Shake or wind up flashlight for the homestead?

[Honey Berry]

Which is better, the shake or the wind up kind of flashlight? We'd like to buy several. We shut off our yard light because it was too bright to sleep at night, so when the sun goes down it is DARK. We depend on flashlights to walk out and check on our creatures before bed. Instead of continuing to buy batteries, we'd like to buy one of the new kinds of flashlight.

Your input is much appreciated.

[Old Vet]

I like the wind up ones better than the shake ones.

[Spinner]

I have both. I think the wind up is easier to use, and maybe it's my imagination, but I think it gives off a bit more light too.

[Pink_Carnation]

I wouldn't waste the money on a shake one

[bare]

I bought five of the shake models from Cheaper than Dirt for a bit over $5 for the grandkids stockings and was totally impressed with them! I gave one a couple shakes and left it on for over an hour before I gave up on it dying and finally turned it off. I wish I'd ordered more of them so I wouldn't have to pay freight on more for myself. I guess I'll have to go blow off some more ammo so I can justify another order.

I just got the smaller ones, about 6" long but they are very bright, though the light is bluish tinged.

[Jennifer L.]

Seems like I read somewhere that the Chinese make those shake flashlights and they're fake: they've actually got a small battery in them and when it's done the flashlight quits.

Jennifer

[DocM]

The shakers are crap and don't last. Get the winders.

[Spinner]

Some of the shakers are good. I like mine, but I like the wind up better.

[Northumberland]

I can't comment on the shaker ones but we have the wind up type and are really impressed with it.

[via media]

I have a shake one. It's great exercise: Shake it for an hour or two and it gives off about 8 seconds of weak light.

/VM, who wishes she had one of bare's Cheaper Than Dirt shake flashlights

[ladycat]

I like the wind up ones.

[Dixielee]

We bought 2 of the cheaper than dirt shake ones last year and read somewhere about the possibility of them being fake and tested them ourselves. Yep, as soon as the battery wore down, no more light. We spoke with someone at CTD who said they would check into it. They emailed us back that they had gotten a bad (fake) batch in and thanks for letting them know. Maybe the new ones are the real deal, but I would be careful.

We have since bought some good quality wide up ones are are very satisfied by the quality and length of time they stayed bright.

[knight88]

I gave up on cheap flashlights years ago. Bought a couple of MAGLIGHT rechargables, wife had a fit when she saw the bill BUT years later they are still working like new. Guess thats why we use them on our firetrucks.. Andy

[tnhomestead]

got the shake kind -- one minute lights for 2 hrs

[Lizza]

I have both and like the wind up better.

[arabian knight]

C Crane I AM SURE has good ones~!~ Here is one that they sell but there are several wind up ones and one wind up Flashlight with radio. BUT these are NOT CHEAP~!!! Nothing from C Crane is cheap~!
Even there real good radios with Excellent AM reception is 160+ And if you want to put on a special ferrite antenna that is another 70 bucks But for people that want the Best IN AM Radio that is the way to go~!!!!!

http://www.ccrane.com/lights/led-fla...lashlight.aspx

[treefrog]

here's an alternative to flashlights. albertson's (the grocery chain) sells solar powered "patio lights." they have a small photovoltaic panel on top which charges a battery. the battery powers a light emitting diode "led" which turns itself on at dark, and gives a very small amount of light for eight hours. i have a couple of them, one at the front steps, and one at the gate. they are NOT bright, giving off only about as much light as weak moonlight, but a little light is a lot different from no light at all. it's enough to keep me from stumbling into things.

twelve bucks and change for a pair of them.

pax
t.f.

[Cheryl in SD]

Ace Hardware has solar powered flashlights now. A full charge lasts 30 hours. They are selling for about $20. each. We got wind up for presents for Christmas, but dh was wishing for a solar powered one.

[PyroDon]

wind up
only lonely teenaged boys have the wrist action to make the shake lights work for long

[LMonty]

i know folks who have tested several models- concensus was save your money- unreliable and take very little handling before breaking down.

best tests so far on LED's and solar battery rechargers, as a long term and reliable emergency and everyday use flashlight option