First a couple of points -- 1) Surefire does *not* manufacture batteries, they are manufactured by companies, like Panasonic, that are relabled with the Surefire brand. There is nothing wrong with this (at all), but some seem to be operating under the misconception that SF actually makes their own batteries. 2) For these higher-quality batteries there is simply no better deal in CR123A batteries on the planet. Surefire obviously chose their manufacturer well, as every comparison review has placed the SF-branded batteries at the top of the heap. They are the benchmark for CR123A manufacturers.
That said, my only gripe is with the standard itself. Most high-lumen flashlights and other gear that uses CR123A for power flatly suck them down like a parched man lost in a hot desert who stumbles upon an Oasis. They're still running near $2 per battery, and we use 500 of them a year on our farm, as the high-output lights last only 1-2 hours on one set of TWO ($4). For us and those like us, buying in bulk saves us about $300 per year on just CR123A's alone.
To save money, we've tried everything -- including most other brands and rechargeables. We find that, when translating the cost into dollars-per-hour of illumination, the cheaper brands are right around the same effective cost as the Surefires, and on some you get duds that don't last 15 minutes. We've tried most of the more reputable rechargeables as well, and while you may save money eventually we've found that even a fully-charged set lasts only about one-quarter of the time a fresh set of SF's will -- about 15-17 minutes, which is useless for us since our use would require us to change-out rechargeables 3-4 times per night while outside.
I would rather all of these lights be standardized on the more ubiquitous, and cheaper AA size. The cost of these 123's is egregious, and is likely a cash cow for the manufacturers until they either replace AA as the standard, or a price-war ensues driving down prices.
Until that happens, there really is not practical alternative to the current reigning benchmark in CR123A -- Surefire.
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 7.17 x 5 x 2.32 inches |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 1.23 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 5.5 x 4.6 x 2.1 inches |
| Item Weight | 2.5 Pounds |
| Brand Name | SureFire |
| Model Name | Lithium battery |
| Suggested Users | mens |
| Number of Items | 72 |
| Manufacturer | Surefire |
| Part Number | SF72-BB |
| Style | 72 Pack |
