Eagle eye x6 you’ll love it. It became my edc I use for work daily. 3.5 am turbo for 3 mins. For a decent 20 buck light doesn’t get much better then that. I have like 5 x6 and 5 c8 or something now. I make brothers of each kind. Fet driven xplhi v3 well have to build x6 the same way. Need a couple more host. Time to make a couple with the new sst40 led
Edit for around 20 you can put your own light together. You’ll feel great the first one you do. Convoy host $10, led 3 to 6, driver 4 to 10 dollars.
The new s2 has a smooth reflector but a tube light only throws so much. The convoy m1 is the best all around light I’ve found. Mine has xpl2 w2 2b emitter making 1800 lumens. And it throws plenty and lights up the area. My second pick would be the eagle eye x6 with the same emitter Fet driven. Amazing light output. And with a little mass takes awhile to really heat up.
Richard at MTn has some lights ready to go.
If you buy the parts and pay shipping I’ll put a light together for you.
Since the Eagle Eye X6 was mentioned, would the Astrolux S2 (aka BLF X6v2) be considered a better version of the Eagle Eye X6 or is there still some pros of the EE X6 over the Astrolux S2 (BLF X6v2)? The Astrolux S2 is around $23.95 during “promo” sale periods (which seems to happen relatively frequently).
I like my Astrolux S2 when I need more throwy situations while being a relatively compact portable light — being FET-driven (Bistro firmware), it seems to be at least as throwy as the Convoy C8 XP-L Hi (which I also got) and they have also nearly the same weight (the Astrolux S2’s head is quite heavy), but Astrolux S2 is slightly smaller.
I know you said you didn’t like the look of the C8, but it really is the best budget choice. The silver Convoy C8 is a good choice (don’t get the other colors of Convoys, because their UI isn’t very good). For a few dollars more, there’s the Astrolux C8 which has higher output and throw. I reviewed it and compared it with the Convoy here:
Id say that, and theres good deals going down on them here on the forum
$28.99. I would go with the 5000k tint. Its probably my favorite tint I have right now in all of my flashlights
The UI is good on it, but I would love to have the same UI as the GT on this light
Everything’s a variation of a theme, nothing terribly different if swapping for a 3D, 5A, etc.
Only the driver was a little tricky, that the wires had to be “unlooped” to not bang on the shelf above it. Plus, I used one of those PET insulating discs to further insulate it from the shelf, just in case.
Other than that, it’s a straightforward mod, nice’n’easy.
The 3D is (to me) a bit on the cool side, rally should’ve tried the 5A/5D first. Well, that’ll learn me…
Well at least the H2-C has hidden strobes, so basically a 4-mode ML-L-M-H, but I could do without the ML (0.01%)
Too bad no one makes one of these with firmware like the Dr. Jones Guppydrv, I have a few 17mm FET drivers with Rev1, they can be set to various groups, including single mode 100%, for an emergency light.
The thing is I can’t seem to find any other “off the shelf” single cell 12v boost drivers for XHP35, this is the only one I know of, do you know of any?
Also if you want a Nichia in that H03 just put one in, its not hard. I put a Nichia 219c 4000k 90+ CRI in one of my H03’s last week.
Just remove the 4 screws, pull off the retaining ring, the o ring, then the optics(mine had the TIR optics) then there is a 16mm MCPCB with the LED on it just sitting there with a little thermal compound(not adhesive). Just replace the stock MCPCB with a replacement with whichever LED you prefer. The wires are a little short so you will have to make the final soldering connection with the soldering iron inside the head of the light but its not really a big deal, took me about 5 mins start to finish.
Probably the most ignored, budget thrower that I have ever come across- and I’d dare bet it might out throw any of the options listed so far- is the UniqueFire HS-802 (or any re-branded version) This thing has an intense hotspot and a DEEEP reflector. Put off by the fact that it’s only about 350 lumens? Just remember that the Jacob A60 was only 310 lumens and out-threw everything for years. It is a true pencil beam, spot thrower. With a hopped up driver and LED, this thing would SCREAM. Just my opinion. And you cant beat the price. (about $20)
The HS-802 was the best thrower you could get under 20 bucks back in the day. I have one I may just mod with a XPL hi, curious to see what it will do. It as Badger4715 describe. The beam is almost laser like with the XR-E R2. I tried a xpg once and didn’t really like it (spread the beam with out much lumen increase) so I switched it back. The XPL HI might spread the beam a little but at 1000 lumens I could see it still being a good thrower.
