Whats the best flashlight under $15 shipped?

[Danglerb]

I've seen a bunch of very low cost very decent flashlights lately, so what's the best people have seen under $15 incl shipping?

I am not opposed to less than $10 if that is the best deal/decent.

Or maybe a touch more to go with some weird odd battery instead of AA or AAA, but no more than $25 for flashlight and weird battery and charger.

 

[Davefr]

I've seen a bunch of very low cost very decent flashlights lately, so what's the best people have seen under $15 incl shipping?

I am not opposed to less than $10 if that is the best deal/decent.

Or maybe a touch more to go with some weird odd battery instead of AA or AAA, but no more than $25 for flashlight and weird battery and charger.

For <$10 these are excellent:

http://www.tomtop.com/lasers-flashl...t-torch-adjustable-focus-zoom-light-lamp.html

 

[Altec]

I say pay the extra money, and get a Streamlight Stylus Pro. $22, and you get a awesome light that uses AAA batteries, has 48 lumens, and has a awesome warranty. My switch went went bad in one of mine, and they sent a replacement with no questions other then what my address is...

Everyone uses them at where I work. One guy has one that is two years old, and still going strong.

 

[tunnelengineer]

maglight still tough to beat for low price. Personally I throw $50 at a surefire at get a flashlight I would never doubt or think twice about. At 110 lumens it's tough to beat the output.

 

[RKA]

Costco has a 3 pack of LED flashlights that use 3 AAA batteries. They have some variety of cree led bulb in them. I've been happy with them for the $16 they cost. Don't see it on the website though...must be in store only. Only issue is they have a parasitic drain on the batteries. If you use alkalines it's more of a problem, but with NiMH rechargables, it's not nearly as noticable.

 

[Danglerb]

For <$10 these are excellent:

http://www.tomtop.com/lasers-flashl...t-torch-adjustable-focus-zoom-light-lamp.html

That's the one that has me looking to add yet another flashlight to my collection. 7W 300 Lumen Cree Q5 or Q7 depending on vendor, and $7.50 shipped. I was just hoping spending another $5 to $10 might step up one more level.

I know Streamlight is great, but its a generation or two old and I want a BRIGHT small light, bright enough to do daylight inspections under the hood. I have a nice small Maglight, and various others, now looking for a small higher output even if it croaks within a year, because a year from now will have another couple generations of improvement.

 

[greasemonkey44]

+1 for the streamlight pros

 

[Altec]

48 lumens, size of a pen, awesome warranty, $22. I would love to see something better...

 

[monster1]

I have some custom built flashlights I made using xm-l t6 led emitters and modified circuit boards to drive the led's at a modest 2 amps using protected 18650 li-ion batteries.
They are brighter than the headlights in a car but the investment is a little more than double your budget.

 

[JayL]

+1 for the streamlight pros

another +1 .... in my experience its priced well for the performance it offers.

 

[pipsters]

I have an LED DD Maglite I use at work, no idea what the light output is but it does the job, $15 on sale.

Wish I knew what the light output was so I could compare to other flashlights, it would be neat to show up at work with something crazy bright.

 

[battlegraduate09]

streamlline stylus, got mine from my matco dealer. I love it, i traded in my matco mag light for it

 

[jtfc]

I say pay the extra money, and get a Streamlight Stylus Pro. $22, and you get a awesome light that uses AAA batteries, has 48 lumens, and has a awesome warranty. My switch went went bad in one of mine, and they sent a replacement with no questions other then what my address is...

Everyone uses them at where I work. One guy has one that is two years old, and still going strong.

+1 I got mine for 30 off the cornwell truck but sounds like other trucks have them cheaper. It is a little over your budget but the light is literally the size of a pen and crazy bright. Its so bright I temporarily blinded myself when I first got it. They are also very tough I've already dropped mine a few times with no problems. I highly recommend going over budget and getting one.

Forgot to mention the stramlight stylus pro that I bought is using c4 led technology. I don't know if it is latest gen or not but I really can't emphasize enough how bright this light is. I have another flashlight for my fire helmet that also uses c4 led tech same thing just rock solid reliable.

 

[Danglerb]

I understand many are happy with their several generation old LED lights, but for $23 shipped I can get a 1200 lumen Cree T6 7W light. That is a LOT of light.
http://www.meritline.com/cree-t6-4-mode-memory-white-led-flashlight---p-77110.aspx

I already have a nice selection of 50 to 100 lumen LEDs, I need some LIGHT, if I am ploinking out $20 or more.

 

[00pewter]

I say pay the extra money, and get a Streamlight Stylus Pro. $22, and you get a awesome light that uses AAA batteries, has 48 lumens, and has a awesome warranty. My switch went went bad in one of mine, and they sent a replacement with no questions other then what my address is...

Everyone uses them at where I work. One guy has one that is two years old, and still going strong.

What he said. It's a hair thicker than a pen and it's on me everyday. Great little light for the money. And bright as hell too

 

[Stuey]

+1 for Stylus Pro.

 

[Bolster]

I am a TINT BIGOT, will only buy lights that have 'neutral' LEDs that look like incandescent. Hate the angry-purple and puke-green tints commonly found on cheap lights. Best, cheapest good-tint light I know of is this Romisen, widely recommended by CPF forums:

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-232/Romisen-RC-dsh-G2-II-NW/Detail

$18.75

Runs on a single AA to boot (which requires more expensive boost circuitry. Cheaper lights kludge the voltage requirement by throwing more cells at it.). 140 lumen, plenty bright.

 

[0.511MeV]

I got a little Amprobe LED light free via mail in rebate from Amprobe. They said it has an MSRP of 20. I'm really impressed with it if it is a 20 dollar light. Very bright, very convenient.

 

[BobbyC]

Olight i3. Uses one AAA and puts out 70 lm (lumens). I've been carrying one on my keychain for about a year now and have given a few out to close friends and they love it. It's about $20.

For $50, you can get an Olight T25 that takes 2 AA batteries and puts out 210 lm. The EagleTac P20A2 MKII uses 2xAA as well but it puts out 230lm and is noticeably brighter than the T25 but cost a few bucks more ($65).

Then you can go in to the stupid, crazy bright lights like the Olight M20SX that puts out 500 lm.

I have all of the above mentioned lights and a few others including SureFires (converted to LED). My go-to light is a Olight T10 (1xCR123) that can put out 210 lm but I usually have it on med (100lm). I have rechargeable CR123's so it's very cheap for me to use every day.

 

[monster1]

I am a TINT BIGOT, will only buy lights that have 'neutral' LEDs that look like incandescent. Hate the angry-purple and puke-green tints commonly found on cheap lights. Best, cheapest good-tint light I know of is this Romisen, widely recommended by CPF forums:

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-232/Romisen-RC-dsh-G2-II-NW/Detail

$18.75

Runs on a single AA to boot (which requires more expensive boost circuitry. Cheaper lights kludge the voltage requirement by throwing more cells at it.). 140 lumen, plenty bright.

Romisen is one of the better made budget lights. Shining beam makes sure that the product functions properly before it ships out. Most of the lights on epray are shipped out of China and they are never checked for function. I have gotten several from epray that were DOA.

 

[Lifttech80]

Dorcy,41-4235 9 LED Angle Head Flashlight. This is by far the best flashlight I have bought, Not the brightest, but price, battery life, and shear functionality made it a great value. Picked it up at Sear's for like $7. In my line of work as a road service tech, I just could not afford to lose another $40 flashlight, or go back to the place I left it.

 

[Dereklmartin]

I just got a TerraLux lightstar 80. 2 aaa batteries, 80 lumens and man is this thing bright. High quality construction and it even has a rubber end to bite on and save your teeth. The led it uses is a high cri so that it doesn't wash out wiring colors. It's got a lifetime warranty as well. I picked mine up for under $20 and am super pleased so far.

 

[blue dog]

Its a few bucks more, but this is the best edc flashlight i have, still like my streamlight microstream. Got the pelican for $19 at my local gun store.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005OLVDJC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[DrkMtnDew]

I've got a Stylus Pro, TerraLux, and MagLite. All are basically about the same brightness. Still on the hunt for an even brighter light that is still fairly compact. This thread has been great so far, keep it going.

 

[Jawn]

I say pay the extra money, and get a Streamlight Stylus Pro. $22, and you get a awesome light that uses AAA batteries, has 48 lumens, and has a awesome warranty. My switch went went bad in one of mine, and they sent a replacement with no questions other then what my address is...

Everyone uses them at where I work. One guy has one that is two years old, and still going strong.

I'll second this. I love how slim it is... mine goes with me everywhere.

 

[j.c.whitney]

This suggestion is a little different, an iTP A1 EOS running a rechargable ICR 123 3.7v 16340 battery. Powerful 190 lumen output, under $25 shipped, manufactured by Olight. I am a long time fan of AA and AAA powered lights and this is my first CR123 powered light. Get the AW ICR 123 battery and a Nano Charger (4sevens.com) is a good vendor.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ITP-A1-EOS-...6661049?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item1e695c1439
Have seen the iTP A1 EOS as low as $22 in the past.

 

[Danglerb]

Cree Q5 or T6, no baby lights need apply. I would like to keep AA or AAA rechargeables, even if thats a step down from max output, rather than add a new type of battery to the household charging farm, but I'm on the fence over that.

 

[Wastegate]

Coleman Max Bubba, 137 lumens , 6 AA batteries, $25 from Walmart..

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Max-Bubba/13848697#Specifications

Hands down the best flashlight for the money (IMO), I love mine and wouldn't trade it for one that was 3x the price..

 

[Danglerb]

I'm resisting going to a 18650, too many issues, too much cost for reliability ($45 for a Pila IBC), so what is looking attractive is the 3xAAA configuration for around 4v using NimH. Seems weird just how techy a flashlight has gotten, but I expect to pick something pretty soon and post results.

 

[oilslick]

I have some custom built flashlights I made using xm-l t6 led emitters and modified circuit boards to drive the led's at a modest 2 amps using protected 18650 li-ion batteries.
They are brighter than the headlights in a car but the investment is a little more than double your budget.

Holy **** I would love a hot rod flashlight!!! Where do I sign up? You seem to be geeked up on this, that tells me you know your LED's.

 

[Danglerb]

Holy **** I would love a hot rod flashlight!!! Where do I sign up? You seem to be geeked up on this, that tells me you know your LED's.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forum.php Look in the second section.

 

[fredd7924]

Someone on here recommended the Romisen RC-G2 II when I was looking. I bought one and loved it until I left it in a car. I then ordered 2 more just in case I lost the next one. Its pretty bright, durable, and the right size. I think the pen lights are too small to hold. It's $11.80 with free shipping now here.
http://www.bestofferbuy.com/Romisen...e=gbase&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=gbase_usa

 

[tenlug]

For <$10 these are excellent:

http://www.tomtop.com/lasers-flashl...t-torch-adjustable-focus-zoom-light-lamp.html

This just came in the mail. It kicks ****. Also bought the 14500 bat's for it, but a AA works to. This light is way better than the price. It is made in China so I'll see how long it lasts. Thanks for the tip. Steve

 

[38Chevy454]

Lot of good suggestions here, I might just have to spend a few bucks to get a nice bright small flashlight.

 

[Danglerb]

Candlepower forums is not a safe place for your wallet, those guys love to spend money.

 

[kc-steve]

I was very impressed with the output and power of this little gem so I added it to my inventory. But the BEST THING ABOUT IT -- NO BATTERIES!

http://junkyardtools.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8_406&products_id=290

It has rechargeable batteries. You plug it into your cigarette lighter for about 2 hours or so and it's good for up to 6 hours of use!

Steve