I’m looking for a rechargeable LED flashlight that I can keep and charge in my truck. Just a small hand held light that’s decent quality and if it came with a mount that would be an added bonus. There are a few Steamlights that look like they would be perfect but I’d like to spend $50 or less.
Old School: 
And oh yeah, "Get off my lawn!"
Is this overkill for a flash light? Of course it is, but then again this is GRM.
edit: oops over your budget and you mentioned it... 
Since LED flashlights draw little current, a standard battery stays alive in them for nearly forever. I've come to thoroughly like the free ones Harbor Freight has.
I got a ten pack at Tractor Supply for 10 bucks. They each run on 3 triple As and they were included.
10 bucks for ten LED flashlights and 30 batteries is a pretty damn good deal for me. Plus the packs of batteries there are 6 bucks anyway for like 24 of them, and they seem to last a good while.
I got two rechargeable lithium ion flashlights with chargers from cosco. I think it was like 20-30$ for two and if power is cut to the charging outlet the light turns on. Works good made by Eco-I-Lite
Redline, stinger, or streamlight.
Buy a Four Sevens Preon or Quark light. I've used both, and they are both good lights. My friend has several Four Sevens lights, and has never had any issue out of any of them, and he's what I'd call a heavy user. He uses the same rechargeable lithium ion batteries that I used and those batteries lasted me years until my Inova was stolen. Don't be afraid of the lithium battery powered lights like most people seem to be.
http://www.foursevens.com/product_info.php?products_id=2856 - an excellent pocket carry light
http://www.foursevens.com/products/flashlights/Preon - these are both good lights for EDC and for car use where you want to mount the light somewhere small like in the glove compartment. Use Lithium primary batteries and you should have light for years.
My duty carry. Actually, I use it for anything. I like the blinding strobe feature. Uses 3 AAA batrehs and they last LONG.
N Sperlo wrote: streamlight.
Seconded. I own a Streamlight Strion LED rechargable. The thing is bright and has survived being dropped, burned and run over. Lights of the same brightness and size use the 123 batteries. Doing the math (roughly 5 dollars a piece 2x required) only takes 10 or so charges (or 80 hours of use) for it to come out to the same price as what I paid for the Strion. Initial hit sucks but its well worth it afterwards.
$1.90 each for CR123 primary cells: http://www.foursevens.com/product_info.php?products_id=1628
I use one of these
with one of these
and some of these
Might be more than you are looking to spend tho and won't recharge in the car without a charger and converter. The light it puts is better than any flashlight I have seen.
To be honest, the only thing good about Maglites is that you can play an impromptu game of baseball at night without the lights on. You'll also want to avoid those batteries, as they are sub-C cells in cases and have lower capacity than my AAA rechargeable cells. If you are working with D cell lights, buy real D cells.
For example, the highest capacity D cells that HF sells are 2500mAH. The ones pictured there are 1500mAH.
These are 8000mAH: http://www.amazon.com/Tenergy-Centura-Self-Discharge-LSD-Rechargeable-Batteries/dp/B0041TEHMS/ref=sr_1_9?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1354828695&sr=1-9&keywords=low+self+discharge
These are 10000mAH: http://www.amazon.com/AccuPower-AccuLoop-Rechargeable-Discharge-Precharged/dp/B0097J6414/ref=sr_1_11?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1354828695&sr=1-11&keywords=low+self+discharge
I bought a bunch of these at Swedish Walmart. They are great and you never have to worry about charging them: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30190857/
I bought some cheap chinese cree LED flashlights (from here) and some Sanyo Eneloop rechargable batteries from Costco. I have a Maha charger to charge them at home but the batteries are slow discharge so they'll sit around for quite awhile without draining down.
N Sperlo wrote: My duty carry. Actually, I use it for anything. I like the blinding strobe feature. Uses 3 AAA batrehs and they last LONG.
Looks a lot like mine. This one is in a holster on my hip.
I have another just like it in the top of my tool box.
Nice LED light (there's hundreds, see the CandlePower forums for information overload) and eneloop batteries. Enjoy!
Derick Freese wrote: To be honest, the only thing good about Maglites is that you can play an impromptu game of baseball at night without the lights on. You'll also want to avoid those batteries, as they are sub-C cells in cases and have lower capacity than my AAA rechargeable cells. If you are working with D cell lights, buy real D cells. For example, the highest capacity D cells that HF sells are 2500mAH. The ones pictured there are 1500mAH. These are 8000mAH: http://www.amazon.com/Tenergy-Centura-Self-Discharge-LSD-Rechargeable-Batteries/dp/B0041TEHMS/ref=sr_1_9?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1354828695&sr=1-9&keywords=low+self+discharge These are 10000mAH: http://www.amazon.com/AccuPower-AccuLoop-Rechargeable-Discharge-Precharged/dp/B0097J6414/ref=sr_1_11?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1354828695&sr=1-11&keywords=low+self+discharge
I was just using the power of google image search as far as those pictures go, the important thing is rechargable.
And as far as maglites as baseball bats you are warm but I don't think you understand the positives of a metal stick filled with metal batteries
1988RedT2 wrote: Old School:
there are conversion kits ....
http://www.niteize.com/product/LED-Upgrade-Kit.asp
I am a big fan of Fenix. I like the fact that their rechargeables are USB. I have two. A 1000 lumin light I carry at work and a 3000 one I have at home.
Also a big fan of the Nebo "big larry" work lights.
Not really a flashlight but will be showing up in an Amazon locker tomorrow. 
What's also amazing is that the locker is in the 7-11 fours doors down the street.
It's gonna be for under the car illumination for my uses so probably not a great flashlight. 
Only $25.
Toyman01 said:N Sperlo wrote: My duty carry. Actually, I use it for anything. I like the blinding strobe feature. Uses 3 AAA batrehs and they last LONG.Looks a lot like mine. This one is in a holster on my hip.
I have another just like it in the top of my tool box.
I’ve got a Redline as well, but I’ve been really impressed by the Defiant brand that I think is a Home Depot house brand. Good, solid lights with long battery life - my little nephews love to play with them so they get tested. There’s a model with similar dimensions to the Redlines above but I think it has superior light output.
The HF ones aren’t worth the plastic they’re pooped out of.
Zombie thread.
I'm carrying a Streamlite ProTac HL now. I like their hard case holster. It's also crazy bright. The 123A batteries are a bit of a pain but ordering by the 24 pack of Surefire batteries on Amazon makes them pretty cheap.
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