Best value 18650 flashlight: ATACTICAL A1

[Rifle]

Just thought I'd share that this flashlight is great. $20 comes with a quality battery and charging cable. Battery and flashlight perform far better than anything I've gotten for a similar price. Specs seem legit. 220 lumen mode is brighter than all the "900 lumen" flashlights I got from Deal Extreme. Instructions say 500 lumen mode should not be used for more than 10 minutes, but for $10 more there's the A2 which is rated at 1000 lumen, but I don't own that. I can actually use the battery for multiple days without charging it so capacity seems legit or at least much better than those Trustfire batteries from Deal Extreme. Feel pretty confident this flashlight is going to last. Had about 3 months so far.

The only downside is I feel like the 500 lumen strobe is a little too bright to use in the day time, and I feel like cars don't see me as well with just the steady light. Thoughts?

 

[spinningmagnets]

I've been looking at flashlights that used a single 18650 for a while. At first I bought a couple different ones, but both of them needed the cell removed to charge it in a separate charger.

Then I saw the SingFire SF-349, which has a built-in charger that takes a 5V mini-USB phone charger. This way, I didn't have to remove the cell, just plug into the flashlight from any phone charger. My only complaint was that it had a large finned aluminum head as a heat-sink. That would be helpful if I used it on the brightest setting for extended periods, but i hoped I could find a flashlight with the same features, but with a slimmer and shorter shape.

The one I like right now doesn't have a name or part number, but here's the link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Flashlight-USB-Rechargeable-LED-3-Modes-18650-Intelligent-Torch-Power-Bank-/262908061229?hash=item3d368aa62d:g:fAQAAOSwbtVZP~QJ

It is listed under "Mini Flashlight USB Rechargeable LED 3-Modes 18650 Intelligent Torch Power Bank"

 

[markz]

SM - That flashlight for ebiking, or just around the house for blackouts.

 

[spinningmagnets]

For ebikes, I really recommend taking the time and extra cost to use a headlight and tail-light that run off of the main battery, so when the bike is charged up, the flashlight is charged.

However, if something is important, you really need two of them. I like the idea of a large framed-mounted main headlight that is powered directly from the ebike pack, and also having a second light. If anyone agrees, then why not have the second light be a detachable flashlight that is clipped to the handlebars?

Either one of the flashlights I listed use a single 18650 cell, they are charged by a 5V mini-USB cable, and they have a full-sized USB socket that allows the flashlight to be used to power your phone, if needed.