New inexpensive EDC light?

i use an eGear LED aaa penlight as an edc; cost me $7...prob around 4 lumens; fine for general needs...

i do own a surefire g2z with a hi-lumen dropin, but i don't need to edc that kind of light...
 
mark greenman said:
Maratac AAA stainless for $28, smaller than a tube of chapstick, nice and bright.

Hard to beat IMO.
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This is my vote as well. Especially since my headlamp takes AAA's as well. My Maratac rides on my key chain and gets used daily. I run mine with a 10440 3.6v rechargeable which is not recommended but wow the output is insane for a light this size. I figure it's worth the risk on a $20 light. I haven't noticed any overheating and find it hard to go back to the lower output.

I also have the ITP A3 which is great as well but I prefer the maratac's knurling and ability to stand like a candle. I'll probably get another Maratac AAA soon and sell the ITP to my brother.
 
I have a Surefire 6P but I haven't used it in a while. I found a light made
by Duracell for $30.00. It's from their Daylight Series. Mine runs on 2 AA batteries & puts out 80 Lumens.They have different models with higher output
but it works for me. Check their site Duracell.com.
 
I haven't looked too closely at lights in many months but I love my Fenix lights in all their various configurations. LD20 has been a great light.
 
Another vote for the Maratac. My only complaint so far is that I like to run a few wraps of duct tape around the body of my flashlights (easy place to store a couple of feet of one of the worlds handiest substances), and the Maratac is too small to fit standard width tape....
 
Wow so I am reading all of the replies here and it looks like I might end up with another bit of collecting to do. I ordered a LD20, so far it is a great light. That being said I am ordering a Maratac too just to have another light about and for the price I'm not worried; I'll surely find a use for it.
 
Jive turkey said:
Wow so I am reading all of the replies here and it looks like I might end up with another bit of collecting to do. I ordered a LD20, so far it is a great light. That being said I am ordering a Maratac too just to have another light about and for the price I'm not worried; I'll surely find a use for it.
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Those smaller lights are great to have around, simply because they weigh next to nothing, can be attached to anything, including zippers, belt loops, neck lanyards, and even shoelaces, and use common battery types.
 
I highly recommend the Maratac AA or AAA. They are compact, bright(3modes), and very nicely built and finished, all for under $30! You really cant go wrong with these lights, you could buy one of each size and still spend less then a similar Fenix or Surefire light would cost you.
 
I plan on picking up a Romisen RC-N3 pretty soon. Word has it they're nice little lights. :)
 
I second the reccomendation for the iTP EOS flashlights. They are small, bright and good quality. I gave the A1 (cr123A) to my brother for Christmas and wish I had gotten one for my self. Probably going to get either the A2 (AA) or A3 (AAA) one of these days.

The Inova X1 is also a great little keychain light. Had mine for many years. I keep it in my shooting bag or as a backup light to my iTP C7T. it isn't as fancy as the new multi mode lights but it's very high quality.

Heber
 
fsatsil said:
I highly recommend the Maratac AA or AAA. They are compact, bright(3modes), and very nicely built and finished, all for under $30! You really cant go wrong with these lights, you could buy one of each size and still spend less then a similar Fenix or Surefire light would cost you.
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I just got my Maratrac AAA , dull steel finish today from County Comm and all I can say is ... WoW

For the price it is an incredible light. In mid bright mode ( first mode ) it is as bright as my trusty Streamlight AAA, the low mode is fine for fiddlin in low light situations but the high mode is infrikincredible ! Easily as bright as my Surefire with two new 123 cells in her.

This thread inspired me to buy this little gem , thanks for the input folks , I'm going to love my new little EDC.

I'm sittin here waiting for full dark so I can test her outside.

I highly recommend anyone looking for a great , compact , easy on the 'ol wallet EDC light to get one of these. :D:):cool:


Tostig
 
Tostig said:
I just got my Maratrac AAA , dull steel finish today from County Comm and all I can say is ... WoW

For the price it is an incredible light. In mid bright mode ( first mode ) it is as bright as my trusty Streamlight AAA, the low mode is fine for fiddlin in low light situations but the high mode is infrikincredible ! Easily as bright as my Surefire with two new 123 cells in her.

This thread inspired me to buy this little gem , thanks for the input folks , I'm going to love my new little EDC.

I'm sittin here waiting for full dark so I can test her outside.

I highly recommend anyone looking for a great , compact , easy on the 'ol wallet EDC light to get one of these. :D:):cool:


Tostig
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Whatever you do, don't try it with a 3.6v 10440 battery. You're "WOW" will be to big for a computer screen. :D
 
enderwiggin said:
These are a ridiculously good value for the money. I EDC the stainless version one now.
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My vote goes out for the Maratac AA tactical. Very impressed with the light provided on a AA battery after having spent years going through CR123s with my surefires.
 
Tostig said:
That battery wont mess up the light ? Now you got me curious as all get out. :D


Tostig
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Technically, the voltage range for the light is from 0.9 to 3.0 volts. A 10440 would come around 3.7, which would be a bit hot for the light. Not the best choice if you want the light to last. It'll be bright as all get out though.
 
I have a Leatherman Serac 3 that I bought for under $50, to replace a Novatac 120T that I lost. The Serac works great, 100 lumens off of a single cr123 battery. Its a handy little pocket light.
 
I'm a fan of lights that take the 18650 lithium batteries. When looking for a light that's bright you really need those type batteries. My ideal light takes a single 18650 or two primary CR123's. You have the best of both worlds with a setup like this. Rechargeable high capacity batteries and in a pinch, off the shelf primaries. I'd really like to see a light that will handle up to nine volts for two RCR123's but the regulation suffers when using lower voltage with a single 18650.

I have two lights that have this configuration. One is a small Q5 that puts out about 175 lumens and an M-CE that puts out about 500 lumens on a single 18650. Running two primaries in these lights bump up the brightness but they get a little hot after about 10 minutes. Since both lights are multi-level lights it's not a problem using them for extended periods on medium or low. They get two hours and one hour run time on high respectively. Both lights ran about a little over a hundred bucks total.
 
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