Best 700+ lumen flashlight for $100-150 ???

Roger999 · Jan 20, 2011

xtestifyx said:
You're looking at a single celled light that eats batteries like a fat kid eats cake

It definitely will not get 1hour runtime.

The KD XM-L T6 draws around 2.6A, the Panasonic 2900mAh 18650 will have 2700mAh capacity when under a load of 3A, that will give at least 1 hour of runtime.

smegs · Jan 20, 2011

I'm lookin at one of these till the XML emitter comes out in full. At $68 it's just the thing to get my flashlight fix.
http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-125/MG-X-dsh-Thrower-SST-dsh-50-Premium/Detail

I have basically the same flashlight with an MC-E emitter. It's the one to the right of the Spyderco Endura.

kr1 · Jan 21, 2011

Another +1 for the Fenix TK-40. Great throw, great light.

KR

trldad · Jan 21, 2011

Hoopster
I really like my TK40. Nice combination of throw and flood. It will really light up an area.

Another option I really like is The Eagle-Tac Military series. It has up to 1000 lumens and is a real thrower. I have a M2XC4 and the new M3 series are some barn burners. The rotating bezel is my favorite as far as User interface.

Best of luck
trldad

xtestifyx · Jan 22, 2011

Roger999 said:
The KD XM-L T6 draws around 2.6A, the Panasonic 2900mAh 18650 will have 2700mAh capacity when under a load of 3A, that will give at least 1 hour of runtime.

You're forgetting that it's a single celled light with a very small Heatsink and heatsink fins. If you can tolerate the heat 3minutes in, your hands will likely be black from the burnt skin

Not to mention the drop in is a single mode, which means you can only use it for that high brightness mode.

Roger999 · Jan 22, 2011

xtestifyx said:
You're forgetting that it's a single celled light with a very small Heatsink and heatsink fins. If you can tolerate the heat 3minutes in, your hands will likely be black from the burnt skin

Not to mention the drop in is a single mode, which means you can only use it for that high brightness mode.

.......My E2D incan produces more heat than the XML, and I've been fine holding onto it for 30 minute intervals. Even with incan lights that produce 15000 lumens only the head gets very hot, the body is usually a bit warm.

There is a 5 mode one available as well from KD.

EDIT: If a Tungsten filament burning at 2500 degrees Celcius cannot heat up the body, what makes you think the LED can heat it up enough to burn me?

xtestifyx · Jan 22, 2011

Roger999 said:
.......My E2D incan produces more heat than the XML, and I've been fine holding onto it for 30 minute intervals. Even with incan lights that produce 15000 lumens only the head gets very hot, the body is usually a bit warm.

There is a 5 mode one available as well from KD.

EDIT: If a Tungsten filament burning at 2500 degrees Celcius cannot heat up the body, what makes you think the LED can heat it up enough to burn me?

If that is in fact true, then I apologize. It certainly looks like I'm not as into modding Surefire lights as you are

I am not aware they have modified a drop it to have adjustable mode settings. Mind if I get some information from you in a PM?

Thanks

Roger999 · Jan 22, 2011

xtestifyx said:
If that is in fact true, then I apologize. It certainly looks like I'm not as into modding Surefire lights as you are

I am not aware they have modified a drop it to have adjustable mode settings. Mind if I get some information from you in a PM?

Thanks

I emailed the link to you.

hoopster · Jan 25, 2011

Thanks for all the info guys. I ended up ordering the Fenix tk35. It seemed like the best fit for my needs and price range. I'll post back after I get it and form an opinion.

hoopster · Jan 29, 2011

The TK35 has been here two nights now and it's safe to say I'm thrilled. It may be the best $ I've spent in the $100 range in quite a while. I love the size, shape, user interface, and performance.
Mine has a centered emitter, great color tint, and no real donuts or artifacts to complain about.
I can actually slip it in my back pocket walking around the yard and it fits fine.
Couldn't be happier, thanks for the input guys.

cutter17 · Jan 30, 2011

I had never really paid much attention to the TK-35, but after looking at it and reading what I've read, it seems like I may order it next month, instead of the TK-15. I was looking at the 15 for the throw it has. How would you rate the TK-35, more throw, or more flood?

brizbane · Jan 30, 2011

Admittedly I don't know hardly anything about lights. A couple of years ago I got me a Surefire G2 LED at Lowes, but after a while I was not happy with the flood portion at all.

I got a Malkoff drop-in for I think 70 bucks and switched out the LED module and I now have an AWESOME little light. Excellent throw and excellent flood in one light. I am very happy.

I'd be interested to know if any of the newer lights out there are equal to or better than my G2 with the drop-in.

jfindon · Jan 30, 2011

brizbane said:
Admittedly I don't know hardly anything about lights. A couple of years ago I got me a Surefire G2 LED at Lowes, but after a while I was not happy with the flood portion at all.

I got a Malkoff drop-in for I think 70 bucks and switched out the LED module and I now have an AWESOME little light. Excellent throw and excellent flood in one light. I am very happy.

I'd be interested to know if any of the newer lights out there are equal to or better than my G2 with the drop-in.

Take a look on the first page, I compared my G2 with a 170 lumen Wolf Eyes drop-in and my M30. It doesn't compare.

I also will probably end up getting the TK35, I was thinking it was the TK30 but just realized it's brand new and bright as hell. I think it'll be a nice upgrade to my M30.

Also, check this site out for some awesome comparisons:

http://fonarik.com/test/indexen.php

EDIT: Ok, so my picture wasn't on page 1. Here it is:

The M30 is rated at 700 lumens at the emitter, so it's about 500 ANSI I guess. I don't know what the G2 dropin is rated as when it comes to the 170, but there's a huge difference. My M30 on medium is brighter than the G2.

brizbane · Jan 30, 2011

Comparison shots were excellent. What is an M30?

jfindon · Jan 31, 2011

Olight M30.

http://www.batteryjunction.com/olight-m30-triton.html

They also came out with the M31 which is brighter, but I think I'm going to order that TK35 right now. I'll take some comparison pictures of it when it gets warm out again, maybe before.

hoopster · Jan 31, 2011

If I'm correct the tk35 is 800+ ansi lumens. It puts any g2 drop-in to shame in my experience. I would say it has a great balance between flood and throw.

brizbane · Jan 31, 2011

Thanks for the lesson guys.

It really shows how far out of the loop I am when it comes to this stuff, but my little G2/Malkoff has served me well this far.

The big difference in performance has definitely peaked my interest in the TK35. I live out in the woods and have come to depend on a good light, so I have a good excuse to upgrade.

hoopster · Jan 31, 2011

Here's a link for a pic of the TK35 next to a Military for scale.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44712568@N08/5405332426/

brizbane · Jan 31, 2011

hoopster, thank you for that pic and most excellent comparison. I carry my Mil full time.

The light is a little bigger than I thought but still not too bad for my needs.

hoopster · Jan 31, 2011

brizbane said:
hoopster, thank you for that pic and most excellent comparison. I carry my Mil full time.

The light is a little bigger than I thought but still not too bad for my needs.

No problem, the light is actually smaller than I thought it would be. To large for front pocket but works well in a jacket pocket and also fits nicely in my back pocket with just the head sticking out.