I am looking for a basic flashlight, led and runs on aa or aaa. where should start looking?

Inova X-1

I've got several ideas.

You can get the Energizer Hard Case torches, the kind that runs on 2 AA's. I have four of them velcroed to a case on the wall, in an easy to reach spot should there be a blackout. My family members and I can just grab them and be good to go.

If you want something pocket-sized you can get an Inova X1, which runs on only one AA battery. However you need to watch as there are several versions of these, one with a spotlight, and one without, that "floods" the light.

You can also buy a Mini-MagLite with either the LED's already equipped by the company or get a regular one and a Nite Ize LED conversion kit seperately, and DIY. However that's the route that's a little bit more expensive.

One last possibility that I know of is that Target is having, as far as I know, a clearance on some certain Victorinox stuff. I got a Swiss Army Knife/Flashlight kit for only eighteen bucks on sale, and the flashlight, also manufactured by Inova for the Victorinox company, is probably even better than the Mini-MagLite deals.

That's all I can really think of right now. If anyone else has any ideas...

+2 on the Inova X1, I EDC it and for the price it is a good light.

Mike

Speaking of Target, I just picked up a "River Rock" 0.5 Watt LED (2xAAA). Not bad for $10.

Streamlight Stylus Pro has gotten good reviews. 2AAA, .5W, forward clickie, $19 bucks at lighthound.

http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2967

Gerber Infinity, EDCed one for two years now and my only grumble is that in three or four more years the steel split ring I have on it will wear through the aluminum end cap's lanyard loop.

+1 on the gerber infinity. I used to EDC a CMG infinity (the original manufacterers) before I lent it out to a friend during the hurricanes down here in florida in '04. Never got it back *grumbles* Couldn't find another locally for a year and a half, I guess that's when gerber was aquiring the infinity line.......picked up a gerber as soon as I could, love the new design, blew the CMG version out of the water IMO. Its been on my keyring ever since. Use it quite often and I STILL have the battery that it shipped with inside of it. Enegizer bunny, eat your heart out

-Bill Liptak
*in no way affiliated with Gerber, so's ya knows ;)*

+2 on the Gerber. It's never let me down and the more I use it, the more I shelf my bigger lights.

The Dorcy Metal Gear LED has been a fantastic flashlight for me. The thing sips on batteries.