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Does anyone know a good LED pocket flashlight with decent brightness

I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:

- Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)

- Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)

- Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)

- Lasts longer than 2 hours

- Reliable switch

- Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash

The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.

Thanks in advance -
 
D

DaveT

I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:

- Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)

- Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)

- Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)

- Lasts longer than 2 hours

- Reliable switch

- Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash

The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.

Thanks in advance -

Google 'Fenix leds' if they are available in your area. Their 2-AA Cree
LED puts a 4 cell Maglight to shame on full power. For a basic Led have a
look at the single AA Gerber Ultra, still has battery saving electronics
in it (makes batteries last longer).
 
G

GregS

I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:

- Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)

- Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)

- Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)

- Lasts longer than 2 hours

- Reliable switch

- Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash

The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.

Thanks in advance -

I was recommending the standard Dorcy LED lamp sold at Sears and Walmart for $20.
The beam is not real tight, but its a great lamp, maybe too fat, but fits
in pocket just fine. They also have a longer slim focusable light. I have not used that one.
The AAA $20 Dorcy lights bright for about 3 hours, but will continue to light for a couple days
getting dimmer. Its also a nice warm white. The switch is good. On the new one I just bought
I fiddled with the end caps to get a good contact. With most of my flashlights I always try lubing the parts,
batteries and contact whenever I can get to them. I like CRC 2-26.

greg
 
J

JoeSpareBedroom

I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:

- Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)

- Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)

- Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)

- Lasts longer than 2 hours

- Reliable switch

- Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash

The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.

Thanks in advance -


Surefire makes probably the best flashlights you'll ever find, especially
for illuminating things at great distances. I have one of these and despite
its small size, it VERY thoroughly illuminates things 200 feet away.

http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/prrfnbr/878/sesent/00

The company also makes a series of LED lights, but I haven't tried them.
http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/max_segment_listing/disp/strfnbr/6/sesent/00

As far as batteries, the company sells boxes of lithium batteries at a great
price. I wouldn't base my decision on how easy it is to find batteries.
Order a bunch when you buy the flashlight. They have a 10 year shelf life.
 
G

GregS

I was recommending the standard Dorcy LED lamp sold at Sears and Walmart for
$20.
The beam is not real tight, but its a great lamp, maybe too fat, but fits
in pocket just fine. They also have a longer slim focusable light. I have not
used that one.
The AAA $20 Dorcy lights bright for about 3 hours, but will continue to light
for a couple days
getting dimmer. Its also a nice warm white. The switch is good. On the new one
I just bought
I fiddled with the end caps to get a good contact. With most of my flashlights
I always try lubing the parts,
batteries and contact whenever I can get to them. I like CRC 2-26.

it seems impossible to get a view of my flashlight. Its the one with the switch on the rear. It
seems Dorcy has so many versions, but it should be at the store.

greg
 
I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:

- Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)

- Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)

- Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)

- Lasts longer than 2 hours

- Reliable switch

- Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash

The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.

Thanks in advance -

Look up "Fenix L1T" if you want 1AA, or "Fenix E01" if you prefer
1AAA. I use both on a daily basis, and have not had any issues. You
can keep the Fenix L1T on a high mode - very bright - for at least a
couple hours, but you can also switch it at any time to a low mode and
it'll last at least 12 hours. Very tough little performer.
BTW I've also tried Inova and Coast, but I like Fenix best.
 
Google 'Fenix leds' if they are available in your area. Their 2-AA Cree
LED puts a 4 cell Maglight to shame on full power. For a basic Led have a
look at the single AA Gerber Ultra, still has battery saving electronics
in it (makes batteries last longer).

--
Dave
Please note, many will not see your posts if you are posting from Google.
They are automatically Blocked!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I haven't seen Fenix sold anywhere in stores... I've always had to
order them online - there are multiple sources, the most popular site
being the Felix Store. I have the Gerber Ultra also.
 
G

GregS

I got a couple of these upon recommendation from glenn reynolds at
instapundit.com.

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Bright-Heavy-Duty-Compact-Aluminum-Flashlight/dp/B0
00LIQQ7M/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1213196969&sr=8-2

I haven't tried its longevity, but it seems to put out a substantial light.

I have had two similar priced units of different colors. They are junk, and will flicker
after a while driving you nuts, until you throw it away.

greg
 
G

GregS

it seems impossible to get a view of my flashlight. Its the one with the switch
on the rear. It
seems Dorcy has so many versions, but it should be at the store.

I was looking at some reviews of Dorcy's. The old one I had I thought had a power
supply built in, but one review of that model says its direct drive. My new Dorcy
is definately different. The top gets warm unlike the first after a few minuites.
Perhaps better heat sinking and perhaps a converter ??!!

greg
 
J

jakdedert

GregS said:
I was recommending the standard Dorcy LED lamp sold at Sears and Walmart for $20.
The beam is not real tight, but its a great lamp, maybe too fat, but fits
in pocket just fine. They also have a longer slim focusable light. I have not used that one.
The AAA $20 Dorcy lights bright for about 3 hours, but will continue to light for a couple days
getting dimmer. Its also a nice warm white. The switch is good. On the new one I just bought
I fiddled with the end caps to get a good contact. With most of my flashlights I always try lubing the parts,
batteries and contact whenever I can get to them. I like CRC 2-26.

greg

The little Dorcy I carry on my keychain is plenty bright (uses a DC/DC
converter to keep the voltage up) and uses one AAA which I last replaced
sometime last October. Stated runtime is six hours. I don't use it
much; but it would be fine for the OP's stated purpose, and cost only
about $7. It's aluminum and quite sturdy. For pocket use, one might
select a unit that is a bit more streamlined....

Dorcy has an extensive line for a company I never heard of five years ago.

The one I have:
<http://www.dorcy.com/products.aspx?p=414224>
Their entire line:
<http://www.dorcy.com/products.aspx>
jak
 
G

GregS

flashlights I always try lubing the parts,

The little Dorcy I carry on my keychain is plenty bright (uses a DC/DC
converter to keep the voltage up) and uses one AAA which I last replaced
sometime last October. Stated runtime is six hours. I don't use it
much; but it would be fine for the OP's stated purpose, and cost only
about $7. It's aluminum and quite sturdy. For pocket use, one might
select a unit that is a bit more streamlined....

Dorcy has an extensive line for a company I never heard of five years ago.

The one I have:
<http://www.dorcy.com/products.aspx?p=414224>
Their entire line:
<http://www.dorcy.com/products.aspx>
jak

I have heard about them for ages. They had many cheap
flashlights over the years. I have some Dorcy batteries.

greg
 
The little Dorcy I carry on my keychain is plenty bright (uses a DC/DC
converter to keep the voltage up) and uses one AAA which I last replaced
sometime last October.  Stated runtime is six hours.  I don't use it
much; but it would be fine for the OP's stated purpose, and cost only
about $7.  It's aluminum and quite sturdy.  For pocket use, one might
select a unit that is a bit more streamlined....

Dorcy has an extensive line for a company I never heard of five years ago.

The one I have:
<http://www.dorcy.com/products.aspx?p=414224>
Their entire line:
<http://www.dorcy.com/products.aspx>
jak- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


Dorcy has been around 35 yrs:

http://www.rickenbacker.org/realestate/success.asp

Dorcy Shines at Rickenbacker

"The leader in quality flashlight products," Dorcy International is
the nation's fastest growing flashlight company. For 35 years, the
company has been manufacturing and distributing a wide-range of
lighting products, including lanterns, spotlights, head lamp lanterns
and a multitude of flashlights, from aluminum to rubber, and all-
purpose to waterproof.

Over the past seven years, Dorcy has continually increased its sales
and market share in the United States, while expanding its staff and
warehousing and assembly/manufacturing space at Rickenbacker
International Airport. The company imports much of its materials and
merchandise, and benefits greatly by being located in Foreign-Trade
Zone (FTZ) No.138 at Rickenbacker.

In fact, Dorcy attributes much of its success to its location in FTZ
138. Like many other companies at Rickenbacker, Dorcy is able to
defer, reduce and at times even eliminate duties on overseas cargo,
efforts which have enabled the company to enjoy double-digit sales
growth over the past several years.

"Because our product line comes in with high import duty, we chose the
location at Rickenbacker so we could be included in the Foreign-Trade
Zone," said Ted Davis, President of Dorcy. "We have realized the
benefits we thought we would in terms of duty deferral and the
expansion of our export business".

Dorcy has not only increased its sales growth at Rickenbacker, but the
company has also increased its space at the airport. According to
Davis, Dorcy has more than doubled its size since relocating to
Rickenbacker, including expanding its current facility with a
warehouse addition and its usage of an outside storage area in the
zone.

"The three reasons we came to Rickenbacker were tax savings, duty
deferral and export expansion, and we have been able to achieve all
three,” Davis said.

At its Rickenbacker location, Dorcy receives assembled flashlights
that have been shipped from China to the West Coast. In Columbus,
Dorcy packages the flashlights with batteries and ships them to such
customers as Sears, K-Mart and Wal-Mart.

The FTZ location has proven to be quite a money-saving asset for
Dorcy. Prior to its move from Downtown Columbus, Dorcy had to pay 12.5
percent duty on flashlight parts as soon as they arrived from the West
Coast. Now, the company is able to postpone the duty payments until
the flashlights arrive at Rickenbacker and are packaged and shipped.
Therefore, payments are deferred as long as it takes to move the
goods, which can take up to 90 days or longer.

Another business boost that Dorcy has experienced since relocating to
Rickenbacker is the ability to re-export goods from an FTZ, which
means it pays no duty on the merchandise. Dorcy's exports to
Argentina, Canada, and the United Kingdom make up 15 percent of
company sales.

According to Davis, Dorcy's future at Rickenbacker will include a
focus on continued growth of sales and market share in the United
States. The company also anticipates further development of its export
business.

"Rickenbacker has been a very fruitful location for our business. We
have achieved everything we had hoped to achieve by moving here,"
Davis said. "We also have virtually no personnel turnover at this
location, and that is in part because Dorcy associates find our
facility at Rickenbacker to be a very convenient and pleasant place to
work. We are looking forward to a continued expansion of our business
and success here at Rickenbacker.”
 
K

KLS

I have had two similar priced units of different colors. They are junk, and will flicker
after a while driving you nuts, until you throw it away.

Just like Glenn Reynolds, but no one has thrown him away yet.
 
N

N8N

I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:

- Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)

- Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)

- Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)

- Lasts longer than 2 hours

- Reliable switch

- Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash

The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.

Thanks in advance -

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=175576

the Lowe's 3W 2C cell flashlight is the best I've ever owned, period.
And it's about $30. Kicks butt over my old 3D cell LED Mag-Lite.
Painfully bright - do not look into it!

nate
 
Y

y_p_w

I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:

- Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)

- Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)

- Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)

- Lasts longer than 2 hours

- Reliable switch

- Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash

The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.

Thanks in advance -

I use a Petzl Tikka in my hand. I occasionally use it on my head.
It's rated for up to 130 hours on AAA alkalines, but the manufacturer
says that rechargeable AAAs are acceptable. It's not going to be
terribly bright with maybe 1/3 of runtime left, but with rechargeables
you can charge it up before you need it. The brightness is
considerably higher with freshly charged batteries. It's not
ridiculously bright, but perfectly fine for getting around the house
without turning every light on or making myself noticeable on a late
night walk.

Another option would be an LED bicycle headlamp. Cateye pretty much
sets the standard for quality, although there might be other brands
that could serve you well. Some of the less bright ones are under
$30, and sometimes you can find ones for $12-20 on sale. Most of the
ones I see advertise anywhere from 30 to 240 hour runtimes depending
on settings. Some come with velcro straps which you could slip a
finger or two through.
 
J

JoeSpareBedroom

y_p_w said:
I use a Petzl Tikka in my hand. I occasionally use it on my head.
It's rated for up to 130 hours on AAA alkalines, but the manufacturer
says that rechargeable AAAs are acceptable. It's not going to be
terribly bright with maybe 1/3 of runtime left, but with rechargeables
you can charge it up before you need it. The brightness is
considerably higher with freshly charged batteries. It's not
ridiculously bright, but perfectly fine for getting around the house
without turning every light on or making myself noticeable on a late
night walk.

Another option would be an LED bicycle headlamp. Cateye pretty much
sets the standard for quality, although there might be other brands
that could serve you well. Some of the less bright ones are under
$30, and sometimes you can find ones for $12-20 on sale. Most of the
ones I see advertise anywhere from 30 to 240 hour runtimes depending
on settings. Some come with velcro straps which you could slip a
finger or two through.


He said "bright enough to read house numbers", which I suspect means from
maybe the street. Will those Petzl lights do that?
 
S

SMS

I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:

- Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)

- Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)

- Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)

- Lasts longer than 2 hours

- Reliable switch

- Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash

The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.

Thanks in advance -

Fenix L2DCE is your best choice, but it's very hard to get, and it's
expensive. See
"http://www.eliteled.com/products/flashlights/fenix-l2d-ce.html"

RayOVac SELUX2AA3W-B Sportsman Xtreme 2AA 3 Watt Luxeon LED Flashlight
$25 at Wal-Mart.
 
P

(PeteCresswell)

Per N8N:
the Lowe's 3W 2C cell flashlight is the best I've ever owned, period.
And it's about $30. Kicks butt

I bought one for use on my bike.

Couple weeks later, I bought a half-dozen more tb used as gifts.

That's one *Brave* little light.
 
D

Don Klipstein

In <[email protected]>,
I'm looking for a small LED flashlight to carry with me:

- Short and thin enough to fit in my pocket (around 4" length)

- Uses AA or AAA batteries (easy to find, not lithium)

- Has decent brightness (enough to read a house number)

- Lasts longer than 2 hours

- Reliable switch

- Should be able to withstand sweaty hand or occasional water splash

The closest thing I've seen is an Inova at Target, but the light is a
bit dim and the runtime is only 2 hours.

The Mag 3-AA LED light satisfies all of these requirements except for
its length.

The 2-AA Mag LEDis shorter but still over 4 inches long, and noticeably
dimmer than the 3-AA one.

One place to look: http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/ledleft.htm, and
search in that huge table of contents for "trophy case". Most of the
items there are LED flashlights, and all of the "Trophy Case" flashlights
perform well and are mostly waterproof. A few of those will cost a lot
less than an arm and a leg.

- Don Klipstein ([email protected])
 
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