Three affordable emergency lights...

[RedHeadFlashaholic]

Like the title says, I'm looking into getting an affordable emergency flashlight for home.
I'm looking at three of them right now:
-COAST POLYSTEEL 200
-Rayovac Virtually Indestructible LED, the 2 AA version
-Streamlight 4AA PROPOLYMER LED (for the loooong run time)

Has anyone hear used one of these flashlights? Any problems with them? The main thing if worry about with the Coast model is loading that battery tray, which would mean I could no longer use the flashlight.

 

[thermal guy]

If you’re looking for cheap lights just to have for emergencies any of them will work. But don’t use alkaline batteries. Use lithium batteries. Energizer. L91’s.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

I agree, just get something that will make light and be damned with the 'boutique' stuff.

Chris

 

[RWT1405]

Like the title says, I'm looking into getting an affordable emergency flashlight for home.
I'm looking at three of them right now:
-COAST POLYSTEEL 200
-Rayovac Virtually Indestructible LED, the 2 AA version
-Streamlight 4AA PROPOLYMER LED (for the loooong run time)

Has anyone hear used one of these flashlights? Any problems with them? The main thing if worry about with the Coast model is loading that battery tray, which would mean I could no longer use the flashlight.

I have a few of the Streamlight 4AA ProPolymerLED flashlights, and while they are good flashlights (at there time, 10-15 years ago), they are very old tech, and there are much better flashlights available, as such I would NOT recommend them to you.

The other problem with them, is that there are a few "different models" that have been made over the years, and there is 1 model I recommend staying far away from, the 7 LED model (67 lumens) was/is a complete disaster (IMHO) as if any 1 of the 7 LED's "go out" (stops working) the entire flashlight is done, I threw out 2 due to this.

Then there are also 100 and 200 lumen lights, the 200 lumen ones I have 2 or 3 now, but I bought them on clearance sales maybe 10-15 years ago, as I said, they are very old tech.

As to almost any 3 - AAA flashlight, my recommendation is to run far, far away from these.

My recommendation to you, if you are only purchasing 3 flashlights, is to spend the money and buy 3 good quality flashlights, and as thermal guy said, do NOT run alkaline batteries in them.

 

[ghostguy6]

Personally for an emergency light I like the Pelican 3310 but use Energizer L91 cells in the rather than the alkaleak's. The light glows in the dark, has a high and low setting with a run time from 8 up to 202 Hours. This is the only light I know of that actually has a useful strobe mode at one or 2 flashes per second. It uses one switch with a simple U/I of high/ low/ strobe. You can even purchase it as a the 3310 Emergency Light Station which includes a clear plastic mounting box.
The only draw back to this light is the bulb assembly is press fit into the body. The glow in the dark plastic on this model tends to crack over time near the head. Mostly is it cosmetic and tends not to be a problem. On one (of the 12 or so I have owned) light however there was some water ingress so I would not totally submerge them.

Is this more a generic light or do you have a specific emergency in mind?

 

[Schokokeks]

Is this more a generic light or do you have a specific emergency in mind?

Yeah, I think we need more information on what you mean by "emergency."

An "emergency light" could be a multitude of things:
-A light to stick away and not think about for years on end
-A light kept in an accessible area, used regularly to "always be there"
-A light that can take multiple kinds of batteries
-A light that is extremely durable and able to survive harsh conditions
-A light that will run for a very long time
-A light that will shine very far away


I keep a Malkoff MD3 with two AA and an M31L as my "emergency" light, as it's a tank, and eneloops are the bee's knees for emergencies. When I go hiking, I often bring my Surefire EDC1-DFT as my emergency light, in case I get injured and need to signal people very far away. I also keep a couple of AA Convoy lights on my desk for an emergency, because they can run a long time on a low setting. I also keep a single mode AAA light in my pocket because sometimes the power goes out at work (I have no idea why, haha), and I need to ALWAYS have a light on my person.

What emergencies we plan for are very much dependent on where we live and what things we do.

I think you'll get better recommendations if we know what you have in mind.

 

[xxo]

Those 7 LED Streamlight pro polymer lights weren't very good when they came out 20 years ago and haven't improved with time.

The 2 AA rayovac indestructibles are solid and that would be my pick of the 3 you listed, but the low mode is not low as it should be.

A Mini Mag pro PLUS as a lower low that gives better run time and may be a better choice. If you don't mind a little larger/fatter light, the dual mode 2C ML25 is even better, just run it on AA eneloops or energizer L91's in adapter sleeves (you can also run it on 18650's or 21700's with an adapter).

If you need something smaller, the Streamlight 1L-1AA is real nice and will run on CR123's, AA's or even an AAA without the need for adapters.

A Life Gear makes a decent low cost 3AA (again use eneloops or L91 energizers) multi function light if you need a couple spares:

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

Three pack of 1200 lumen duel fuel proprietary 1800 mAh 18650/3 AAA Duracell lights from Costco for $20-25

Three pack of 700 lumen 900 mAh li-ion usb-c rechargeable battery pack/3AAA headlights from Costco for $19-24

Duracell Solar/26650 li-ion/3D 2000 lumen lantern with usb battery bank function from Costco for $20-25

Fenix E01 v.2- $13

Energizer Hardcase 2AA 300 lumens- about $18

As for your choices, Coast sucks at making waterproof lights so if the disaster has to deal with weather, don’t get it. The Rayovac is well built, but I haven’t seen that light in a Home Depot in years. Don’t know where you’d get it from. That’s the best of the three. The Streamlight uses a one watt luxeon l.e.d. from nearly two decades ago. Modern l.e.d.s will last at least five times longer, be much brighter, and conserve battery power much better. Their 7 l.e.d. version of that light didn’t last past it’s second set of batteries for my light. That version was slightly better but had a very tight beam. Also before ANSI specs became a thing. Light is likely highly overrated on output and runtime. They used to end runtime when brightness dropped below that of full moonlight at two meters. With a narrow beam, that is running the batteries down until they are completely dead and leak. Also used to measure what the l.e.d. was capable of putting out at the l.e.d., not out the front after reflector and lens loses and measuring 30 seconds after the light heated up.

 

[jacobd]

Acebeam TAC AA. Tough, mechanical tail switch, nice throw, well regulated and super reliable.

Much better driver and runtime than duracell junk, and you can just chuck them with a pack of NiMH Eneloop batteries and know you have reliable light available for the next decade.

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

I recommended the Duracell duel fuel lights from Costco because it’s hard to find something under $8-9 that is both USB-C rechargeable with decent capacity and brightness (1800 mAh vs. 1200 mAh for $10 Rayovac light from Walmart with built in battery) and duel fuel so when power fails for longer duration, alkalines are an option.

The headlights from Costco are way cheaper than Petzl Tikka series lights or Nitecore UT27 or even the Nitecore HA13. Also duel fuel for car or solar charging, or using alkalines.

When you have a family, buying one good $50 light for emergencies doesn’t do them any good. If you need more than one, sometimes it’s better to go cheap and have something for everyone rather than something good for one person. If it’s just you, and you have the money, I won’t stop you from getting a quality light. Just remember that in an emergency, if you don’t have a backup, expect someone desperate to try to steal from you because they weren’t prepared. Two is one, one is none.

The Duracell lantern has a 4 amp li-ion battery and 4Ds as backup with solar and usb-c charging for the built in battery plus battery bank function to charge your cell phone. It’s 2000 lumens and dimmable and often only $20.

The Fenix E01 v2 is a cheap, durable, efficient edc light you can have on you during an emergency.

The Energizer hardcase light is good at surviving drops, is plastic so won’t freeze to your hand in winter, and won’t burn you if you grab it out of a hot car or during a fire. It’s a good light to keep in the car for emergencies.