4Sevens Quark
LED flashlights are still evolving, but the best model powered by a single AA battery is currently the 4Sevens' Quark. Its nearest competitor, the Fenix LD10, is a fine flashlight, but it's not that much of an improvement over the L1D-CE that I reviewed a couple of years ago on Cool Tools. The original Fenix L1D-CE used a then-revolutionary LED emitter, the Cree XR-E, but since then several flashlights use even newer and more efficient LED emitters from Cree -- including the 4Sevens Quark.
The Quark, as with Fenix, has the ability to use the same interchangeable head for three different battery configurations: a single AA battery body, or two AAs, or a single CR123 lithium body. And though the Fenix LD10 has a higher max output from a single AA than the 4Sevens Quark, the Quarks show better efficiency-brightness when used in the 2x AA or 1x CR123 configurations.
The Quarks also have a self-centering design for their emitters, so their beams are really close to flawless. Compared side-by-side with the Fenix beams (which are still pretty good) the difference is pretty obvious.
The maximum output of the Quark with a single regular alkaline AA battery is now an astounding 109 lumens. This is brighter than the once-monster Xeon SureFire 9P rated at 105 lumens with three CR123 Lithium batteries!
Although the Quark's max output with a single AA is indeed very bright it is sometimes too bright -- imagine trying to read with 109 lumens a few inches away. That's why almost all of the better flashlights have lower light levels; and most users tend to use these lower levels far more than the maximum. The Quark AA goes one step better by providing a very low Moon mode level of 0.2 lumens (compared with the LD10's 9 lumens low setting), which helps preserve one's dark vision adaption for those close hand-held tasks.
Manufactured by and available from 4Sevens
Favorite (15)
Comments
Leave a comment
A cool tool is anything useful that is superior to comparable items. If you think this tool is inferior suggest a better one. You are welcome to insult a tool, but comments containing insults to individual people will be deleted. Corrections of fact are always welcomed, if stated politely. Recommendations of better tools are dearly wanted and may be elevated to the front page.
Stan-O
4Sevens also sells the line of the NiteCore PD lights which are superior in features with the slight price increase. For anyone who's looking for more than super-bright and super-dim settings I'd highly recommend NiteCore PD lights.
rudy
LED flashlights = always cool tools. Glad they got away from the books around here.
$57 is pretty steep, but in this case you really do get what you pay for. In fact, it's worth it to pay at least $30 for just one good flashlight, the new LED ones are worlds beyond the old 2xAA powered incandescent Maglites.
Some other good ones are:
Olight T25-T
Terralux TLF-3C2AA
Fenix TK20
elon
Stan-O:
I'd like to hear more about the NiteCore. What features does it offer?
-es
jordan
That pic makes it look like this flashlight can't "butt stand" and be used as an impromptu candle.
I use that all the time on my Fenix L1D. The NiteCore mentioned above looks like it would let you balance it (especially with the diffuser they have as an accessory).
Matt
Looks nice. I recently bought a similar but smaller (and less expensive) AAA-based flashlight for keychain duty, the Maratac AAA from CountyComm. In high-power mode it claims 80 lumens, but I've rarely needed it--the medium and low-power modes are usually sufficient, as you mentioned.
elon
@ Jordan:
I don't have one myself, but from what I read on the 4Sevens site, it does indeed perform the very useful "butt stand." -es
cheapskate
So can anyone recommend a decent keychain flashlight for under $20? What about under $10?
Matt
cheapskate: the Maratac AAA is a little over $20, but here are two other ideas you might consider:
1) Photon lights (or "faux-ton" knockoffs) which are small flat plastic keychain lights that use button-cell batteries. Not as bright as these, but totally adequate for navigating dark rooms.
2) Here's an aluminum AAA flashlight with a bright LED for $8 shipped. I haven't tried this specific model myself, but I've ordered other flashlights from this site and they're legit:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.24127
afeman
I second the Photon. I got a yellow one through Equipped to Survive at http://www.aeromedix.com/product-exec/parent_id/14/category_id/15/product_id/1148/nm/Doug_Ritter_Photon_Freedom_Micro_Light
Andrew
The Photon Freedom (http://www.photonlight.com/Photon-Freedom-Micro-Keychain-LED-Flashlights-p/fm-led-keychain-flashlight.htm) is my favorite of the Photon micro-lights. It is slightly pricier than the X-Light that @elon posted, but cheaper than the Doug Ritter cobranded version that @afeman (MSRP is $16, but, I can usually find it on-line for $10-12).
This is my favorite "tiny keychain light" and I also clip one to my bike helmet and leave it on flashing mode. I have given it as a Christmas gift before. I nominate the Photon Freedom as a future cool tool--Photon micro-lights have been featured before under backpacking posts, but not as a tool in and of themselves.
For keychain lights over $20, the Fenix LD01 (100 lumens from 1 AAA for $40) is a fantastic choice.
Carl Lumma
I beg to differ. I've spent considerable sums on LED flashlights from all manufacturers, and the best single-AA light is the Nitecore D10 R2 edition. It's smaller than the Quark, tailstands without giving up a "forward" switch (which is more responsive and allows momentary on). It's brighter, and the beam quality is at least as good. I carry one in the watch pocket of my jeans - can't do that with the Quark. -Carl
rudy
@cheapskate
The best light I've ever found for keychain use is the Countycomm SO-LED, and I've tried the Photon:
http://countycomm.com/ARES%20SOLED.htm
$4 for an indestructible clip-on light put together with screws, and a switch that NEVER comes on in your pocket. They used to sell them for $1.50 each, but seemed to wise up after I bought 50. :)
robert
4Sevens sells some great lights.
They are great to deal with.
Fast shipping & great customer service!
ChrisW
rudy,
Countycomm has the same light as the SO-LED without the clip for $1.20.
afeman
I should note that I wouldn't keep the Photon on a keychain, since it can switch on in your pocket. I keep it on the zipper pull of my everyday backpack.
One reason I like the Doug Ritter version in particular is the yellow color. I see little reason why a non-military flashlight should be black or camo.
Arthur Carr
I have gone through a number of keychain lights. I only want to use rechargeable batteries and the smallest possible light. Recently I have used a Maglite solitaire modified with an LED from Ebay (broke too soon); a gerber sonic (pretty nice, good price, lifetime warranty, needed plumbing tape to not turn on accidently).
Now my favorite is the Fenix E01. The E01 uses an aaa, very bright and can last 21 hours on one battery (they say) https://www.fenix-store.com/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=435. It is also nice feeling, just feels like a quality product. It runs $10-$13. If you get obsessed remember candlepowerforums.com, I could spend hours there.
Andrew
Best budget lights I have come across are made by Romisen. I ordered a case of them to use as corporate gifts (they take laser etching very nicely) from shiningbeam.com . You can also find them at dealextreme but shiningbeam has upgraded versions. Cheap shipping too, for US and Canada.
The light I currently use is the RC-H3 II. Solid construction, on/off/momentary on, AA powered flashlight that is incredibly bright. And under 20$. I find that the lights with different modes just confuse most people.
joel
I've got a Quark 2xAA light with a neutral white light (versus the cool white color).
It's probably the best flashlight I've owned, with about 7 different modes. From moonlight to turbo. And I run rechargeable Sanyo Eneloops in the flashlight.
And I don't mind the book reviews. Along with all the hard goods, we all need some new ideas for the next decade. Makes you think for yourself.
Zwack
@Carl Lumma...
Unfortunately I keep a watch in the watch pocket of my jeans...
Z.
Spiny Norman
AA always seems like just the wrong size. Just a bit too bulky for EDC pocket use, with few advantages over a AAA light. I have had an Arc AAA on my keychain and there's nothing at all wrong with it. It will be there until it dies. But I just bought a stainless steel Maratac AAA for my wife and that is by far the best small light I've seen. Beautiful quality, late-generation Cree emitter, 3 brightness levels logically implemented. A truly superior light.
elon
Update: 4Sevens recently replaced the emitter in the Quark AA with the new the Cree XP-G R5, so the Quark AA now tests brighter at max. output than the Fenix LD10.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=256685
--es