Hello

Hi everyone. I thought I'd introduce myself by talking about how I got here. It probably starts when I moved out, and asked my dad for a flashlight as a moving-out gift. My requirements were: 1AA, no tactical face, tail switch, pocket clip, and LED. He gave me: A Terralux Lightstar 100. It's a good 1AA flashlight for pocket carry, and was my first LED flashlight in late 2012. The low is too bright, though.

I started looking for another 1AA for pocket carry, about two years later. I purchased a Nebo Redline OC. This was not what I wanted. The enormous self-defense face shreds pockets, and makes for an awkward shape in your pocket anyway. The power switch is difficult to press, being recessed in the middle of the end magnet. It's too bright to not have a lower mode, and it's got an annoying strobe I kept accidentally activating. Also, the zoomy optics cast even light across the whole lit area, which I didn't care for at first and grew to hate later. Further, Nebo switches tend to act funny when the battery gets low, seeming to be defective. Still, I purchased a Nebo Twyst shortly after, which was my first larger LED flashlight. It has a great classic flashlight shape. Great heft, and I really like the hotspot. It was buying this that I realized how much I hated the zoomy lenses on other lights. The price point was terrible, retailing for $50 (though I got it cheaper). It took 4AA, which didn't thrill me for runtime, but at least it wasn't AAA. I ultimately ended up liking this one a lot, despite the somewhat cheesy worklight/lantern and tailstanding solutions.

I next purchased a Streamlight ProTac 1AA. I found a good pocket-carry 1AA! It had a ridiculous price point as well, also retailing for $50 (also got it cheaper). I used the ten-tap to set it for Low, High, Off. It is forward-clicky, so mode adjustment must be done before clicking the light fully on (and can't be changed without turning off and on again). But, I immediately loved the roughly 6 lumen low mode (getting close to moonlight territory) and found the ~75 lumen "high" sufficient. I was also pleased with the increased runtime these brightness modes allowed for. Also my first encounter with PWM, which was very noticeable on low. Didn't really bother me too much, though.

This reminds me: I've also got a blue LED Maglite Mini 2AA with the original Dura-hells corroded inside. I purchased it somewhere between the first two lights mentioned above. I'm just upset with it, the Dura-hells leaked within 2 years of owning it (and barely using it, they weren't drained down), and I was never happy with the light either. I wish I'd gotten an older incandescent version (they're shorter) and gone with an led conversion plus a tailswitch conversion. It sits on a shelf right now because I'm still too angry at it to toss it. Growing up, my father had always been a fan of Maglite and owned numerous of their lights. I even got him a 6D Maglite for his birthday as a gag gift once, so this light really disappointed me fully.

One day last year, the Streamlight ProTac HL-X appeared at my work. I wanted it, but couldn't justify it even at the employee price, and especially realizing I'd have to separately purchase an 18650 and charger for it. I'd had a customer recommend Nitecore (for an alternative to my employer's terrible store-brand 18650s) and so I gave their website a peek, as a kind of jumping off point to see if I could find nicer flashlight and/or a better price point. I'd also around this time purchased a sub-$1 led replacement for a PR4 bulb (Rayovac branded) to pop in my old generic 2AA headlamp (at night on a trail, I don't need more than that 30 lumens and the extra runtime is nice). My requirements were: single 18650 (and pocketable, I didn't want a big head on it), pocket clip, 1000 lumens or more, a low mode at 6 lumens or less, and direct access to those modes and strobe from off. I also didn't want to have to cycle past strobe when changing modes, if possible.

I arrived at the Nitecore EC23, and put it on my Christmas list. I liked the turbo mode (we had a Rayovac Beast at work and I figured 1800 was the most I'd need from an edc), the strobe, the low and moonlight, and direct access to the special modes from anywhere else. Owning it now, I also love the battery indicator in the switch. I don't like that the pocket clip must be ordered separately, or that I generally pocket it locked-out because of the style of the side-switch. If that light had the switch in the tail instead it would probably be perfect.

Anyway, Christmas rolled around, and my much better half had a case of the giggles. She told me that she'd started a flashlight collection for me. It turns out she researched and purchased for me not just an EC23, but the Convoy S2+, the Jaxman E2 L, and the Supfire M6 in my sig. She remarked that she was interested in Richard's (of mountain electronics) mod options for the Supfire, but that they wouldn't have made it by Christmas. She also mentioned an "Emisar D4", which also wouldn't have arrived in time but that she really thought I'd like. I was intrigued by the concept of modding flashlights, so of course looked into that. I plan to do the Richard's "Mod 2" to the Supfire M6 as my first mod. I have experience working in electronics at this scale, so I'm mostly worried about following directions correctly. I've also ordered the Emisar D4 (90+ CRI 5000k). On my list after I do the M6 mod, are to get a single 18650 thrower (eyeing a certain Convoy C8 for this, unless I decide to build something instead), to build a higher-power triple than my Jaxman E2 L (probably in an E2 L host, too), and I find myself lusting after the Q8.

I have to admit, of my current flashlights, I'm most attached to the Jaxman. It's floody and warm, but the light quality is fantastic. To me, there's something unique about it. I'm eagerly awaiting the pocket clip I ordered for it.

I'm going to have to be careful, and not buy flashlights (or flashlight parts) too quickly. Then again, I've got this tax return coming up...

Hey man how are you doing? Welcome to BLF! :partying_face: I still like the 1xAA format; it’s just a basic and very useful format. I’d say my current favourite 1xAA light is the Nitecore LA10 CRI in red and blue.

Welcome to the forum , Scallywag .

From the sound of it , you’re an ideal candidate to become a flashaholic .

Which has it’s light and dark sides …

You definitely have a keeper there. It sounds like she spent a lot of time here (or another board) doing research. She made some great choices.

Welcome to BLF!

Welcome to BLF, thanks for the tale

I guess any of the flashlights you mentioned getting recently are great (I personally have some of them)

For the ones you mentioned not having yet, the C8 is a classic, I like having one even if I don’t have much use for it. And the D4 will blow you away and become your favorite in les than 24h

Welcome Scallywag! :smiley:

Welcome The more the merrier……or are flashoholics misery likes company :weary:

Hmm, M6-mod? Check it against the BLF-Q8!
Welcome to BLF!

Welcome Scallywag! Betcha can’t buy just one! :wink:

Welcome to BLF Scallywag :wink:
I can relate to you, as the Nebo Micro Redline was the “first” flashlight I had! Super cute, but expensive and it can only take CR2 batteries, that are not cheap around here!
So after a while reading and searching for flashlights, I ended up here :blush:

Enjoy the stay and…beware the coupons, the group buys and the “BLF specials” :smiling_imp: :money_mouth_face: :smiling_imp:

Welcome to BLF Scallywag. Not only you have got yourself a new hobby, but also some firm support!
Yes, your better half is indeed a much better half (sigh).

Welcome to BLF Scallywag! Wow, your “much better half” for sure! Let us know how you M6 mod goes.

You're going to love it here, Scallywag!

The new version of the Micro Redline at least takes 123s, which are easier to find for cheap... but still not so cheap.

I wanted to cry one day, when someone told me they had put over $500 of batteries through their pair of Rayovac Beasts. At least he bought a pair of rechargeable Beasts and some USB power banks that day....

I know, I want it too. But I'm committed to modding the M6 because I want that to be my first mod.

Indeed! I wish I hadn’t buy the old version :person_facepalming:
At least they would be able to last longer and, who knows, take a 16340 battery for extra power :smiling_imp:

Well, from then on at least I gained some know-how about rechargeable batteries and other types of flashlights and ended up here. Or…ended up here and ” gained some know-how about rechargeable batteries and other types of flashlights” :smiley: :+1: