The Gun Counter

So- we're getting ready for a little trip up to Sedona. I had asked my wife to pick
up some batteries (CR123), because we hadn't gotten to BatteryJunction in time.
I was not happy with the price on the package. AT ALL.
SO....
We like the little $30 (approx.) Surefire, and really like the brighter $20 Brinkman -no
longer available at Wal Mart.
Any suggestions for AA battery flashlights that can be used in SD? Are there ones
out there that are bright enough? That way we could use the battery recharger
without spending a fortune.
If not, what suggestions, and from whom? Are LED flashlights good for what we want?
These lights, and we need a few, would be for around the house and car and carried
with the guns. We willing to get different lights for different brights (ie SD vs general use).
Also, please suggest something to plug in the wall outlet for emergency use.
Thank you!

I have a Fenix L2D which I like. It was around $50 and uses 2 AA batteries.

It makes an audible whine when on in "Turbo mode". According to a few flashlight forums, this seems to be normal with this model. It's not hugely annoying, but can be heard from 15' away in a quiet room.

My observations on battery life seem to be pretty close to the advertised times.

I do think it has gotten a bit dimmer after a lot of use, though. I used it on Turbo Mode (175 lumens) to walk my dogs over the winter. 45-60 minutes 4-5 times a week. There is a warning that constant Turbo mode can make it hot.

http://www.batteryjunction.com/fenix-l2d-q5.html

We use these at work. It uses 4 AA batteries, has an on/off push button in the tail and it's pretty bright for general purposes, but it's no Surefire.

I find that the venerable AA Mini-Maglite works fine for me most of the time.

You can pick up an AA Mini-Maglite at Wallyword for about 8 bucks, then go to Dicks or SW and pickup an LED conversion kit with push button base for about 9 bucks. Much cheaper than paying $28 for the LED version, plus you get the push button function.

It's my "bump-in-the-night" and "get into bed" flashlight choice.

Leatherman makes an LED flashlight that runs on 3 AAA batteries.

I have a few radio-shack LED's that will BLIND you - paid ~$7 each for them - leftover christmas gift-boxes. Otherwise I bought a big pile of cheap chinese LED lights a few years ago (like $2 each) and they're scattered all over. I added o-rings and have tested them in water - no problems.

I'm fond of the crank-lights: No problems for batteries though they won't fit in a pocket and are noisy they always WORK. One in every car, night-stand drawer, etc.

Personally, more than $10 for a flashlight seems nuts to me, but then I have a habit of losing little stuff... If I can buy 50 cheapies for the cost of one sure-fire, and use rechargeable AAA batteries, it seems crazy to me to buy the one $100 flashlight, but that's me.

DD

For AA, I would recommend the Streamlight ProPolymer 4AA Lux or the Twin Task 3AA. Although if you have the room for it, try theTwin-Task 3C.

For your 123 cells, try The Battery Station.

If you have an old minimag laying around, seriously look at the Nite Ize 1W LED Upgrade & IQ Switch. Can be purchased separately or as a combo. But be careful, you'll probably drain the first set of batteries just playing with it