What is the Best 2 AA LED Under $50.00?

[turnsouth]

I did a search, but couldn't find this topic covered here.

I have a half a dozen MiniMag AA's, with the Nite Ize LED's, scattered around and in my EDC. They are quite serviceable, good light output, good battery life, and inexpensive. But I've been thinking about getting a 2 AA light that was born LED, and was looking for opinions on what is out there.

A few requirements:

• 2 AA
• Similar length and form as the standard 2 AA MiniMag, (just so it fits the sheaths I have now)
• $50.00 or less

Any ideas?

Thanks

[Millhouse]

Quark 2 AA, either normal or tactical version. I have one and it fits in the standard Mag nylon holster. Light is a little higher than your budget ($59).

[jekostas]

Quark 2AA
Quark 2AA Mini
Maglite 2AA LED Mini
ITP Eluma SA2
Fenix E21

or if you like your Maglites already, just replace the Nite-Ize drop in with a Terralux Ministar2.  Costs $15 and it'll roughly double the output you're getting from the Nite-Ize drop in.

[enki_ck]

Quark 2 AA, either normal or tactical version. I have one and it fits in the standard Mag nylon holster. Light is a little higher than your budget ($59).

+1

I have the aa2 tactical and it's great. You can get a 8% discount with the cpf8 code. So just 54usd and free shipping.

[JCK]

+2 on the quark AA2. I have the regular UI version, with the XPG-R5 emitter. Its a great light, I use it for all my outdoors activities, and carried it at work for a bit as well.

here is a pic from a review I did, of it in my hand, I wear medium size gloves.

[parnass]

I have a half a dozen MiniMag AA's, with the Nite Ize LED's, scattered around and in my EDC. ..

A few requirements:

• Similar length and form as the standard 2 AA MiniMag, (just so it fits the sheaths I have now)

Be aware that the newer LED versions of the 2AA Mini Maglite are longer than the original incandescent version you have.   Therefore, lights which are as long at the newer Mini Maglites may be too long for some of your cases.

[PCS]

I have the aa2 tactical and it's great. You can get a 8% discount with the cpf8 code. So just 54usd and free shipping.

4Sevens is having a Memorial Day sale. If he buys it tonight or tomorrow, he could get 15% off with the discount code MEM2011.

According to my (sometimes dodgy) arithmetic, that should bring him to $50.15.

[turnsouth]

Be aware that the newer LED versions of the 2AA Mini Maglite are longer than the original incandescent version you have.   Therefore, lights which are as long at the newer Mini Maglites may be too long for some of your cases.

Yea, I saw that when I was looking at them in the store. It seems like a rather counterintuitive design choice, given that there is an entire infrastructure built around the size of the original 

[turnsouth]

See, you guys are just a bunch of enablers. Here I was thinking that you all would give me a nice list of 35 dollar flashlights, but now after all your suggestions (jekostas aside), along with reading and watching several reviews, I'm probably going to be ordering one that is over $50.00...

   

I suppose though, that if I came in here asking for a 75 dollar flashlight, you all would have me spending $80.00 by now...

[MultiMat]

Are there any X2 AA ITP torches that are any good 

[jekostas]

Are there any X2 AA ITP torches that are any good 

ITP SA2.

[Beerplumber]

I also use the terralux led in my mag, both in my AA and the AAA mags though the AA led insert is a triple "bulb" cluster style

[jekostas]

I also use the terralux led in my mag, both in my AA and the AAA mags though the AA led insert is a triple "bulb" cluster style

There are a couple of different Terralux drop ins.  The one I'm talking about is a single-emitter Cree drop in.

[ivanov]

May be Olight T25 (R5 edition)

[ATF628]

Streamlight PT-2AA. 120 max, 14 low, strobe, sheath, clicky switch, pocket clip, etc. What more could you want? I have the 2L and love it!

http://amzn.com/B003GXF9OA

[jekostas]

Streamlight PT-2AA. 120 max, 14 low, strobe, sheath, clicky switch, pocket clip, etc. What more could you want? I have the 2L and love it!

http://amzn.com/B003GXF9OA

The output and runtime of the Streamlight are well behind the Quarks, the ITP and the Fenix.  For example, at the same rated runtime the Mini AA2 puts out 50% more light on high, and a has a much lower (and much longer lasting) low mode.

[Gareth]

Are there any X2 AA ITP torches that are any good 

ITP SA2.

It's an excellent light IMO.



A steal at $40.

[jzmtl]

Don't mean to spend any more of your money, but keep in mind alkaline AA don't work well with the high output mode of any flashlight, they just can't provide enough juice. Go for rechargeables if you want good performance.

[ATF628]

The output and runtime of the Streamlight are well behind the Quarks, the ITP and the Fenix.  For example, at the same rated runtime the Mini AA2 puts out 50% more light on high, and a has a much lower (and much longer lasting) low mode.

But the Quark is $20 more. I was keeping the thread title in mind.

[enki_ck]

Don't mean to spend any more of your money, but keep in mind alkaline AA don't work well with the high output mode of any flashlight, they just can't provide enough juice. Go for rechargeables if you want good performance.

Excellent advice. Invest in some Sanyo Eneloop batteries (or Duracells with a white top/re-branded Eneloops) and you won't regret it.

[jekostas]

The output and runtime of the Streamlight are well behind the Quarks, the ITP and the Fenix.  For example, at the same rated runtime the Mini AA2 puts out 50% more light on high, and a has a much lower (and much longer lasting) low mode.

But the Quark is $20 more. I was keeping the thread title in mind.

The ITP SA2, Quark Mini and Fenix are all the same price as the Streamlight.

[ATF628]

The ITP SA2, Quark Mini and Fenix are all the same price as the Streamlight.

I was referring to the Quark AA2 that you mentioned. My fault.

[turnsouth]

I went ahead and took advantage of the 15% discount and got the Quark AA² (I figured that since I was technically buying the set of batteries that came with it, the light was under $50.00  )
 
Great light. The bright setting feels like a few steps above a carbon arc, and the 30 day moonlight setting is great for night use.

Highly recommended. 

Thanks everyone 

Now to save up for some eneloops...

[enki_ck]

Good choice 

Which one did you get, regular or tactical?

[turnsouth]

Good choice 

Which one did you get, regular or tactical?

The tactical. I like the programmability, and especially the momentary-on feature.
Not to mention that it's TACTICAL as well 

[JCK]

Great choice, I really like my quark. I thought eneloops were pretty cheap, only a few bucks a battery?

[turnsouth]

Great choice, I really like my quark. I thought eneloops were pretty cheap, only a few bucks a battery?

They aren't that expensive for what you get. But I'm a cheap sob, and I need to talk myself into buying them...