Bright Torch for night-time walkies?

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geekIT

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# 214785 28-May-2017 14:09

I'm looking for a nice bright torch for walking around at night in our small and very dark Southland town.

Not a headlamp, thanks. Got one of those but I look like Predator when I wear it, and everyone down here owns a shotgun. Which is probably why most of the streetlamps don't work.

It shouldn't be too heavy. I don't need a 16-cell TorchMonster that I could fight off terrorists with. Hedgehogs and wandering sheep are likely to be the only wildlife I'll see. Unless I wear the headlamp, of course.

Oh, and it needs to be rechargeable but not too pricey. $50 tops?

Anyone seen anything like this?

Thanks for your kind attention :-)

Any fool can make money, but it takes a very special person to earn the respect of respectable people.

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# 1790668 28-May-2017 15:56

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I like this one:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Big-Promotion-Ultra-Bright-CREE-XML-T6-3800Lumens-cree-led-Torch-Zoomable-LED-Flashlight-For-3xAAA/32497214896.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.JMRigv

It is bright and will work with three AAA cells - rechargeable ones are fine.

Very bright. Stupidly bright even. Adjustable beam spread. Seems very sturdy and well made. I have two and they have survived in a mix of rucksacks, manbags, pockets and car boots.

They also work with 18650 lithium cells.

There are loads for sale on AliX from around US$7 for just a torch up to US$15 for a torch with a couple of 18650 cells and a charger. You can also get longer ones that will take two 18650 cells.

Did I mention that they are stupidly bright?

Geektastic

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# 1790671 28-May-2017 16:04

Try a Zebralite. See here for the one I have. Tiny, very bright, very tough (potted electronics) and runs on easily available AA batteries that can be rechargeable or not....

Slightly more than you said, but mine is still perfect after 3 years so worth the extra.

timmmay

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# 1790681 28-May-2017 16:36

I just got a Lumintop ED25 from Bangood. It took 2-3 weeks to arrive. It takes 2xAA and is VERY VERY bright for its size. Discount coupon here to get it for $18. At that price it's disposable. High / medium / low and flashing modes.

Good points: seems like decent quality, VERY VERY bright for its size. It may be the brightest 2xAA available right now, if not it's close. It's 500 lumen, which is half the brightness of my 8xAA Fenix light that cost US$100 (and has had to be repaired twice).

Bad points: control is only ok. Press the single button to turn on, half press to change high/medium/low. When you turn off you half press on the way to a full press so you're always in a different mode when you turn it on. They should've just had it turn on low each time. Minor point.

Suggest you use rechargeable batteries, alkaline tend to leak and ruin torches. Eneloop are best.

shk292

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# 1790737 28-May-2017 18:04

If you want something local, I bought one of these https://www.burnsco.co.nz/shop/outdoors/lighting/torches/waterproof-led-torch

from Burnsco and it's very good - very bright, robust and waterproof. Not rechargeable but LED so the batteris will last well and you could use rechargeable AAAs

timmmay

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# 1790768 28-May-2017 18:54

shk292:

If you want something local, I bought one of these https://www.burnsco.co.nz/shop/outdoors/lighting/torches/waterproof-led-torch

from Burnsco and it's very good - very bright, robust and waterproof. Not rechargeable but LED so the batteris will last well and you could use rechargeable AAAs

140 lumen isn't super bright. It's not bad, but for outdoor walking a little more might be nice.

shk292

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# 1790789 28-May-2017 19:41

timmmay:

shk292:

If you want something local, I bought one of these https://www.burnsco.co.nz/shop/outdoors/lighting/torches/waterproof-led-torch

from Burnsco and it's very good - very bright, robust and waterproof. Not rechargeable but LED so the batteris will last well and you could use rechargeable AAAs

140 lumen isn't super bright. It's not bad, but for outdoor walking a little more might be nice.

Fair point - it seems very bright compared to older-tech non-LED torches but isn't in the same league as those super-bright ones

richms

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# 1790801 28-May-2017 20:30

If its the only light you are taking with you, check what it does when it runs out of battery.

LEDs are really annoying in that they will often be working great till they hit a limit on the battery and then just shut down leaving you out with no light. Worse with protected lithium cells as the flashlight driver has no way to get the thing back going again once the low voltage protection trips, so you cant even get a bit more runtime out of the low setting once you are discharged to the limit on full brightness.

Changing cells over in pitch black is never fun so I would always suggest a second light with you if you are planning on taking it to the limit.

Richard rich.ms

1eStar

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# 1790828 28-May-2017 21:42

Rechargeable and bright. I wanted the same thing so I typed in 'cree usb' and ended up with a torch like this

Domini Flashlight Lanterna x900 Lantern Usb Penlight Rechargable Led Flashlights With battery Cree LED Torch For Camping Fishing

http://s.aliexpress.com/zEzymIZB

(from AliExpress Android)

Love it. Battery doesn't last that long cos it's a small torch, but recharging is easy so just top it up after every use.

timmmay

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# 1790866 29-May-2017 07:43

The really cheap ebay/ali batteries can be recycled from old laptop batteries.

E3xtc

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# 1790886 29-May-2017 08:40

jpoc:

I like this one:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Big-Promotion-Ultra-Bright-CREE-XML-T6-3800Lumens-cree-led-Torch-Zoomable-LED-Flashlight-For-3xAAA/32497214896.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.JMRigv

It is bright and will work with three AAA cells - rechargeable ones are fine.

Very bright. Stupidly bright even. Adjustable beam spread. Seems very sturdy and well made. I have two and they have survived in a mix of rucksacks, manbags, pockets and car boots.

They also work with 18650 lithium cells.

There are loads for sale on AliX from around US$7 for just a torch up to US$15 for a torch with a couple of 18650 cells and a charger. You can also get longer ones that will take two 18650 cells.

Did I mention that they are stupidly bright?

I got one of these too - works a treat...only thing I messed up was the one I got was US power, so have to use an adaptor...but otherwise its awesome and for the $$ can't complain!

jonathan18

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# 1790944 29-May-2017 09:44

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E3xtc:

jpoc:

I like this one:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Big-Promotion-Ultra-Bright-CREE-XML-T6-3800Lumens-cree-led-Torch-Zoomable-LED-Flashlight-For-3xAAA/32497214896.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.JMRigv

It is bright and will work with three AAA cells - rechargeable ones are fine.

Very bright. Stupidly bright even. Adjustable beam spread. Seems very sturdy and well made. I have two and they have survived in a mix of rucksacks, manbags, pockets and car boots.

They also work with 18650 lithium cells.

There are loads for sale on AliX from around US$7 for just a torch up to US$15 for a torch with a couple of 18650 cells and a charger. You can also get longer ones that will take two 18650 cells.

Did I mention that they are stupidly bright?

I got one of these too - works a treat...only thing I messed up was the one I got was US power, so have to use an adaptor...but otherwise its awesome and for the $$ can't complain!

Another vote for these models - I got a couple off eBay that are virtually identical and they perform really well, especially for the money. The ones I got came with the lithium ion batteries (I got two batteries per torch) and recharger, and given they come with an adapter for using standard AAA batteries they're great as an emergency torch as well (we have packs of 20 AAAs in our emergency kits).

geekIT

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# 1790978 29-May-2017 10:46

Guys, thanks for all the input. I'm considering the various alternatives.

Coupla questions about 18650 batteries.

1) I'd probably buy these from AliExpress - they're too expensive in NZ. Anyone able to recommend an Ali brand? And I guess I'd need a charger from Ali, too.

2) I notice that some 18650 batteries have button tops while others have flat tops. Which type do flashlights use?

Cheers :-)

Any fool can make money, but it takes a very special person to earn the respect of respectable people.

richms

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# 1790987 29-May-2017 10:55

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If you are considering 18650s then make sure you understand the difference between protected and non protected cells, if you go for non protected you need to ensure that the device you have it in will shut down at a safe voltage and not take the cell below 2.8v.

If your light uses multiple cells then its really important that if they are in series that you use protected cells only since that is the only way to stop a single cell being damaged if it goes flat first.

If they are in parallel make sure you dont mix and match cells of different charge levels.

Basically crap that you get away with on disposable AA alkalines and nimh cells will get you in trouble with lithium ones.

Go spend some time on candlepower forums and have a read - plenty of good information there. Otherwise stick with the safer cell types.

edit:

And shipping from China is a total mess now. Lots of sellers will say they can send to NZ, but both NZ and AU dont get all the carriers that the freight aggrigators use, so when they go to ship them they will get rejected because of lithiums in them. Then you will find those sellers no longer list NZ and AU as free shipping. Plenty will have fedex and dhl to here, but that is crazy money.

Richard rich.ms

mdf

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# 1790998 29-May-2017 11:08

A bit more outlandish, but is there any chance you use 12V power tools? I've got an AEG torch for my 12V tool batteries and it's great. Nice and compact, battery lasts forever, robust, super bright, and if you're not paying for the battery, only $30-odd. You can get torches for 18V tools too, but they're not exactly compact. So far as I can tell, all the major manufacturers have a torch option.

timmmay

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# 1791017 29-May-2017 11:45

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If you get Lithium cells, go for a good brand from a high rated seller. I've heard there's a lot of recycled cells that are low quality. A good charger is good too.

Instead of bothering with that I just got a 2xAA light, which is super bright. I have Eneloop batteries and good Maha chargers already.

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