AA pen type flashlight suggestions?

[Kuma601]

I used to like the old Mag Instruments flashlights though when LED became the normal, I've become frustrated with their AAA and AA offerings. They all invariably flicker and while I attempt to fix them the results are not lasting.

A pocketable 2xAA or 1xAA if it is at or more than 100 lumens is fine. Not a USB type rechargeable light either. This is mostly for close area inspection so it doesn't need to be 300+ lumens. Nominal price would be $15 range but if the light is dependable, durable and good I'll consider spending more.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Coast G20. I carry it daily. It’s AAA at 54 Lu mens, but that makes it perfect for a shirt pocket and it’s plenty of light for finding a stray screw in an exhaust manifold or any kind of close inspection.

 

[kabinenroller]

I do not go anywhere without this in my pocket:

Streamlight MicroStream | LOWEST PRICES

The Streamlight Microstream clips to your hat allowing for “hands free” use. Great for automotive applications and lighting hard-to-reach areas. Includes removable pocket clip, lanyard and batteries.

www.flashlightdistributor.com

 

[MrAmmons]

Carry one of these everyday, claims ~150lm, works for my purposes so far: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072JGQ9R5/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[BillK]

These don't really fit that great in a pocket but they are about the best small flashlights I have found. Someone gave me one as a present and I took it to the shop. It gets abused and still works great. Batteries seem to last forever. I have bought a few more and have them scattered around the shop. They have them at Wal Mart and the grocery store.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NP4KVNS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[PelicanPines]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KW4SP8M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Want an American Made one? This is my actual EDC
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DLZ3AG6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[tez929rr]

I’ve bought a bunch of these off of Amazon. Cheap and reliable. The first bunch were labelled Cree but these look identical.
Link

 

[NUTTSGT]

We have an 2xAA Coast at home, well worth the money.

I have a Snap-on badged 3xAAA, that I carry at work and it's been great over about 3 years. I swapped it out for a new one as I believe the switch spring was getting weak.

 

[Zrsnopro97]

I carry a streamlight and use it every single day work, feel lost without it. Love it. Doesn’t flicker unless it’s time to change the batteries.

 

[Poolshark314]

Olight makes some pretty nice ones

 

[mike93lx]

I keep a streamlight stylus pro in my laptop bag for inventory counts in dark warehouses. It's no powerhouse, but it's thin and light

 

[Swanny1953]

I have this little guy - https://www.batteryjunction.com/rayovac-roughneck-penlight.html
Bought to take to Barrett-Jackson - works well for close inspection.

 

[DrinkMan]

These are AAA rather than AA but I bought this set on an impulse in the store to just put into drawers in different rooms. I've been so pleased with them, that I now use them as my go-to flashlight: https://www.samsclub.com/p/3pk-flashlight/P03010990?xid=plp_product_1

 

[PelicanPines]

Damn GJ... youz gotz me lookin... I ended up finding a "Lightning deal"... couldn't resist. It's too big for your pocket but perfect for the railing going into the garage. And I'm spending too much time in the joke thread... I'm furgeddin how to spwell.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09JMT1V39/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[nadogail]

I have a basket of the Harbor Freight flashlights.
They are an effective bait to bring me into the store.

 

[onetonbb74]

I edc a streamlight stylus pro, and I also carry a streamlight protac 2AA in my trucks when I need more light.

 

[pbon]

I’ve bought a bunch of these off of Amazon. Cheap and reliable. The first bunch were labelled Cree but these look identical.
Link

I like that one because it is “unisex.”

 

[f121]

Why wouldn’t you go usb chargeable? Otherwise you either need to buy batteries or mess with recharging aaa’s.

Coast A9R is my preference for a penlight, slimmer than an AAA so it fits nicely in a shirt or jacket pocket and has a great beam.

A9R Rechargeable Stainless Steel LED Penlight

Enhance inspections with the A9R Penlight. Features flawless Inspection Beam, rechargeable battery, stormproof durability, and backed by a lifetime warranty.

coastportland.com

 

[HenryAZ]

Fenix E12. Uses a single AA battery, comes with pocket clip, and is only 3" long. It has a tail cap push button switch. Push to turn on at 5 lumens, tap once for 30 lumens, tap a second time for 160 lumens.

 

[mike93lx]

Why wouldn’t you go usb chargeable? Otherwise you either need to buy batteries or mess with recharging aaa’s.

Coast A9R is my preference for a penlight, slimmer than an AAA so it fits nicely in a shirt or jacket pocket and has a great beam.

A9R Rechargeable Stainless Steel LED Penlight

Enhance inspections with the A9R Penlight. Features flawless Inspection Beam, rechargeable battery, stormproof durability, and backed by a lifetime warranty.

coastportland.com

Too many companies are still using micro USB, which they deserve to be flogged for. Streamlight has a mix of micro and USB c, but make it really hard to find out which is which.

 

[2gslse]

I am a fan of the Olight usb rechargeable for its compactness and hi low functions. It also has a clip on it that holds it in my pocket or onto the bill of my hat for hands free option which is more handy that I realized

 

[gunguy]

I'm glad this thread was started and already has a number of useful posts. I've been carrying a SIG STL-100C for 20 years or more but it's beginning to wear out and has been discontinued by SIG (the gun folks). I like the size, shape, aluminum water resistant body and that is 1AA battery. It's a good pants-pocket sized light that works well for me and my needs. Looking forward to checking out some of the suggestions posted.

Jim

 

[pbon]

I have a several 2AA and 2AAA and comparable rechargeable size penlights — Thrunite Archer, Streamlight, Olight, Acebeam and Lumintop (plus Milwaukee and Maglight but they are only about 100L versus 350-600L for the others). Might add some smaller 1AAA lights if there are good BF sales.

 

[Mfaz28]

Various Fenix lights have served me well.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I use Streamlight penlights. Batteries have more As (AAAA) and fewer lumens than you're thinking about.

 

[Motown]

Klarus makes a pretty nice one, it has 2 brightness levels.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I've had a Streamlight MicroStream USB for a few years and it's an awesome light, so I'd have to imagine the non-USB version would be good as well.

 

[mv213]

Another vote for Streamlight Stylus Pro. Great little shirt-pocket light.

 

[Jbss71]

2105 milwaukee is what I use. It's AAA. Just cheap enough to not be mad when it goes missing

 

[bonneyman]

Coast does make some nice lights, as does Nite Ize. I still use Maglites though, but install special aftermarket LED conversion bulbs and don't have any problems with flicker. Like these:

https://www.grainger.com/product/5P...:CSM-2295:4P7A1P:20501231&gclsrc=ds&gclsrc=ds

But my brother gave me a compact multi-LED light some years ago and I really liked it. Sort of like this offering from Amazon. I can't remember the brand, but it looked really close to this design:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0776RW8DM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[RPH]

By far the best flashlight I used on the job. Three level settings, bright, dim, strobe. Batteries last forever and give a heads up when low. It will go into store mode advising power low. Bought it in Guelph, Ont. at a little electronics store I got supplies from for a job. Cost about $50 Canadian about 7 years ago.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

Prefer quality torch needs to work when I need it most.​

TITAN® PLUSUltra-Compact Multi-Output LED Keychain Light​

 

[seagravedriver]

There are some great choices here. Let me take a different angle. A few years ago, I had several AA lights. A Surfire as well as a Streamline or two. I change batteries often, but I had damage to all due to leaking Costco branded AA batteries. The fire dept work for received a memo from the airpacks we use advising us NOT to use Costco branded AA batteries. Costco was good to me, as was Surefire, repairing my light. Others, not as much.

 

[lazyriverrat]

Link
I have a bunch of these guys in every vehicle, drawer, and bag. There are different brands but all seem to be the exact same. Costing under $4 each is a bargin.

 

[boatshoes]

This is a great flashlight: https://maglite.com/products/mini-maglite-led-2aaa-flashlight
But to get away from carrying spare AAAs, I have switched to this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...geable-Flashlight-with-Magnet-2011R/316165247
It has a magnetic back and you can clip it to a hat brim to improvise a headlamp. I have found medium to be plenty bright for me, and it will supposedly run 16h at that setting. I haven't stress-tested it but it's always had plenty of charge when I need it, and an external LED lets me know when it's getting low on charge.

 

[PoorUB]

I have this one,
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...h-Two-USB-3-0-Ah-Batteries-2112-22H/319240569

I realize it might not fit the needs of the OP, but is is bright! I use it as a work light often. I keep it in my truck for just in case.

I would consider a USB rechargable like the previous post and ditch the penlight batteries.

 

[ATC]

Streamlight Protac 2AA. Also have a AAA Stylus Pro. Love 'em

 

[GRB]

I have a number of flashlights for various purposes. The one I now keep in my shirt pocket at all times is this one. It is expensive but worth it with the even light and full spectrum light. Microstream and Macrostream are too large in diameter for shirt pocket use. If you want a double AAA battery light this is actually worth the price. It comes with rechargeable batteries and if you want to recharge them, it is brighter at the higher voltage:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M79M2C5/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[foodie]

Nebo

 

[bwringer]

I've pretty much moved to rechargeable for all my lights.

For the OP's use case, I have a couple of the USB rechargeable pen lights from Horrible Fright. One is a pretty basic light, and the other is more elaborate, with a tip light, a side light, and even a UV light.

I have also rechargeable work lights and a head light. I do still have a few disposable battery powered lights stashed here and there, of course. I'm not throwing them away (unless the batteries leak), but I'm not buying new ones.

Anyway, I'm a little curious as to why NOT rechargeable is one of the OP's specific requirements.