Flashlights

Need2Know said:
This thread began looking for a very capable, small as possible, robust, single 123, full-featured; and above all...reliable pocketable illumination tool.

What the majority of us have settled on is the HDS...most went w/ rotary.

I'm still looking for a future version that's a bit lighter, a bit brighter and a bit grippier.
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N2K.......I prefer small powerful lights with a single CR123 battery.....but I definitely seem to be the odd man out with these.....

1. Eagletac D25C Clicky - 453 Lumens......fully featured (tiny in the pocket)
2. Olight S-10 Baton - 400 Lumens......fully featured
3. Lenslight Mini - 330 Lumens

None of these are high-end lights......but I have had no issues with any of them and the batteries last quite a while.

Beside a 3" XM for size comparison.....

 
Since you're talking to me I'll weigh in...

I have an S-10, I think it's been posted early in this thread, plus it's not the newest version...it's ok, just like any light that meets one's needs/wants but lacks a tail clicky.

Eagle-tac's are not for me.

And I also wasn't sold on the LL mini the two times I played with one.
 
^^^^^ N2K.......Interesting.......I love the S-10.......but not to carry......I keep it for use around the house.......I have learned that I like the tail clicky.........I love the Eagletac Clicky to carry......and I consider the LensLight too big to carry.......so it lives in either the house or the car........

What do you consider to be small, grippy, powerful and reliable.......that you like to carry?
 
I'm stuck with the HDS stuff because I thump on my gear (not intentionally just is what it is)...I've dropped a few lights that didn't hold up to their claimed drop test rates...all manufacturers so far took care to stand behind their products...my HDS hit the ground and laugh it off....so I'm looking for a lighter, brighter, grippier HDS (or equivalent).

Problem is, every time I read a spec sheet from a Chinese manufacturer, the lights never prove to live up to it.
 
Does it make sense to go custom if you "thump" on your lights? Some of the customs I have seen are gorgeous.....or ridiculously expensive.....or both.....and many seem to have "special" battery requirements.......which is kind of a pain.......

Perhaps there is no better light for you until HDS comes out with a more powerful light........it definitely seems to be the light of choice for a good portion of the guys on this thread........

The only other light I use is a Nitecore P-12 which is ridiculously bright.....but bigger.....and I believe Fenix just came out with a PD-35 that is almost 1000 Lumens......
 
I have different lights for different tasks.

This whole conversation / thread is for the pocketable stuff. I've got a PD-32 on one of my bags, other lights too in/out of here/there.

Yes, I'd be on it like stink-on-poo if a more pocket-friendly HDS rolls out with similar robust build and quality of current offerings.
 
By "going custom" I mean having something modified or finding one of those well-discussed customs that has a following that I assume is earned.
 
Not much output but the LD01 has served me well. I don't like it attached to my keys so I've dropped it on the concrete a number of times. Thinking about getting the PD12 for a little more output. Fenix has been good for my needs. And the AAA last forever in the LD01.
 
Some custom hosts with internals by me. I'm completely confident I can thump these at will. Not that I'd want to :)
My old 12g light crapped out on me, and I built a new one with a 1/2 rubber washer to cushion the batter from ramming the driver, beefed up connections, and super thick springs. It has stood up to we'll over 500 Rds. With these I did the same.
Data sheets would put these at just under 1000lm

gy9uze7e.jpg
 
To clarify..by "thump on" I mean not give a damn about what happens as the item's in use, but not intentionally harming my gear. Matter to the point, I dropped my damn HDS onto a wood floor a bit ago as the slippery guy slipped from my finger tips while juggling with it after fishing it from my pocket. Again, it was laughed off and is good to go.
 
That's what I took from it.
Drop, fumble, toss into your bag, pocket, pick up a generator and crush it against your leg, turn around quick and it smacks into the door frame, leave on in your pocket until roasting hot, all of the above.
I didn't mean use it as a drumstick, or thump it with a hammer either :)
All my edc stuff seems to end up on my lap, then I just jump out of the driver seat, and slam, on the concrete. Followed by a........... $#! + !!!! Then a shrug, then I'm off.
 
Tmack said:
Some custom hosts with internals by me. I'm completely confident I can thump these at will. Not that I'd want to :)
My old 12g light crapped out on me, and I built a new one with a 1/2 rubber washer to cushion the batter from ramming the driver, beefed up connections, and super thick springs. It has stood up to we'll over 500 Rds. With these I did the same.
Data sheets would put these at just under 1000lm

gy9uze7e.jpg
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Nice lights Tmack! How difficult is it to build one?
 
Not bad at all.
I build custom lasers for cpf, so flashlights are pretty similar.
I'd say you can slap one together in 20min.

I built these a little special though. They are VERY Heavy reinforced to last forever.
Basically just need a driver, and the led for the basic builds.
I think the hardest parts, is centering the led, and modifying the reflector to set the optimal depth of the led for the best focus.

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I trust these more than any company built light. I know every solder joint is perfect, every connection solid, all with completed thermal pathways and I used the same techniques on these as my convoy m1 built for firearms. I'd put them up against any of the toughest lights with complete confidence.
Plus they are simple. No complex circuitry, no extra boards, just the bare essentials, inside a tank of a host.
 
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Not on hand, but I can build it absolutely.
You can even sketch what you want it to look like, and choose your materials.
I can do xpg2/xpl triple led, single xml2, even the monster mtg2 (too hot though in a small host)
You can really have a truly custom light tailored to your specifications.

Rotary will really drive the cost and complexity. A clicky is more durable, and easier to build, maintain,
 
Haha. I'm in love with the brass hosts. Great heat dissipation, nice heft.
I can do a small run of brass lights, built bulletproof, but they would be clicky style.

Rotary us a company affair.
I think it takes away from the super durable design by adding components.
What I can do is completely customize the interface.
You choose the levels, modes, etc.
From low/high, to low/med/high/strobe/sos and everything in between.

I personally do my lights low/high.
Fast, simple, easy.

And I can drive them as hard, or as easy, as you like.

1600lm - 300lm on max.
 
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Here's my two favorites.
Titanium and brass.
I even did different tail caps for the titanium to match my xm hardware.

I just need to do one in bronze now that my xm is bronzed out.

These run on a single 18650, so I get crazy long cell life.
The cr123 is shown to give you an idea of the size a single 123 light would be.

The titanium is a xpg2 in a textured reflector at 3a. The texture gives the throwing type led a little flood to balance it out

The brass is a xml2 in a smooth reflector at 3a. The smooth increases the throw with the flooder xml2.

Both are 2 mode low/high and just awesome. Both put out some serious light, and the xpg2 throws extremely well for such a beautiful light. Well for any light in this class really.

I can do them high CRI, as well for you tint snobs ;) haha. I might just be one too.
 
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