Now we are thinking about developing a upgraded VG10, but need more information to determine what is a more welcomed VG10s. You guys are flashlight enthusiasts and very professional. Hope you can comment or give some suggestion to us. Thanks.
1) XP-L LED option
2) Making both Cool white and Neutral white tints available.
3) A regulated driver would be nice.
4) PLEASE add a thin ‘O’ ring between the window and bezel.
Knurling on the tube and tail the same as VG15S.
XP-L HI with option for neutral tint.
Keep the current forward click switch.
O-Ring between glass and bezel.
My biggest problem with the vg10 is the pocket clip should be redesigned so the the flashlight is head down instead of head up. Like the vg15. It needs to be able to tailstand. NW led options. And now reason the driver can’t run at 3.5 amps for turbo. Other lights do it. Eagle eye x6.
It can be changed out. But led options would be nice. Xpl v5-v6, xpl hi, or xml2 in NW. Most people prefer NW LEDs and not cw
Constant current driver without PWM (or at least very high frequency)
Mode order Moon-Low-Med-High
Ability to easily modify - screw in driver retaining ring, not glued LED (many may wish to use light as a host or modify it later)
Also, I really like a very deep knurling, gives a good grip and feel to it
No glue or threadlock anywhere.
No visible PWM on low modes.
No disco modes (or keep them out of the way of the other modes)
Forward clicky.
Low mode around 1-2 Lumen.
Lock out tailcap.
Last mode memory.
Bypass all springs, (only if turbo is high current)
Others will dispute this but my preference for mode spacing:
LO = ~1L
MED = ~60L
HI = ~350L
TURBO = ~1000L
I am really flexible with tint. Just avoid the angry blue and barf green. I can go with the flow… if the consensus is neutral white or pale white I am OK with either. CRI is a non-factor for me. Its nice but if it comes at the expense of Lumens/watt efficiency I will skip it.
Dear Thorfire, first and foremost, thank you for reaching out to your customers and to BLF as a whole in asking for what would help your flashlight line sell better and make more repeat customers as well as increasing your customer base at the same time. It is refreshing to have contact with a manufacturer/vendor without it always being about price. Price while very important, is only one facet of building a quality line.
One other theme that seems to be continuous with improvements in the past is Thorfire does not change their manuals and lists them with the old model description on Amazon thus creating mass confusion as to what the customer is going to receive when they place the order. Reading reviews about the old model does nothing for the new customer looking at your improved model. Separate the SKU’s for everyone’s sanity. You will have less returns/complaints this way.
Here’s how to upgrade the VG-10 by simply using parts that Thorfire already produced in making this sister brand Volador.
The scallops on the head are different and the tail cap is better with a switch cover that does not protrude thereby making for excellent tail standing. Also has nice knurling on tail cap and on ring of head.
Internals are the same. I have 2 of these and know a few other members have them and like them as well.
Adding a warmer tint selection is the single biggest improvement you can make to the entire Thorfire brand. Once you make that change, the only thing you will say is “Why didn’t we listen to BLF and do this sooner?”
Personally I would prefer a reverse clicky as it is a pain to change modes once the light is on, maybe include a forward clicky switch with the flashlight as an accessory so the customer can decide which way they want it. Then everyone is happy about that.
I have 2 VG-10’s. First one you guys warrantied because it wouldn’t turn on (great customer service! Got it in 3 days from a West coast warehouse) the replacement you supplied I gave away to my bro. Naturally I moded the broken unit, it’s nice with the integrated shelf but the driver doesn’t even sit on the shelf. There is a aluminum spacer that covers about 50% of the driver between the shelf and driver with a glob of paste. I’m not a modding master but would like the driver to make better contact with body for heat transfer.
I heat treated my clip and bezel and it looks much better. Make a black clip with that color above, some contrast would be nice. We see black ano lights with silver clips all day! Please something different.