A compact light needed

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
1

I did a little looking and searching, but have no idea if they would be good or not (the ones I found). So I’m just looking for a smaller type light right now, more for edc, or just pocketable, something you could put in like you would your phone or knife. These are the specifications I would like it to have…

-side switch(This isn’t exactly a must, but it’d make the light even better, if you could find all the other specs and this, it’d be the perfect light)
-preferably not xml( due to the heat with small lights, I’d like to be able to use it with over 100 lumens for 10 minutes once in a while)
-not much bigger than say 6 inches
-use 18650’s or energizer lithium aa’s (prefer 18650’s for enviromental reasons)
-more durable than a sipiksk68(I have one of these, but after dropping it a ton from trying to tailstand on a rickety desk, it works……iffy, just when I have it on, it’ll vary the brightness from like full to half or 3/4 or 1/4 or almost nothing, then I need to shake or hit the head enough to get it back on high. Back 5 years ago, I bought a light for my bike, it’s like 3 of those 5/10 mm leds with relectors, and 3aaa’s. It’s by Blackburn, doesn’t say model at all. But it’s NEVER failed turning on, and I’ve dropped that thing way more than my sipik. Just found it http://www.blackburndesign.com/lights/voyager-3-3-front.html#.UA1uwPWQPfY)
-pocketclip (this isn’t a must, but it’d be really nice to have it)
-different modes (I’d probably be using lower modes like 50-100 lumens most of the time, not high constantly)

Being a small light, I don’t care about the reflector at all. Meaning, I wouldn’t be trying to make this into a thrower. Can have some throw, but at the length restriction, I doubt it will go super far at all. The main thing I want in this light is compactness and reliability.

Hope this isn’t way too much to ask for in a budget light.

Saw this review: Review / Comparison: Three colorful AAA budget lights from DD (Bronte RA01, SKILHUNT Ramble-ι (Iota) & Tank007 E09) But it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for.

Budget: $30

Maybe, I should just get a aaa for the size, suppose I’d have to get a some eneloops then too.

2

I recently bought a Solarforce L2m and the famous T6 dropin from Manafont. I believe it is the best flashlight you can buy with 30 usd.
Since you prefer another led, I suggest the following:
L2m body
XPG dropin
L2 series pocket clip

3

The Trustfire T2 is a very well respected light here on BLF. Probably the very best for what you are looking for, especially in your budget range. It's only $20.60 at Manafont.

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/trustfire-t2-xpg-r5-350lumen-5mode-led-flashlight-118650-p-6462

Review here.

4

I just bought this light from lighthound and I love it.

http://www.lighthound.com/Lighthound-AA-Tactical-Flashlight-Cree-XML-T6-LED_p_3958.html

I currently have a Eneloop in it but it also uses 14500s if you want to go that way. It is 125 lumens with a AA so while it is a XM-L it is not driven very hard.

5

This seems perfect, except Scaru’s light is very similar, just 30mm smaller. And I just found a random eneloop from one of my brothers defective g700’s.

6

This light looks the best, has a great rep, and is an ok size, and it’s cheaper, but I can’t get over the strobe and sos, even with the memory.

7

You can always swap out the driver for less $5 extra.

8

It’s the smallest, at the midrange price, and I just found an eneloop that holds a charge and is less than a year old, so I guess I’ll get this one. I probably won’t get it for several months, but I’ll keep it bookmarked for when I do.

9

That Lighthound is a re-badged Balder SE-1, a very good light.

Have you considered an S-mini? Sneaky I know, but I do have one for sale right near your budget... https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/9980

3 modes L-M-H, long run time because it's not driven that hard (400 lumens on High). No side switch but it is 18650, very compact, two way removable clip. Just sayin'... Smile

10

I wish I could swap out the driver, and partially the reason I wanted to get this light was because I wanted to experiment with modding. But, gotta find the solderer first and, I haven’t soldered electronics for at least 4 years. But, I did consider that greatly. Maybe for next christmas I’ll do a bunch of modding(drivers). Because once I get good at that, I’ll do it to my 7g5, because the light levels in that suck, 850lm then 240 lm, then strobe.

If you could, could you suggest how I would go about this? For example, I don’t know what material to solder with. All I have are lead sticks. And I don’t know what size driver is already in the light. And what’s a good driver to replace this with?

11

I’d consider the smini if I was buying the light now, but it should be months before I do.

12

$45 but get it quick. You won’t regret it!

www.amazon.com/Zebra-Zebralight-SC60/dp/B008I3LS3E/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&m=A2N90T96QT8B87&qid=1343068574&s=generic&sr=1-5

13

Was looking for an edc light too. After some reading here, I finally ordered the Marsfire T6-A from Manafont:-

http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/marsfire-t6-led-5mode-memory-flashlight-titanium-finish-18650-p-9873

Reviewed here:-

I like that it only draws 2.5A on high unlike some other compact lights which are direct driven and can draw upwards of 4A on high. Since it uses an 18650, I prefer to have a lower draw and longer run time on high.

Does not have a side-switch but i prefer a tail-switch for compact lights anyway since it keeps the light shorter.

14

Oh, didn’t know about sideswitches and length of light. That’ll be another one I’ll have to take in consideration.

Thanks!

15

My favorite is the Fandyfire 2160.

Don’t be afraid of the XM-L they actually run cooler than other led’s of the same brightness. It’s just many small lights featuring them drive them to the max 3 amps which can generate too much heat. I modified mine with the NANAJG AK-47 driver set to three mode. This is probably my favorite driver because of the very high PWM frequency pretty much eliminating visible PWM, it’s there but pretty much only visible if you’re pointing it at a computer fan or other rapidly rotating object.

With the XM-L you can get 100 lumens at a very low 200 mA current whereas with the XR-E you’d be pushing close to 400 mA to get the same output. Therefore lower current with higher efficiency means less heat.

With my 2160 I could easily use low as a bicycle light, it’s still plenty bright. On high it could easily light to 100 feet in urban settings. I used it on my Florida vacation on a night time swamp tour and it could reach to 300 feet of clear visibility. The power is just amazing and on low the XM-L’s natural smooth flood and spill make for a great general use light.