Flashlight / <$30 / 180 Lumens / LED

[Errtt]

Pick up a couple Nebo 5587 US Army TAC-180 Flashlights - puts out 180 Lumens and not bad for under $30
Came with Alkaline batteries too.
4 lighting modes - don't have to push the button (clicking) to change modes - just partially press a moment and let go
No spiral spring in the back contacting battery - loaded post
Cree Q4 LED
12 hour run time @ 180 Lumens

I have better quality built but I also paid a lot more for them.
Seems a good bargain so far

 

[OtisBlkR1]

where are you getting them.. i eat flashlights ! the only think i havent managed to destroy is my surefire... and a little LED Gander mountain (sure fire knockoff).. these two small lights are pretty robust.. plastic flashlights dont last me very long..

 

[BigBuck]

Waterproof? Shock resistance?

 

[chevrofreak]

There is no possible way it is running 12 hours at 180 lumens on 3 alkaline AA cells. More like 3-4, then tapering off.

 

[eljefino]

I've heard good things about these guys on ebay. Yeah, shipped from china, takes forever, etc etc.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1
where are you getting them..

Walmart, Amazon, bunch of other online places have them.

But I also question the 12 hour run time at full power. Either the time is shorter or it's not really 180 lumens.

Still, it looks interesting at this price range. I was personally looking at Fenix LD40, but it's twice the price of this Nebo one.

 

[Errtt]

I got mine at a local outdoor/sporting store. I haven't checked, but mu local Fry's and Target stores carry an array of flashlights.
Yeah - as I just got them, I didn't think about the 12 run time - so then this morning I was thinking maybe 1.2 hours so I Google search a moment since its coffee break and what I saw Does say 12 hours - http://www.ebladestore.com/neb-5587-5488.html

Lumens - I will say it is bright bright bright for a little LED.
Quality - of course not the best at Waterproof/Shock resistance - dunno.... the packaging is already in the outdoor trash can and I didn't read up front/bank if anything about it was stated.

Anyway, just saying that for just under $30 that these are bright, feel fairly solid, and although time will tell, they do seem to be a bargain. Being the brightest (180-Lumen) LED I have at the moment might also be adding to the WOW-Factor too.

Later last night when one of my kids stopped by, he says he seen the same flashlight at the local Big-5 Sporting store about a week ago and almost pulled the trigger for one but knew dad has several flashlights and so no need to spend his money - of course I let him have one leaving now one for myself.

eljefino - now I'll have to look for that 300 Lumen light locally whenever I stroll around the flashlight section when I'm out and about - hard to imagine 300 Lumens for a LED but if I see one of those locally, I'll snag it just because.... because... - because

 

[Vikas]

Go visit BudgetLightForum. There is a ton of information in that forum and some insanely great deals. You do have to go with the lithium rechargeable 18650 cell and charger. You can get them extremely cheap, so that should not stop you from getting them.

I have multi-dozen flashlights and I get yellow envelopes from HK almost every week. DealExtreme, ManaFont, DinoDirect are your sources for cheap lights. Give me your requirements and I am sure I can provide you a suggestion. You can pick up "supposedly" 900 lumen light shipped to your door for under $11. It will spit out about 500 real lumen.

- Vikas

 

[Errtt]

^Vikas^ Those prices & Lumens - killing me!......
I have another bargain - posting on new thread now - DMM

 

[E365]

I just got a 5 mode, CREE XML T6 on KaiDomain.com. It's a 18650 Li-Ion rechargeable light as mentioned above. It's absolutely amazing and blows my 3D cell LED MagLite out of the water, at about 1/3 the size. High mode on this thing is literally blinding. I bought it for $25 but they just dropped the price to $17.

http://budgetlightforum.com/node/1010

http://www.kaidomain.com/product/details.S009844

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: E365
I just got a 5 mode, CREE XML T6 on KaiDomain.com. It's a 18650 Li-Ion rechargeable light as mentioned above.

So, is the battery included with it or do you have to buy it separately, and a charger of course?

Are those no-name chargers and ultrafire batteries they're selling any good?

 

[Vikas]

You want protected Trustfire "Flames" (Yellow/Red) 2400; there is also a cheap universal single cell charger for about $5 which works great. It is a slow charger but it does NOT overcharge. When you are fooling around with Lithium, this is very important. Don't bother with included battery or charger if they come with a light. Both the battery and charger would be sub-par and could be extremely dangerous. Until you have lot of experience, stay with protected cells.

DinoDirect has UF501B or UF502B with XML-T6 LED for about $11 after using their Thanksgiving coupon code. I do not remember the code but if you follow budgetlightforum, you will be able to find it.

DinoDirect has its warts but so far all my three orders (actually group buys) have worked great and I have got blazing deals on UF2100 XML-T6, UF-H2b and UF-H3b headlamps.

 

[Vikas]

Here is the cheap charger

You can probably find it at other places too. I have had it for last year and half and it has been my primary charger for all my lithium cells. I have a fancy hobby charger too but I rarely take it out. Even if you are going to do multi-cell Lithium, I would still suggest you buy couple more of this tiny charger rather than going for a bigger multi-cell charger.

Here are the batteries You can probably find them cheaper at DinoDirect too.

I am warning you right now; this thing can get addictive very quickly because every single day a new and "better" and sometimes cheaper light comes out and then the resistance become futile Wait till I show you some shiny stainless steel stuff which I paid peanuts for. I have never got in to titanium stuff (yet)! This is like shoes for boys.

 

[Vikas]

I have all three; each was about $15-$18 delivered.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Here is the cheap charger

Can this charge two 18650 batteries at once?

 

[HTSS_TR]

We're rarely use flashlight. I have 4 FAR flashlights from Pep Boys 3-4 years ago, the original AAA batteries still working. That how little we use the flashlight. I see no reason to spend more than $2-3 for something that is rarely used.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
You want protected Trustfire "Flames" (Yellow/Red) 2400;

Why these and not the also protected Ultrafire 3600? Something wrong with them?

Sorry, I'm just a newb when it comes to these higher voltage rechargeable batteries.

 

[jcwit]

Somehow I'm getting along just fine with the FREE flashlights Harbor Freight has been giving away for 3 years.

I also see no reason to spend big bucks on something as simple as a flashlight more than likely made on cnc machinery and requiring no hand fitting.

Reminds me of an old saying. A fool and his money are soon parted.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: jcwit
Reminds me of an old saying. A fool and his money are soon parted.

Same can be said about collecting expensive watches or buying boutique synthetic oil. People spend money on things they like. Sometimes it's just a hobby.

 

[jcwit]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: jcwit
Reminds me of an old saying. A fool and his money are soon parted.

Same can be said about collecting expensive watches or buying boutique synthetic oil. People spend money on things they like. Sometimes it's just a hobby.


This is true, as I collect firearms, Double Edge Razors, Collectable and custom made knives, ect., ect.