Yup, I suspect that the way most folks use these hot rod lights. I know that’s how I use them with the majority of my shining pleasure being at the lower output levels. I even use the L6 that way.
Normal use is like that, day to day, but on Thursday night I blast away for 10 - 15 minutes on my weekly walk to the road with the trash can. 
“Fire in the HOLE!” 
You must melt a lot of holes in your trash cans. :innocent:
Well i know Tom E went with an xml2 u4 over a xplhi or xplv6 becuase it has more out put at the emitter and it is really up by here as far as throw Lost up to my modded maxtoch sniper as far as throw if that counts for anything.
iam crazy……xml2 are brighter than xpl?? xpl are after all newest….and xpl-hi more newest no??:laughing:
Waiting for XP-L2 HI
For absolute small emitter output, the XP-L W2 2B in a Convoy C8 is pretty ridiculous at some 2024 lumens. This is single cell, single emitter.
The XP-L and XM-L2 use the same die, sitting on a different substrate, so they are very similar in output. There have been some small changes and as such the XP-L can sometimes take more current but that is not in and of itself always the best path to the most lumens.
Nice entertaining the possibilities of the XP-L2, acquiring the emitters is not as easy as all that at this time.
Brighter,yes less throw you can look up flashlight Wiki xpl hi has a concentrated beam the xml2-u4 is the highest xml2 bin
There is a phenomenon where de-doming an XM-L2 (or any Cree for that matter) causes a loss of lumens and a warming of the tint. The XP-L HI is, more or less, factory de-domed. The HI has lower output than it’s equivalent HD brother, so this being a given then yes, the XM-L2 is typically brighter than an XP-L. There are changes to the XP-L line-up that are causing it to catch up though, like the XP-L W2 or the XP-L2 maybe they’re calling it. I’ve seen this emitter make over 2000 lumens, where the most I’ve seen from an XM-L2 is 1811.
Variance abounds. The best emitters can be (read usually are) difficult to obtain.
Thanks Dale I wasn’t aware of a xpl 2 yet , but could probably wrong. I think a and I better double check but in manker u21 that Tom E saved for may have a xpl2 but don’t quote me yet on it i have to go through piles of pms either that is grateful info and iam happy with my new edc Tom built for me my manker with a 1000 meter reach pmeantu of usable spill I’ll be happy for quite a while.
i open this thread again:) is it now emisar d4?
Just came across this early 2017 thread… and yes it seems to me the D4 is the brightest stock single 18650 light around - be it for a few seconds. The XPL version does 4k+ i think.
I re-measured my D4 with Luxeon V’s yesterday and got 5200 at start, 4850 at 12 seconds when thermal stepdown starts (on a 30Q), and my djozz-lumen even is conservative compared to the lumens on the other side of the pond.
Do I win?
If you want max output, shouldn’t you get more using something like a Sony VTC5?
Insane. That’s a BLF Q8, but a tenth the size. No wonder it can only last a few seconds.
What’s the brightness single-LED 1x18650 light? There’s plenty around 1400 lumens (stock), using a FET driver with a boring XPL. Any that use a better LED for more output (probably needing a boost like the XHP35)?
The Acebeam L30 with its XHP70.2 can be run on a single 18650 (or 20700) and generates 4000 lumens without stepping down for ~3 minutes!
Astrolux S1 claims like 2000 lumens, semi floody pattern, with a 10A battery…
wle
What is the definition of “brightest”?
I have a single 32650 light pushing a single SST-40 to 755Kcd for over a mile throw, does that count? 
Sorry DB:
Just for the smaller battery bothers 
(though I know what you mean )
BLF Q8 can also run on a single 18650, but it doesn’t make it single 18650 light.
So definitely some D4 will win.
Vinh made D4 with SST-40. I wonder how does it stack against the Djozz’ Luxeon Z…
Does 2*18350 count?
Because here we have 10klum: