Cheap But Really Bright Light

[pdubyoo]

Ok, I've seen some of the reviews of the really expensive tactival flashlights, but I simply can't bring myself to lay down that kind of dough for a flashlight. I was at WallyWorld last weekend looking at getting a flashlight for my daughter for a Girl Scout camping trip coming up, and I spotted a Coleman light that caught my attention. It's a high impact plastic model, but equipped with a Cree LED element. It's rated at 137 lumens, which is extremely bright. It uses 6 AA batteries (which it comes with) and the handle is the size of a light that would use two C-cell batteries. It says it will last 26 hours of runtime, has a beam distance of 248 meters...OK, that's 813 feet!!! I took it in the back yard last night after dark, and I could easily spot a coon in the top of a 80ft pine tree. Wow it was bright!

So, okay, you can't carry it in your pocket like one of those small tactical lights, but this fits on the nightstand next to the XD just fine.

Cost? $24

Coleman also makes a small aluminum Cree LED light rated at 115 lumen that you can carry in your pocket. It is equally impressive. It uses 3 AAA batteries. I now own one of each...oh, $24 also.

[MoJo]

Coleman and RayOVac both make some great inexpensive LED lights. I have a RayOVac light with 2 brightness settings and a strobe. The low power setting is 80 lumens and the hi power is 200 lumens! It runs on 3 AAA batteries.

[kahrfreak]

This is the brightest flashlight I've ever used that runs on 3 AA batteries...160 lumens:

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_ ... ockType=L3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's outrageously bright...$25 as well. (The head screws off and attaches like a conventional flashlight)

[jester]

What's the UI like on these? Momentary on? Click on-off? Click through different modes? Is it a tail switch or on the side?

These things make a difference if you're using it as a tactical light, and not just looking for animals in the back yard.

[PUCKER]

For Christmas at my in-laws there's a grab-bag $20 limit gift drawing/stealing thing (you know, first person gets a gift, second can steal it or get another one, once it's stolen 2 or 3 times it's permanent, etc...). Anyway, my gift was a set of 5 or 6 aluminum body LED flashlights in two sizes: the smaller, almost pen-like lights, but bigger and then the Sure-fire-type size. They're REALLY bright for what they are and they have the tail-button switch. They are in strategic locations around the house and in every car. And yes, part of the night-time plan. I think they came from Home Depot.

[mctowalot]

Recently I discovered a "new" 1 watt LED made by Energize. It runs off of 1 AA battery, and it's really bright. However, if you drop it on a hard surface it will stop working. Not exactly fitting for emergency use.

How do the lights you mentioned hold up if dropped?

[MoJo]

The Coleman and Rayovac lights I have are all tougher than woodpecker lips. I am a retired electrician, at work I dropped one of the Rayovac lights from on top of an 8' step ladder onto concrete the only damage was a scrape on the finish.

[pdubyoo]

What's the UI like on these? Momentary on? Click on-off? Click through different modes? Is it a tail switch or on the side?

These things make a difference if you're using it as a tactical light, and not just looking for animals in the back yard.

The larger plastic Coleman is a side button...on/off. Nothing fancy. The smaller aluminum on is a push button tail switch, but there's a ring on the body to switch between white, red and blue lights. I'll post pics later.

[pdubyoo]

The Coleman and Rayovac lights I have are all tougher than woodpecker lips. I am a retired electrician, at work I dropped one of the Rayovac lights from on top of an 8' step ladder onto concrete the only damage was a scrape on the finish.

I don't know anything about ANSI ratings for flashlights, but the larger plastic one is tested to ANSI FL1 standards. It says that it's impact resistant to 3 meters, which is almost 10ft. That must be dictated by the FL1 standard.

[pdubyoo]

This is the brightest flashlight I've ever used that runs on 3 AA batteries...160 lumens:

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_ ... ockType=L3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's outrageously bright...$25 as well. (The head screws off and attaches like a conventional flashlight)

Now that is a cool light. I might have to add to the collection this weekend.

[Keith B]

This is the brightest flashlight I've ever used that runs on 3 AA batteries...160 lumens:

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10155_ ... ockType=L3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's outrageously bright...$25 as well. (The head screws off and attaches like a conventional flashlight)

When I checked, the price was $26.99. They must have found out that you were promoting it on the Texas CHL Forum and figured they could jack up the price due to the increased demand.

[USA1]

tougher than woodpecker lips.

That's darned tough.

[gregthehand]

I went to Walmart last night to pick one up and give it a go. Ours were still $24.88 and when I got it home and I gotta say it was worth every penny. This thing is great and will stay by my back door. It easily lights up all the spots in my yard and it's a 1/2 acre back yard. I have not gotten to test it as far as durability but it seems to be decently built and has seals so it should have some water resistance.

[Target1911]

I hav owned 3 of the colemans that are about the size of a mini mag, tho slightly larger in diamiter. I never broke one and i am tough on my flashlights. VERY bright and tough as nails.

[shipwreck]

I discovered Candle Power Forums earlier this year, and I have become a flashlight fanatic.

I'm up to 17 right now, with another on the way.

My favorite are the Eagletac lights. I have an 800 lumen one i paid $149 for, but the P20C2 Mk II is my fav I think. It's $64, but is 300 actual out the front lumens (the emitted is rated at 380 lumens).

I have had a few Coleman lights - I've returned some but still have 1. They are convenient to get, since Wal-Mart sells them. However, actual lumens is lower than what they claim. Many companies give you the numbers for the LED at the emitter level. But, you typically lose 22-25% when the light comes out of the reflector. Some companies will give you an actual "out the front" lumen rating.

Here is my current collection minus 1 that is mounted on a gun:



And this is the 800 lumen Eagletac M2XC4 I have... Great light. I use it every night when I lock up my dog outside:



The Solarforce L2 light is great - $25 shipped from Hong Kong. It's a clone of the Surefire lights. The emitted is rated at 300 lumens, but it puts out about 212-225 lumens out the front. They come in different colors too: