Which 4Sevens light is for me?

Rhyno37

Rhyno37

Joined
May 27, 2012
Messages
291
Hey guys I've been looking into 4Sevens lights (Just heard of them today for the first time from browsing this section) and decided I just have to try one out. I've had Surefires and Streamlights in the past, but I'd like to try something new and had some questions. There's a ton of models, so I need some help here.

http://www.foursevens.com/products/flashlights/

Purpose: "Workhorse light," everything from walking the dogs, fixing a flat at night, to hunting

Size: Something pocketable, but I do like longer lights

Battery type & quantity: 2xCR123 or 2xAA is fine

Price Range: $100 and under

Lumens: 200+ max, 10 and under for minimum would be nice

Switch Type: Taillight Clicky

Anything else: Something durable would be nice

I had a few questions about 4Sevens lights. How does the quality compare to Surefire or Streamlight. Where is the best place to purchase them from? I can't find many online sites that carry them, and very few on ebay. Should I order directly through 4Sevens? Thanks
 
I got my 4Sevens Quark AA a few years ago and it has become my every day carry. I use it with an AW 14500 cell...fantastic true 200+ lumen or a solid week or more on the moon mode. $60 or close to it.

Fishing, daily carry, camping, bedside...you name it. I got mine direct from their website.
 
Either of the 2xCR123 or 2xAA lights would do you good. The 2xCR123 comes in a couple of flavors. While you can feed rechargeable batteries to the 2xCR123, there are limited conditions under which them can reverse charge, vent and explode. Conversely, the 2xAA can be fed with Eneloop NiMH or other rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries for "free" and safe light. You can get these at Walmart or anywhere else.

I am quite fond of Fenix and Quark, and have found their lights to be pretty reliable though not perfect. Surefire is high quality but quite spendy. I like Streamlight too, and they make good stuff. But Quark puts a lot of light into a small package, and their emitters and technology seem to keep pace with the cutting edge much more quickly than Surefire or Streamlight.

If I were picking out something for you, it might be the Quark Pro 2xAA (QP2A). And then gets some AA Eneloops and charger anywhere off the internet, and you would be ready to rock. The good thing about AA also is that its much easier in an emergency to buy or steal (from a tv remote) than a CR123 battery.
 
It's not a 4Sevens, but I'd suggest you look at Klarus XT-11. I spent a good amount of time trying to find a light and ended up with the Klarus; I couldn't be happier. 600 lumens (certified, not just claimed) with a CREE XM-L U2! 150 lumen mid mode and 10 lumen low mode. 2X CR123 or an 18650 (which is what I use). Durable (class III anodizing, springs on both sides of the battery, I have dropped onto cement from ~5 ft without an issue other than a small nick in the anodizing and it was my second day owning it :eek:) and has all the standard bells and whistles. Dual button tail interface allows for complete one handed operation. The only thing I would change on it would be giving it the ability to tail stand. Also, for hunting or low light, they make threaded lens covers in white-diffusion, red, blue, and green; just screw off the crenelated strike bezel and screw on the filter of your choice. Check it out, I got mine for $90.
 
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Personally, I've got TONS of NiMH AA and AAA batteries that I've accumulated over the years (Eneloops and Low-Discharge Duracells). So getting a torch that accepts AA was important to me. I currently have the Quark Tactical QT2A-X from 4sevens and I love it.

h_pic_quarktactical-qt2ax-med.jpg

http://www.foursevens.com/product_info.php?products_id=2933

This is the original page when it was called the Tactical "X" AA2 (for full specs):
http://www.4sevens.com/product_info.php?cPath=297_306&products_id=2687

And it fits everything you're looking for:
* 280lum max, 0.2lum min
* Tail click
* Sturdy, Waterproofing
* ~$75

Can't speak for comparison with Surefire or Streamlight, but 4Sevens is the name of the company and their in-house brand is 'Quark'...Hence not finding a lot of places that sell it. I also have the Fenix LD10 that uses just 1 AA battery (don't know where the heck it is). I would say Quarks are comparable to Fenix torches.
 
Thanks for all the responses and suggestions guys. There's one thing I'm missing, what's the difference in the Tactical and Pro model? It looks like the tactical has a clicky switch on the tailcap, but I don't know how you'd turn on the pro then?

Then it looks like the the 2L is a bit shorter and fatter, but has 25 more lumens and the 2a is longer and skinnier? Other than CR123's putting out a bit more power, do they typically have the same run time? Is there any huge disadvantages or advantages of CR123's or AA's that I should be aware of?

And if I go with 2AA, are the Eneloops the best option to go with? Or should I try Lithiums

Sorry for the barrage of questions, just want to make sure I cover all bases.

EDIT: One more question, figure I'll buy from Amazon since I have free 2 day delivery. Trying to find the pro model, I stumbled upon these 2. One seems like the Pro-X, but not totally sure, don't know why they'd be the same price. Can anyone tell what the difference is?

http://www.amazon.com/4Sevens-Fours...e=UTF8&qid=1347487906&sr=8-6&keywords=4Sevens

http://www.amazon.com/4Sevens-Quark...e=UTF8&qid=1347487906&sr=8-3&keywords=4Sevens
 
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Rhyno37 said:
Thanks for all the responses and suggestions guys. There's one thing I'm missing, what's the difference in the Tactical and Pro model? It looks like the tactical has a clicky switch on the tailcap, but I don't know how you'd turn on the pro then?

Then it looks like the the 2L is a bit shorter and fatter, but has 25 more lumens and the 2a is longer and skinnier? Other than CR123's putting out a bit more power, do they typically have the same run time? Is there any huge disadvantages or advantages of CR123's or AA's that I should be aware of?

And if I go with 2AA, are the Eneloops the best option to go with? Or should I try Lithiums

Sorry for the barrage of questions, just want to make sure I cover all bases.

EDIT: One more question, figure I'll buy from Amazon since I have free 2 day delivery. Trying to find the pro model, I stumbled upon these 2. One seems like the Pro-X, but not totally sure, don't know why they'd be the same price. Can anyone tell what the difference is?

http://www.amazon.com/4Sevens-Fours...e=UTF8&qid=1347487906&sr=8-6&keywords=4Sevens

http://www.amazon.com/4Sevens-Quark...e=UTF8&qid=1347487906&sr=8-3&keywords=4Sevens
Click to expand...
The difference between the Tactical and Pro model is the UI. The tactical model has a forward clicky switch that allows for momentary and constant on. The UI allows two modes to be accessible at all times (head tightened is one mode, head loosened another). Both modes can be programmed to your liking. The Pro model has a reverse clicky (must fully depress the switch to turn on and switch modes) allows for two mode groups (head loosened is one: turbo and possibly strobe - have not looked at it in some time so it may have changed, and head loosened is the second: moonmode, low, med, high, strobe, sos, beacons).

For AA batteries, both eneloops and lithium batteries are just fine. Alkaline batteries will work, but have a tendency to leak in high drain devices, so I would not recommend them for your flashlights.

Also, the difference between the two models you listed from Amazon are in the emitter. One uses a Cree XP-G R5 (cool white tint) emitter, while the other uses a Cree XM-L (cool white tint) emitter. The XP-G R5 will have a tighter beam, giving the light slightly more throw than the XM-L version. The XM-L version will be more floody, and brighter overall, than the XP-G version, although brightness may not seem much more over the XP-G R5 version.

FourSevens lights have come under fire at times at CPF for not having consistency with tints in their lights, however, they have upgraded their emitters to the new XP-G2. From most of the reviews I have read, this emitter has a very pleasant, and consistent, cool white tint. It offers more throw and brightness over the XP-G emitter, for a nice compromise between the XP-G and XM-L emitters. If you can, and if you are not confused, I would also recommend a light with an XP-G2 emitter.
 
Quark X 2xAA Tactical is what I've got. Works great. Eneloops are the way to go.
 
moshow9 said:
The difference between the Tactical and Pro model is the UI. The tactical model has a forward clicky switch that allows for momentary and constant on. The UI allows two modes to be accessible at all times (head tightened is one mode, head loosened another). Both modes can be programmed to your liking. The Pro model has a reverse clicky (must fully depress the switch to turn on and switch modes) allows for two mode groups (head loosened is one: turbo and possibly strobe - have not looked at it in some time so it may have changed, and head loosened is the second: moonmode, low, med, high, strobe, sos, beacons).

For AA batteries, both eneloops and lithium batteries are just fine. Alkaline batteries will work, but have a tendency to leak in high drain devices, so I would not recommend them for your flashlights.

Also, the difference between the two models you listed from Amazon are in the emitter. One uses a Cree XP-G R5 (cool white tint) emitter, while the other uses a Cree XM-L (cool white tint) emitter. The XP-G R5 will have a tighter beam, giving the light slightly more throw than the XM-L version. The XM-L version will be more floody, and brighter overall, than the XP-G version, although brightness may not seem much more over the XP-G R5 version.

FourSevens lights have come under fire at times at CPF for not having consistency with tints in their lights, however, they have upgraded their emitters to the new XP-G2. From most of the reviews I have read, this emitter has a very pleasant, and consistent, cool white tint. It offers more throw and brightness over the XP-G emitter, for a nice compromise between the XP-G and XM-L emitters. If you can, and if you are not confused, I would also recommend a light with an XP-G2 emitter.
Click to expand...

I understood everything but one part, is the R5 and XP-G2? All the lights on Amazon are labeled that way. Thanks for the help
 
Rhyno37 said:
I understood everything but one part, is the R5 and XP-G2? All the lights on Amazon are labeled that way. Thanks for the help
Click to expand...

There are several variants (based on light temperature) of the XP-G2 diode. These variants are named by bin #s or group #s. R5 is only one of these (cool white, and also highest rated output IIRC). All R5s are XP-G2s, not all XP-G2s are R5s. Hope that answers your question.
 
The quark(of your choice) or what i have and love the preon 2 the reason i dont like it is because you can only program it to 2 modes then its a pain to re program it thats just my opinion
 
I carried the preon 2 for a few months but kept actuating the tailcap when the light was clipped inside my pocket. I switched to the 210 lumen Qmini x 123 and haven't looked back. It's a chunkier light but it works in the pocket and on a keychain.
 
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