Let's Start With EDC Flashlights

Have you noticed the incredible array of expensive EDC/tactical flashlights available today? They cost $50-$150 or more and provide tremendous light output (I call them retina-burners!). Flashlights of this caliber are essential for military and police tactical operations, but not so much for the average person. What most folks require is a light that's rugged, reliable, affordable and provides adequate light.

One such light  that I have made a core element of my personal EDC equipment is an Energizer MLT1WAAE 1-watt, 1-AA LED flashlight. Pics and specs here:

http://cdn.fullsource.com/pdf/product-information/pdf_downloads/mlt1waae.pdf

This light was purchased approximately two years ago at Target for about $15.00 + tax and included 1-AA battery and a wrist lanyard. I use this light almost daily and it's proven to be highly serviceable. 

Update Feb, 2013 - Apparently NLA fromTarget...However, O'Reilly Auto Parts and Advanced Auto Parts show them on their websites at $19.99 + tax...Still a great value!

Performance specs and features:

• 1-Watt LED producing 45 now 50 (according to packaging) lumens*
• 7hr run time with 1-AA Lithium battery (3.5 hr with an alkaline battery)**
• Regulatory circuitry for stable light control
• Weatherproof 
• Push button tail cap
• Steel Pocket clip
• Knurled grip, machined high strength aluminum housing
• .875" (22mm) dia. x 4.00" (99mm) OAL; weight is 2.6 oz. w/ lithium battery

As you can see from Energizer's specs, this is not the brightest flashlight in the galaxy; but it's proven highly adequate for my use.  It's more compact than the ubiquitous 2-AA Mini Maglites that I carried for years and the 45 50 lumen light output is definitely brighter*. It's even brighter than a 2-D Maglite with a Krypton bulb and much easier to EDC.

The Energizer MLT1WAAE flashlight is very lite and small enough to ride comfortably clipped in the top of a shirt or pants pocket, on a belt or strap, or in the loop that I attached to my Leatherman holster. It can even be clipped unobtrusively onto the bill of a baseball cap.

One point that that I really like about this light is that it uses a single, inexpensive and readily available AA battery! CR123 batteries are becoming easier to locate, but try to find them at a bait shop or gas station in rural Tennessee. I've mainly used Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA's  in my light, except for occasional emergency replacement with an alkaline battery in the field.

The rugged housing is machined from aluminum, (appx. .120" thick) black anodized and features a pattern of raised blocks (appx. 1/32" high) for grip traction, along with a series of notches to reduce the tendency to roll when placed on its side on a flat surface . It doesn't have any sharp protrusions (or crenelations, "DNA catchers", etc.) and the low profile spring steel pocket clip works very well. The tail cap/switch is o-ring sealed to the housing.

The switch mechanism functions either momentarily or with a positive click and mine hasn't failed in over 2 years of daily use...While the switch on a similar Duralast unit from AutoZone gave up within 90 days.  

One negative point for me is the rubber (?) cover over the switch. In my opinion, it could be better sealed to the housing. Energizer lists this flashlight as "weatherproof", but I have experienced this problem: The current design can allow moisture into the switch, causing the light to blink or even shut off, until it dries out. This has occurred several times to my personal light, but it has always self-corrected. I've considered adding a thin bead of silicone sealant to fix it...Just haven't done it yet.

Overall, this is a very functional and inexpensive light, with a reasonable battery life that I would recommend to anyone who doesn't require an expensive, battery-hungry, retina-burning tactical light/weapon. 

Yes, you can spend more and get more...But why, if you don't need it?

More to come...

* The rated output of a 2-AA Mini Maglite (Krypton bulb) is 15.2 lumens. For comparison, a 2-D Maglite's output (Krypton bulb) is 36.5 lumens. The new 2-AA LED 3-watt Mini Maglite's output is 77 lumens...Only 1.7X that of the Energizer 1W LED light and nearly 2X its size.

** A 2-AA Mini Maglite (incandesant) and the alkaline battery run time is estimated to be 5.5 hours. The new 2-AA LED Mini Maglite yields a 10hr 45min run time on high power.