Tough AAA flashlight

A

alfk

Joined
Apr 20, 2013
Messages
64
I need a smaller and lighter single AAA flashlight to keep in my pocket.

Not my first, when I first needed one I went ahead and bought a led lenser, having an old larger version that is an absolute tank. Only either their standards have slipped or its not meant for much use and I broke it within a month. Then I ordered a Fenix E99 and it arrived faulty, i exchanged and it gives out loads of light, at a real nice size and weight but its temperamental and so doesn't cut it for me.

I drop things and bash them, and get them a bit wet, or muddy, so I need a little flashlight that can take that kind of abuse!

I'm thinking about the E05 as its waterproof but I'm really open to suggestions.
 
I've been using the ITP A3 EOS for 3 or 4 years now & its been great. Picked it up on the big river site. I've also heard good things about the Foursevens Preon 1 but I have not used it myself.

Jake
 
Thrunite AAA Ti3 is great and only $20. I like that the clip is reversible so I can slide it onto a ball cap for hands free use. And it's waterproof.
 
I've had a Marata AAA for near 6 yrs now and it's a GREAT light. The ONLY reason I retired it for a backup was that I purchased the Maratac AAA Rev 3 that offers a 130 Lumens at it's peak output vs the previous 80 Lumens..

I've heard great things about the Thrunite mentioned above.
 
Fenix E05 Stainless Steel, which btw, is alongside an equally tough as nails Wenger SI Soldat...

 
I enjoyed my AAA powered 4Sevens light, until I dropped it in a CHT tank at work. I don't want it back now. I still use the same brand though. I also have had good warranty experience with them.

-Ron
 
Unfortunately I can't get a lot of the suggestions here, I can get ahold of the thrunite 1a (not the AAA one) the olite i3 eos, maglite led and E05.

I might get the olite i3 and the E05 (both waterproof) and see which is better.

Alnamvet68 said:
Fenix E05 Stainless Steel, which btw, is alongside an equally tough as nails Wenger SI Soldat...

Click to expand...

How long have you had the E05? No problems with it not turning on or anything?
 
Any of the small AAA Fenix should do. I've been carrying this one for a few years now, and it's been banged, dragged, dunked, and dropped. It's still going like the Energizer bunny. The E01, E05, or other will all do nicely. Just a matter of what you want for lumens and run time. I like enough light to see by, with the insane run time of the E01. I have a E05 as a backup in the pack if I need more light, but in the past year I haven't needed it.

15291393618_5c8eef339f_c.jpg
 
I've had my E05 SS for a few months now, and while I can't say it's been abused (yet), I can say it's taken a few drops on concrete and a dunking or two, and so far, so good.

It's a pretty cool little light, and mine seems to get better the more I carry it.
 
I've beaten the ever living crap out of my old E05. so I know those are tough. My second gen one hasn't had the time to get that much of a beating, so I can't say for sure, and its a little more complex. you should be able to get an older E05 for cheap, if tough is what you want, doesn't get much better.
 
shuutr said:
Thrunite AAA Ti3 is great and only $20. I like that the clip is reversible so I can slide it onto a ball cap for hands free use. And it's waterproof.
Click to expand...

Mr. Shuutr -- I've been a Fenix guy for years but this bad boy intrigues me. I looked it up but I don't understand the outputs. Can you dummy the following down please?

Output and run time: Firefly: 0.04 Lm(115h), Low: 12 Lm(6.3h), High: 120Lm(0.5h), Strobe:120Lm(1 hour)
 
So each twist increases the output (firefly - low low light - would run for 115 hours on a battery, then low (12 lumens which would last for 6 hours) then high then strobe. The strobe would run twice as long as high at the same brightness because it's on for half the time. I wouldn't bet my life on those run times as they are likely exaggerated.

It's good light brightness at the settings I would use most.
 
shuutr said:
Thrunite AAA Ti3 is great and only $20. I like that the clip is reversible so I can slide it onto a ball cap for hands free use. And it's waterproof.
Click to expand...

Ditto. At that price I have 3 of them! One on the keychain, one in the hunting pack and one I am gifting.
 
I have a leatherman Monarch 300 on my keys; it's been there for probably five years now and has held up surprisingly well IMHO. :thumbup:
 
I found out that the Fenix E01 will work in a vacuum chamber. I had to degas some material (liquid) at work today, I wanted to watch it carefully so it wouldn't boil over. No light in the chamber, ambient room light were not adequate. So in goes the E01... down to 29.5 inches of Hg. No problem.

Ric
 
I have an older Fenix LOD w/5 outputs. Low-med-high-strobe and SOS. You can't buy them anymore but the replacement ain't bad either. I go for max lumens on high.
I also have a Maratac AAA in reserve. Max output -130 (I think)
I also have a Photon on my keychain as a back-up. They are a mean, wicked little light for no more that they cost. I gave them out as Christmas presents last year to my older siblings and their spouses. I'm still getting thanks.
I hope this helps. Good luck.
 
Here's a vote for a streamlight microstream...

I've only had mine for a couple of months, but it's gotten run through the washer multiple times, dropped daily on concrete and in the mud at work, and it is bright enough that it was all I needed on an overnight backpacking trip. It also fully illuminated my wife's cars tire well so I could plug 2 nail holes on the side of the road earlier this week. I don't know what I did without it.

Can't beat it for $18 on Amazon....fully planning on buying multiples for the truck, car, house, BOB and maybe a backup edc.
 

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