I like the simple non tactical style, and the simple operation with no complexity and just a couple brightness levels.
 
I've been running Fenix and Olight for the last few years. My Fenix PD-32 is 4 years old ,it has been dropped from the top of ladders and been under water many times . It still going. Strong. My only negative is that it goes to strobe when the batteries get low
 
Hickory n steel said:
All that stuff is just kind of over my head, I'm probably not the person they have in mind for these lights.
Click to expand...
That makes you exactly the person for the eiger. It couldnt be any simpler or more rugged. Ive carried one as a primary for several years. It is simply the tighter you turn the head or punch the plunger the brighter the light gets. Its that simple and you cannot break them. Ive washed and dried them several times and even ran one thru my snowblower a couple years ago…was still shinning as it flew across my yard
They’re have become such a part of my life I now have 8 backups just in case Robyn decides to retire!
 
I have a few Olights. One of them, the S1R Baton II is barely bigger than the
rechargeable 123 battery inside it.
It's been rock solid reliable, built like a brick s#$thouse, (I've dropped it and submerged it) and
puts out 1000 Lumens! Trust me, that's bright enough for any purpose.
Stupid simple to use; click button to turn on and off; hold button to change brightness.
Finally, it's freakin tiny enough to always be with me, you don't even know it's in your pocket.
I can't think why anybody would want anything more.
(unless you're a collector)
 
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For my math its all about how many features vs cost. Same like you would for a knife, where did the maker put the dollars? Some of the brands that are developing a reputation now started out churning and burning cheap OEM crap, but realized that they would do better by responding to the internet which in many ways becomes free R&D.
 
Zebralight is my brand.i've used my Zebralight headlamp daily for the last +8 years. used it down to -22°F (-30°C),dropped it countless times,submerged it and it's still working. puts out 1100 lumens with a nice throw. recently bought a new one with 1600 lumens warmer light for hiking and climbing.

Nitecore
Fenix
Olight are all reliable brands that offer good value.
 
One thing I have realized will probably be harder to find when / if I go looking next is going to be a light that focused 100% on durability and reliability for the money, completely throwing features out the window.
I don't care if I can easily skip and or ignore the modes or I can program the light to operate simply, it's not about being " simple " it's about being barebones and basic.

Call me crazy but I don't want those extra modes / features to be there at all, regardless of how easy they are to deal with and or ignore/ bypass I just don't want them to be there in the first place.

Just on and off maybe with a low mode tossed in, that's all I need / want in a pocket light period.
 
I guess that I am easily satisfied; I have a LED Maglite Solitaire as my EDC light. I just want something that I can turn on and it comes on full power. I don't care about having a light with low, medium and high settings. I favor simplicity and the Solitaire gives it to me. I do wish it put out more that 47 lumens but it does the job. I am not too worried about it lasting a long time; the one I currently have has lasted approximately 5 years so far and even if it died or I lost it tomorrow I can get a new one for under $20.
 
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