Recommend a new EDC AA Light for me

2443 Views 15 Replies 8 Participants Last post by TX-JB, Nov 21, 2009

Bob The Great

Discussion Starter · Nov 17, 2009

I am in need of a new EDC flashlight. Currently, I carry a Fenix L1T V2.0 powered by a 3.6V 14500 AA-sized battery. This is a great light, but I want something that I can use with a "Rogers" style hold.

I've found this to be the most secure way of holding a pistol and a light simultaneously, and it lets me keep almost a full two-handed grip on my gun.

This requires a grip-ring near the middle of the light, which unfortunately the L1T does not have. The TK12 does have this ring, but it does not take AA's, and I'm not looking to EDC a 2xCR123-sized light. I have a double CR123 light hanging by my bed, and compared to the L1T it's a brick. I also don't want to have to revamp my battery stash, BoB, truck kit, etc away from AA's.

So here are my requirements for a light:

Must run off of 1x AA battery
Must have a grip-ring like the TK12
Must have a bright high-quality LED
Must have either a belt-clip or available holster for EDC
Must be compact and unobtrusive
Would be nice if it could handle the 3.7V 14500 batteries for a little extra juice, but it's not necessary.

So, is there anything out there that fills these requirements? Or should I start cleaning out my BoB now to make room for the CR123's?

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greenLED

· #2 · Nov 18, 2009

Bob The Great said:
So here are my requirements for a light:

Must run off of 1x AA battery
Must have a grip-ring like the TK12
Must have a bright high-quality LED
Must have either a belt-clip or available holster for EDC
Must be compact and unobtrusive
Would be nice if it could handle the 3.7V 14500 batteries for a little extra juice, but it's not necessary.

So, is there anything out there that fills these requirements? Or should I start cleaning out my BoB now to make room for the CR123's?

There's a few offerings from Nitecore, Fenix, HDS, Novatac, and other makers. However, none of them fulfill all your requirements (or they do, but have reverse clickies, or are multimode).

You'll most likely have to resort to 123's.

Also, and IMO, the vast majority (if not all) of them are "gimmicky" when it comes to using them with a gun, or in *real* tactical situations. (and I can hear the legions of fellow CPF'er flashaholics rolling around in disagreement, but most haven't dealt with guns AND lights at the same time...)

Anywhoo... Other than SF's Z2 or C2/C3, M2/M3, and the Gladius, I can't think of any other lights that have real grip rings like those lights have. SF also makes polymer grip rings that attach to the 6P or G2/G3 to allow easier gun manipulations.

I have a Gladius that I like a lot. The ergonomics of it when doing gun drills and shooting are great. However, it's a bit large for me to EDC, so I have a SF e2e with a K2XC bezel (bright little sucker!) for gun carry duty.

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Bob The Great

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 18, 2009

Well nuts, that's kind of what I was afraid of. I wonder if I could somehow make a grip-ring for my L1T.

psychophipps

· #4 · Nov 18, 2009

I find the Graham Method to be superior in that you don't have to compromise your shooting grip when you use it. It's also the first method devised from the get-go as a fighting method rather than a searching method.

cvhoss

· #5 · Nov 18, 2009

You might look on LightHound. You can search by battery type. I see a few that I think would fit most of your criteria except using only 1 battery. Most use two.

You also might look on Cabela's web site.

Hoss

shooterX

· #6 · Nov 18, 2009

How about this one: Quark AA 4Sevens.Com

Bob The Great

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 19, 2009

psychophipps said:
I find the Graham Method to be superior in that you don't have to compromise your shooting grip when you use it. It's also the first method devised from the get-go as a fighting method rather than a searching method.

Yeah, that's basically what I'm after. But to use that method, I need a light with a grip-ring.

shooterX said:
How about this one: Quark AA 4Sevens.Com

Interesting little light. Too bad it's only 90lumens, but that might work. Thanks.

psychophipps

· #8 · Nov 19, 2009

Err...the grip rings are about 10 bucks for three of them and they mount on any light with a 1' base, regardless of manufacturer.

Bob The Great

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 19, 2009

psychophipps said:
Err...the grip rings are about 10 bucks for three of them and they mount on any light with a 1' base, regardless of manufacturer.

Do you have a link? I haven't found anywhere that sells just the rings.

Also, the Fenix L1T's are .835 in diameter at the tail - not true 1"

psychophipps

· #10 · Nov 19, 2009

Just Google "Surefire Combat Rings" and you will get a whole slew of places to by the rings by themselves. They come in three-packs with a hook, loop, and the basic ring so you can pick the one you prefer.

Guns and more

· #11 · Nov 19, 2009

This isn't very Ninja, but I bought a 5 LED light which runs on a single AA. It's close enough to 1" that it fits the mount on my rail. It's very bright, also has a single red LED if you want red.
I got it at Lowe's for $23.

Bob The Great

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 19, 2009

psychophipps said:
Just Google "Surefire Combat Rings" and you will get a whole slew of places to by the rings by themselves. They come in three-packs with a hook, loop, and the basic ring so you can pick the one you prefer.

ah, these. Those would be great, unfortunately, they won't fit the slightly less than 1" Fenix lights. :frown:

I might just break down and go with a Nitecore SR3. It's the right size and has all the features I want, but it runs on a single CR123.

The Olight I15 is another candidate. It's still just under 1" diameter, but it's closer than the Fenix, so maybe those Surefire rings would fit securely enough. Plus, it runs on a AA/14500 and is very nearly as bright as the SR3.

Choices, choices....

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shooterX

· #13 · Nov 19, 2009

Bob The Great said:
Yeah, that's basically what I'm after. But to use that method, I need a light with a grip-ring.

Interesting little light. Too bad it's only 90lumens, but that might work. Thanks.

Bob this one is the CR123 version, which is 130 lumens:Quark 123 Tactical 4Sevens.Com

I'm interested in this little light also:http://www.leatherman.com/lights/serac/serac-s3.aspx

Bob The Great

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 19, 2009

shooterX said:
Bob this one is the CR123 version, which is 130 lumens:Quark 123 Tactical 4Sevens.Com

That's true. If I go with a 1xCR123 light, I think I'll go with the 220 lumen Nitecore though.

dhshark

· #15 · Nov 19, 2009

Bob The Great said:
That's true. If I go with a 1xCR123 light, I think I'll go with the 220 lumen Nitecore though.

That Nitecore SR 3 is a nice light!:hand10:

TX-JB

· #16 · Nov 21, 2009

If you really like the light you have, I think you could make it fit the surefire rings... I made them fit my light by wrapping a couple of wraps of friction tape around the head, then working the rings onto the tape and it worked fine....

It may not be the prettiest fix, but it's been on there more than a year...

You could also make your own rings, using some thick rubber sheet gasket material, cut to your own fit... I found some at the hardware store, it kinda looks like radiator hose material...

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