<p>After all the power outages we had this year (it was one for the record books), all of my kids are getting small flashlights in their stockings. These will be to keep by their beds. The married adults are all getting a flashlight/lantern.</p>
<p>I downloaded the free flashlight app for my iPhone. Now I always have a flashlight handy.</p>
<p>I hate paying for batteries so I have a few of these flashlights handy: <a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Flashlight-Last-will-ever/dp/B000JLL4X2/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_text_b[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Flashlight-Last-will-ever/dp/B000JLL4X2/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_text_b</a></p>
<p>husband loves the flashlight ap on his droid. when he hands it to me, i somehow end up calling someone!</p>
<p>“Get an LLBean wind up flashlight” - We got one of these for birthday for a NY uncle after the summer hurricanes. (For gift card words, we sent “Good Night Irene”). He loves it! </p>
<p>I got one for my Dad a few years ago, and it stopped working. I returned it (paying my own shipping) per instructions from LL Bean phone operator. They no longer made that model, so they sent him a check for $25. I like a company that stands behind its products.</p>
<p>The new Maglite LED models are quite good.</p>
<p>The new MiniMag LED is inexpensive (under $25 at major retailers) and takes two AA batteries.</p>
<p>The new AAA models (the XL50 and XL200) are fantastic flashlights. The XL50 is a simple three mode light (bright, low, flashing). The XL200 is more complex.</p>
<p>I would not waste money on the Maglite incandescent bulb flashlights (or any other bulb flashlights) these days. The LEDs are leaps and bounds better.</p>
<p>Probably the MiniMag LED or the XL50 would be my recommendation for good, all-around household flashlights that you could pick up at Home Depot or Walmart. You could get a couple of them, which is not a bad thing.</p>
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<p>If you need something more rugged for camping or mountain climbing, there are number of Chinese-made lights that are quite impressive. Two of the top brands are Fenix and 4 Sevens. I’ve got a little mini AAA Fenix on my keychain and a couple of 4-Sevens, one for the car and one for the house.</p>
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<p>For batteries, either a big package of Alkalines. Or the Energizer Lithiums (especially for the car, where they do better in cold weather. There is finally a really rechargeable solution with the Sanyo Eneloop NiMH rechargeables – that actually stay charged for a year. They are fantastic.</p>
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<p>Also, there is a lot to be said for the lightweight headlamps. I use mine a ton around the house because it frees up both hands for fix-it projects.</p>
<p>One strategy for batteries is to use regular alkalines (or NiMH rechargeables) for everyday use, but keep an emergency set of Energizer lithiums in the glove box or kitchen drawer. They have ten year lifespans and also really long run-times if you need to use the flashlight for an extended power outage.</p>
<p>LLBean has a great assortment of flashlights. S1, recent college grad, is working there through the holiday season. He got a wonderful lantern very cheaply at the employee store. It was supposed to be a gift for his grandfather, who lives in an assisted living facility. I like having a couple of small battery operated lanterns that can light up a room during a power outage. I thought it was a great gift idea. </p>
<p>The LLBean lantern turns out to have the capacity to connect to a computer to be charged or to charge cell phones. It also has the wind up feature. I don’t quite remember how all the features work, but I have a feeling that we will keep it, as my dad can’t remember how to turn on his computer. S1 will be returning to LLBean to look for a simpler lantern for his grandfather.</p>