Pocket sized with most throw?

Are you limiting your choices to tube size lights? They generally need to be run on the highest output to throw well and they heat up fast. If you go up in size and price a little, you will get a more sustainable output. Are you picky about the UI? The Haikelite SC26 with XPH 35 Hi will throw well for a smallish light. On sale in the mid $30s.

(AA/14500) +1 on the Manker T01 if you gotta have throw.
(18650) I still like my P60 lights w/SMO and XP-L HI, they have descent throw.

Come to think of it. The original name of the Jaxman M8 was Jaxman C8 Mini.
A slimmer brother/sister with familiar features of the light you thought to be too big to fit into your pants.

The M8 was from the start designed to have an XP-L emitter and is said to have a dedicated reflector.
Only detail that is not in line: why has (my) reflector a 9mm hole in it instead of a 7mm hole.
Like the new(er) C8’s it has an integrated shelf. On the driver side there is no retaining ring (means soldering).

Quite frankly I am not overwhelmed by it’s throwing capabilities. But then again: it has a 2.1A driver.
All in all good build quality, but Jaxman is not a company that pushes the envelope in the Amp’s segment.

C’mon guyz. Pocket size + THROW. Not walking around like he’s John Holmes, Jeremy Irons, Boaz, man. :open_mouth: I mean he ain’t tryin’ out for ‘Boogie Nites II’, here ok?

Surprised kinda that no one goes into zoomie land options. I’ve got zoomers that out throw per oz, girth, and length vast majority of reflector flashes ‘handedly’. And this is with 14500/even AA. TRUE pocket rockets.

Now granted dedoming most times helps significantly. Butt even then without dedoming he should get there with a zoomie short of an Acebeam W10/LEP type easily.

He won’t impress the ladies as much tho’ butt that’s another story. :laughing:

PS. AFAIK John Holmes has expired so he ain’t doin’ much walkin’ these days.

PSS. To me, any 18650 size flash in a pants pockets feels like borderline ridiculous. It’s heavy, it bulges, and it’s swingin’ into and bangin’’ around too close and thus potentially rubbing up too warm against Mr. Happy. I might as well keep a roll of radioactive lead quarters down there. Jacket pocket another deal altogether. C8 doable of course. Back pants pocket goes quasi-stupid if ya gotta sit down a lot especially in public. I mean watt do ya do then? Set it on the ground next to you? Yeah a pipe-looking object. That’ll work just great these days.

Bottom line, ‘pocket’ practically means pretty dam small and light. Unless he carries a purse witch these days ain’t all that uncommon either. :open_mouth: :laughing:

PSSS. Oh btw, ‘pocket size’ really should include SHIRT POCKETS too. Have ya ever tried to comfortably clip on or otherwise EDC a 18650 flash in a shirt front pocket? First and foremost it pulls/sags your neck ring/collar over so much that it looks like you’re essentially homeless or you buy all your T’s&shirts from Cheap Azz T-Shirt Mart. It really sux!

PSSSS. Somehow this post wavered into rant territory. :laughing: :+1: :beer:

PSSSSS. Ya know before ya buy anything try one of these uber-Xpensive little jobbies. I EDC one when I wanna go REAL light, stealthy and sleek, plus it has THROW. Now I did mod it some by using a dedomed XPG2 and legoed another brand switch on it butt I gotta say when it weighs only about 20 grams and has the output it does, an AWESOME true pocket size wunder. I even kept the pocket clip on which I kinda rarely do for other flashes since I tend to belt holster 18650 and above. Even stock this little runt will perform decent enuff in the throw dept., plus ya got flood too to boot. It may not be the ‘most’ throw butt I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised bang for the grams. Btw I run a AAA Eneloop in mine. Watts not to like?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/331970644567

What are you going to use it for? A de-domed BLF-A6 has some penetration, fits in a pocket, and it's in your price range.

OTOH if its for hunting or search light duty, you probably need something bigger than a pocket light.

How about the new Convoy M1 with the XPL HI and smooth reflector.

A tube 18650 flashlight modded with white flat should fit the bill.

One of my favorite 14500 flashlights. The smooth reflector makes is a decent thrower for its size:

Scheduled to be in an Amazon.com Lightening Deal today (Jan 9) starting at 7 PM EST (6:30 for Prime Member). The current price for the flashlight alone is $17.99. The sale price for the last three Lightening Deals has been $12.79. I carry this flashlight everyday in a belt pouch as an inspection light. Currently running it with the Vapcell 14500 Gold 14500 battery.

Honestly, I think my Convoy S2+ with XP-L HI throws pretty well and is still pocketable. Sure, it’s not a proper thrower, but with 15k cd, it’s very usable, IMO.

I really like the T01 for it’s pocket-ability. I share your sentiments for light size. I like to be able to clip the light into the inside of my pant pocket and forget about it until I need it.

In my opinion the T01 is on the verge of being too large with a head diameter of 29mm and length of 85mm, but it has the largest reflector of any light of it’s size that I’m aware of. So for me, any light larger than 30x100mm is a no go for this purpose, but obviously this is subjective. That does’t mean that I don’t have use for larger lights but I prefer the pocket sized lights.

The T01 is ~$50 so it is a bit pricey. I was able to pick up another one during black Friday for 34 but that doesn’t really help you now.

A modded SK68 would give you more throw, has a smaller diameter, and would be under 30 all in with a new driver and white flat LED. The down side is the quality of these lights aren’t on par with the Manker and it’s a zoom / lens light which may not be preferred.


:laughing:

Screw the price limit. If you’re getting a light to carry every day (hence EDC), might as well make it something you’ll use and like.

So my vote’s with the MH20GT as well. It’s about the same exact size as my i332, which is an 16340 light!, but takes an 18650, and just kicks ass for its size.

I haven’t seen (not for lack of asking, though) any coupons for the ’GT, but I got a few regular MH20s, and everyone who sees it is wowed by it. I’ve seen it for as low as 50bux, but the ’GT even at 70-80 is well worth it.

Really nice UI, and the backlit dual-stage switch makes it incredibly intuitive to use, too.

The convoy m2 with xpl hi has nice throw and fits the price/size needs.

It doesn’t compare to some of the suggestions presented above nor it is the throwiest flashlight, but the Sofirn SF14 (v1) had a nice throw (or at least reached a nice distance) with XPG2.

Lumintop Tool or Tool 2.0 might make a good 14500 candidate given their smooth XP-L emitters and smooth reflectors:

Manufacturer
Model
LED/Tint
Output in lumins
Runtime (hrs + min)
Dimensions Weight
(grams)
Reflect Comments
Length
(mm)
Diam
(mm)
Lumintop
Tool AA
HP-L HD
6500 K
L M H
14500: 8 (28+30) 95 (4+00) 550 (0+45)
Alklne: 7 (36+25) 25/(11+00) 110 (1+45)
Ni-MH: 7 (30+30) 25 (11+40) 120 (2+25)
90.9,
Clicky
79.5
Twisty
18 23.5
Clicky
22.5
Twisty
SMO No mode memory. Always starts in Low.
No noticeable PWM.
Thorfire
TG06S
XP-G2
~ 5500 K
H M L ML
14500: 500 (0+35) 200 (1+15) 50 (3+00) 1 (72+00)
Ni-MH: 150 (0+55) 80 (8+00) 20 (8+00) 0.5 (120+00)
Double tap to activate strobe.
96 20 37 SMO No Memory. Always starts in High.
No noticeable PWM (to me).

Looks like this is another thread that has started a posting frenzy! Wonder if we'll ever hear from the OP again.

Well in keeping with the OP’s $30 price cap (the main gist of the thread’s purpose basically) he obviously ain’t interested in out doing Jeff Bezos’ EDC, man.

If price was irrelevant I too could prolly have manufactured a ring-fingered EDC that puts out 2,000 lumps. :laughing:

I searched the coupon offer on MH20GT and found the price of $ 65.
It’s a lot, but less than a LEP lamp.
The MH20GT has been in the collection for two years, but the size vs. the throw vs. UI so far no other lamp in my collection that has more than one hundred items has not overcome.
The MH20GT allows you to charge the battery.
From the price for the lamp it is possible to deduct the amount for the cell charger 18650.

Folomov EDC C4 XP-L 1200 this has become a favorite EDC with me now. And its 25.00 @ illumn. Awesome little light.

According to specs, the Tool AA has a beam intensity of 2.2k cd while Tool AA 2.0 is at 3.4k cd. Not much of a thrower, IMO, but it’s all relative I suppose. :slight_smile:

Thanks Pete, You made me do a side-by-side comparison between my original Tool and TG06S (I don't own the Tool 2.0). The TG06S has a smaller, better-defined, and brighter spot; so it is a better thrower IMHO. The TG06S manual list a 12k cd (max) intensity rating.

So I retract my uninformed Tool recommendation.