UltraFire HD2010: 26650 Powerhouse
After swimming in one too many threads of heated debate having little or nothing to do about flashlights, talking about the pure performance of this 26650 cannon is a pleasure. The HD2010 is a powerful flashlight. It is the brightest single emitter torch in my (comparatively) modest collection. An odd thing I do; as I come near pulling the trigger, I try to avoid other reviews on the light I plan to purchase. It was a complete surprise then, when it measured over five amps at the tail cap. I honestly had no idea. Output alone does not a great flashlight make however and my HD2010 is not perfect. Even so, it is still . . . .
Foyapproved
Bottom line: The UltraFire HD2010 has easily defined strengths and weaknesses. It has blinding output and spectacular throw. Robust construction and effective thermal management means the HD2010 can be used on high until the battery needs a recharge, with no worries. I turned it on high for one hour and twenty minutes and the exterior never got above 118º. Except during testing, the HD2010 worked perfectly with no hicups or odd UI behavior I must also report that my particular HD2010 was not front-line ready, as delivered from Tmart. Not a single o-ring on the light was thick enough to make significant contact. The reflector has several small chips/scratches and the light has the overall appearance of having rolled around in someone's RV for a year or so. I would expect this condition from a used flashlight, purchased from a forum member at a discount. Not a brand new product costing $42. When I spend that much (or even less) at Int'l Outdoor or Solarforce, with rare exception, I receive a flawless flashlight. The other side of it is; your $42 (now $38) gets you one hell of a bright torch. Its shortcomings are of the easy-to-fix variety and the HD2010's performance is so good, I'm quickly making peace with its few flaws.
What I like:
- (very) bright
- throw
- heat management
- pill o-ring
- works with 18650 and 26650 batteries
- straightforward design/aesthetics
What I do not like:
- rubbed off/scratched anodization, not a new light (looks like it was sold, returned and sold again)
- reflector scratches/imperfections
- inadequate o-rings, throughout
- emitter slightly off-center
UltraFire HD2010: 26650 Powerhouse
After swimming in one too many threads of heated debate having little or nothing to do about flashlights, talking about the pure performance of this 26650 cannon is a pleasure. The HD2010 is a powerful flashlight. It is the brightest single emitter torch in my (comparatively) modest collection. An odd thing I do; as I come near pulling the trigger, I try to avoid other reviews on the light I plan to purchase. It was a complete surprise then, when it measured over five amps at the tail cap. I honestly had no idea. Output alone does not a great flashlight make however and my HD2010 is not perfect. Even so, it is still . . . .
Foyapproved
Bottom line: The UltraFire HD2010 has easily defined strengths and weaknesses. It has blinding output and spectacular throw. Robust construction and effective thermal management means the HD2010 can be used on high until the battery needs a recharge, with no worries. I turned it on high for one hour and twenty minutes and the exterior never got above 118º. Except during testing, the HD2010 worked perfectly with no hicups or odd UI behavior I must also report that my particular HD2010 was not front-line ready, as delivered from Tmart. Not a single o-ring on the light was thick enough to make significant contact. The reflector has several small chips/scratches and the light has the overall appearance of having rolled around in someone's RV for a year or so. I would expect this condition from a used flashlight, purchased from a forum member at a discount. Not a brand new product costing $42. When I spend that much (or even less) at Int'l Outdoor or Solarforce, with rare exception, I receive a flawless flashlight. The other side of it is; your $42 (now $38) gets you one hell of a bright torch. Its shortcomings are of the easy-to-fix variety and the HD2010's performance is so good, I'm quickly making peace with its few flaws.
What I like:
- (very) bright
- throw
- heat management
- pill o-ring
- works with 18650 and 26650 batteries
- straightforward design/aesthetics
What I do not like:
- rubbed off/scratched anodization, not a new light (looks like it was sold, returned and sold again)
- reflector scratches/imperfections
- inadequate o-rings, throughout
- emitter slightly off-center
UltraFire HD2010 XM-L/T6 26650 Flashlight
$42.00 Tmart http://www.tmart.com/UItraFire-CREE-XMLT6-8W-1300-Lumen-5-Mode-LED-Flashlight-Gray_p135765.html
15 day turnaround:
5-24-12 ordered
5-27-12 "acceptance"
5-28-12 processed through sort facility - Bejing, China, People's replublic
5-30-12 processed through sort facility - ISC, New York, New York (USPS)
6-6-12 Bethpage, New York
6-7-12 Bethpage, New York
6-8-12 Las Vegas, Nevada (6:36 am)
6-8-12 notice left on my door for pick-up - Las Vegas, Nevada (5:59 pm)
Cree XM-L/T6 emitter
SMO reflector (52mm)
designed for 1 x 26650 or 1 x 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery
4.2 volts (max)
aluminum construction
"gray" anodization
tactical, tail-standing reverse clicky tail cap switch, one "foot" drilled for lanyard with 16mm GITD boot (replaced)
5-mode user interface, descending high, medium, low, fast strobe and SOS with no mode memory (always powers up on high)
selected manufacturer specifications:
"1,300 lumens"
8 watts
coated glass lens
"with waterproof function"
162mm (length) 63mm (head diameter) 35mm (body diameter)
341g
what you get for $42.00:
- HD2010 flashlight
- 18650 sleeve
- lame lanyard
Tail cap draw with one unprotected King Kong 26650 (INR) charged to 4.20 volts:
high: 4.70 to 5.0 amps
with one protected Solarforce 18650/2400:
high: 4.25 to 4.60 amps
Strangely, while testing tail cap amps, light would come on high or fast strobe only. (??)
Run time test: on high
time | Foyometer reading |
KK INR charged to 4.23 volts | dimly lit office reading=25 |
:00 | 164 |
1 minute | 141 (sag) |
10 minutes | 136 |
20 minutes | 135 |
30 minutes | 135 |
40 minutes | 132 |
50 minutes | 132 |
1 hour | 129 |
1 hour, 10 minutes | 126 |
1 hour, 20 minutes | 120 |
battery at 3.44 volts |
Please forgive these less than ideal pictures. It's been 105º to 109º every day for the last few weeks and Foy's mood sours at the prospect of a 90 minute heat soak/photography session.
The HD2010 is a familiar UltraFire design with low-cut knurling on the body and tail cap. The head is quite thick with two smaller cooling rings cut at the bottom and two larger fins further up, the lower one of these being smaller . . . .
With the screw-in pill, this good chunk of aluminum seems to wick away five amps of heat quite well . . . .
Like every o-ring supplied with the light, I had to replace this one because it made almost no contact with the head. Not all lights have an o-ring around the pill so, I do like that.
The pill screws in from the top and with mine at least, I had to snug it down all the way then back it off about a quarter turn to get the centering ring completely against the reflector bottom. Even with the centering ring by the way, the emitter on mine is slightly off.
Speaking of reflectors; I would certainly expect a few less defects on a brand new flashlight. That said, using eyes instead of a macro lens, it doesn't look too bad and seems to effect performance not at all.
Turtle is still there.
I doubled up the o-rings on the tube and it feels nice and tight now. The threads on this torch are just okay. Nothing special.
The tube can be installed either way . . . .
I replaced the GITD faux pas with a super hip n' trendy blue boot. The worn off anodization you see is exactly how I received the light.
Beginer Foy: tail cap spring plungers = quality.
Apprentice Foy: tail cap spring plungers reduce spring pressure/current = unnecessary and stupid.
Except on this guy, the cap is actually attached to the spring so, the collar had to go. The collar held the spring probably about a half inch lower. I guess a plunger might be a good idea if they were longer and/or installed so that spring travel is not affected. Until then, Foyprotocol demands their dismissal.
Some quality issues that bother me . . . .
It's hard for me to believe this light was not previously owned. If those aren't tweezer/tool marks, Foy has a slim stomach . . . .
What bothers me most is this too-much-like-paint flaking around the edge. A brand new $42 flashlight . . . .
. . . . otherwise, machine work is pretty good . . . .
All the parts apart.
Okay; I'm done dissing this light. He's actually a handsome fellow . . . .
Whitewall with the HD2010 on the left and M8 on the right. The M8's "hybrid" reflector is evident and both lights have a greenish corona.
Here's what Foy loves about the HD2010; it redeems itself when you turn it on.
All shots were taken with a 1/4 second shutter speed @f2.7, the damn street lamp was on and there was a full moon.
Solarforce M8 with 2 x unprotected Panasonic 18650.
Ultrafire HD2010 with one unprotected King Kong 26650. (XSL)
I love comparisons like this. No debating over "does that twig have less of a shadow . . .?" even with my bad aim. A respected, high performance thrower (the M8) that costs $75 gets its booty bounced by a $42 UltraFire. They throw almost the same, the difference is; the HD2010 has more to throw.
It's hard not to like a torch this bright that throws like a wing light on a 747. I also can't imagine anyone buying an HD2010 and not liking it. A lot.
Foy