Looking for AAA light with high CRI and warm tint

[gustophersmob]

Howdy!

Just curious if anyone knows of any good AAA led flashlights with a high CRI and warm tint?

I really like almost everything about my now ~8 year old fenix LD01’s, except for the tint. So, in my ideal world, I’d just have a different emitter in that light, but it’s just too costly to have someone else mod, and I don’t feel like trying to figure out all the driver circuitry myself.

So, the closest to the fenix in terms of output, mode spacing, reliability, build quality, etc is what I’m after.

Must haves are a CRI >85 and a tint <4000. Also must have is current availability. Easily sourced from an online store is nice (vs a forum or something).

Nice to haves would be a real reflector and glass lens vs a TIR optic. I like a little bit of throw since this is my edc light. 

So far, these are what I’m aware:

1) fenix ld02 v2.0 - off the list due to overwhelming negative reviews, unremoveable clip, and very long length.
2) mag lite solitaire “spectrum series” warm white - still a possibility, but it’s only one mode and I don’t like the plastic lens or reflector. I’m also not hugely enamored of mag’s build quality vs something like fenix.
3) sofirn c01s - has a TIR, only two modes that are very far apart (1lm and 100lm iirc). Supposed to be well made and fairly cheap
4) thrunite ti3 - has a NW option, but the CRI and tint arent specified. I don’t care for the mode spacing. I do like the option of titanium.

There are several I’m aware of that appear to be discontinued- astrolux aaa with a nichia 219, lumintop worm, edc01 and tool with nichia 219, peak eiger (if it’s still available, it appears to be done in batches?)

Does anyone know of any others?

Thanks 

[Roc]

Not sure if you have ever bought anything from drop, but they have the Lumintop AAA with a Nichia 219c. Has an e switch with 3 modes. Maximum of 110 lumens. I have a copper with the now discontinued 219b. One of my most carried lights, because of how warm it is.

Edit: Sorry, the Nichia has a maximum of 85 lumens.

[spudley112]

https://countycomm.com/collections/aaa-flashlights/products/aluminium-anodized-aaa-flashlight-by-maratac-rev-3

This one features a Nichia 219. 92 CRI. 4000k.

[ezdog]

ET D25aaa can be had in 219b and is a little smaller than an LD01 too.

The clip sucks really but there us a decent magnet and a more usable range of levels to me too.



The Preon are also 219 and the Beta QR are too.
You can get Eigers in 219 and I have a few of the various Thrunites in NW and am not sure if they are actual Nichia or not but they are really nice compared to any Angry Blue that I know of for sure!


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[Sos24]

ET D25aaa can be had in 219b and is a little smaller than an LD01 too.

The clip sucks really but there us a decent magnet and a more usable range of levels to me too.

(Image removed from quote.)

The Preon are also 219 and the Beta QR are too.
You can get Eigers in 219 and I have a few of the various Thrunites in NW and am not sure if they are actual Nichia or not but they are really nice compared to any Angry Blue that I know of for sure!


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The Prometheus Beta QR is what I was going to mention.  With a Nichia 219c in 4000k and modes of 1/15/90 Lumens, seems like it would fit the bill.  If you want a pocket clip, that has to be purchased separately.

As ezdog mentions the EagleTac D25aaa is really close too, except the tint more warm than desired at 4500.

[gustophersmob]

Wow, these are some great suggestions! I assumed I’d be basically looking for a unicorn, but it seems like there are several options.

I’m off to do some research!

 

[Roc]

Wow, these are some great suggestions! I assumed I’d be basically looking for a unicorn, but it seems like there are several options.

I’m off to do some research!

 

All are excellent suggestions. Just depends on your everyday needs and what you are willing to spend. 

[spudley112]

Flashlight addiction is a disease. Some of us need help.



Please...help.

[Roc]

Flashlight addiction is a disease. Some of us need help.



Please...help.

I got you Spud...get an FW3A next. 

[Blackbeard]

single AAA or 2? this is a good deal from BLF, use coupon code 7DJ3B9AA brings light to about half pricehttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XSNCJQZ/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[gustophersmob]

Not sure if you have ever bought anything from drop, but they have the Lumintop AAA with a Nichia 219c. Has an e switch with 3 modes. Maximum of 110 lumens. I have a copper with the now discontinued 219b. One of my most carried lights, because of how warm it is.

Edit: Sorry, the Nichia has a maximum of 85 lumens.

This looks pretty interesting. And the price seems decent as well. I had a lumintop tool aaa in aluminum briefly, but it had a more pronounced rubber booted tail switch. Is this switch electronic? Or just a metal cover?

[gustophersmob]

https://countycomm.com/collections/aaa-flashlights/products/aluminium-anodized-aaa-flashlight-by-maratac-rev-3

This one features a Nichia 219. 92 CRI. 4000k.

This looks decent too, though the lumens seems high for a nichia. Maybe it’s a copy paste from a cool white emitter spec?

I really like the mode sequence. Though the price is a bit on the high side.

[gustophersmob]

ET D25aaa can be had in 219b and is a little smaller than an LD01 too.

The clip sucks really but there us a decent magnet and a more usable range of levels to me too.

(Image removed from quote.)

The Preon are also 219 and the Beta QR are too.
You can get Eigers in 219 and I have a few of the various Thrunites in NW and am not sure if they are actual Nichia or not but they are really nice compared to any Angry Blue that I know of for sure!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If I read the amazon sales page correctly, the eagtac is a H-M-L mode sequence, which wouldn’t be ideal for me.

The preon looks very interesting. Especially the configurable mode sequences.  I don’t love that it has PWM, but everything else seems pretty nice.

Now the beta qr seems really nice. I’ve had the lumintop worm briefly and found it hard to use due to how slick it was. Do you know if the beta qr has a similar issue?

[gustophersmob]

The Prometheus Beta QR is what I was going to mention.  With a Nichia 219c in 4000k and modes of 1/15/90 Lumens, seems like it would fit the bill.  If you want a pocket clip, that has to be purchased separately.

As ezdog mentions the EagleTac D25aaa is really close too, except the tint more warm than desired at 4500.

Thanks, so two votes for the beta and the eagtac.

If the mode sequence of the eagtac is H-M-L, then that would take it off the list for me.

Any experience with operating the beta qr? Is it too smooth and therefore slippery?

[gustophersmob]

All are excellent suggestions. Just depends on your everyday needs and what you are willing to spend. 

So true. I will probably end up selling some lights to find this one if I get one.

[Roc]

This looks pretty interesting. And the price seems decent as well. I had a lumintop tool aaa in aluminum briefly, but it had a more pronounced rubber booted tail switch. Is this switch electronic? Or just a metal cover?

Yes. The switch is electronic, not just a cover. Great light in my experience.

[gustophersmob]

Flashlight addiction is a disease. Some of us need help.



Please...help.

Fortunately I’ve managed to largely avoid the rabbit hole. Every few years I’ll try a few, but always end up back with my ld01 as edc (at least since around 2012 or so). But having warm emitters in my more powerful lights (zebralight sc52w and sc50w+) I’m wanting a nice be for the light I use the most

[gustophersmob]

single AAA or 2? this is a good deal from BLF, use coupon code 7DJ3B9AA brings light to about half pricehttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XSNCJQZ/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks but I’m looking for single aaa only. 

[gustophersmob]

Yes. The switch is electronic, not just a cover. Great light in my experience.

Cool, thanks!

[spudley112]

I got you Spud...get an FW3A next. 

Welllll...already got a deal worked out to get one. lol

[gustophersmob]

I also came across another lumintop, the IPY07 which seems interesting as well.

[Roc]

I also came across another lumintop, the IPY07 which seems interesting as well.

I have the 2 AAA version. It’s a nice light, but the switch sticks out to far. It activates in my pocket too easily.

[gustophersmob]

I have the 2 AAA version. It’s a nice light, but the switch sticks out to far. It activates in my pocket too easily.

That’s good to know, thanks for that. I’ll take it off the list as that would drive me nuts.

[Roc]

Welllll...already got a deal worked out to get one. lol

Nice. Which emitter?

[Roc]

That’s good to know, thanks for that. I’ll take it off the list as that would drive me nuts.

Yeah, it’s pretty annoying when a coworker asks what’s glowing in your pocket. 

[gustophersmob]

Yeah, it’s pretty annoying when a coworker asks what’s glowing in your pocket. 

 

[spudley112]

Nice. Which emitter?

I don't know. sos24 made me an offer on one and I jumped on it. I just keep hearing so many good things about the FW3A.

[Sos24]

Thanks, so two votes for the beta and the eagtac.

If the mode sequence of the eagtac is H-M-L, then that would take it off the list for me.

Any experience with operating the beta qr? Is it too smooth and therefore slippery?

The EagleTac mode sequence is L-M-H-L-M-H-(strobe sequence)

I do not have experience with the Beta to say how slippery it feels.

[Sos24]

I don't know. sos24 made me an offer on one and I jumped on it. I just keep hearing so many good things about the FW3A.

The emitter is the SST20 4000k 95CRI.

[gustophersmob]

The EagleTac mode sequence is L-M-H-L-M-H-(strobe sequence)

I do not have experience with the Beta to say how slippery it feels.

Ah, thanks. I must’ve misread the description. It’s back on the list