Talking about “permanent” flashlights which I would install an Energizer Lithium or Energizer Lithium Ultimate in and leave in place (in glove boxes, fourwheelers, drops, etc).
I’ve been shopping for some affordable ones but I have by no means scrutinized every flashlight on DX.
DX – 1xAAA
$2.90 – Mini 30-Lumen LED Flashlight with Carabiner Clip (1*AAA) – this and the “Super Bright” are clones of the KD Buckle light, but with a shitty clickie switch rather than a twistie
$3.30 – Super Bright 7-1 3W 30-Lumen LED Flashlight with Strap – Black (1*AAA)– note that this and the one above both use shitty no-name LEDs rather than Cree/SSC/Osram/Nichia
DX – 1xAA
$10.37 – UltraFire C3 Cree 1xAA 1×14500 Flashlight (with Holster)– I had one of these that died a slow death, but it was a multi-mode w/ the 2xAA battery extension tube. I think it will be longer lived in single-mode single-AA format.
$11.99 – Romisen MXDL RC-G2 Cree Flashlight Black (1xAA)– these are supposed to be very solid..
KiaDomain 1xAAA
KD offers their exclusive line of “buckle flashlight” twisties which are very good for the money. I like the twisty too for storing without fear of accidental activation. The older lines, V5 and older, all use Cree XR-E LEDs, which have the larger dome with a ring. Newer series (V6) use the XP-E LED which is much smaller, thus allowing for more reflector surface area and what should be a better beam. The V6’s are all driven at a much higher current though and will run down faster.
There are a couple of threads at CPF that have caught my eye though… I know the oldest buckle lights were good because I bought one for a gift and used it and it was nice. The interim models I don’t know as much about.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?217283-Poll-Failure-rate-of-Kaidomain-V4-amp-V5-Buckle-Lights.-Also-warning-notice-fix
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?287352-Buckle-V6-a-single-AAA-can-throw!
Then you’ve got to figure that once you are in the ~$20 pricerange, you are in Fenix territory too…
http://www.amazon.com/Fenix-Flashlights-E05-R2-Flashlight/dp/B004D2A02O
I think that the KD Buckle V6 70L version is the one to get right now probably though, over the Fenix & KD Buckle V5/V4.