I been looken for some cheap LED flashlights to throw around and stock up on and it turns out its a pretty difficult task. Finding them cheap is no issue but finding any WORTH anything at all is damn tough.
So far I only snagged 3 lights. The first is a Life+Gear minimax.
http://www.lifegear.com/flashlights/mini-max-aluminum-flashlight-flasher.htmlI hate it. Walmart had um for 3.88$ and I couldnt resist such a bargain. First off the Switch is a full on digital button, no clicky switch, Which is odd for such a cost. That part I like its pretty darn neat. The red LED on the back is a gimmick and actually can be used as a low light alternative to close up needs. The blinking is useless and the SOS it totes around is actually the RED BUTTON not the flashlight and blinks so stupid fast with no pauses you cant tell if its SOS or strobe. The lights barely bright enough and has no reatch typical of multi LED lights but emites a bizzare snow flake patter right after the hotspot that is to dirty and distracting.
EDIT: I forgot to mention the ALL FUNCTIONS TURN OFF AFTER ONE HOUR feature this thing has.....I cant say if that includes the light portion but it states ALL FUNCTIIOOONS...Sooo I can just picture that crucial moment of going down stairs and CLICK the flashlight decides hey one hour is all you need bub....
Next is the Defiant single AA light.
http://www.lifegear.com/flashlights/mini-max-aluminum-flashlight-flasher.htmlI like it. The Body is of cheap plastic the clip is cheap metal and the tailcap feels cheap. BUT it has a lovely clean hotspot with a lovely clean spill light that clean and lovely like ends with no overspill. For 7$ Id say meh kinda would maybe buy more but if it was say 4-5 id be all over it. The money seems to have gone all into the LED and reflector. It throws a hell of a distance for a tiny light too not fantastic but WAY WAY more usable then any muli LED light Ive used.
And the Defiant 2AAA Penlight.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-...51#.UHpZB4bLFlMCheap Awful dirty Blueish hued off center 5 foot distance useless light.....sigh.... All the money has gone into the Aluminum body and not a penny was spent on the switch LED or reflector. Very tough to click in the switch and cheap smooth vinylish rubber ta boot. Heavy body for its size and just not reasonable for its price.
So yeah only 3 tickled me for the price at common stores. I keep going back and forth to these flashlight sections to see what a normal everyday joe would snag if they needed a few lights for powerouts and such and nothing seems to cut it. Alot of these lights now are going towards the 3-4 cheap LEDs with no proper reflectors and strange magnified focusing sections on the lens ontopa the LEDs. My Eton Radio has this and it creates a Hollow dim artifact riddled circle with no hotspot just a dim circle of glowing.
Anywho just thought Id rant abit after not being around so much! Would love to hear some similar thoughts and Projects on finding cheap stuff for the average person to prep with.
It might seem silly, but I dropped $5 on a 2-pack of AAA Lithiums for my cheap lights. Very cool! They run slightly brighter but the thing I really like is that the battery won't likely leak and ruin the light when I most need it. Plus, I think Lithium is good at cold temps; I plan to put them in the lights I leave in my truck (SD can reach -35 F in the winter, probably too cold for any battery but better than regular alkaline, I suppose).
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