Posted: 5/17/2007 1:55:43 PM EDT
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So, I was browsing the wall o' flashlights in the hardware area at Kmart. I was looking at their $9 mini(AAX2) mag lights and suddenly a package caught my eye. It said 50x BRIGHTER on it. 50x more than what? "A standard LED" is what the small print says. Also on the package..."Arcraft Grade Machined Aluminum" It also says, "3 WATT, 80 LUMENS" on the opposite side of the package. In the bottom left corner of the pack it says "LIFETIME WARRANTY" further qualified on the back with, "Unconditionally WARRANTED FOR LIFE of the product against all defects in workmanship and defects...No Receipt required." The bold was theirs not trying to yell. So I bought it. Here it is...  In Package.  Out of package with it's "Free Holster"(it's crap) It also has a lanyard and a pocket clip. Both are removable and I have removed them both since.  Here it is next to a Surefire G2 and a Streamlight Scorpion.(you can see it's pocket clip in this pic) The Scorpion and G2 both claim a light output of 65 Lumens with the standard lighbulbs and 123A Lithium batteries. If this thing actually puts out 80 Lumens with it's single LED and AA x 2 configuration I will be majorly impressed. It also has a rotating bevel for adjusting from spot to flood and it runs in the same manor as the stock G2. You can screw the tailcap all the way down for constant on or leave it loosened just a tad and use the button on the end of the tailcap for silent temporary on. My initial "shining it in the garage" tests compared to the other two lights look promising. Very bright whight light as compared to the very bright slightly yellow light of the Scorpion and G2. The one odd thing that I will go back to Kmart to clarify is...The shelf label said the light costs something like $26.95 before tax(if I remember correctly) HOWEVER, now that I am home and looking at my receipt it says I was charged 31.49 before tax.  I'll go back with my receipt later and see what the story is with that.My first impression is if it is brighter, and slightly slimmer, and runs on easier to find and cheaper, AND rechargeable AA batteries this may be a better carry light for my everyday use. Possibly a good truck light, BOB light, get home light, purse light(for the wifey) and gift for parents and relatives that might not know a 123A lithium battery if it hit them in the eye but probably have AAs laying around the house. More to come after dark... |
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M4mike, I hate to be the one bursting someone else's bubble, but that might be the same that lite that Cabelas is selling for $19.99, same clip, same finish, same holster, same claimed 3watt LED. Only difference I am seeing is the claimed output is 65 lumens, not 80. I believe I have seen it posted elsewhere as a Nuwai(sp?) X3. The one I got from Cabela's has their logo on it also, but I have seen the same lite posted elsewhere for $45. Either way still a good lite for the money as an alternative to the big name one's. SY |
It's not bubble bursting if your info is accurate and substantiated. Then it's called a "heads up".  I'd never cry about that. The side of this one says HIGHBEAM RAYOVAC on one side and HIGH POWER L.E.D. 3 watt on the other. The warranty info on the back of the box says to send it back to "Spectrum Brands Inc." for warranty service which is on Rayovac Dr. Madison, WI. It is very possible the lights you have seen are all made by Spectrum Brands Inc. or some other producer then assembled with slightly different parts which could account for different lume ratings. That's just speculation though. *looking at Cabela's* Looking at the Cabela's website, the body of the flashlight looks just as identical as it could be. The 65 lumen rating and the "Luxeon By Lumileds" being the only difference I can see. Given the higher brightness rating(if it pans out) and the fact you need to factor shipping from Cabela's(which would bring their total to $24.94 if ordering the light alone) I wouldn't consider the similairities/price difference too "bubble bursting"...yet. |
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Small Update: I was both correct and wrong about the price. All of the flashlights were hanging on the sign that said 24.99. It was a sign for a 1 watt LED light. Just under them was a completely empty rack for the 3 Watt Rayovac(what it is) and it was indeed 31.49. So THAT'S cleared up.
OK...that's awesome. If I had a Sam's club closer than 90 miles to me I'd be on that. Actually, I know a woman that drives to Sam's every so often to shop so I'll probably have her pick me up a set of those so I can finger fuck them as well. |
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The sams club 3 watt element light is probably quite bright, but I truly doubt it will get the stated 20 hour run time with decent light. I am guessing more like 2 hours of bright light, then the rest at a much dimmer output. The light I use at work is the older version of this light, 1 watt element. Its been a pretty good light. No power regulation, so the light gets dimmer as the batteries get lower. On the good side, mine has been insanely durable. |
That reminds me. The back of the package this one came in says, "Regulated circuitry provides maximum light output throughout entire life of battery." |
Oh yeah? I didn't even bother to blow up the pic until you mentioned it. I'm not really interested in a light that takes AAA. The AA just seems so damned common and rechargeable AA are even easy to find nowadays plus any other item in my "survival/bug out" gear is AA so if batteries run down in one thing I can cannabilise from another. I wouldn't add anything AAA to my stuff. That's the reason I was also excited to find a claimed 80 lumen LED that ran on 2 AA. OK...off to the darkness to see what this thing does. I'll post later or tomorrow. ETA: It's a bit late and I'm not in the typing mood so I'll update tomorrow with the rest of the story. I'll just say that I really like it's light output(especially at common self defense ranges) and I'm going to carry it in place of my other small carry lights for a while and see if there are any bugs. |
Oh hell...I forgot to update in greater detail. Basically, up close...like in home or backyard/parking lot distance it appears brighter than the G2 to me. Plus the white light from the LED doesn't have any dark spots or odd shapes. It's always a perfectly round circle of white light. At longer distances of 30 yards and up it definately loses a little to the G2/Scorpion. The LED light just doesn't seem to carry to greater distances as well...however, it still sheds enough light at that distance that I would feel confidant in hitting a target with my pistol. I've been carrying it all week. I like the slighlty slimmer and slightly longer feel of the body. It is easier to hide in my front pant pocket and easier to reach and grasp when I reach in for it. Considering I can keep it loaded with easily obtainable and rechargeable AA batteries I think I am replacing my Scorpion and G2 with this light for the time being. After I carry it for months and then a year or longer I'll try and remember to update this thread as to it's long term reliability. |
they seem like decent lights, I had 1 LED die and another the plastic thing that holds the batteries broke |
Just bought these FLs. Very nice. $14 for a bright LED that runs on AAA. As bright as my G2, but obviously different as the G2 is more yellow, while the LED is true white, which looks blue.... Well worth the $14 per FL, IMO. 
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IMO very clear and circular. Just flashed it on the wall here....looks great. If I could find my damned digital camera I'd shoot ya a pic! And the big thing....$14 per flashlight?!?! With batteries? Its a very good deal. Plan to do the battery test tomorrow if possible. See how long they actually last....I find 20 hrs hard to believe, but we'll see. |
Sounds like a focusing optic (vs reflector). Do you get any/much sidespill to the light or is it just like a mini spotlight? |
My wife has been watching me carry mine and has used it herself a few times to go out to her car or whatnot. She decided she likes the way it feels and fits her hand better as well and has requested on of her own to put in her purse too. You're right...the bezel doesn't adjust it much. Because of this I just keep my bezel screwed all the way down tight. ETA: One of the big reasons she decided she wanted a better light than the photon freedom I stuck on her king ring was because we watched the movie Karla not long ago. She has been on the fence about getting her own CCW and carrying a bigger, brighter, light in her purse but I think this movie may have finally pushed her off the fence. If any of you have an SO that you are wanting to start living a bit more in the yellow side of their alert status rent that movie. It's all based on true events and it is one of the most intensely disturbing movies we have ever watched. |
Link to manufacturer site: www.rayovac.com/flashlight/lux2aa3w-b.shtml Amazon has it for $25 <<<----Linky |
I have this flashlights baby brother, around 50 or so lumens. You have no clue its going to die untill it just goes out. |
| Don't ever underdog a cheap flashlight best flashlight I have ever gotten was when I was in School of infantry back in 2002 it was free with a pack of batteries I bought . This flashlight has gone from hell and back it did three tours in Iraq been through the wash I don't know how many times and has been nothing but abused the whole 4 years I was in. Now in 2007 it still works great . It's not the brightest flashlight it not some cool tac crap flashlight that after one I.E.D shock wave hits it the bulb brakes (Surefire) it's a simple flashlight and I'd stake my life on it any day. |