What is the best bang for your $ for a decent AAA led light for my EDC? Long battery life and decent cost?

Thanks

Welcome to ETS -- Fenix E01

welcome....+1 to recommendation by Russ on the E01... I relocated the hole for the split ring so there is more metal...very light weight with lithium cell... the E01 is on my key ring.. I carry a larger single cr123 LED in a belt pouch with a Leatherman Juice S2...I have a perception of need for a good light over the Bic that was in that position previously

For long battery life over light output, then I'd vote for the Fenix E01, too. Basically bulletproof light at a good price.

I personally EDC a Fenix E05 in my pocket. Won't last anywhere near as long as the E01, but it produces a very useful, bright, soft beam of light courtesy of its flood optic. I think it was recently discontinued, but can still be found for sale.

Welcome to ETS!

Fenix E01 ... I see a pattern forming here

It is a great little light; I've had one on my keyring for a couple years now and I throw it onto a lanyard when I'm out in the woods.

Someone recommended the THRUNITE TI 3-60. Any better than the Fenix E01?

I also really like my Streamlight MicroStream. But the one I tend to carry is this Black Cat light from DealExtreme.com. It's vastly brighter than the Streamlight and seems to be pretty bombproof. I have half a dozen of them, mostly black but a couple red, and my oldest one has been heavily used for about 2 years with no issues. Not bad for $8 shipped.

Mine is the contrarian vote: anything but Fenix.

I have owned five. Different models, different runs. Each one has developed problems, despite being treated as shelf queens. Never again.

On the other hand, my old-fashioned, low-tech, non-sexy Streamlights seem to be indestructible. I hit the switch and there is light, not drama. Guess where my vote lies.

YMMV.

My fav's are the Maratac AAA from Countycomm and the Fenix LD01. I like having the low mode for most things but still have the option for a bright light when needed, such as searching for small, misplaced items at camp.

My sons bought a couple of Olight I3 flashlights. They have a nice range of output (2.5, 20 & 70 lumens) and seem reasonably durable. They are just over $20 most places.

I am a happy owner of a Fenix LD01. It has given reliable service on my keyring for over two years now and it still going strong. I will probably continue to buy that brand.

Truth to tell, there are lots of reasonably decent, fairly cheap AAA lights out there. Just don't bother with anything that is not LED - that technology is the best thing that has ever happened to portable lighting technology.

I don't have any personal experience with the Thrunite, but I would say they are different types of lights. The E01 uses a low power LED and emphasizes long battery life and durability. They are very popular and I'm not aware of anyone complaining of an E01 ever dying on them.

The Thrunite uses a higher power type of LED that has a high/low capability. The low will be noticeably dimmer than the E01 and the high is way, way brighter so they aren't really comparable in light output. The low level should outlast the E01 significantly, but at only 3 lumens, I think it's too dim to be generally useful except in very dark situations.

In my own experience, multi-level lights are more prone to failure, especially if they ride around in your pocket every day and are exposed to dust, sweat, and getting bumped around a lot but like I said, I don't know firsthand how durable the Thrunite is.

If you're interested in the Thrunite, another option is the Inova XS. I haven't carried one, but if they are as durable as their bigger X series cousins, it should be bulletproof and it has two light levels. High is not quite as bright, but the low is brighter (but still dimmer than the E01).

I will get the Fenix E01 as my first EDC...thanks

Another question:

What about the photon type lights. The thumb looking ones. Which one of those are pretty good? Like the LRI Micro type light designs.

The LRI's are good. But stick with the Fenix E01. AAA batteries are cheaper and easier to get ahold of. The one benefit I can see for the flat lights is that they can easily be used one handed. It's a bit awkward to turn on something like an E01 (with it's twist head) one handed, but it can be done. You just wouldn't want to normally.

I carried an ARC AAA for many years. The ARC is the granddaddy of all these 1xAA lights like the E01. I find myself in need of brighter light at times these days, so now I carry a 4Sevens Quark 1xAA with a 14500 LiIon battery in it. But you really can't go wrong with something like the E01 for your normal EDC light.

The photon type lights are handy but the main issue I have with them is durability. They are not very water resistant, they have limited light output and battery duration. Battery changes require an expensive button cell and a screwdriver.

I do, however carry one on my keychain, because it is small, and one handed operation. I only use it to find that keyhole or minor things like that. I would never "depend" on it.

I also have a Fenix E01 and love it.

I use an Energizer Ultimate lithium battery in it (the ones that say 8X on the package, not the 4X ones). Lithium batteries have about a 15 year shelf life, don't leak, and these ones supposedly have 8 times the working life of an alkaline battery.

The combination of the E01 and a lithium battery makes a really great EDC.

That's a great point. Most people don't proactively replace their flashlight batteries on a schedule (I find yearly works fine with alkalines) and they eventually discover that the alkaline batteries have leaked, sometimes ruining the light. Definitely not a good thing for an EDC light that you may really need to work. I also keep one of those Energizer "Ultimate Lithium" AAA cells in my Fenix E05.

being a flashaholic and having owned hundreds and hundreds of 1xAAA lights, i can tell you that there is no such thing as a totally-reliable light. everything ever made by humans is capable of failing. that is why one should carry back-ups. but some designs are more inherently reliable than others. so with that said:

of all the cheapies the Fenix E01 is the most-reliable best-buy for long-runtime survival needs. (under 10 lumens)

for a general use EDC light i much prefer the beam shape, tint and brightness (27 lumens) of the Fenix E05, but runtime is much less.

for ultimate reliability and extreme-long-runtime in a 1xAAA survival light, there is nothing quite like the custom Mako. they were made in small runs and cost around $150. if you're committed and well-heeled, now and then one shows up for sale on CPF's BST Ti forum.
here's a thread i posted about them: Mako-1xAAA-the-most-important-flashlight-i-ve-ever-owned

re: Thrunite Ti - i've owned a few of them. nice light for the money but the tiny metal tab that controls the hi-low stages is far too small and fragile, which eventually leads to problems.

my EDC rule is "the smaller the better" so that you'll always have it with you. for that i like EDCing the DQG Tiny, currently the smallest 1xAAA in the world, which is made in stainless, has two stages (around 5 lumens on Low and 60 lumens on High), two different tint options (the warmer versions can be found here), is reasonably priced, and pretty reliable (for the half dozen Tinys i've had the pleasure of owning).

I have had the same Photon II on my keychain for going on 15 years and besides one battery change, I have not had to worry about it. It works every time I press the switch and it has sat in my sweaty front pocket through many a hot, sticky East Coast summer during those 15 years. (I just checked it--yup, lights up!)

I can't comment on other brands, but I would stay away from any super cheap ones unless you keep two or three handy. So, if you get one as a freebie or it costs a buck or two, I wouldn't count on it as an EDC light. That said, the cheap ones are great to keep a stash on hand to give out during a blackout and not worry about getting them back.

How do you make a battery last a year? I guess I use my lights more than most people. My batteries would be dead as a doornail (from use) long before a year is up. That's why I went to rechargeables. NiMh (Eneloops) for the lights I use occassionally, and LiIon for the heavy hitters (both in frequency of use and brightness requirements). I do keep alkalines as backups for some flashlights, but those are stored separately - outside of the flashlight.

In my own experience, I don't use my EDC lights heavily. To me, lights that are used heavily, such as for dog walking at night or for your job, are something you grab when you're heading out for that purpose. They aren't on me all the time like a little AAA EDC light. Or else these lights are used at higher power and thus drain very quickly.

Haertig, if you drain the battery of something like a Fenix E01 more than once a year, then you're a real keychain light power user!

I only use lithium primary batteries and high-quality rechargeables.

The E01 is bullet proof and I have them stashed in kits, but for about the same money the Thrunite Ti has more runtime on low and a heck of a lot more light on high. The E01 also has a nasty purple tint. Until something better comes along at that price point, the Ti is what I suggest to folks.

I keep a Preon ReVO on my keychain, so I don't need a Photon-type light. I buy fauxtons from DX ten at a time and give them away to people.

By comparison, a Maglite Solitaire with a fresh battery puts out 2.5-3 lumens. The low range on a Maratac AAA is 1.5 lumens, and that is my preferred setting for finding my way in the dark. Just enough light to see where you're stepping and out to around 10 feet without totally killing your night vision.


I can't speak to the Thrunite but the Maratac has been on my keyring for 3 years now without problems. I've gone through three AAA lithium primary batteries during this time. Even the keyring attachment clip, which many cite as a potential weakness in the design, shows no sign of wear. Of course I do have a fishing swivel attached to mine so it has more freedom of movement than just attaching with a split ring.

I use my Maratac AAA almost daily, usually on its lowest setting, occasionally on high, and a AAA Lithium primary lasts me a year. But I do also carry a Fenix PD30 2xCR123A flashlight, and use that about as often as the Maratac. So if I used only the Maratac for all chores, battery life would be shorter.

You may want to check out the Preon P1 (1 AAA). At 2 lumens it lasts for 23 hours. It has an optical-grade glass lens and can light up the night with 70 lumens if need be. You see them a lot in the medical world. RNs use it mostly on low. The smoothness of the threads, color rendition, and its ability to tail stand are among its claims to fame. You can get a click switch ($7.00) for the back if that's what you're used to.

Good point! I imagine a battery in an E01 would last me a lot longer than in my higher powered EDC light.

Actually, the E01 is 10 lumens.

while Fenix states that, comparing it to other tested lights, it seems duller to me, so i added the "under".



there are two Thrunite Ti versions: the original (superlow .04 lumens) and the newer 3 lumen model (that i linked too above).

the superlow .04 lumens is about the same amount of light as partial moonlight. fact is, i prefer this original over the newer model: living in the wilderness without streetlights or city-glow, it more than enough to hike to the outhouse or navigate the house. and it sure protects night vision.

on the other hand, for anyone living in town, its usually nowhere near enough to make a difference from no light at all.

The 4Sevens Quark 123, R5 Edition has a moonlight output of 0.2 lumens out-the-front which IMO is an ideal low end output. 3 lumen is way brighter than moonlight, OTOH 0.04 lumen is more like starlight -- extremely dim. The Quark 123 is a very good light IMO -- not as small as 1xAAA, but small enough for pocket carry.

i guess its all in perceptions. i too agree that .2 lumens is more than adequate for very dark conditions.

i take each of my ultra low lights onto the deck in moonlight and compare them to what light a partial moon offers. if i can just make out the beam at 6 feet, then i think of it as the same brightness. my original Thrunite Ti fits that bill.

on the other hand, all my above-one-lumen lights can very easily over-power moonlight.

my eyes aren't that great, but i have no problem hiking with .04 lumens on a moonless night. on nights like that, 3 lumens is blinding.

again, please keep in mind i'm discussing the use in the wilds, not near any town.

on the other end of the spectrum: in the wilderness i find 60 lumens more than enough for seeing distant things at 50-plus yds, yet when i visit a city that's not enough. there i find i need at least 200 lumens for most chores.

Yep, I'm mostly thinking suburbia with the neighbor's exterior lights and one particular streetlight limiting natural night-vision. In a true wilderness night environment 0.04 lumens might be all that's required.

Russ, we're thinking alike. you got it.

My Quark AA puts out 0.2 lumens at it's lowest output. This works well if you've been asleep and need to find your way through a dark house. But if your eyes are not dark adapted, 0.2 lumens is too low to be of much use IMHO. For non-dark adapted eyes, I find something around 4 lumens to be good for night time navigation close range. 10 lumens is a good all-around useable amount of light for general purposes (but not if you need to see more than a few feet away).

Agree, the moonlight modes are for dark adapted eyes -- that's the point. Fortunately, the 4Seven Quark lights have a wide output range with a fairly high output for those rare occasions where your eyes are adjusted to sunlight but you are entering a dark space. 0.2 lumens to 205 lumens is a very nice capability to keep in your pocket.

works for me.

I EDC a Countycom Martac AA size, one for battery standardization and also because I prefer that it start on the LOW (1.5 lumen) setting. Most lights I have tried start on high (like the Martac AAA Aluminum) or some on medium (like the Martac AAA in its earlier form - SS and Copper are still that way). I find the 1.5 to be great for night adapted eyes, the 18 for the city and I almost never use the 85 except when looking for the black cat :-).

Respectfully,

Jerry

I used to carry Fenix E01, and I still do when traveling. I moved to an iTP A3 EOS about 6 months ago.

3 light settings,
Max 80 lumens/55minutes,
Medium 18 lumens/4 hours,
Low 1.5 lumens/50 hours.

better color (of light) fenix light color is somewhat odd.

2 carry modes- A3 has a split ring on end, and a removable clip on side. I hooked it onto my hat about 6 weeks back when I needed my hands free.

On the minus side, it won't stand up, but you can't have everything.

I have been using an ARC AAA premium for six plus years.It has gone through a few laundry cycles and a lot of pocket carry and shows little if any wear.They cost a little more but are highly rated on several forums.....

BOATMAN
John

I strongly dislike multi-mode lights. I find two modes (a HI and a LOW setting) to be useful but beyond that it's a pain to toggle thru them all to get to the one I want.

same here Phaedrus,it's the gizmo factor that infests gear these days.i was gifted a headlamp with just not high and low settings but green and red LED's.something about night vision and map reading but a over load when it comes to pushing those tiny buttons when all you want to do is find a candy bar.too many things means more to bust,jam or burn out.i can think of other gear like knives,stoves,GPS units even zip leg pants that are a bit much.
i use a three LED Princeton Tec,a Swiss Army penlight and a Pal 9 volt and all are easy to use and fill certain niche around camp.
hands free,long beam,night light.

I have a Rayovac Sportman Xtreme 3-watt Luxeon LED - I've only had it a few weeks, but have used it several times. It's got a very good light, seems to be pretty water tight, and has a twist cap for on/off, and a button on the end for signaling.

I think it's a AA light though, so maybe bigger than what your looking for. I just cally mine around in my backpack to have on hand in case I need it.

I've also seen those Redline flashlights, and they have multiple power settings, strobe, adjustable beam and a magnetic base. Those also appear to be very nice IMHO, but don't actually own one.

I agree. Although I do use four different modes on my light fairly frequently. Ultra-low (0.2 lumens), Low (4 lumens), High (about 110 lumens), and Max (about 180 lumens). I could easily get by with 180 and 4 however. I do think two modes is useful for a pocket light however. And those two modes must be easy to get to. None of this "push and hold...", or "rapidly click through...", or "cycle..." mess you see on many lights. I prefer a simple on/off switch, and a seperate mode selector switch that function independantly. Trying to make one button do 25 different things necessitates a complex user interface.

I have also carried an ARC for several years. It has been trouble-free all that time. Durable, reliable and great run time. The only drawback is that it is a battery crusher, so rechargeables are out of the question.

I love my multi-mode lights . I'm glad that manufacturers seem to be providing options for everyone in this regard.

I have an Arc AAA that has been around for years, never a problem.
I have a Thrunite Ti original, and the 0.04 lumen mode is useful when camping and when your eyes are dark adjusted, to be sure. The 60 lumen setting is overkill, for most situations. I am in the fewer modes is better crowd- irritates the crap out of me to toggle endlessly to reach the setting I want- which is high, 99% of the time.