Advise needed for buying a compact and very effienct 300-400 lumen light.

So many flashlights but I still can’t find what I want…
Lumintop Tool AA v2 does runs at 360 lumen for about 1h20.
While I really love that light, the runtime is a little to short. (brightness is good)
Yeah I know I can carry some spare cells :slight_smile:
I would prefer a 18650 that runs around 4 hours @ 400lm.

Roughly in order of preference

- 18650

- High efficiency (great lumen/watt)

- Compact

- No hotspot

- Memory

- Zero change of accidential activation by design. *

- Output around 300-400 lm

- Simple UI (Even triple click is bad) ###

  • Hidden turbo with quick access like holding the button

*= No mechanical or electronic lockout to fix bad design.
###= I wouldn’t care about an UI that takes an hour one-time-config. But during everyday use I want it ultra simple. Like just 2 modes that run at least 4 hour and a hidden turbo as a bonus.

Sounds like it’s time for your first Zebralight.

I’m gonna sound like a broken record… again… but a Convoy S2+ should cover most of those requirements. Not all, but most.

- 18650
[Yes.]

- High efficiency (great lumen/watt)
[I’d say so, though YMMV. For me it lasts reasonably long in all modes I use.]

- Compact
[It’s not the smallest in the market, but it’s one of the tiniest 18650 torches I have, only beaten by the Olight S2 Baton, and that has a side switch.]

- No hotspot
[With a wide TIR optic, check.]

- Memory
[With Biscotti, check.]

- Zero change of accidential activation by design. *
[The tail switch is very well-protected by my standards. Never had unintended lighting.]

- Output around 300-400 lm
[Biscotti’s 50% mode, check. Should last some 3-4 hours on a decent cell by my calculations.]

- Simple UI (Even triple click is bad) ###
[You mean triple click to change a single mode, or three separate modes? Mode group 8 on Biscotti has 4 separate power levels and no blinkies, not sure if it’s too much.]

  • Hidden turbo with quick access like holding the button
    [Sadly that’s where this suggestion falls flat.]

Aren’t their UIs complicated as hell?

Zebralight. I'm not sure on exactly which model, but they usually have floodier or thrower models, so there is choice.

The UI is confusing to set up, but once configured you basically have 3 main modes and direct access to any of them from off. I believe the newer UI even let's you choose which shortcut goes to which mode, compared to the older ui on my SC62.

Many of them are also very compact. For what they are, all of them are, but by absolute terms something in the SC64 series is probably for you.

I had one of their headlights (lost or stolen) but while great it had an extreme PWM on the low setting.
Currently they have only 3 floody 18650 lights and none of them has a runtime listed. *

But they do have the a Samsung LH351D model. Never seen an flashlight with that led. But no runtimes listed, has hotspot, and 4000K is a little low for my liking.

All that said Zebralight makes good lights. Thanks for your input.

*= There are some tests of other models here on BLF. They look good but I’m not sure I safely assume those runtimes are similar for the other ZL’s
That said they have only 3 floody 18650 models and they are all mark IV lights. My guess that they (among other inprovements) have an equal or better efficiency.

Skilhunt H03 ?

- 18650 :heavy_check_mark:

- High efficiency (great lumen/watt) ?

- Compact :heavy_check_mark:

- No hotspot :heavy_check_mark:

- Memory :heavy_check_mark:

- Zero change of accidential activation by design. ?

- Output around 300-400 lm :heavy_check_mark:

- Simple UI (Even triple click is bad) ### :heavy_check_mark:

  • Hidden turbo with quick access like holding the button X (turbo is not hidden, is part of the 4-level sequence)

According to manufacture it will do High 1 (365 lumen) for 5 hours

Setup might be, but after that it’s just a 3 mode flashlight.

The UI has High, Medium, Low.
Hold to cycle between the 3 levels.
Then it acts as a simple 3 mode light. (good)

Say your light is on Medium double click to swith from M1 to M2
M1 is a factory fixed level.
M2 is user configurable by selecting from 3 factory set levels.
The above is called a group.

As you see there are a total of 12 factory set brightness levels.
There are 2 fully user configurable groups with H1 H2 M1 M2 L1 L2 which can be configured with whatever of the 12 factory preset levels.
1816, 1035, 557, 283, 135, 61, 26, 11, 4, 0.5 and 0.15 lumen for the SC600Fd Mk IV Plus
When that’s done again it’s just a simple 3 mode light in daily use.

So yeah, pretty complex to configure. But not to use.
I would set H1=557 M1=283 L1=61
Those are my everyday sustained settings.
H2=1035 I would set as my turbo.
L2=4 as my bedside light.
M2 I don’t even need.

What’s important for me is that configuration is very well hidden.
I don’t want to accidently starting to reconfigure.

I would also try a Convoy S2+ with 6 x AMC7135.

AceBeam H15:
LED: Cree XHP70.2 LED
Turbo Brightness Output: 2500 lumens powered by 1* 18650 battery (ARC18650H-310A)
Output Mode & Runtime:
Eco 10lms (65h), 20lms (44h), 35lms (33h), 50lms (26h),
Low 50lms (26h), 90lms (15h), 150lms (10h), 250lms (6h),
Medium 250lms (6h), 320lms (4.7h), 500lms (3h), 700lms (2h),
High 700lms (2h), 1000lms (3min~110min), 1500lms (2min~110min), 2000lms (1min~110min),
Turbo 2500lms (30s~110min)

Strobe 1500lms (~)
SOS 1500lms (~)

Working voltage: 3V to 4.2V
Max runtime: 65h
Max beam distance: 135 m
Peak beam intensity: 4540 cd
Impact resistance: 1 m
Waterproof: IPX8
Size:112mm(length)*24mm(head diameter)*20.8mm(tube diameter)
Weight: 50g (1.76oz) excluding battery; 99g(3.49oz) including 1*18650 battery (ARC18650H-310A)

That’s my first thought as well, especially with a triple XPl Hi and carclo optics, which makes a perfect mix of throw and floody output.
Also on low currents you have a high Lm/W ratio, combined with a triple, you have a winner in energy efficiency.

For example, 4* 7135 = 1,4 A /3= 466 mA per LED.

With an XPL hi that makes about 190 Lm at that current, you’ll have around 3*190 ≈ 570 Lm on the highest mode

With 3*7135 =1,1A that will be approx 160 Lm per led, so approx 480 Lm total

When using a standard Panasonic NCR18650B you’ll have a runtime of approx 3 to 3,5 hours on 1,1A.

Zebralight would be my recommendation also. There UI is pretty simple 3 basic modes L,M, and H and in any one of those modes double click to change the level in that one mode. You can access any mode from off. Very well regulated lights. Decently small for the battery used.

Zebra is my favourite ui also , for the reasons that James above said. :+1:

I’m spend quite some time comparing specs. Zebralight is the only one with a frosted lens (no hot spot)

Finding runtimes is quite hard too.
Zebralight hardly ever mentions them for their mk IV models.
Bulky Klarus, gives runtimes using 2000, 3500 and 3600 mAh, and different cell voltages. Most often no tint info. Is sneaky with runtimes of their higher modes.

Lots of nice lights have those fancy electronic switches that need a lockout to prevent accidently activation.
Lumintop FW3A is quite nice but has an Andruil UI.

Most brands list no CRI. . But ni
Looks like Skilhunt M200 has an interface quite similar to Zebralight but not as configurable.

Anduril can easily be configured to be a single mode UI with a hidden turbo.

M200 also has long press for off, not much like ZL at all.

BLF A6 with TIR optic to diffuse hotspot

It’s nice to see that someone is not after the latest high lumen flashlight.

I am always looking for a simple middle of the road light. Just give me a 600 lumen (or less) light, with decent run time and tail-cap switch. On and off. Simple to use and maintain. One setting. One, well, maybe two. Just high and low. No SOS, strobe, bat signal, or any other nonsense.

I am more concerned with the workmanship, decent designs, and quality materials than having the latest and greatest features.

And when clicking wrong all sort of things happen.

Very much Zebralight.

I normally carry a Zebralight SC64c but, if it’s not in my pocket a DQG Tiny 18650 is. Super simple, 4 hour run time at 300 Lumen. DC Fix on the lens and it’s all flood. I have never had one come on in my pocket even though it has a side switch. It requires decent pressure to activate it’s switch. It’s not a light touch type switch. My 3rd option is a Olight M18 Maverick. Dual switches, change modes with side switch, on and off on the tail switch. Forward clicky that will allow you momentary operation of the last mode used. press press hold and you get turbo, works really well. They don’t make them anymore so if you run across on on Ebay or whatever, snatch it up.

DGQ, I think is still the smallest 18650, might have been a new light come out to dethrone it, I just haven’t heard about it. A MJ1 in it seems to last forever, or some other high capacity cell. Don’t need high drain cells at all.