Best AA Size Flashlight

Bandit

Bandit

Joined
Jan 10, 2000
Messages
283
I just did a full search for flashlights in this forum and got some good ideas. But, I am looking for something very specific. A AA size flashlight (the size of a maglight) that is tough enough to withstand bouncing off someones head, bright enough to blind a would-be assailant, and water resistant enough to withstand the puddles I slip in after a long night. Any ideas?
 
Hmm- that seems to be a tall order by limiting it to a Mini Mag size and AA's and that is "tough enough to withstand bouncing off someones head" - do you mean that it will physically survive hitting someone in the head (either by striking as with a baton, or throwing) or do you mean- will it do some amount of debilitating damage? If you mean the latter, you'd better have an arm like Dwight Evans circa 1982 is you intend to throw it. If you mean to hit someone with it while holding it, you'd most likely have to use the bezel or pommel end to do any real damage as there isn't a whole lot of mass behind a AA light. Anyhow, that aside, check out some of the LED offerings- Lightwave 2000, Lightwave4000, Trek, CCrane, Buster 8x is a 3AA light of thick aluminum that might do the trick (8 white LEDs).

If you want to step up to a "real" duty-type light (this implies a non-AA battery- in this case lithium 123A's), look at the SureFire M2 for probably the toughest light going and it's not much larger than the MiniMag. It's many times brighter than the Mag using the stock lamp (65 lumens- roughly the output of a 5D Maglight) and even more so using the included optional 120 lumen lamp (this cuts your runtime from 60 minutes to 20). Or- not quite as tough, but considerably smaller is the SureFire E2. Same 2 batteries as the M2, but physically smaller and puts out 60 lumens for 75 minutes. All of the above would withstand puddles and rain and the SureFires are the only light I would look to for blinding ability in the size you mention.

Hope that helps somewhat.

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Regards,
Tim
Nor'east Knives
noreastknives@bigfoot.com

There are two rules for ultimate success in life.
Never tell everything you know.

[The other one is to please read the groundrules for the Auto forum at: http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum14/HTML/001211.html ]
 
Whoops, I just meant around the size of a AA Maglight. And I would never throw a flashlight (well, almost never), but I need something I can use as a kubaton. I am checking out the Surefires right now. Thanks for the advice.
 
Check out the Underwater Kinetics 2AA Penlight or Pocketlight. Very bright prefocused beam, and o ring sealed.
 
Its hard to beat the old AA Mini Maglite. I've carried one as long as they have been around and haven't worn one out yet! I have used mine as a pain compliance device on several occassions. AA batteries are cheaper than lithium and the initial cost of the light means you can buy more than one if you want. Also they come in a variety of colors so as not to frighten the easily startled sheeple
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You can take it anywhere; I've flown internationally with mine in my pocket, no questions asked anywhere( it's just a flashlight, after all!)
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Bandit:
I need something I can use as a kubaton. </font>
Click to expand...

I recently bought a Streamlite BatonLite and it seems to be everything you describe except blinding. It's brighter than the average LED light, though, because it has 3 white lamps inside.

I like it a lot and think you would, too. It's so much like my old kubotan that I've discarded the old one.

 
"Is there another brand better than MagLight? I've always found them outstanding!"

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Erm...

My polite answer is "Depends on what you want to use it for and how high your expectations are."

I'm not going to let myself get all stressed by this. I'm not!
rolleyes.gif


From the 2AA bunch:

Try out a StreamLight 2AA, a UKE 2AA, a Pelican 2AA, a Lectro Science 2AA, etc etc

Serious light comes from Lithium batteries or rechargeable lights that aren't as big you may think.

Try a SureFire E2, I'm even going to suggest trying a StreamLight Scorpion (!)

IMNSHO, Better then a Maglight is not difficult!

The light I'd suggest is the M2.

Want a tough AA light that can provide a good strong beam, is tough, and waterproof. I suggest the Pelican 4AA StealthLite. I've read that the UKE 4AA is variable in terms of bulb quality, but the StreamLight 4AA is meant to be a very good light.

Try out some SureFires. You'll see the difference!

Al
 
Perhaps the question is better stated "Is there a value better than maglite"

They offer very reliable lights with good output that can surely take a beating.

I still the think the best value in torchdom is the Streamlight Scorpion. I love my E2 and carry it everyday, but for half the price it is hard to beat the Scorpion.

For a kubaton though, I would go with a Minimag or one of the 9volt Sure-Fires.

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Clay Fleischer
clay_fleischer@yahoo.com
AKTI Member A000847
 
I own,Mags,Streamlight,and Surefire.I really like the output(for their size)of the Surefire and Streamlight.However dollar wise its hard to beat the Mini Mag.$10 any day of the week and I've scene them for $7.99 at Target.Also he is looking for a 2 AA light so my vote goes for the MiniMag.

I've used my Mini Mag on canoe trips in the Yukon(the only light I brought)walked 1oo's of times too my tree stand with a Mini Mag,and been in countless housefires with a Mini Mag.Always got the job done.Now sure I like the toy factor of the Surefires ect.and for a self defense tool the brighter the better,but I've not yet had a task I cound not do with the ol'Mini Mag.Plus I have an unlimited source of FREE AA batteries
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Thanks for all the great ideas! After looking at all the options, I am currently debating between the Streamlight JR., the lightwave 2000, or the faithful maglight. I would pick a Sure-fire in a heartbeat but I can't afford to shell out that much money.
 
Interesting to hear that a lot of people find the 1 AA maglight reliable. I have two which failed in the same way - the swtich stopped working. Has anyone else had this problem or am I just unlucky?
 
Hate to throw confusion in the mix but here goes!
How bout a Pelican? Not the bird, the dive light. They make several AA models in the 6-10k candlepower range. Tough as nails (Same guys that make ballistic cases for military applications) and really bright!!
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They are also sold under the Browing name and are available at many sporting goods stores.
http://www.1sks.com/store/pelican-lights.html
These have an unconditional lifetime guarantee! I bought one of their large dive lights (100K candle power!) at a pawn shop for $10 that had been run over by a dumptruck on a job site. I called them and told them exactly what I had, where I had gotten it, and what was wrong. They shipped all new parts to me free of charge and they paid the shipping!! That is service!!!
I own several but it sounds like the mitylight is what you are looking for. These are used widely by military and are submersible and shock proof . . . you could "bounce it off someone's head"!
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by phwl:
1 AA maglight failed in the same way - the swtich stopped working.</font>
Click to expand...

Mine, too. I junked it and never bought another MagLight. OTOH my old 5D MagLight from the 1970s is still as reliable as when I carried it on duty.

 
I have carried the code 4 jr. light for years with good success. I like the switch on it as opposed to the twist on/off one on the minimag lights.I've used mine in the pouring rain with no malfunctions. I bought one of the code4 jrs with the red filter for flying and love it...it is just bright enough to read by without blinding you (as opposed to a surefire wth a red filter)
Maglight makes something called the "enhancer" for the minimags for use as a kuboton. It is basically a weight that screws on in place of the cap. I have seen it but never used it. I think Bridage Quartermaster sells them.
 
Value! You want VALUE? Okay, here I go on another LumiLite rant.
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The 2AA LumiLites, especially the rubber covered Z-Lites, are a great value at about five bucks. They are brighter than the stock MiniMags, and I believe them to be tougher as well. (I've had to send one MiniMag back for switch failure.) Also, you have a standard (nontactical) pushbutton switch, as compared to a twist the head switch. Much faster and more positive. And they come in colors and are probably more water resistant than the MiniMags (I've submerged mine in a pool at one foot for several minutes and nine feet for a few seconds and it seemed just fine. There may have been some slight leakage, but nothing major.) In the S-D classes I help teach at OSU, we use them every quarter to hit heavy bags with. If one "quits," it's just a matter of opening it up and rebending and/or fiddling with the metal connection to the bulb surround. Once I threw one that was lit up about 20 feet and it hit the hard wood floor and broke the filament. So what? I replaced the bulb and it worked. They take standard PR bulbs.

I think the 2AA LumiLites are so tough because the little batteries don't have enough mass to wear on and destroy the internal metal and plastic pieces when used for striking. Also, stay away from the LumiLite 1AA. It uses a pin style bulb and puts out less than a third of the light from a 2AA. A total waste. (So far, the 2C Z-Lite we've used on the heavy bag has held up well.)

For ultra-cheap, without the water resist, and maybe not as tough, the cheap krypton plastic LumiLite versions can't be beat at about $2.50. Again, brighter than MiniMag.

MiniMags are thinner, thus a bit easier to carry. And with the Brinkmann bulb (which I haven't tried), it may equal or exceed the LumiLites. The MiniMags are also better with a full range of Kubaton techniques and unlike the LumiLites, you can attach keys to the buttcap.

As a flashaholic, I have everything from LumiLites to ASP LEDlights to all types of Mags, to a Streamlight Scorpion and then on to my SureFire 8x and E2.

And I'm surprised no one has flamed me yet for LumiLite madness!
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Easily cheaply thrilled,

Karl

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"Celebrate the diversity of inclusive, self-esteem nurturing, multicultural weapons arts." Karl Spaulding, The Safety Guy

[This message has been edited by Safety Guy (edited 06-28-2001).]
 
Originally posted by CD Fleischer
If you get the minimag, be sure to get a Brinkmann Nextar lamp for it. Makes a world of difference.
Click to expand...

Do you have more info on this? I carry a AA Mag and would be interested in improving its performance. (I know there are better flashlights out there, but not for $4)
 
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