Ultra light flashlights

The Gerber says its 4 oz + batteries. I have a .62 oz Quark Mini 123 and couldn’t be happier. With 1.2, 8, or 150 hour run time you have options! These use the latest Cree emitters so light output is fantastic. FYI an AA version is also available.

Quark Mini 123

Check out the Maratac AAA from countycomm. 19gram with 3 setting. I think there is an review on this site also.

Check out the 80 lumen, 9 gram, $20 iTP A3 EOS Upgrade at goinggear.com. They're truly awesome.

Ultralight? The Mongoose looks pretty darn big (7 inches?) and heavy — for something that takes coin cell batteries…

Those iTPs do look pretty impressive, Brad. I couldn't find anything about the degree of waterproofness. Do the seals look robust?

Also, does anyone have any experience with Zebralight headlamp/flashlights? They are three times the price of the iTPs, but they are 1-2oz in weight and have up to six light level settings (lowest setting will run continuously for 26 days on some models).

Hi, Colin- The twist-off head has a relatively snug-fitting o-ring. I've used it in the rain w/o trouble. The Upgrade version of the light does have 3 different brightness settings.

I couldn't find anything about the degree of waterproofness. Do the seals look robust?

On the web page for the iTP A1, A2 and H01, the description includes "Water and Dust Resistant to IP68" and "Mil-spec: MIL-STD-810F".

The A3 page just has "Mil-spec: MIL-STD-810F".

I would expect that the A3 is built to the same environment standards as their other models, but if you need to be sure then get in contact with their customer support people and ask.

–MV

On my scale the iTP EOS A3 (AAA) weights .63oz with Li batt. Add an extra batt .89oz. Li batt lasts about 5hrs on med (18 lumens) and 1 hr and 20 mins on high. (80 lumens) Medium works for night hiking for me, and a total of 10hrs run time is more than enough for my 5 day trips. Low is excellent for reading and tent use. I rigged up a small elastic head band to use as head lamp, .96oz total for 2 Li batts, light, and head band. The beam pattern of this light has good throw, and a warm tint that gives true color lighting. (Q5 emitter) There are R2-R5 emitters available in other lights with 115 lumen output but the beam lacks as much throw and color washes out IMO.

I posted this earlier.

I bought the Mongoose on sale on a whim. Detached from that gnarly, magnetic, flexible attachment, the head weighs 1 oz. on my scale.

I like the idea of separate colored LEDs instead of colored filters as each LED has unique power consumption. The red LED would probably run several days on one set of batteries, the white far less, but by using both colors when appropriate, the batteries should last longer. As the cells' energy reduces over time, the colored lights seem to be less affected: the white LED may seem dim, but the others do not, which is a plus. I find the light a bit bulky for a 2X CR2032 light, and the shape a bit awkward to hold, but not unreasonably so.

The single white LED is adequate for the 2-5' range of camp chores. The blue LED, which is advertised as searching for fluids, is very harsh, but has a very wide beam. (Blue LEDs are supposed to appear very bright to the eye.) The green LED, although not NV green, also has a wide beam. Its color really makes foliage jump out relative to rocks and dirt. The red LED has a surprisingly narrow beam relative to the other colors and other red LEDs I've used, which limits it use for up-close work. The UV LED, which can't be used for water purification ;-), is of rather limited use, except for looking for white objects in the dark, making reflective cord glow, and for charging the lume on my watch at bedtime.

Although the colored LEDs are always interesting and even useful at times, my main objection is the lack of levels: the green LED at a very low level would be perfect for nighttime use with its floody beam, but at full-blast, it just obliterates my night vision. (The red LED isn't much better.)

Gerber as an alternate version with an IR LED instead of the UV LED, but I'm not sure what useful trait IR has on the trail. If either end of the spectrum proved to chase away raccoons and bears, I'd be sure to carry it :-)

The Maratac has the same electronics and emitter as the ITP A3 upgrade, but it can tailstand and has a knurled body. Great light. I just used it for this first time this weekend; fell asleep waiting for the rain to stop Saturday evening and ended up making, eating, and cleaning up from dinner by its light. The clip reverses and worked very well clipped to my rain hat. Low was plenty bright for what I was doing, and that's with an alkaline battery (need to pick up a couple of lithiums).

I couldn't decide between the aluminum Maratac AAA and the iTP A3 EOS Upgraded – so I bought both. After playing with them, I'm totally set on the iTP. I threw up some beam shots on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqhgpo5_amA&feature=youtu.be

I use a Fenix E05 for EDC, 27 lumens, .4oz, takes a AAA. I was actually surprised on how bright it was, and the diffusor works well. I was pretty set on picking up a Fenix HL21, as I also have their HP11 (4xAA, 277 lumens!), but my friend picked up the much raved Zebralight H51. If it's as good as everyone else says, I might have to change my mind.

I too have a 4sevens quark mini123 and love it. About the size of your thumb and nearly 200 lumens. .62oz w/o battery and I made a headband for it that brings total weight to 1.4oz as I recall.

How about a much cheaper option or two. You could use a Photon. Or you could use my favorite, a Clip light by Sierra Designs, the S200. Nice mellow light and not blinding like a Photon. Has a clip to mount it to whatever you want to and is weighs .6 ounces and can be bought on sale for $5.99.

I will second, or is that fourth the iTP A3 Upgraded. Great little/lightweight flashlight with good regulated run time. When I am going minimalist, this is my light. That said, I normally use a Zebralight H51 for it’s wider range of output levels and ease of use.

It was suggested that a Photon would be a good alternative. If you just want a bit of light in camp, sure, the Photon is great. But if you need longer run time, especially for way finding during a night hike I have found the Photon to be inadequate in the amount of light it provides. If fact, I would suggest that typically I was better off on night hikes with the Photon turns off (once I gave my eye a chance to adjust) than I was with the Photon turned on. The photon runtime graph shows how it’s output falls off. I like around 20 lumens for trail navigation. Photon gives around 30 minutes of that.

I have more musing about flashlights on my misc gear page.

–Mark

Arc-AAA

the zebralight in either AA or CR123 is a light that can be used around camp (low setting), more importantly it can be used for night time hiking (planned or otherwise)- it can be used as a flashlight or a headlamp- for hiking in the dark I find a headlamp vastly superior to a handheld light

I use a Steripen, so I opted for the CR123 version so I could swap batteries between the two if needed, the AA version by all accounts is equally good

FWIW I just ordered a zebralight H51. I also use a steripen and debated getting the H31 (CR123 version) but read that runtimes with the H31 are significantly lower than the posted times on ZL's webisite when using rechargeables (I use AW rechargeables in my steripen), while the runtimes posted for the H51 are with eneloops (rechargeable). So, if you're NOT planning on using rechargeables, the H31 is a brighter with longer runtime (and a little lighter); if you are planning to use rechargeables, the H51 might be a better choice.