I had standardized on CR123A because of their advantages. The main reason that push me towards CR123A is the leakage of normal batteries in devices.

Once there was a power failure and I was left in the dark. I had various sizes Mag lite (about 6) and none of them works. It was not due to flat battery but leakages and I had to dispose of all Mag. I also had other devices that were ruined by battery leakages.

With an inventory of 200~300 pieces of CR123A at home. I could easily carry several dozens of CR123A on my trips. So shops not selling CR123A is not an issue for me.

I am always on the lookout for CR123A devices, do let me know if you are aware of any GPS, walkie talkie that use CR123A. Thanks.

200-300 CR123s at home?? Yikes!!

You do know they have been known to explode, especially when dropped or partially discharged batteries are mixed together in a device? (The least discharged battery will start charging the other battery. This is bad, as regular 123s are not meant to be recharged.)

I don't know what the current TSA ruling is, but they were banned from air travel in any great number.

Never thought about the charger not working right, after all it’s somewhat new and made for NIMH batteries. I have a few older chargers made for NiCad batteries but I think the charge rate is wrong for NiMH. But then I don’t use any of the Energizers I have so it’s no big thing if they don’t charge right. But I don’t want them to leak and destroy the device I have them in.

I will see if my brother has a NiMH charger and barrow it to see if it charges them better then the one I have.

I am only aware of 2 ~ 3 incidents that CR123A exploded. This is against the backdrop of millions of CR123A batteries in use worldwide. All the explosions are due to a) inferior batteries (without built-in safety feature) b) mixing new & old(nearly exhausted) batteries in devices that draw a big current from the batteries.

TSA ban the shipping of CR123A in cartons. But carrying 1~2 dozen spare for your electronic devices should not be an issue.

There is the issue. I'm sure CR123A's are a fine standard is your gear consists on only flashlights. But if you have flashlights, radios, navigation, cameras, etc then you need somehting that can work in all of them.

Sorry, I had enough of battery leakages to last me a lifetime. So standardizing on AA is out of the question for me. Currently, I am still struck with AA based GPS & walkie talkie.

I'm trying to standardize now, attempting to go all AA or AAA so that I can eventually use rechargeable eneloop batteries with a foldable solar setup.

I do have a large store of Kirkland AA and AAA batteries from Costco for emergencies until I can get to the point I mentioned above. I also have a couple packs of Energizer E2 Lithium batteries set aside for my flashlight.

Standardization is one of the reasons I changed out flashlights. My Old Pelican used CR123a's, which are generally harder to find and definitely more expensive than the AA's that my Fenix Uses.

Devices that I have that use AA's:
Fenix L2D CE
Eton Grundig FR200
Mini Maglite LED in the FAK
Energizer Energi-To-Go Cell Charger

Devices that I have that use AAAs:
Arc AAA Premium

Those are just my BOB, PSK and FAK devices. When I start listing 'puter mice, remote controls and all the other gadgets I have around my home and use every day, it just makes sense for me to buy rechargeable double and triple A's and to have alkalines and lithiums as backup.

Right now the MagLite LED 4D that I keep in my car is the only emergency light that I have that is out the small cell category... But I have that one for more reasons than the light it provides... LOL

I hear nobody carries a MagLite D cell for the light it (doesn't) put out.

CR123 are not to bad ($) when you know where to buy, and the coupon codes, etc. CandlePowerforums is a good guide to this stuff... really in depth review of the CR123, and where to buy CHEAP high-end ones too.

I have only ever had rayovac's leak but primarily use eneloops now. Being 'stuck' with AA based gps is why I don't bother with 123's, if I can swap as needed then its not standardized.