I have to work, but the family is going camping without me. Wife asks which flashlight she can borrow to take with her and the kids.
I’m rocked to the core. Visions of Obi Wan just casually handing Luke a lightsaber to swing around in his house.
My flashlights only range between “hotter and brighter than the sun” to “wouldn’t be out of place on a police helicopter”.
Nothing in this range is remotely qualified for use by wife and kids, much less dealing with the batteries that power them.
The only solution is buy more flashlights. Maybe something that also uses AA batteries (le barf).
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Head lamps. Trust me.
I personally use a bike light strapped to a 2 gallon jug of water.
I’m more of an ultralight camper. The white cap off a lip balm usually goes pretty smooth on to most little 10440 lights - but same idea!
The solution is always more. I ordered a Klarus RS10 for my Dad last week. He’s been a lifelong 6V Dolphin user since the 70’s.
He can’t remember where the AAA Fenix I gave him a couple of years ago is. He pulled his Dolphin Mk6 out of the cupboard a couple of weekends ago for something and I was embarrassed for him when he turned it on.
I can’t let him live like that, what sort of son am I?
If you want to avoid the AA batteries, you could spend a little more and get the Sofirn SP40. I’ve got one which I rely on pretty heavily and it has served me well this far.
I’m really happy with my little Wurkkos fc11. Goes from quite faint to very bright, 18650 battery, usb-c port for charging, easy to use, IPX7 water protection, magnetic tailcap so you can easily attach it to all sorts of stuff. And at only ~€28 it’s quite cheap.
The 2700k temp option is also very nice for a more cozy and not so harsh light.
Two questions, do you have the 519a version and if so how is it? My friend wants a decent light but doesn’t wanna jump down the rabbit hole and it seems a good option for him. Secondly, have you tried removing the tailcap magnet? He doesn’t want one but I read it can be removed.
I know I’m like, super late to this party, buuuut I have half a dozen of these.
The 519a is gorgeous, no complaints. Not as bright of course, but that’s always the tradeoff.
I haven’t tried removing the magnet, but they sell a non-magnetic version of the tailcap for cheap!
Pretty much the only light I take camping anymore is my Lumintop Tool 2.0. It runs off of a single AA for quite a while (although I have a 14500 in it at the mo) and quite bright enough for anything you need it for around camp, easily carried, and unlikely to permanently blind or set anyone on fire.
I love my Zebralight w51: Doubles as a headlamp, uses a single AA, and can run for 40 hours on the lowest setting. I use it both at work and while camping (along with a Fenix TK19)
Any of those El Chapo ones with 18650s. They all look like this. Throw in a simple charger for one cell with USB-C and there is not much to go wrong.
I’ve had good results with cheap gadget flashlights. Small is good, so little fingers are willing to carry, cheap is good so I don’t mind when little fingers leave them somewhere, and low powered is good so little fingers aren’t constantly blinding people.
Our local hardware store had this one that just worked:$4.99 before pandemic (so $20 plus tip now?). It was rectangular not much bigger than the three aaa’s that powered it. Small edge projected a beam, big edge lighted an area, back had magnets and hook. They never lasted very long but fit nicely in a pocket and covered all needs.
We have mosquito lanterns for when we go camping. Pretty neat. Goes on AA batteries and drives the 'squitoes away. Costs like $30 add a couple of handhelds from the hardware store for nightly toilet business and you’re set.
It’s a mosquito repellant machine made to look and funkction like a lantern.
Thermacell has one that is quite nice looking.
@Tuss Thanks ! To what model do you refer ? I’m interested in testing out one of those.
Didn’t know there were different ones. We only have the patio lantern where I live. But the camping one seems interesting. Looks like it will give off a more practical light.
As I am aware off though the mosquito repellant is good but it will never be as good as the old spirals that you set on fire. Those ones can’t be bouggt anymore though so Thermacell is the best repellant we have.
Hey, AA lights aren’t all bad.
A nice light with a Lithium AA or Eneloop NiMH battery if you have access to a charger is (relatively) safe for kids or non enthusiasts to use.
Plus they tend to be very affordable so if they go missing you aren’t out a lot of money.
My daughter went on a camping trip recently. I gave her my convoy T2 with 14500 (with charging port). It does the job.
Olight Obulb looks good for kids. Max 55 lumens and sustains close to that for 3 hours (review), waterproof and with a kid-friendly appearance. $20 on amazon currently.
These don’t provide much illumination but the Niteize rechargeable glow sticks are good kid lights too.
