What was your best flashlight(s) of 2017

Hmmmm. Okay, for obvious “giggle factor” of my own, the BLF/TF Q8. It kicks buttocks. ’Nuff said.

The original Thorfire VG10, even with the thermal-path issue. Forward-clicky, perfect mode-spacing, nice design, clean beam, no blinkies!

Sofirn SP10B. Wasn’t a fan at all of AA lights or e-switch lights, but this one won me over. Make it 4500K or even 4000K, and it’d be nigh perfect. Oh, and no blinkies! No blinkies!!

Sofirn SF32W. My new go-to light at night, from a beautiful moonlight mode up to a perfectly usable turbo, even if not scorchingly bright as other lights. Wonderfully warm, everyone who sees it loves the CT.

Thorfire TK4A. Okay, a bit of a ringy beam (very fine, though), but damn, I’m liking this light more every time I play with it. Perfect fit in the hand, no Jetsons-esque fins or grooves, just a nice clean functional almost Borglike design. And I like the UI, ’though I’d prefer moonlight be in the main rotation, but it’s not a deal-killer to me.

Sofirn C8M (??, the triple XP-Gx). Literally had a “Holy $#|+!!” moment when I shined it outside at a bunch of trees. Haven’t kept it on long enough to fry the emitters or anything, but damn, that’s one nice light! That was a lot of light pouring out from a C8 body, a lot more than I expected.

Zanflare F1. Cleanest and best-thought-out design I’ve seen in ages, awesome UI (bury those damned blinkies so you can click like crazy and never hit on one ever again!), about the only thing I’d improve upon would be a FC tailswitch to allow flash’n’dash.

When did the Boruit RJ02 come out? If 2017, include it. Yeah, it’s got a generic non-Cree CW emitter, but for a sub-10buk headlight, it’s amazing as far as features. No, it’s no Skilhunt, but then again, it’s less than a third of the price. Nitpick all you want, but it’s less than 10bux!! Any other light, for 10bux you’ll get a craptastic 3×AAA light with a bunch of 5mm discretes.

The Emisar D1 and D1S would be my picks, both well built and compact throwers at a great price point.

Skilhunt H03 NW, HaikeLite SC01 & BLF Q8.

“Sofirn SF32W. My new go-to light at night, from a beautiful moonlight mode up to a perfectly usable turbo, even if not scorchingly bright as other lights. Wonderfully warm, everyone who sees it loves the CT.”

does this light exist, or did you modify the one available on aliexpress? that one is labelled as a cool or cold white. and though i’m an ignoramus, i’ve become a tint snob for some reason.

thanks.

Convoy L6 and Manker E11 are my best this year.

Q8 - kept very close to BlF principles. Great performance and great value . It is jam packed with features and all for under $50usd

The GT and MT02 will no doubt feature heavily in 2018 once in proper circulation

1) BLF Q8 - I actually bought 5 of them haha and gave them as gifts.
2) Astrolux MF01 CW - Such impressive output and has such good aesthetic appeal, BUT I used the BLF Q8 99% of time over the MF01.
3) BLF A6 - Also bought like 5 of these, gave them out as gifts. Such a useful beam and size profile.
4/5) Haikelite SC01 & KDlitker C8.2 - Both very similar in terms of output and beam. Like them both, but don’t use them as much as the others mentioned

BLF GT should be at my doorstep before the new year so I am sure that will be on the final list.

Was absolutely legit. It was a regular SF32 that Sofirn released as a WW (3000K) version, with the actual ‘W’ on the light. I got one to review, really liked it, and when I heard from Tracy that it wasn’t going to be marketted, I was bummed. Mentioned that in a thread, someone else posted the link on AX, “You mean this light?”, and I saw there were only a few left, and at a pretty steep discount. Ordered 2 immediately, got reverse-buyer’s-remorse, and the next day ordered another 2 more out of the 4 or so that were left. :smiling_imp:

Aaaauuugh! SF31W, not 32.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Sofirn-SF31-LED-Flashlight-18650-Cree-XML-3000K-EDC-Portable-Lamp-LED-Torch-Light-Lanterna-Pocket/32834832925.html

My bad…

This year I’ve been impressed by a number of lights. I want to list three but cant cut it down. Nor can I order them :open_mouth:

1) Niwalker Vostro BK-FA09S (THROW) - I needed some throw!
2) BLF Q8 - (FLOOD) Using it against my Thrunite TN36 makes me realise how amazingly good value for money it is
3) BLF X5 - (Compact) I was really late to the party with this. I picked it up on offer once on BG and liked it so much I bought another 5 to give to friends.
4) Haikelite MT07 (Best all rounder) It’s a chunky mofo and I’m sure you could do some damage to someone with it if you wanted. It throws a lot of light a long way but also has a decent flood. This light replaces my TK75 that I blame for re-kindling my love of flashlights. The TK75 has been delegated to a spare to be kept in the boot of the car!
5) Klarus XT12GT (Tube light) I just love the feel of it, the charging method, the throw. It’s ace.

#) BLF Giggles. I’m hoping this makes my current throw champ seem like a toy. I haven’t received it yet nor have I received shipping notification so I can’t really count it but I should get it in 2017.
#) Emisar D4 (Compact) I’ve just ordered this. I’m hoping it knocks the X5 from the compact spot. Everyone speaks so highly of it.

My best flashlight from 2017 was/is…a Convoy S2+ (XML2 T6-4C).
The simple reasons for it are: it has felt to the ground uncountable times, and still works beautifully, and also has a nice looking tint that made me shift/ my preferences from the “Cold White” emitters to the NW and CW tints.

I was also surprised by some of the lights I bought:

  • Zanflare F1, for not being expensive and be a very complete and “hard” to beat flashlight, in many ways…;

- Amutorch AM30, because it has a nice tint, a decent throw (+ 200m and still seeing what up), and for being a very well built flashlight;

- Convoy S2+ Desert Tan, because it is beautiful, inside and outside! A simple flashlight, an incredibly beautiful host colour (most of mine flashlights are black and this one made me “open” my horizons, despite I still prefer black), and the solid Convoy quality on the rest of the build;

- Sofirn SF14, for being cheap, well made, and for getting a really surprising tint and beam, and a decent throw as an AA/14500.

- Nitecore TIP 2017, because it is powerful even being small, for being handy and pocketable, and because that clip is so nice;

- Emisar D4… Do I really need to say anything else about this light? :wink: This is now my EDC light, on 18650 or 18350 version and…I don’t need to say anything else :sunglasses: :+1:

I think you mean Sofirn SF36w and i agree with you, mine is not arrived yet though

So far my favorite for 2017 (until i receive my SF36w) is the EagTac SX30A4, i like the 219c tint better than my other 219c lights, i like the Q8 too but it’s not nichia so… ¯\

I’m going to go with the Skilhunt HO3, for being a tremendously useful light at a very low cost.
Second nomination would have to be the Utorch UT01. Yes, many have problems, but the good ones are so damn good!

Emisar D1s. Good throw, light weight, Great UI.

I really don´t use the D4 nearly as much anymore, I find it good on winding trails. I also bought Nitecore SRT9 (it has it´s purpose). All my TIPs are frequently used by all family members. Astrolus s42 is useful when you want something superwide angle, but really a lantern is maybe better? Odd thing is that ever so often I find myself using my “old” Niteye ec-r26 and ec-r16, they are darn good lights!

This years big thing for me was really the Aspire 18350, game changer!

BLF Q8
Good budget light.
Thank you BLF

Not a light, but definitely deserves a special mention.

Astrolux MF-01 high output light thats in between a flood and a throw by a decent amount given how short the optics, best buy of 2017 for the price

The Emisar D4 HI model is a stand out for me- pocket rocket and dependable which is rarely mentioned. Have yet to hear of any doa,s or problems.

and

The Thrunite TN42- just super impressive, light cannon.

For me, Haikelite MT07S and SC02 are both on the top.

How come no one has referred to the DX80? :smiley:

Maybe DX80 doesn’t need more advocacy as it’s already the king of flood.