Let’s hear from the hard core AAA users!

kaichu dento · May 27, 2026

lampeDépêche said:
I have been in and out of the game over the last 20 years, so I missed the rise and fall of Modomag and their Draco and Drake. Names that I have never heard before. What years were those in production?

Unfortunately I can't find any pictures of my Modamag lights and the lights themselves are in drawers and boxes, having fallen out of favor due to the user interface. Much smaller than AAA lights, they were absolutely astonishing in their day, and would find themselves back in use with a newer light engine.

The only picture I can show you right away is my first one ever, which has been my avatar photo for well over a decade now.

fuyume · Jun 9, 2026

I have lost my damn mind. For some reason, yesterday, I decided that, even though I'm trying not to use AAA batteries at all, there are still a few devices in my life that require them, so I have a stock of Energier L92 lithiums, and a AAA light is, after all, still slimmer than a AA light...

so, I ordered an Olight i3T EOS (version 1, because I like the feature set better than the version 2). It should arrive later today. This will be used on the rare occasions when slimness of carry is paramount. Technically, this will be my second Olight, because I actually own an i3E EOS that I got for free with an old order, and I've never taken it out of the package, because I have no use for it, at all.

Also, I got a new Vertx Every Day Fanny Pack 2.1 EDC bag, yesterday, and there's no way for me to carry both my Fenix PD36 TAC and my Fenix E20 v2.0 in it without potentially mixing them up, so for that bag, my Fenix E12 v2.0 is now my EDC utility light (again), loaded with the Fenix ALB-L14-2200U (1.5 V regulated USB-C lithium-ion) I bought to make free shipping with my last order. The E20 v2.0 will still live in my regular handbag as my primary EDC utility light.

I haven't used a single AAA light since the Mag-Lite Solitaire incandescent, which may actually be in a box somewhere in my house or my mother's house in New Jersey, but it's probably been 20 years since I last saw it.

fuyume · Jun 9, 2026

There are only 3 reasons why I still have anything that uses CR123A batteries:

1. My Nitecore EC11, which is actually an 18350 light, but because there are no primary cells in that size, I bought a 16340 for it. The light comes with an adapter sleeve for CR123A or 16340 batteries, so when I was carrying that for the past 4 years as my primary EDC utility light, I could carry a 16340 in it, with a CR123A backup. I actually wanted the EA11 (14500 and AA), but it was sold out. The EC11 is now my nightstand light.

2. I bought a Nitecore NWE30 emergency beacon, which uses a single CR123A, and is not a flashlight.

3. My ancient but still working Leatherman Serac S3, which was my EDC light from 2008 (I think) until 2014. Now that I have a stock of CR123As to feed the other two, it's back in service around the house as my kitchen table light.

I do not see myself ever buying another new device that uses CR123A.

Dark_Hater · Jun 9, 2026

fuyume said:
…so, I ordered an Olight i3T EOS (version 1, because I like the feature set better than the version 2). It should arrive later today. This will be used on the rare occasions when slimness of carry is paramount. Technically, this will be my second Olight, because I actually own an i3E EOS that I got for free with an old order, and I've never taken it out of the package, because I have no use for it, at all.

I recently received an Olight i3T and was disappointed that it is almost the same size as the Eagtac D25A which has a much nicer emitter, hence it will collect dust.

fuyume · Jun 9, 2026

The Olight i3T EOS arrived today, and I have to say, for $13, it's a decent light. The switch is pretty stiff, so I don't feel like it's going to get activated accidentally. I don't really like the way the switch operates, in that if you switch it off and back on within 2 seconds, it changes to High mode. I assumed it was going to operate like my Fenix lights, where a full press is ON, and a half press is mode change, but in practice, it won't be a problem, since this is for use as a basic utility light.

Of all the single AAA lights I've seen, I think this one is a good one for anyone looking for a very slim but still pretty usable EDC utiliy light and is willing to put up with the limitations of AAA batteries to get that size package.

5 lumens is what I generally regard as the right brightess level for a "Low" setting for a utility light, and although I would prefer it if in also had a "Medium" level, the "High" level is nice and bright. This is not a light that I personally would ever rely on as a sole lighting solution. This is more for those situations where the alternative is not having a light, at all. I may end up just giving it away to someone, but maybe I'll keep it. I don't really have a need for this light, but when I saw it was $13 at Amazon, I figured I'd order one just to see how it works.

tex.proud · Jun 13, 2026

I know this is about AAA but this is where I found out about the Lumintop EDC15 using the Tool AA 2.0 Nichia head.

There's no need when you can get a EDC15 from Skylumen with Nichia 219 3500K or 4500K. The EDC15 floody beam is much better for EDC than the spot/spill of the Tool head.

Pic with my phone of the 3500K. May not be the best representation.

Carry On!

F89 · Jun 13, 2026

This Sapphire has become my main light around the house at night. Used everyday.

F89 · Jun 13, 2026

I don’t use many Chinese lights but this early Fenix E05 is great. Been on the keys for ages.
I’ve got a couple of these; the earlier ones have a 2 part head like the one in the photo which makes modding them easy (there’s a 219B sw45k in this one).

I think the 2 part ones and some of the one part heads have an XPE rated at around 27 lumens then they changed to XPG at around 30 lumens. All of them single mode which is my preference, ~30 lumens is about spot on too.
Regardless of LED they all make a beautiful beam.
I’d buy a handful if this version was still in production. Not keen on the new ones or alternatives.

I tried (and LED swapped) a couple of Lumintop EDC01 but the construction/quality is inferior.

this_is_nascar · Jun 14, 2026

F89 said:
View attachment 95497

I don’t use many Chinese lights but this early Fenix E05 is great. Been on the keys for ages.
I’ve got a couple of these; the earlier ones have a 2 part head like the one in the photo which makes modding them easy (there’s a 219B sw45k in this one).

I think the 2 part ones and some of the one part heads have an XPE rated at around 27 lumens then they changed to XPG at around 30 lumens. All of them single mode which is my preference, ~30 lumens is about spot on too.
Regardless of LED they all make a beautiful beam.
I’d buy a handful if this version was still in production. Not keen on the new ones or alternatives.

I tried (and LED swapped) a couple of Lumintop EDC01 but the construction/quality is inferior.

I have a couple older single stage E05's. I'll have to check and see if it has the 2-part bezel or not. I don't recall.

F89 · Jun 25, 2026

What about other single AAA powered devices?

This tiny Sony has amazing (analogue PLL) performance for a single AAA powered radio.

Let’s hear from the hard core AAA users!

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