EDC Flashlight

My all time favorite EDC flashlight is a Zebralight. I have 2 of the models that use a single AA battery. The output is variable between "just bright enough to read by" and "so bright I can find my dog in the woods at night". It has a clip and can also be worn as a headlamp.

I have another light that uses an 18650 battery (rechargeable 3.7v, about double the size of an AA) and it is also very bright and well made. Its called a Spark. Both the Zebralight and the Spark are Asian made, I believe Chinese. the quality of both is astounding and the price is VERY competitive with major brands.

I run 100 mile trail races and I'm often using one or both of these lights to light my way an entire night. The light pattern of the Zebralight (H51?) is a true flood and the Spark (ST6-360) is a long throw beam pattern with a nice floody spill. They are both pleasing patterns to stare at for hours on end.
 
slight said:
i never thought of batteries. something smaller to cut down on weigh. i usually carry a lighter,pen,knife,phone,money clip so the bulk can add up in my pockets.
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A lot of people will recommend excellent and amazingly bright AA and 123 lights for edc, but I have to wonder how many actually carry these every DAY. If I know I'm probably going to need a light, I might carry one of my AA lights. I certainly wouldn't carry one during the day. I do carry a (1AAA) Preon 1 every day. For going out at night, I'll often add a (2AAA) Preon 2. It is amazingly bright, and between the two lights I have significant run time. Both can be carried unnoticed. The Preon 1 disappears in a pocket. The Preon 2 is as easy to carry as a ball point pen. AAA lights make room for all the other stuff.
 
I carry a ThruNite Neutron 1AA 1 x AA XM-L LED Flashlight IMHO an excellent EDC in my opinion. Plenty bright when you need it all the way down to a nice glow to read by. Be very careful my friend you stand at the top of a very slippery slope!
 
Scott Free said:
A lot of people will recommend excellent and amazingly bright AA and 123 lights for edc, but I have to wonder how many actually carry these every DAY.
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Yeah, I too wonder how someone carries a 1X CR123 light.....I usually carry 2-3X CR123 lights :D. A C2 in the pocket or G2/G3 in a V70 holster.
 
mucklechumps said:
My all time favorite EDC flashlight is a Zebralight. I have 2 of the models that use a single AA battery. The output is variable between "just bright enough to read by" and "so bright I can find my dog in the woods at night". It has a clip and can also be worn as a headlamp.

I have another light that uses an 18650 battery (rechargeable 3.7v, about double the size of an AA) and it is also very bright and well made. Its called a Spark. Both the Zebralight and the Spark are Asian made, I believe Chinese. the quality of both is astounding and the price is VERY competitive with major brands.
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hunter s thompson said:
I carry a ThruNite Neutron 1AA 1 x AA XM-L LED Flashlight IMHO an excellent EDC in my opinion. Plenty bright when you need it all the way down to a nice glow to read by.
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I'll echo these choices. They each have their advantages and disadvantages.

ThruNite Neutron 1A
Pros:
  • Least expensive of the 3 brands.
  • Excellent pure white tint. A couple (or few) runs were made in neutral white.
  • Possibly the current brightest single production AA light when running a 14500 li-ion battery.
  • Has very low firefly mode, perfect for night vision preservation.
  • Built like a tank with it's very thick diameter walls (think Fenix TK20).
  • Can pair with a 4Sevens deep carry clip for deep pocket carry

Cons:
  • Some samples may have sloppy threads/wobbly head. This can, in turn, affect the lights output (mode).
  • Mushy tailcap. Air can also become trapped inside the tube during a batter swap causing the rubber boot to bubble. (Loading the battery from the head end is said to possible help. One can also hold the switch down while tightening the tailcap. (Can tailstand when no air is trapped).
  • Longer than most single AA flashlights.

Spark SL5

I know the SL6 (18650) was mentioned, but Spark recently released the AA version of this light. Like the Thrunite Neutron, these lights use the XM-L emitter (cool white and outdoor white XP-G versions are available directly from the manufacturer).

Pros:
  • Support use of 14500 li-ion batteries, although not as bright as the Neutron (they are not driven as hard).
  • Appears to be slightly brighter than the ZebraLight SC51 series when running off an eneloop.
  • Comes in both cool and neutral white
  • Comes with a frosted lens to further diffuse the beam.
  • Has a side and rear electronic switch (both offer same exact functions)
  • Can tailstand
  • Smaller than the Neutron, feels solid as well.

Cons:
  • Most expensive of the three.
  • Can accidentally turn on in pocket (can turn tailcap a bit to lock light out for prevention)
  • Can experience a preflash when using any battery type other than a 14500 li-ion.
  • No low-low (lowest mode is ~20 lumens iirc)
  • UI could use better implementation (Spark's headlamp UI is much better imo)

ZebraLight SC51/SC51w/SC51c
Pros:
  • Optimized for use with LSD NiMH rechargeables. (High mode can compare to some AA lights running off of a 14500). Runtimes are excellent across the board.
  • Very small and compact, just a bit bigger than the battery that powers it.
  • Tint comes in cool white, neutral white, and a high cri.
  • UI is versatile and one of my favorites.
  • Moonmode is available (although not as low as the Neutron).

Cons:
  • A bit expensive as well.
  • Tendency to turn on in pocket, like the SL5 this light can be locked out.
  • Not as bright as the Neutron or SL5.

Zebralight will be coming out with some new XM-L lights shortly (a variety to exact). The switch issue has been addressed and is now quite a bit firmer to prevent accidental activation.

There are a number of choices out there. For a CR123 sized light you might want to look at a Lumapower Incendio, 4Sevens Mini 123 or Quark 123, ThruNite Neutron 1C, or an HDS variant. Jetbeam and Lumintop have CR123 and AA offerings as well.

If you think you might want to try an 18650 light, give the ZebraLight SC600 a shot. Like all ZebraLights, this guy is tiny and puts up a floody wall of light. Very impressive for it's size. :D
 
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I use the following.....

ARC AAA
HDS RA Clicky custom tactical model
Jetbeam Jet1 pro v3

I have all three major battery types covered. Since the RA and the Jetbeam can handle rechargeable l-ions I picked up a charger and some batteries for home use. I picked up a bunch of regular CR 123a batts from Lighthound.
 
mine is the surefire e1b backup...clips on a pocket as well as a brim of a cap (which is when i use a diffuser for flood).
 
I have a couple of the excellent 6P Surefires, but I carry a little Fenix E01 on my key-ring all the time (along with my keys & a Leatherman Squirt mini-multitool).
 
pilote said:
...clips on a pocket as well as a brim of a cap...
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Yes. I mentioned earlier that I edc a Preon 1. The included clip does not face the right direction for it to be used on the brim of a cap. I removed it, and installed a Fenix clip that is now facing the right way. I consider this an absolute necessity (and another reason to have a 1AAA light whether or not you also carry a AA or 123 light.)
 
Definitely HDS. I have EDC'd (as in "in my pocket, all day every day") a 140E for over a year now, and it is amazing. I just came back from a month long trip abroad, and with moderate-heavy usage, managed comfortably with the one lousy Titanium Innovations CR123 that I put in the light before I left. (Obviously, I carried a spare, JIC.)

I own the first-gen R2 D10, and while it is IMO the best AA variable output light in its class, it doesn't hold a candle (or a flashlight, as the case may be) to the HDS. That said, it's still a fantastic light in it's own right and is actually quite small. Outside of the Peak flashlights, I don't think you can get AA lights that are a whole lot smaller than the D10.

You may want to look at the Liteflux LF2XT for an AA light with a nice 1-button interface. It is larger than the D10, though.

I would not recommend a 4Sevens light, simply because I find the UI infuriating. I feel that the knife equivalent would be trying to EDC one of those silly Cold Steel Triple-Action things. Too much "Twist-it, Pull-it, Bop-it" for my taste. They are bright and the build quality is pretty good, though.

I would highly recommend going with rechargeables for whichever light you get. Specifically, a Pila IBC charger, and AW batteries. (Yes, those specifically. Look at the batteries subforum in Candlepowerforums to see why.)
 
Antikythera you do realize 4-7's has clicky's? the UI on the twisty i have doesn't bother me too much, although i prefer my D10's UI. I just wish my D10 was as short as my Qmini123.

I will say my next buy will be a HDS though, haven't handled one yet but I can't seem to find anything bad said about em.
 
I like the iTP EOS A-3 (twisty) upgrade (3 output levels). With the new R-5 LED, the maximum output level is 96 lumens on a single AAA battery. If you put the pocket clip on backwards, you can fasten the light to the bill of your baseball cap. If you buy two (they're about $20.00 each), you can carry a spare light in place of a spare battery. Sanyo Eneloop NimH batteries are rechargeable and retain 85% of their charge after one year on the shelf. It's a great combination.
 
TX180SX said:
Antikythera you do realize 4-7's has clicky's? the UI on the twisty i have doesn't bother me too much, although i prefer my D10's UI. I just wish my D10 was as short as my Qmini123.

I will say my next buy will be a HDS though, haven't handled one yet but I can't seem to find anything bad said about em.
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I was actually talking about the clickies. You need to do some kind of button pushing, bezel twisting dance with the light to get it to change modes. The tactical UI is better, but I still will only use a one-button interface.
 
4 Sevens Preon 2, Preon 1, and Quark Mini Cr123 are all great EDC lights! I am currently edc'ing the Quark Mini Cr123 super bright approaching 200 lumens on 1x Cr123 cell.
 
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