9-LED FLash Lights from Lowes ($5 for 2-pack)

[roo_ster]

I like quality flashlights, which is why I have bought several Surefure & Streamlight products.

I also like to have a bunch of flashlights about, but I can't justify a bulk purchase of the above.

So, I have looked about for a cheap but reliable LED lights. I tried dealextreme.com and had a failure rate of 1/3.  Not exactly awe-inspiring.  Same thing with many others.

But, those cheesy two for $5 little LED flashlights from Lowes have proved themselves reliable over several months. 10 flashlights, tested by myself and my two toddlers.  Over that time, my kiddos have dropped them from toddler height many times, left them on all night long, turned the on/off switch on & off continuously for minutes at a time, etc.  None have broken so far.

As to the light output, it is less than my 80 lumen Surefire 6P LED,  but sufficient for a "combat" light in my house.  Frankly, the Surefires & Streamlights are a bit too bright indoors and reflected light can blind one if not careful.

I would not use one for my combat light out of the house or as  a utility light if I expected rain, as the Surefires are better combat lights and they weather-proofing on the 9-LED critters is not as robust as a Surefire or Streamlight.

They are a good, cheap means to have a bunch of reliable LED lights around.  They also give plenty of warning if their 3 AAA batteries are going South...and run great on AAA alkalines.

[Bogie]

I've got a surefire, but it takes the expensive NiMH or Lithium, or whatever photo batteries.
 
VERY bright.
 
I've also got a very nice little 3-AAA light from Coleman. Also had red and blue LEDs available. Pretty bright. But it was about $30 or so at Wally World.
 

[crt360]

I've got a Brinkmann Armor Max 1xAA that I picked up at Academy for $15 a year or two ago.  It's the best cheap light I've ever used.  It doesn't seem to be too regulated so it'll give you really bright light for awhile, then adequate light for a long time without getting flickery or just shutting off on you.  I love the fact that it does it on one cheap AA that can be found anywhere.  I have plenty of other (more expensive) lights and they rarely get used anymore. 

[Regolith]

I've also got a very nice little 3-AAA light from Coleman. Also had red and blue LEDs available. Pretty bright. But it was about $30 or so at Wally World.

I've got two of those; one with the red/blue/white led, and one with just the white led.  The one with just the white is mounted on my bicycle.  Much brighter than comparably priced bicycle headlamps, and the mount didn't cost me very much either:



 

[AJ Dual]

Just FYI, the CR123 Lithium primaries aren't really "expensive" anymore. Although I guess they'll always be as compared to Alkaline AA's.

They can be found for $1ea or even less sometimes.

http://www.batterystation.com/cr123a.htm (get a Candlepower Forums discount by signing up there and getting a screen name.)

Even cheaper.

http://www.batteryjunction.com/tpen-tcr123a-.html

[MechAg94]

I've got at least one cheap LED flashlight from either Lowes or HomeDepot with a rear pushbutton.  I works great.  I have been looking for another one.

[Jamisjockey]

I've got two of those; one with the red/blue/white led, and one with just the white led.  The one with just the white is mounted on my bicycle.  Much brighter than comparably priced bicycle headlamps, and the mount didn't cost me very much either:



 

They make cheap little flashlight clips for your handlebar....just sayin....

[roo_ster]

They make cheap little flashlight clips for your handlebar....just sayin....

True, but can those little clippy-dos repair your bush plane after a bear tears it apart, the way duct tape can:

[bedlamite]

AJ is right, the CR123a batteries are a lot cheaper than they used to be. This spring I picked up a 40 pack for $39.99 with free shipping. The only thing I use alkalines for anymore is my mini-maglite with a LED upgrade, and that's  at work where my employer only supplies AA batteries.

[sanglant]

i bet a shotgun light clamp would work.

[Regolith]

They make cheap little flashlight clips for your handlebar....just sayin....

Yeah...it's not actually attached that way anymore. I bought one of these: http://www.amazon.com/TwoFish-FH1-Flashlite-Holder/dp/B001CJXB5E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1274224481&sr=8-1 a few weeks ago.

The duct tape worked pretty well, though.  Only problem was that anyone with a knife could steal the flashlight.