Review: Balder BD-1 3-mode AA/14500 Flashlight

Thanks for checking that for me, can you post up pics with the light size compared to other single celled lights for us.

Thanks OLD !

Nice review and light, now I need to know where can I buy one of these.

cnqualitygoods

Thanks!

Solarforce L2T - Skyline 2 - Balder - Jetbeam - Nitecore

Thanks old for posting that up for me, i am still in ga ga over the L2T can not wait for payday to get around.

Ive got 3 , and still tempted to pull the trigger on a 4th [ Thats crazy ] , why cant I be happy with 3 ?

Well its the flashoholic in you lol, always have to get more.

I was hoping for a slightly lower price. I'm searching for a replacement for my xeno. The mode separation is ok on alkaline. But horrible on 14500. Thought this might be perfect till I saw the price. You can never have everything. Too bad about the pwm also.

Wasted hit it right on.... "Thought this might be perfect till I saw the price."

Unfortunately, I'd have to agree... I really wanted one, but not for $45 and change.

Looks like I'll have to wait for the FandyFire copy.... Nutz

Dang that Skyline is sexxxxy........dude let me hold it lol. Now that sounded so wrong lol......

Matt, hope you don't mind if I put these graph I have made with your info, much better than text only, IMO ;)

(mouse over to see % performance)

Unfortunately the graphs dont tell the story as I didnt actually do full run times , I was only checking the regulation @ certain battery voltage levels ...

So the minutes would be some what misleading [ only partial runs ]

With the AA I started at 1.25v [ Nimh usually are 1.36v to 1.39v = well mine ] and the 14500 missed out on the 4.2v to 4v range , I think I started at 3.99v as I wanted to see where the output dropped off ...

Yeah, but still, enough to see that regulation is so so with AA (slightly better with 14500). ITP offers better regulation for the same price, IMO.

Just my 2 cents ;)

This is a no go for me. It is unacceptable in any modern flashlight.

Wierd that the PWM is low.... On the BD-4 it is absolutely undetectable. > 10kHz. Or maybe so-called linear driver.

Great Pro Review- excellent little light.

I wonder if you Email the Review to Balder if they can/will easily increase the frequency so there is no "flicker" on the lower power modes ?

Balder knows ...

Personally, I think a comparison between the Balder BD-1 XP-G and the JetBeam BA-10 would be interesting. They seem to have a similar output on high when using a single AA as well as when using a 14500, with the BA-10 being quite a bit cheaper and having only two modes as opposed to the three modes of the BD-1.
I am thinking about getting one of those lights and have not been able to find suitable information to compare them. I am especially interested in performance and run time on a 14500 (highest mode) as well as in throw distance. Can anyone provide any information as to these points?
At the moment I am using a Xtar WK41 which I bought after having read the review here, and the flashlight virus seems to be consuming me pretty fast, hehe :stuck_out_tongue: I consider it a generally nice light with many advantages at that price. However, I dislike the fact that it steps down after 5 mins on a 14500, and I don’t seem to ever find the side switch when I need it…

PS. Please forgive me for digging up this thread and hijacking it at the same time. If any of the mods feels my post has to be moved to somewhere else, I am thankful for doing so.