Decent cheap LED torches?

Clive Page · 2013-01-29T10:46:27+00:00

I know it's slightly off topic, but I'd appreciate any suggestions for LED torches (flashlights) that don't cost an arm and a leg, e.g. for doing DIY jobs in dark corners or walking along paths at night. Around the house we have a motley collection of old torches with incandescent bulbs that I'd like to replace with modern ones using LEDs.Last year on impulse I bought one from Poundland with 3 LEDs which was very good initially, but after a week one of the LEDs had failed and another was flickering, so I took it back and (after a struggle) got a refund. I then got one from Maplins for under £5, which only works intermittently as it has a very dodgy switch. If I could find the receipt I'd take that back too.Searching online including ebay I find posh brands with prices up to astonishing levels, e.g. 465 Euros. Many of the cheaper ones, I mean up to £20, seem to work with Li-ion batteries, e.g. type 18650. These seem to need a special charger. All I know about Li-ion batteries in laptops etc is that when not used they lose charge over a matter of weeks. I can foresee that when I really need a torch, after not having used it for a time, it will be totally discharged. So I'd really like one that can take ordinary alkaline (or hybrid NiMH) AA cells.Are there any at reasonable prices that are any good?