9 red LED Light Flashlight Aviator AAA Torch Astronomy, 7301RED

I purchased this flashlight for night-time astronomy, because red light does not have much effect on night vision. It works as desired. The output is fairly strong and collimated, enough that I've used it to walk in the dark and avoid obstructions on the ground, and maybe a little bright close-in to the telescope, but not intolerably bright. A bit painful if you look straight into the beam, even in daylight. Let me assure you that it does put out only red light; like others, I saw the picture on Amazon showing clear LEDs and worried about what I was getting, but when turned on they emit red light. The light is "red enough" for night use, not orange. The beam is bright and quite collimated, but this did not seem to be too much of a problem when used with our telescope. The front is 1 inch in diameter, with a flat piece of clear plastic protecting the nine LEDs. It doesn't appear to be a focusing lens; the LEDs themselves are fairly collimated, and all aligned, and project light in one direction. You could conceivably tape some sort of diffuser over the front. I found that the translucent cap from a small bottled plastic water bottle was the right size and would diffuse the beam, but didn't bother to try this. I'll try it next time, to soften and spread the beam for astronomy use. At a distance of 1 foot, the brightest part of the beam is a uniform 3.5 inches. At 3 feet it's about 12 inches in diameter. Outside these circles there's still light but much weaker. Th flashlight is metal with a large pushbutton at the rear covered with a flexible rubber-like material 5/8 inch in diameter, and it appears reliable and sturdy (although I've only used it for a few weeks). The rear unscrews to open the battery compartment, and this cover is sealed with an O-ring the keep out water. The front 1 inch cylinder (with the the LEDs) also unscrews (also sealed with an O-ring), and the battery holder will slide out this way as well. I certainly wouldn't use it underwater, but it seems fairly sealed against occcasional moisture. There is a slot at side of the rear with a removable 5/8 inch metal ring (like a keyring) that holds a 2 inch lanyard. You could attach something longer, e.g., if you wanted to wear it around your neck. It's fairly lightweight with batteries. I've noticed a spate of flashlights with very similar metal construction and on/off rear pushbuttons. The battery holders are identical: a cylindrical assembly that holds three AAA batteries and has an arrow on the side to show the insertion direction. This also seems well-made. Because LEDs draw little power, I'd imagine it lasts a long time on these batteries, but I haven't tested this. Because I have five very similar flashlights from different sources (normal, UV, with embedded red laser, etc.) with very similar metal bodies, on/off buttons, and battery holders, I'm guessing that there's one manufacturer (or a few; in China?) producing all of them to slightly different specs. They all seem reliable; I've never had an issue with the pushbuttons, although you might get the occasional lemon. I think these similar flashlights vary a lot in retail price, but my purchase (from LEDWhilesalers and fulfilled by Amazon with Prime shipping) cost $15 9 red LED Light Flashlight Aviator AAA Torch Astronomy, 7301 blue , and that's a pretty good deal. So overall I'm very pleased, and would recommend this item.

Who would use a red flashlight? Of course. You are not finding your way in the woods. Hark, who goes there? Red flashlight? No. You are obviously using it in a dark setting and wanting to read something and not jar your eyes to daylight and have to readjust over five minutes by reading a single sentence "The pointer stars point to polaris"... look up totally blind for 5 minutes. So a red flashlight. But many (why izzat?) things printed for reading in the dark are printed on shiny or glossy paper or plastisized stuff (hey, maybe they think we will be outside, hmmm?). That's the problem. The leds are very harsh pointed at glossy reading. These flashlights would be perfect with a milk glass diffuser. If you can make your own (tiny square off contact-paper-like shelf plastic liner, trim round and paste on) then you have a nice flash for reading in the dark. Hint to seller. Do that.

This little light is the right size and the red LED light is perfect for a little late night reading or moving about a darkened bedroom without disturbing one's partner. The problem is that the flashlight simply stopped working after a couple of days. The batteries are fine (I checked them in other flashlights). My best guess is that, somehow, insufficient contact is being made between the battery compartment, the spring in the tailcap and the LED element at the front of the flashlight. Most other reviewers have not cited this problem, so I assume this a just a QC issue at the factory. Back it goes....

I haven't actually been able to use this because it has been cloudy every night since it arrived about 2 weeks ago, but I am pleased with the quality, sturdiness, and the way it works. It may actually be too bright, so as to cause some glare, but I'll find out when I can use it outside at night for its intended purpose of reading star charts. Another thing I'll mention, is that the strap that comes with the light is waaaaay too small to go around a wrist. Maybe 2 or 3 fingers for most people. I guess it is better than nothing, but it would be much nicer, I think, if it could fit around the wrist.

I was looking for a red led flashlight, not a flashlight that has a red filter and came across this flashlight. Based on the price, I figured it would work but had little expectation that I would be wowed. Well when I got it I was very surprised at how strong a beam it had and it was constructed of materials that I believe will hold up for a long time. You are not going to light up a field with it but I was able to illuminate reflective objects 60 yards away will no trouble. I think I got great value for what I paid for it and would not hesitate to suggest it to someone looking for a low cost red led flashlight.

I purchased 3 of these flashlights in 2015, which started to fail after very little use, so I contacted LEDwholesalers and they promptly sent replacement units. However, the replacement units also failed after only a few hours of use. So, this review is a critique of the product itself, not the retailer (they seemed helpful). This 9-LED flashlight has fundamental design and manufacturing flaws. Individual bulbs fail, so eventually only a few out of the original 9 work on all 3 units. In 2017 I purchased 3 of the WAYLLSHINE® Zoomable Scalable CREE LED flashlights, and those were much brighter and their cases did not feel so hot after use compared to these 9-LED units from LEDwholesalers.