Review: Solarforce M6

a sexy light thanks Foy

harry -

The M6 is well regulated and the output remains exactly the same with one or two batteries. I put side by side pictures in the review of 2 x 18650 and 1 x 18650. No difference at all.

The M8 and M6 tubes are exactly the same. I used the tube from my M8 for the pictures of the M6 with two batteries.

Can't remember if I reviewed the Skyline I or not. Have to go look. Interesting that the Skyline II is not on solarforce-sales site now. It is still available from lighthound so, kinda wierd. The Skyline II is the only Solarforce light I don't have! I know, it's a sickness. I'm currently trying to cure it by purchasing lights from other manufacturers - like that triple T6 group buy from China via Australia, or whatever it is . . .

Wow....you are buying so many flashlights. But no problem, do list out your impressions and post them here! (anything is useful no problem). :)

Even by CPF standards by most, M8 is not budget. They are somewhat good value though.

But the problem is that, Solarforce drivers have visible PWM, and a lot of people would give huge negative points due to that. Even the guys here at BLF who are more technically forgiving would not let go of that for a premium light. Eg, Dereelight, Balder, Crelant are not really expensive lights, but they do not have visible PWM.

I could be wrong though.....Foy, do the M6, M8 have PWM? Wave your fingers quickly in front of the light. Well at least my Solarforce drop-ins have it.

Hehehe.. i am blinded by this hobby now. There will be solarforce L2T and WF-504B coming next week.

Hopefully v60c and scorpion v2 can be delivered by end of this month.

I'm planning to get m6,m8 and tm11(hopefully i wont get defected unit) on next month.

I guess there should be a sub-forum for non-budget flashlight, so newie, like me, doesn't get confused to differentiate between budget and non budget.

Can we have some current [ AMP ] figures with 2x18650 ?

Great review , Foy .

I still think the M6 is one of the sexiest compact 18650 lights on the market

I was just getting ready to state how sexy I thought that light was. Solarforce needs to get with the program on making their lights up to performance specs with companies like Olight. It's a shame a light that looks that good is weak on the shiny side of things.

I really like the M6. Beautiful design.

old - .67 with 2 x Solarforce 2400 batteries
2100 - No PWM that I can see on the M8 or the M6.
So, the M6 and M8 just need to be driven a little harder. It’s too bad because they both fall short of true greatness by just a little. Even if they had driven the M6 to just 2 amps instead of just 1.37?
My internet is down so I’m using 4G on my Droid. The connection is fast but typing on this guy is a challenge for big fingers.
Foy

Nice review Foynezel ! Love the pics.

The M6 (without extension) is one of the best looking lights IMHO. Combine low output with difficulty modding, I am afraid it is off of this flashaholics Christmas list.

Thank you .

Not any, just the ones driven much harder than M6. I bet Solarforce with emitter driven at 2A (instead of a little bit over 1A) would outthrow any XM-L equipped P60...

  • 1 pitty a simple driver swap is out of the question but when you nudge this price tag there should be no need

benckie -

(internet finally came back in Las Vegas)

That's pretty much what I was trying to say. At this price, it should do what it looks like it can do and perhaps I should amend; any XM-L P60 that I have can do better than this. Of course an XM-L driven at half an amp can't do as well. (must remember the broader audience)

Foy

It's almost like this is Solarforce's attempt at finally trying to be Surefire :P

It seems like they're intentionally putting out a low driven emitter so it can be considered as "stable" and "reliable" like the expensive brands are touted as by their makers. Screw that! It's multi-mode so have a turbo mode and then a usable high/medium. If you market it right then users begin to understand the "turbo" mode is only for limited use. Why continue to pander?

It's really too bad because the M6 is just so darn sexy! That's hands down my favorite design for a tube. Second place is probably the vertical lines/ridges like on the ITP A3. It has to be done right otherwise it can look cheap.

EDIT: I'm changing second place to perpendicular lines/segments like found on Balder lights. It's simple but gives a sense of durability and toughness.

Good point Foy. I have two C8,s with a low draw of 1.5 amp’s and one P60 that’s the same it would be on par with this light, in honestly a XM-L at 1.5 amps runs cool and works well but a harder driven XM-L like my Jetbeam BC40 would tromp this M6 but that’s around $67 USD shipped and not as sexy. I think even a driver swap would be hard due to the way the light works but I would consider this light on build quality and looks not to mention it would run cool and all night if you wanted it to. Also you might of got a low baller others could draw higher but solarforce drop-in’s or lights seam to be on the safe side with current draw and temps ?

You gotta admit it's hard to settle on a light driven at these levels when you're used to so much more

Realistically it still works just fine. If it was driven at 2.8A I'd probably own it already and expect to get a decent amount back if I decided to sell it down the road. I'm trying to get in a good recycle program with my flashlights

weiser makes a good point; forget about comparing it to an overheating P60/XM-L, it is still a very bright XM-L torch that also happens to be be one of the most gorgeous flashlights ever made. Seriously, I can't keep my eyes or my hands off it and unlike an L2 (just an example) with an UltraFire T6, you can leave the M6 turned on high without worrying about burning the house down. It's just too bad there's not some kind of momentary turbo or something that pulls a couple of amps.

I don't know - hard for me to recommend a light for shelf queen duty.

Foy