Buying Guide:
Solar, Dynamo, & Self-Powered Flashlights

Just about everyone sells flashlights, and there are dozens of models to choose from. What makes us different is that we focus on models that don't require conventional batteries or plugs. This page outlines the models carries by Modern Outpost, and highlights a number of technical details that you will find useful in making a choice among any of the models available on the market. Modern Outpost promotes models which cover a range of bulb, battery, and charging technologies, and these are typically some of the best models available in their respective categories.

	Brightest     ->     ->     ->     ->     ->     ->     ->     ->     ->     ->     ->     ->     ->     ->     ->     ->     ->     ->     Dimmest
Models...	Freeplay Jonta	Freeplay Sherpa	Freeplay Xray	5-LED Pullstring	5-LED Dynamo	5-LED v2 Dynamo	3-LED Dynamo	Freeplay Kito	2-LED Squeeze	Shakelight:60
Features										LED Shakelight beam & performance comparison click here
Appeal	Powerful beam & no bulbs to replace ever	Xenon halogen lamp for strong beam	Bright, with long run time & no bulbs to replace ever	Rugged, & easy to charge	Water resistant, & easy to use	Economical 5-LED brightness	Great for emergency use & no bulbs to replace	Freeplay quality at a great price	Compact, easy to use, & surprisingly bright	These lights do not use batteries of any kind, & will never need bulbs. Ideal for emergency kits. Not as bright as the dynamo models
Bulb Type	1 Watt Luxeon LED	Dual filament Xenon	7 LED cluster	5 LED cluster	5 LED cluster	5 LED cluster	3 Nichia LEDs	Single 10mm Ultra LED	2 LEDs	Single LED
Power Source	Kinetic (wind-up)	Kinetic (wind-up)	Kinetic (wind-up)	Kinetic (pullstring)	Kinetic (wind-up)	Kinetic (wind-up)	Kinetic (wind-up)	Kinetic (wind-up)	Kinetic (squeeze)	Kinetic (shaking)
AC/DC Charging	AC adaptor included	AC adaptor included	AC adaptor included	No	No	No	No	AC adaptor included	No	No
Power storage	NiMh rechargeable battery pack	NiMh rechargeable battery pack	NiMh rechargeable battery pack	NiMh rechargeable battery pack	NiMh rechargeable battery pack	NiMh rechargeable battery pack	Li-ion rechargeable	NiMh rechargeable battery pack	Li-ion	Ultra Capacitor
Run-Time	Full charge: High: 2.5 hrs Low: 24 hrs 30s winding High: 2-3 min. Low: 10 min.	Full charge: High: 30 min Low: 5 hrs 30s winding High: 1 min. Low: 5-8 min	Full charge: High: 3.3 hrs Low: 20 hrs 30s winding: High: 3 min. Low: 20 min.	up to 24 hrs on full charge 60s pulling up to 10 min	up to 24 hrs on full charge 60 sec. winding up to 30 min.	up to 24 hrs on full charge 60 sec. winding up to 30 min.	30 sec. winding up to 30 min.	60 sec. winding = 1 hour of light	Squeeze continuous light Runs over 2 hours on a full charge	60s shaking up to 1 hour
Dimensions	8.5x3.4x3.2" 21.7x8.6x8cm 15.7oz (445g)	6.25x2x2.25" 16x5x5.7cm 10.4oz (300g)	6.25x2x2.25" 16x5x5.7cm 10.4oz (300g)	7.25x4.5x1.25" 23 x 4cm/6cm 15oz (440g)	6.3x2.3x2.2" 16x5.7x5.6cm 9.5oz (270g)	6x2.3x2.2" 15x5.8x5.6cm 9.5oz (270g)	5.25x2x1.75" 13.3x5x4.5cm 7oz (200g)	7.2x4.4x3.1" 18.4x11.2x8cm 16oz (450g)	4x2x1" 10x5x2.5cm 5.25oz (150g)	8x1.5" 20x3.75cm 9.7oz (275g)
Other Features	High & low beams Blink mode 2-year warranty Review	High & low beams 2-year warranty Review	High & low beams 2-year warranty Review	Universal battery charger included for using the flashlight to charge almost any small phone or PDA battery pack	Optimal charging rate indicator light Water resistant	Optimal charging rate indicator light	High & low beams Compact design Free of carbon-zinc, lead-acid, or NiMh batteries	2-year warranty		NOTE: magnet should be protected from sensitve electronics & magnetic tapes Wholesale & volume pricing available here   Download our shakelight info page
										LED Shakelight beam & performance comparison click here
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Back to...
Lights Department

Product Types

Mini Pocket Flashlights...

When it comes to self-powered pocket flashlights, the Skylight by Exped is at the top of its class. The Skylight features a rugged hard rubber housing with recessed solar module, and push button on/off. The LED bulb will never burn out, and the rechargeable lithium-ion battery is as good as it gets for rechareable batteries, plus the size is incredibly small. The Skylight circuitry maintains a bright beam until the power it drained. Leaving it in a window is enough to keep the Skylight charged and ready.

Magnetic Shake Flashlights...

The first shake flashlight came on the market a few years ago as the result of the improved efficiency of LED bulbs and their decline in price. Since that time, we have seen a steady improvement in the performance of shake flashlights, from a few minutes of light to more than 20 minutes following a 1 minute shaking of the flashlight. The cost & performance difference seen in the shake flashlights carried by Modern Outpost is a product of three things: the quality of the LED bulb, the size of the capacitor that stores power, and the size of the magnet & coil that generate the power. The current leader is the Nightstar II, but we also offer the low-end Economy models for those that would like to give the kids a flashlight that they will never burn-out!

Bulb Technologies...

Although LED bulbs are well known for their long life, cool operation, and low power consumption, the trade-off is their relatively weak light intensity. The exception is the new 1-Watt Luxeon LED, however its higher output results in higher power consumption. As a rule of thumb, LED bulbs consume 1/10th the amount of power in producing an equivalent amount of light to a standard incandescent bulb.
Old flashlights with their standard incandescent bulbs could cast a beam of light across the yard, but they produce a blotchy beam, & drain batteries in only a few hours. Halogen bulbs are perhaps the best compromise between energy use and beam intensity. In fact Xenon bulbs like the one featured in the Freeplay Sherpa are brighter than ordinary incandescents, have a whiter spectrum and use typically 50% less power. The result is if you are looking for a flashlight that can cast a beam across a yard, a flashlight like the Freeplay Sherpa will do the job very well. If you are looking for an emergency light, or one for use inside the house, then an LED flashlight will probably be adequate.