I carry a Streamlight ProTac HLX. It's 1000 lumens and throws it pretty far and is blinding. I keep the 1000 lumen as my default on, but you can program it. But it's bulky as hell. However, I still make it a point to carry it. When I first bought it, it was nearly 200 bucks, you can find them in the 60-80 range now though.
I bought my little daughter a LuminTop Tool AA 2.0 and it's actually very impressive. It's small and light. The only problem is that the tail cap has a blue LED when it's not in use, and it slowly drains the battery. However, it'll work off of a Double-A battery or a 14500 rechargable battery. 650 Lumens. It's nice and compact. However, I wish it threw the light a bit further. It's more of a flooder.
I wish I could find the performance of my HLX in something a bit slimmer. But for now, I prioritize having the HLX as my EDC.
Great recommendations all around.
If the OP would prefer an AA-sized flashlight, the Lumintop Tool AA 2.0 is a classic quality flashlight that also takes 14500s for more lumens and can be had for $20 including rechargeable 14500 battery and eligible for free shipping from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BLTP9ZD
I'd go with the lumintop tool.
There is a AA and AAA version. Both are great.
I edc a d4v2 all day, every day. It's 18650 sized, and thicker than the wurkkos fc11, but it doesn't bother me. Other people don't like the size of 18650 lights, and prefer something smaller.
If you want smaller, the Lumintop Tool AA 2.0 is about $20 on amazon. It will run off of li-ion, NiMH, or alkaline cells. I'd prefer Eneloop rechargable NiMH cells for it, but 14500 lithium ion cells will give you a higher max brightness for short periods. And if you are in a pinch and need some extra batteries, it will run off of whatever AA you can pick up at a gas station. You'd need a separate charger for the Eneloop cells.
https://www.amazon.com/LUMINTOP-AA-2-0-Flashlight-Pocket-sized/dp/B07BLTP9ZD
I've got a couple of these I really like. They use either an AA, or a 14500 (which is an AA sized 3.7v lithium cell). If you can find one, get it with the 14500 battery, which has a usb charger built in. This thing is small :) it also has a strobe mode.
strobe mode is super bright, and can be really disorienting, especially in the dark.
This is the light I carry most often, it takes a single AA. Click the button to turn it on, half press to change the brightness.
Budget friendly, ANSI certified for drops up to 6ft, made in an ISO facility (means every item they make is perfect when it leaves the facility. Water and Dust proof as well
https://www.amazon.com/LUMINTOP-AA-2-0-Flashlight-Pocket-sized/dp/B07BLTP9ZD
Second the Lumintop 2.0... LUMINTOP TOOL AA 2.0 EDC Flashlight, Pocket-sized Keychain Flashlight, Super Bright 650 Lumens, 5 Modes with Mode Memory, IP68 Waterproof, Powered by One AA or 14500, for Camping Hiking Emergency https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BLTP9ZD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FERkFbM34QQBA
>convoy s2
I like this idea, (EDIT) I'm having trouble interpreting the runtime/lumens chart in the photos of this page.
I think to get > 200 lumens, you'd have to use a 14500 cell, and that will only yield about 45 mins of runtime. NiMH and Alkaline cells will give more time, but lumens dip to 120.
It sounds like this light won't produce enough light for long enough?
Lumintop tool AA. LUMINTOP TOOL AA 2.0 EDC Flashlight, Pocket-sized Keychain Flashlight, Super Bright 650 Lumens, 5 Modes with Mode Memory, IP68 Waterproof, Powered by One AA or 14500, for Camping Hiking Emergency https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BLTP9ZD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_nkYXCbTMW1GP0
Hello flashlight seeker! You may find our arbitrary list of popular lights to be a useful starting point.
For more personalized recommendations, check out this guide for posting some extra info about your needs/wants.
Otherwise, the community suggested budget starter light is the Convoy S2+ with 4000K and 7136x6 drivers.
For a non-18650 light, the AA ThruNite T10 II or Lumintop Tool, and AAA Lumintop IYP365 or Sofirn C01S are all good choices.
^(BOT IN TRAINING. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS.)
Hello flashlight seeker! You may find our arbitrary list of popular lights to be a useful starting point.
For more personalized recommendations, check out this guide for posting some extra info about your needs/wants.
Otherwise, the community suggested budget starter light is the Convoy S2+ with 4000K and 7136x6 drivers.
For a non-18650 light, the AA ThruNite T10 II or Lumintop Tool, and AAA Lumintop IYP365 or Sofirn C01S are all good choices.
I AM A BOT. DOWNVOTE TO REMOVE.
This... also allows for 14500 batteries for maximum lumens.
Lumintop Tool AA 2.0 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BLTP9ZD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabt1_-1pUFbKBYGX3W
Lumintop Tool AA Comes in white, black, copper, brass, or titanium. Also in cool white or neutral white for the tint.
I think this is a great AA/14500 I really like the glowing tail switch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BLTP9ZD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_EYA7J37R53F5RN6Q3PR5
Lumintop Tool AA 2.0. It's under $20 but doesn't include a battery. You can get away with regular old AA batteries, but rechargeable 14500 cells will provide brighter output and save you money over time.
https://www.amazon.com/LUMINTOP-AA-2-0-Flashlight-Pocket-sized/dp/B07BLTP9ZD
With a 14500 battery this light becomes an easy favorite.
Is it this one? https://www.amazon.com/LUMINTOP-AA-2-0-Flashlight-Pocket-sized/dp/B07BLTP9ZD
Seems nice but the "5 LIGHT MODES" image shows a hot spot in the middle for all of the modes.
On a scale of Jeggings to JNCO, how big are your pockets? Personally, I won't pocket anything bigger than a Zebralight SC64. That's a pretty bright flashlight, but nowhere near the brightest you can get. Hell, you can get 4x as bright with something just barely bigger - but like I said, that's the biggest light I'll carry.
Most of the time, I want to carry something much smaller. For a starting place, the Rovyvon Aurora A1x is not bad, though its big brother the A23 has much better performance. The Olight Baton 3 is my absolute favorite form factor and a spectacular performer in raw numbers, though we frown on their use of proprietary batteries.
Lumintop Tool AA takes either AA or rechargeable 14500 battery.
Very compact Waterproof Solid emitter 20 beans on amazon
I use a cheap one off Amazon. Used it for over a year and works really well. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BLTP9ZD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_J1MKCADKDW96APQSQCVK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Get him a tool aa 2.0 for an AA flashlight, and a separate strike weapon for self defense.
Deal link: Amazon
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Lumintop toolLumintop tool
If he's not interested in rechargeables I would stick with relatively inexpensive lights. If he wants something small and pocketable I hear the Lumintop Tool AA is pretty good. If he wants soemthing bigger and brighter there's the Sofirn SF11. Both of those are around $20 so if an alkaline cell kills the light it won't be the end of the world.
1) Check - 550 lumens (ish. Theres a 219C version, too.)
2) Check - It's nearly properly deep carry with the magnetic tail on, but that makes it a twisty.
3) Check - if you swap tails
4) Check
5) Check - $18 on Amazon
6) Check
7) Check - In the twisty configuration
8) Check
I agree with the Wowtac A2S/Convoy S2+ suggestion, and will add a link for the Convoy S2+ suggestion. The older Convoy S2+ have worse UIs, the SST-20 LED models are all new and it's a pretty decent LED anyway. Unless you have a real strong preference towards blue tinted lights, if you go that route get the 4000k and either 6 7135 or 8 7135. More 7135 is more brightness, faster battery drain.
If you really want AA, look into the Lumintop Tool AA, although it takes 14500 (3.7V AA sized batteries) also, for more brightness. There's a bundle version on amazon with a 14500 with micro-USB charging built in. It's LED is not as good and I'd only suggest this if you really want small.
On charging 18650s (or 14500s): A 12v cigarette to USB adapter would work, with the note that you shouldn't charge your lithium-ion batteries in a hot vehicle, as it degrades the battery life. You also shouldn't store them in freezing weather and plan on using it, as it just won't work well until it warms up.
Decent portable chargers: Nitecore F1 will charge lithium batteries and can act as a powerbank. Olight Universal Charger can charge most things and is pretty foolproof.
If you go that route, you’re likely to get a mediocre pen and a mediocre flashlight at best, and a downright bad flashlight and bad pen at worst. Someone else mentioned the Olight OPen, which would likely be the highest quality execution of the concept—however I still think you will get a better light and a better pen if you go separate.
I’d really recommend getting a solid yet inexpensive pen like the Zebra F-701 or Parker Jotter, and a solid yet inexpensive flashlight like the Lumintop Tool AA if you want a AA light or a Microstream USB if you want the high-powered goodness that comes with Li-ion batteries. Other options include the Lumintop IYP-07 or Tool AAA for a nice little single AAA battery light.
If you want a really bright flashlight, hop on over to r/flashlight, take a look around, and see what piques your interest. Be warned though, these often require bare Li-ion cells which can be quite dangerous if you don’t research and practice proper safety in using them—hence I don’t recommend them to the average person. That’s why I recommended the Microstream above, which uses an enclosed cell that you don’t have to worry about so much.
Deal link: Amazon
Hello flashlight seeker! You may find our arbitrary list of popular lights to be a useful starting point.
For more personalized recommendations, check out this guide for posting some extra info about your needs/wants.
Otherwise, the community suggested budget starter light is the Convoy S2+ with 4000K and 7136x6 drivers.
For a non-18650 light, the AA ThruNite T10 II or Lumintop Tool, and AAA Lumintop IYP365 or Sofirn C01S are all good choices. ^(BOT IN TRAINING. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS.)
Hello flashlight seeker! You may find our arbitrary list of popular lights to be a useful starting point.
For more personalized recommendations, check out this guide for posting some extra info about your needs/wants.
Otherwise, the community suggested budget starter light is the Convoy S2+ with 4000K and 7136x6 drivers.
For a non-18650 light, the AA ThruNite T10 II or Lumintop Tool, and AAA Lumintop IYP365 or Sofirn C01S are all good choices.
^(BOT IN TRAINING. PM WITH SUGGESTIONS.)
You might have mis-read me.
I was letting them know to look into the Lumintop tool. 14500 is Lithium.
I said this because the light in the OP was AA and if they were looking for something, they could try the Tool.
https://www.amazon.com/LUMINTOP-AA-2-0-Flashlight-Pocket-sized/dp/B07BLTP9ZD
LUMINTOP TOOL AA 2.0 EDC Flashlight, Pocket-sized Keychain Flashlight, Super Bright 650 Lumens, 5 Modes with Mode Memory, IP68 Waterproof, Powered by One AA or 14500
LUMINTOP TOOL AA 2.0 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BLTP9ZD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_cjf3CbRCC3YCA
SdeNow Mini Flashlight Keychain https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XSX9T43/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wkf3CbXQ11KJY