Brightest Mini Light

GotSteel

GotSteel

Joined
Mar 1, 2016
Messages
803
What's the brightest mini light available (short like the maratac rev no preference for width), don't care too much about battery type, prefer throw over floodiness but mostly just want something really small and super bright, I'd be ok with customs too if you have recommendations.
 
What do you call "really small"? Soda can size or D battery size?

Ray
 
Whaaaaaat?
Oh, does it take one if those special, expensive batteries, that only burns for an hour? I'd LOVE to be wrong?
I carry my OLD Fenix LOD AAA, outta convenience. Not many lumens. I have a Maratac AAA, waiting for when this thing dies, but it won't!
 
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View attachment 779800 It comes with 2 types of batteries plus the appropriate extension tubes. The 10250 Lithium Ion rechargeable battery is the short one. The 10440 Lithium Ion battery is the long one. The tail piece has a Tritium tube. The kit comes with a charger that plugs into a USB socket. A twisty tail piece yields 5 levels of output. The batteries are designed to be capable of rapid discharge which yields the high output. At the highest level, they do not recommend leaving the light on for more than 15 seconds due to heat build up. At the lowest level, it can burn for 30? Hours.
 
RayseM said:
What do you call "really small"? Soda can size or D battery size?

Ray
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Shorter than average tac light (currently have fenix pd32), prefer to have something light and not too wide but I guess like a c battery width might be as wide as I'd want it

tiguy7 said:
Match Box Instruments Nano LED
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Their site seems to be down but will definitely check that, I've seen those little matchstick lights they make and kind of wanted one but forgot about them

Kootaga13 said:
Whaaaaaat?
Oh, does it take one if those special, expensive batteries, that only burns for an hour? I'd LOVE to be wrong?
I carry my OLD Fenix LOD AAA, outta convenience. Not many lumens. I have a Maratac AAA, waiting for when this thing dies, but it won't!
Click to expand...

I really like the look & size of the maratac but not bright enough for me, I'm sure it's difficult to get that kind of output from such a small housing heat sinks and all
 
Look at the Foursevens Mini MK II. It comes in a bunch of materials like Ti and copper, has a nice neutral tint if you are a tint snob, 1 cr123 size or with their rechargable battery gets 980-1020 lumens. $55-$85. Has a great throw too. I love mine.

IMG_1915.jpg
 
15 seconds!!! Ochewawa! Does it have a medium setting and how many lumens at low for 30 hrs?
Yea, my Fenix/Maratac don't put out much, but I guess I don't need much. I have other AA's for that.
 
Here is my favorite - https://www.batteryjunction.com/nitecore-ec11.html Lots of other sources of course - these guys have good photos (and they are a good company too).

The NITECORE EC11

Specifications:
  • LED: CREE XM-L2 (U2)
  • Peak Beam Intensity: 9000 cd
  • Beam Distance: 190 Meters
  • Output / Runtime (Using IMR 18350):
    • Turbo: 900 Lumens / 30 Minutes
    • High: 300 Lumens / 45 Minutes
    • Medium: 160 Lumens / 1.5 Hours
    • Low: 70 Lumens / 2.5 Hours
    • Lowest: 1 Lumen / 12 Hours
  • Output / Runtime (Using CR123A):
    • Turbo: 430 Lumens / 45 Minutes
    • High: 230 Lumens / 1.5 Hours
    • Medium: 100 Lumens / 3.25 hours
    • Low: 40 Lumens / 8.5 Hours
    • Lowest: 1 Lumen / 20 Hours
  • Runs on 1 x IMR 18350 or 1 x CR123A
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 2.95" (75mm)
    • Bezel Diameter: 1" (25.4mm)
    • Body Diameter: 1" (25.4mm)
    • Weight: 1.6 oz (45.3g) (excluding batteries)

      If you need it boosted even more I can send you a link for a Flashlight Modder who will sell you his version. This has a lock out mode but if you find that you won't be using it for weeks on end it is not a bad idea to loosen the tail cap. I run XTR IMR18350 rechargeable in it. Too much smaller than this and you'll never be able to find it :).
Ray
 
My edc flashlight is a streamlight microstream. I have multiple other flashlights by Fenix, surefire and foursevens but I carry the microstream most of the time.
- One AAA
- simple on/off tailswitch
- good battery life
- S clip for easy mounting on the bill of my hat
- under $20
Not exactly what you are looking for but for the price you should try one.
 
Low_rez said:
Look at the Foursevens Mini MK II. It comes in a bunch of materials like Ti and copper, has a nice neutral tint if you are a tint snob, 1 cr123 size or with their rechargable battery gets 980-1020 lumens. $55-$85. Has a great throw too. I love mine.
Click to expand...

Yes I like these, my battery charger's a nitecore I didn't know they made lights too!

RayseM said:
Here is my favorite - https://www.batteryjunction.com/nitecore-ec11.html Lots of other sources of course - these guys have good photos (and they are a good company too).

The NITECORE EC11

Specifications:
  • LED: CREE XM-L2 (U2)
  • Peak Beam Intensity: 9000 cd
  • Beam Distance: 190 Meters
  • Output / Runtime (Using IMR 18350):
    • Turbo: 900 Lumens / 30 Minutes
    • High: 300 Lumens / 45 Minutes
    • Medium: 160 Lumens / 1.5 Hours
    • Low: 70 Lumens / 2.5 Hours
    • Lowest: 1 Lumen / 12 Hours
  • Output / Runtime (Using CR123A):
    • Turbo: 430 Lumens / 45 Minutes
    • High: 230 Lumens / 1.5 Hours
    • Medium: 100 Lumens / 3.25 hours
    • Low: 40 Lumens / 8.5 Hours
    • Lowest: 1 Lumen / 20 Hours
  • Runs on 1 x IMR 18350 or 1 x CR123A
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 2.95" (75mm)
    • Bezel Diameter: 1" (25.4mm)
    • Body Diameter: 1" (25.4mm)
    • Weight: 1.6 oz (45.3g) (excluding batteries)

      If you need it boosted even more I can send you a link for a Flashlight Modder who will sell you his version. This has a lock out mode but if you find that you won't be using it for weeks on end it is not a bad idea to loosen the tail cap. I run XTR IMR18350 rechargeable in it. Too much smaller than this and you'll never be able to find it :).
Ray
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And this
tiguy7 said:
View attachment 779680 Check out the Match Box Instruments Nano LED. It is shorter than an AAA and puts out 550 lumens.
Click to expand...
 
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Please help me here, when you guys say, 550 lumens like above, do you mean for a very short time?
Not trying to derail, but to me, I'd want lumens I could actually carry around and maybe see to walk?
Please disregard if I'm out of place.
 
Kootaga13 said:
Please help me here, when you guys say, 550 lumens like above, do you mean for a very short time?
Not trying to derail, but to me, I'd want lumens I could actually carry around and maybe see to walk?
Please disregard if I'm out of place.
Click to expand...

You can see some run times using different batteries in the NITECORE EC11 listing above = post # 10.
Bigger flashlights with more battery capacity will of course give you longer run times. There are some great and powerful "little" lights that are more the size of a soda can than a cigarette lighter. I don't think the lights being shown in this thread are "carry around" lights - mostly just for checking stuff out in the dark - still a 30 minute run time at 900 lumens is pretty KA. :cool:

Ray
 
Thanks Ray. Appreciate it. I do LOVE the output and the run time.....just not the availability or cost of batts. I'm a bit of a tight wad I guess. o_O
 
You might want to look at rechargeable batteries. Over the life of the light they can save a good bit of money if you actually use your lights regularly. Some of the highest performance are lithium ion but those have to be treated carefully or they can be very dangerous. (the performance out of a single 18650 light is amazing though) I EDC a single AA light (zebralight sc53c) with Panasonic eneloop pro's which don't need such careful treatment.
 
Kootaga13 said:
Please help me here, when you guys say, 550 lumens like above, do you mean for a very short time?
Not trying to derail, but to me, I'd want lumens I could actually carry around and maybe see to walk?
Please disregard if I'm out of place.
Click to expand...
I got out the owner’s manual. It says the light has 3 output modes. My light has 5. At the 4 lumen setting the burn time is 9 hours, but it does not mention whether this is with the long or the short battery. 40 lumens lasts 50 min. (but which battery?).
You do not need 550 to keep from tripping over the dog. The original AA Maglites put out 9? lumens. In my experience, the most expensive batteries to buy are the cheapest to run. The regulated rechargeable Lithium ion batteries have the highest output, the most reliability, and the longest life. Unregulated batteries sometimes die early. Because regulated batteries have a printed circuit inside, you do not see regulation in the smaller batteries.
The most useful small light I have found is the Lumintop Ti. It can run on a single Eneloop rechargeable AAA NiMH battery. It is a 3 speed View attachment 782349 clicky with a top output of 110 lumens. I added an extra clip so the light can go on the bill of a ball cap.
 
I like my Eagletac D25C Ti. Pictured below with a ZT for size reference. CR123 battery.

347BFBF1-EA99-45DE-9279-999EF1F41441.jpeg
 
timbo813 said:
You might want to look at rechargeable batteries. Over the life of the light they can save a good bit of money if you actually use your lights regularly. Some of the highest performance are lithium ion but those have to be treated carefully or they can be very dangerous. (the performance out of a single 18650 light is amazing though) I EDC a single AA light (zebralight sc53c) with Panasonic eneloop pro's which don't need such careful treatment.
Click to expand...

Most definitely, the light I have currently runs on a single 18650 I think I bought a couple of the Samsung ones (hold their charge forever and super slow drain, they're great) and use a Nitecore charger, I also like lights that can run on multiple battery types I have a Fenix that can also run on 2 cr123's but it's too bulky for pocket carry, I think I'm gonna go with the foursevens
 
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