I like the SK-58 better, except when the extra mass and area are needed for cooling.
I still think the pill touched at the bottom, at least in the mind of the original designer, because otherwise why cut the large diameter threaded hole so far down? If we canāt find them like that, we can still put something to fill the hole.
I donāt see anything but pressure to hold it in.
The SK-58 has a similar space under the pill. Perhaps the thin section is to keep the body from feeling as hot. I am imagining a management decision based on beta testers complaining about it feeling hot. That doesnāt invalidate the fins on the 68, because they do keep it from feeling as hot.
You wrongly assume that expertise and finetuning has played a significant role in this design. There once was the Nitecore Extreme Infinity:
(BTW, it is a reflector based light, not a zoomie). And someday a chinese factory made a zoomie stealing the design, I assume that that first clone was the Sipik sk68. It was done fast and cheap without much thought, but it appeared to work well and eventually it started selling quite well. And that last thing, and only that last thing, is what triggered the chinese industry, and the response was not let's make it even better, no, it is: let's copy that. And later: how can we make an exact as possible copy even cheaper.
If the first designer had bored out the pill cavity a bit less deep so that the pill touched the battery tube on the underside, the heatsinking would have been great, and that great heatsinking would have appeared in each clone. But he didn't, and the light worked and sold well...
I know all that, but donāt believe that a designer adapting a reflector light shape to a zoomy would miss a small change that would improve both the heat flow and the mechanical strength.
Honestly, I donāt think the designer really cares. Its cheap, lights up and doesnāt burn out within the 45 day paypal dispute window, its perfect! Next.
Looking in Alibaba, the first listing I find for an SK-68 says āSupply Ability: 50000 Piece/Pieces per Monthā. I donāt suppose the designer expected that much success but I think he must have taken the project seriously, probably more seriously than the one who designed the obscure Nitecore Extreme took that design. He relied on Nitecore for style, but did his own engineering. And he got the most important part right, at least, the production cost.
This is the most informative review Iāve read on flashlights. Congrats and thanks.
Now, Iād love to see a more high end flashlight reviewed in the same way, but that would be too much to ask.
Iād certainly not be willing to pay 100% by myself, but Iād gladly participate in a crowdfunding project. Iād be willing to participate with, lets say 0.05 Bitcoin (roughly $25). If this āreviewā project is backed by 20 people the funding would total to 1 Bitcoin. I think this would suffice to āreviewā a $100 flashlight. Anyone else interested to participate?