I have been reading and researching for another "Perfect Light". The reviews and discussions are very through and Helpful. Too Helpful, I want one of each !
My current (and only) edc, goto light is the Eagletac T20C2MK11 with the xml drop in (I think 720 lm) I really like the beam, color, throw, etc. Fantastic light, but of course I want another.
I'm budgeting $40. I do want to keep the 18650 battery/charger setup, so they can be interchangeable with my new purchase.
Looking for a solid Throw to Flood, long distance budget light. I don't plan on modding it, unless it would be a part swapout, no metal fabrication. With so many praises of these lights it is really hard to choose one.
Ultrafire 980l
(Tmart - $21.00) (Then I'll need a Battery Charger and Batteries recommendation)
Xin-Td ($29.95, CREE XML - U2, Version 3, Deep Dish Reflector, customized with NW - 3C +$1.99, Holster upgrade +$6.35 or Basic Holster with extra battery holder +$1.99 +Tracking number $2.00)
Stay away from Ebay mystery chargers & cells. Buy only from reputable sellers. Panasonic NCR and CGR cells are the best I have found, the latter are my favorites.
The HD2010 is the best light of that bunch. Its the biggest, and heaviest with the best designed heatsink. Heat travels from the LED straight into the Aluminum heatsink area around the “throat”. It can handle full XML current without overheating. Its direct drive so you can custom taylor its output depending on the brand of 18650 cell you use with it. Panasonic cells will deliver ~3A to the LED. Don’t let the disco flashy modes scare you. The light starts out on HI, so disco modes can easily be bypassed (skip straight from LO to HI) with a ~3-4 second soft press. Its about ~43k Lux out of the box with a Panasonic cell.
It tailstands nicely and you can always upgrade to 26650 in the future.
With what you already have (probably pretty floody) and what I’ve read (throw on the HD) I’d plus one this recommendation.
Only other thing I’d want in your situation would be a 2+ cell thrower instead. If the budget allowed ~$52 for the light, the SkyRay King might be the great alternative.
First two are bad ideas for someone like you who is trying to do it with the fewest amount of mistakes .
one is a fake and the other is just ebay ...
worst thing you said so far was a combo light battery and charger ...oh my !! that sounds horrid .
What a way to seal a deal ..we'll throw in a bunch of crap too :) <--Clearly avoid making that mistake
I'm not a charger freak..A decent cheap charger (cheaper )..doesn't bother me as much as bad batteries do ....it's like when buying stereo equiptment ..No matter how greta your stereo is if you buy cheap speakers than your set up will always sound like crap ..same with batteries ..don't buy a race car and put regular unleaded in it ..It's like going to the vet. instead of the doctor...just to save a few bucks .
I'd buy the Xin-Td it sounds like the perfect fit for you . you mentioned tint and this one with a NW will make you happy .It will have plenty of both flood and throw .
Um, I’d like all three please? In the mean time I’m being a cheeky bugger on eBay and bidding $5 on lights, if I win its a bargain, if I don’t win? Who cares, my main intent this month is buying mod parts and consumables, if I get a bargain light in with my packages then I’m winning for me, in £ I’m currently winning a 5 x xm-l at £2.43 and a two cell plunger trustfire clone at £0.67, both with free shipping, I can live with risks like those but wouldn’t go over £15 on eBay for a light unless it was from a trusted seller and I REALLY wanted the light, as for cells, can only really repeat the above, there are trusted eBay sellers, and I would buy there, but I wouldn’t take s gamble on cheap cells unless I wanted to be anal about voltage monitoring and was using them in single cell lights, and your above choices really won’t be kind to cheap cells, only the xintd is regulated, as far as I know so the hd2010 and uf-980 will want the best cells you can feed them to get the most out of them.