These are pretty popular on OzB so I thought I would share this deal I found on BLF.
The rep says its for a limited time but doesn't mention a date or quantity.
Brand Sipik
Model SK68
Type LED Flashlight
Material Aluminum Alloy
Bulb Number 1
Emitter Type CREE
Emitter BIN Q5
Color BIN White
Luminous Flux 200LM
Waterproof IPX-8
Adjustable Zoom Support Yes
Switch Location Tail-cap
Service Life 100,000hrs
Battery Configuration 1* AA Battery (not included)
Clip Included Yes
i love the class 1 laser warning sticker
my sipik is the weakest pile of crap i've seen but ok for sub $5
I guess it depends what your requirements are.
I am still very happy with my Romisen torches from a few years back. They are probably well outdated now but they have excellent build quality and a pleasant light color, and use AA batts so they suit my needs.
There seems like there is kind of an "arms race" with LED manufacturers which is good for progress but its gone so far now that many of the torches I have seen are just too bright for casual around the house. Eye shock!
I'm still using my Romisen RC-N3 and RC-G2's they probably see more use than my good WolfEyes Defender 260
Yep that's the one I use and love, the RC G2.
I liked it so much that I bought five more of them and gave them out in my family. That plus a single AA Eneloop = excellent.
I see all these deals for the latest Eye-Sizzler 5000 featuring the Brainmelter Creee 9XXX etc but nah,
I'm still happy with the Romisens
I have 2 RC-G2's with XP-Gs (from ShiningBeam) in them (the newer ones now have XP-G2s), they are very good for the price.
I bought a RC-N3 for dad and have kept the others for my own use. The RC-G2 is great… I'm thinking I will but another
Do I sense another CPF member?
$4.30 aus
Can anyone confirm these aren't worthless?
they are ok on 1 x AA eneloop
they wont light the place up like a serious CR123 or 18680 battery cree but fine for in home use
i'm guessing it does 20 lumens? maybe less
like i would use it when fishing around in servers and ducts (i'm a IT and cabling person) but they're not good for say serious night use
They are generally 80+ lumens with a NiMH AA, around 200 lumens with a 14500.
It depends from dealer to dealer, some are made a lot better than others. Some of the clones are made better than some of the Sipiks but the batches vary as well.
I don't use them myself, I have given a few away.
My single AA torches range from about $20-40 generally for good quality XP-G and XP-G2's.
But for the money, even these Sipick SK68's are brighter than most of the torches you will find in the supermarket for $20-30.
Generally most people will be impressed with them unless they have spent a lot of money on higher end torches.
frankly for the few bucks they cost they are amazing. you will need rechargeable batteries because there life on batteries is rather short (maybe an hour or 2 of light) when on AA's but i am thrilled with the 2 similar ones i got from deals on here some months back.
if you have never had a cree then jump on this. id doubt you will be disappointed
yeah thats the problem, if you've a good cree running on non standards (cr123/18680s) its hard to go back to AAs…
man they are bright
I love my 2 x Sipiks, which are older models with the older Q3 chips in them
One just failed after heaps of use - the clicky switch has died.
The whole idea of them is a small, "good enough" torch that runs off a AA rather than some fancy pants cells that need special chargers. I use mine almost every day for something or other, and because the running time is short (minutes if that) I just use AA Alkalines in mine.
Compared to those poxy ones from the supermarket (using 5mm indicator LEDs and 3 x AAA cells) these Sipiks are amazing.
No, they are much better than the typical clustered 5mm led with 3xAAA battery you find in $2 shops. In fact, they beat most Australian supermarket or department torches in output!. Great bang for your buck and the convenience of using a single AA, these are much better than any krypton ones you still find which requires 2 C or D batteries.
power of this torch?
How is this one compare to these?…
http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/98287
http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/98328
http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/111167
this is a Q5, could only say it's similar to this one you quoted
http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/98328
the Q3 is lower spec version..
http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/98287
Gotta be a better deal than http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/102246
This site looks just as dodgy but maybe they'll send me the torch I ordered..
Thanks OP
For an extra $1.69 i would buy this http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/CREE-Q3-180Lm-LED-Diving-Flashlig…
(If the size/weight of 4 batteries is not an issue and lack of focus ability)
I have many of them and they are great torches. Really bright too
It's "cheap" for a reason. Consider for ~$10 you can get a 18650-based XML T6 torch with a charger, charging port and side switch. Pop in a $6.50 18650 battery and enjoy a much brighter torch with significantly longer runtime than this and no need to swap in AA batteries. A better investment. See:
http://budgetlightforum.com/node/24204#comment-456396
ebay: sanyo, samsung, panasonic 18650 protected 2600maH+ cells
True.. but then explain the precautions and care that you need to take with lithium batteries, not to mention charging a lithium battery inside a flashlight like that is considered a pipe bomb by most people that know the dangers. Then a decent pair of batteries is going to cost around $15 or more for 2 protected Panasonic or Sanyos cells.
If you go down the 18650 route you don't want to cheap out buy buying dangerous torches or batteries just to save money. Not saying all are but people need to know what they are buying and getting themselves into.
One Sanyo 2600maH protected cell is $6.50. Very good Japanese cell for the money. I've added it to my previous post. Do agree with your post, this Sipik is brighter than supermarket torches. Problem is the up-to-4-week-wait for them to arrive from China. Why not then seek a better solution?
You are comparing a Hyundai with a Moped.
Those others are over US$10 without a cell, and most people don't have any way of charging a lithium cell that is only ever going to get used in one device (a torch).
This is under US$4, and takes cells that you can buy anywhere and that everyone can recharge.
These little AA cell torches are not intended to compete with devices using Lithium cells. They are specifically designed NOT to use a fancy battery…. that's the whole idea of them.
for ~$10 you can get a 18650-based XML T6 torch
One Sanyo 2600maH protected cell is $6.50.
You are at about $17 and still haven't got a safe / legal way of charging it yet.
But, yes… in general terms a $17 torch is better than a $4 torch.
The $10-$11 torch I linked comes with a wall and in the ebay link, a car charger. Add a $6.50 Sanyo cell and you've got a significantly better torch that will cost less longterm, have no hassle cycling through AA cells and can be charged anywhere (apart from the bush of course). Better bang-for-buck imho.
Though I get your point about AA. I was there a little while back. I plugged a 18650 (3.7V) into a similar Cree torch, then plugged the alternative 3xAAA (new 1.5V, same voltage as AA) holder. The huge difference in brightness made the 18650 a winner by a mile.
Safe way is to use the supplied charger and protected cells. Or use an old a Nokia charger with 3.5mm end. Your cost equation doesn't factor in the cost of replace AA cells, which while cheap at say $3 for a 10pack (IKEA) will quickly add up if using this over say 1 year.
A Sipik wouldn't be my choice either but I'm posting a good deal on them here as lots of people here love them.
I'd love to post some torches that I really like but they aren't bargains and people will just say how their $4 Sipik is better cos it can zoom etc. and are cheaper (personally I dislike zoomies of all kinds).
Also I won't give lithium lights to friends/family or recommend them to people unless they specifically are asking for them.
The $10-$11 torch I linked comes with a wall and in the ebay link, a car charger.
But I said a SAFE and LEGAL way of charging. Those cheapy plugpacks are a fire hazard (an illegal to even offer for sale here in Australia). The charger doesn't have an Australian plug on it.
Add a $6.50 Sanyo cell and you've got a significantly better torch
Of course - a $16 torch is better than a $4 one.
have no hassle cycling through AA cells and can be charged anywhere (apart from the bush of course).
Your cost equation doesn't factor in the cost of replace AA cells, which while cheap at say $3 for a 10pack (IKEA) will quickly add up if using this over say 1 year.
I hope you realise that AA cells can be recharged? There are plenty of deals on AA rechargables like Eneloops on Ozbargain. And the good thing about AAs is that they fit into other devices, not just torches.
Though I get your point about AA. I was there a little while back.
If you want an AA cell torch, you'll be hard pressed to find a better torch for this price. If you want a Lithium cell torch, then you wouldn't buy this. As I said, you are comparing a Hyundai to a Moped.
Got dozens of these, thx anyway.
3-mode (hi-med-strobe) is better for most people.
3-mode (hi-med-strobe) is better for most people
Agreed, although I've yet to meet a person who wanted to use the strobe mode. Some of them are quite epilepsy-inducing.
Sadly, three-modes means it won't be a genuine Sipik, and you take your chances on the quality.
This is showing up as $5.90 for me?
I have a few of these, same body but obviously different insides, one has a very rubbery squishy switch, a blue tinge, 3 modes.
The second has a more matte rubber switch, no colour to the light, 1 mode and not so bright.
The third and my favourite which I carry with me all the time has a matte switch, natural light colour, 3 modes and is the brightest.
Question to all the experts - I need a torch with this same body size, and a natural, uncoloured light. What is the brightest one I can find? I will use a 14500 and cost is not an issue.
ThruNite Archer 1A is about $40 from memory and one of the brightest you can find that runs on a 14500.
I would sign up to "Budget Light Forum" or "Candlepower Forum" and ask for some recommendations and ask the same as you asked here.
anyone got the torch?
It's $3.55 USD through Amazon US - not exactly the same brand but I think it's the same torch