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.
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 |
|
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 |
|
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. 
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.
Astrolux S3 with Osram CSLNM1.TG in 20mm PCB (Led4power)
81.000Cd (569m) 3,9A (tail) No centering gasket.
81kCd in an S3 seems highly optimistic to me, what did you use to measure it ?
LX1010B recalibrated with all my Fenix and Olights. 2000Cd precision in TK61 and M3XS. 10m.
As a FET driver the reading is at startup (No ANSI)
Thank you, I’m really impressed by this result, you surely made a good job with the focus !
Thank you.
Several hours trying different centering gaskets of different thickness. I finally got the tightest spot without using any.
It’s a shame it gets very hot too fast