Looking for Flashlight: Small EDC light.

[joker1]

I'm looking for a good flashlight for everyday carry, preferences:

LED
1 AA battery
100 Lumens (High)
Clip for carrying on belt or pocket
Aluminum Construction
Tail mounted switch
Small enough to carry comfortably
Good quality
Around $50.00

These features would be nice:

Strike bezel
Strobe feature
High, Low modes
Surefire

I've been scouring the interwebs and was seriously considering a Fenix LD-10, but it's china made and had a few bad reviews. Also looked at a Streamlight 88032 (Pro-Tac ?) but it's only 50 Lumens. Found a TerraLux TLF-1C1AA Lightstar 100 but it sounds like it might be 8.5 inches long.

Help

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Thunder71]

Check out the Nebo Redline, I love mine... also love my Maglite.

Nebo:
Amazon.com: RedLine Flashlight: Sports & Outdoors

Maglite:
Amazon.com: MAGLITE XL50-S3016 LED Flashlight, Black: Sports & Outdoors

[joker1]

Did a little more checking on the TerraLux, their site says it's 4" in length, hmmmm...

Anyone know anything about them?

[bwaltman]

Good luck getting a surefire in the $50 range. I would look at Quark lights at 4Sevens - 4Sevens.Com

[JD]

Streamlight PT1L

Streamlight Pt1l - Google Search

I love mine. Also has a strobe and low power feature.

Features
C4 LED technology
High, low and strobe modes
Includes 1 CR123A lithium battery
Rubber push button tail cap switch
IPX7 rated design; waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes
Impact-resistant tempered glass lens
Unbreakable, removable pocket clip
Anti-roll head
Includes nylon holster

Length: 3.35 in. (8.51 cm)
Head Diameter: 0.90 in. (2.29 cm)
Barrel Diameter: 0.77 in. (1.96 cm)
Weight: 2.0 oz (57 grams) with battery

C4 LED illumination output and run times:
HIGH - 110 lumens/1.25 Hours
LOW - 12 lumens/14 Hours
STROBE - 3 Hours

I think I paid $46 for mine.

[JD]

Here's mine next to a chap-stick for reference.

[Spade115]

Im actually carrying a maglight in a belt clip right now actually like it used it as a light club to club a few bugs here at work.

Depending on what you want to do with it should depend on why your getting it.

Harbor freight has the click button for these which is what I will be buying (like 2 bucks) to make it a click light and they sell an LED kit to convert it as well. Many posibilities on the cheap.

[TSiWRX]

I'll "second" JD's recommendation on a Streamlight, but IIRC, the PT1L uses CR123 primaries....and the OP would like an AA option.

So.....

ProTac™ Series - ProTac™ 1AA | Streamlight



joker1, you mention "Surefire" as something that you'd like to have, but honestly, Streamlight has just as good of a reputation in the emergency-response industry as Surefire does.

That said, the Fenix lights truly ain't bad, either, and I'm speaking from the vantage point of both a firearms enthusiast as well as a ex-flashaholic (who recently started up again! )

[joker1]

Good luck getting a surefire in the $50 range. I would look at Quark lights at 4Sevens - 4Sevens.Com

Yeah, it was worth a try

[TSiWRX]

^ Er.....

Streamlight 88032 Strmlght PT 1AA LED Blk W/HLSTR

These days, it's really not that hard to get under the $50 mark.

Five years ago, it was a different story, particularly if you wanted LED. But today, they're a dime a dozen, at that price-point, particularly if you're willing to look at the Fenix/4Sevens/etc. offerings.

[azchevy]

Best EDC I have found

CountyComm - Maratac? AAA Flashlight

[joker1]

Thanks for all of the replies. Some good suggestions but unfortunately none are completely fitting the bill yet. I will be carrying this to use basically as a flashlight if needed at work (automobile business), it's that time of year that it's dark when I go to work and when I leave work, and I want it to be "tactical" enough to be able to use it for defense or distraction if needed. I have another light I keep on the nightstand an for use around the house, but it uses 2 CR123A batteries and is a pain to carry unless I've got my cargo shorts on or a jacket with pockets.

Keep it up, I'm still listening and I greatly appreciate all of the suggestions. Love this forum!

[joker1]

Hmmm....

Quark AA Tactical, R5 Edition 4Sevens.Com

Anyone have one of these?

[TSiWRX]

^ There are many in the gun community who have - and recommend strongly - the 4Sevens lights, and the Quark AA and AA^2 have plenty of fans. Again, it's a good light, as are Fenixs, but both run afoul of your preference to stay domestic.


-----


If you're looking for a 1AA, have a look-see at the 1AA variant of the ProTac. Most good police/fire stores (brick-and-mortars, local) will have them out on-display.

The 1AA, although it only provides, spec'ed, "50-lumens" on its high setting, actually will seem about just as bright as the 2AA, at shorter distances, if you used Lithium AA primaries (which, unfortunately, may likely cost more than CR123s, depending on how you choose to shop), as our eyes do not respond to "lumens" on in a linear manner.

The problem would actually be, instead, run-time.

Actually, since your primary use overlaps with your job duties, I actually think you might be the perfect candidate to go with rechargeable batteries. As long as you're diligent about maintaining the batteries and making sure you're carrying a charged light (just in case of a SHTF situation erputing, say, on your way home from work), this would make for a near ideal power-versus-utility scenario.

Overall, in all honesty, joker1, it's going to be very, very hard to find a light that meets all of your qualifications - including the need for logical and simple actuation of the different features, particularly the "defensive" ones of high-power/high-strobe - either as one single light or at your price-point.

Most who carry flashlights for occupational needs or as a hobby, and combine that with a true "tactical" need/want, typically will carry two lights.

It's a lot to ask, particularly if you don't want to go foreign-made.

[ctr]

I agree with the other comments. Finding one light that meets all of those requirements is going to be a challenge.

If the strongest need is for an EDC that uses AA and is practical not tactical, I can highly recommend the Gerber Infinity Ultra flashlight. Small, light, and bright. Less than $21 at REI.