Best AA / AAA torch needed without breaking the bank

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Nice65

Brilliant!
Apr 16, 2009
6,440
2,863
W.Sussex
Got one this one, Ultrafire + batt's +charger off Ebay cheap as chips and good.

Ultafire batteries have a bad reputation Andy, been known to go pop fairly dramatically. Also, some of the charger are copies and don't stop charging when the battery is full.
 

topknot

Maker
Jun 26, 2006
1,825
2
59
bristol
Ultafire batteries have a bad reputation Andy, been known to go pop fairly dramatically. Also, some of the charger are copies and don't stop charging when the battery is full.

Thanks for the heads up mate. The battery i got is a GTF and had no probs.
 

Forest fella

Full Member
Jul 2, 2008
2,890
211
Gloucestershire
I've been using a FENIX E01 L.E.D Torch for awhile now as a pocket torch,which take's 1 AAA battery and there a very hard wearing bright little torch.
 
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Big G

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jul 3, 2015
3,144
0
Cleveland UK
Them small 7 led torch's from the £shops are ok.

A tad bright but for a quid ya can't complain..... :)
 

Laurentius

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 13, 2009
2,422
614
Knowhere
Them small 7 led torch's from the £shops are ok.

A tad bright but for a quid ya can't complain..... :)

My experience with them is that they are not very robust, a bit like LED lensers in that respect. With regard to the poundland models the glass falls out or something like that at the least predictable moment. As for what it is with LED lensers I don't know but they seem to all have some fundemental flaw in switching on when you don't want them to, or not switching on when you do, which is why it was such a relief to me when maglite embraced LED's and not before time.
 

Robbi

Full Member
Mar 1, 2009
10,228
1,028
northern ireland
Never had a problem with my lenser P7 and had it for years now, it's had a pretty hard life as it's been jammed in a site jacket pocket for most of the time and not let me down yet, would recommend to anyone.
 

Big G

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jul 3, 2015
3,144
0
Cleveland UK
My experience with them is that they are not very robust, a bit like LED lensers in that respect. With regard to the poundland models the glass falls out or something like that at the least predictable moment. As for what it is with LED lensers I don't know but they seem to all have some fundemental flaw in switching on when you don't want them to, or not switching on when you do, which is why it was such a relief to me when maglite embraced LED's and not before time.

I've had a few of the £shop torch's over the years.. used for jobs around the house.. and a couple used as back up torch's in my packs.

They not gonna compete with the branded stuff from Fenix and Maglite.. but for a quid as a small backup torch you can't go wrong... :)
 

*Dusty*

Tenderfoot
Oct 21, 2011
95
1
N Ireland
I see mention of led lensers, I've run a p7 for years and it has been more reliable than my surefire and other supposedly high end lights. The only other light as robust is my fenix 10 lumen cheapie thing I can't remember the name of!!
 

OMark

Member
Mar 26, 2017
22
0
UK
I'd personally opt for something that is water resistant or fully waterproof because I always seem to wreck my torches with water. There are tons of great tactical lights out there that are not too spendy. If you just need it for walking the dog, check out the streamlight a100.
 

Bishop

Full Member
Jan 25, 2014
1,716
691
Pencader
Picked up CREE Q5 from this trader on Ebay and been mightily impressed. Lotta lumen’s for a small pocket torch even on the low power setting,

But If you don't mind waiting a month for shipping from China then others sell them even cheaper..
 

*Dusty*

Tenderfoot
Oct 21, 2011
95
1
N Ireland
Picked up CREE Q5 from this trader on Ebay and been mightily impressed. Lotta lumen’s for a small pocket torch even on the low power setting,

But If you don't mind waiting a month for shipping from China then others sell them even cheaper..

I've had a couple of them, they haven't proved to be terribly robust I have to admit.
 

nitrambur

Settler
Jan 14, 2010
759
76
53
Nottingham
Picked up CREE Q5 from this trader on Ebay and been mightily impressed. Lotta lumen’s for a small pocket torch even on the low power setting,

But If you don't mind waiting a month for shipping from China then others sell them even cheaper..

I have a very similar looking torch, how do you change the power setting?
 

Bishop

Full Member
Jan 25, 2014
1,716
691
Pencader
I have a very similar looking torch, how do you change the power setting?

A half way down / soft press of the power button on mine cycles it through the three modes of operation Full - Half - Strobe. Less expensive versions may just have a basic push till it clicks On/Off switch and no special features. Hope that helps.
 

Alan 13~7

Settler
Oct 2, 2014
571
5
Prestwick, Scotland
A fan of the Maglite I have 2 X - AA mini's, I'm hearing cree & led mentioned when talking small torches... has anybody upgraded the Maglite AA mini to led, using any of these?

(1) NITE IZE Kit, @ around 9 quid includes led, reflector + tailswitch

(2) Philips 1 Watt LUMILEDS (100 lumen) @ around 9 quid led only,

(3) TerraLUX MiniStar2 Extreme (140 Lumen) @ around 23 quid led + reflector

What is the best value upgrade kit? is the most expensive worth the effort...
 

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