Just two lines to add to the hymn of AA eneloop + smart charger that runs both on 12 volts and wall outlet. (More precicely, a charger that charges each channel individually with delta-volt circuits to stop charging when they're full).


If you truly adhere to the "ONLY for TRUE emergencies" philosophy in really weight critical and/or VERY low temperature applications then lithium primaries makes sense. Or if you just happen to like the form factor of flashlights that eats CRC-123A batteries....


I like to USE my gear - not seal it in dust-proof bags to be recovered when the apocalypse comes. With that attitude, primaries makes no sense at all. Eneloop all the way, with rechargeable li-ion as a geeky supplement.


Just a quick rant about li-ion: They are neither interchangeable with lithium primaryes nor regular AA (unless your flashlight specifically states that they are. Such as 4sevens quarks). And to really get benefit from what the li-ion technology is capable of you should use the 18650 form factor. Old and improperly cared for li-ion batteries and sloppy charging routines/bad quality charger equals significant fire hazard. In summary, just the perfect batteries to play with for a flashlight geek like myself...