Disposable Batteries

Disposable batteries come in both alkaline or lithium versions.
The chart below will help you compare both versions:

Alkaline	Lithium
AAA, AA, C-cell, D-cell, 9-volt	3-volt, 6-volt (two 3-volts side-by-side)
7 year shelf life	10 year shelf life
Power drains quickly in cold weather	Good low temperature tolerance
Brightness declines quickly	Remains bright for a long time
No special disposal instructions	No special disposal instructions

 

Rechargeable Batteries

Rechargeable batteries are available in either Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) or lithium ion versions.
Check out the chart below before you decide:

NiCd/NiMH	Lithium ion
AAA, AA, C-cell, D-cell, 9-volt	3-volt, 6-volt
Perform well at low temperatures	Perform well at low temperatures
Rechargeable up to 1000 times	Rechargeable up to 300 times
Self-discharges, periodically recharge	Low self-discharge rate
Recycle or dispose of properly	No recycle requirements

Chargers

There are typically two kinds of chargers. The Standard Charger recharges your batteries in about 10 hours. The Fast Charger recharges in approximately 2-1/2 hours. It’s a good idea to have a set of fully charged batteries in your flashlight and a set of batteries in your charger, either recharging or ready to go.