Recommendations for _SOLID_ 18650 light. Not the lowest budget.

I've been off the business for summertime now, so I think there may be some new things I'm not aware of.

Basically, I could use recommendations with these specs:

- Must be a solid build (STL-V2 was busted, must be of higher manufacture Q)

- Preferrably 1 x XM-L, 3 x XM-L is ok too...

- Powered by 18650 (I guess 1 or two or more.)

- High Power, preferrably as high as STL-V2 - Modes: High and Low are enough

- Exception is, that budget can range up from 85$ all the way to 125$ if a real good one is suggested ;)

Light is not going to be purchased by me, this is a topic made to help one guy at local forums to make decisions.

Thanks!

Do you have any runtime requirements? (preferably as long as possible? or not so fussed?)
Do you want more throw or more flood?
Is an LED emitter required? E.g. HIDs are much brighter, and some can have great runtimes (~90 minutes) but build quality isn’t perfect (but it’s still great).

yeah if u dont want HID flashlight then u cant go past the TR-J12 for 45$ shiped from aliexpress. =] looks solid to me and seems very modifiable if he wants to go that way.

I have heard no complaints about the Skyray King. It’s a wonderful, well built light.

Armytek Viking X

I was probably hoping some new additions or suggestions from companies like: Xin-TD, Skilhunt (can you get any for the price?), Sunwayman, Nite-eye, even Fenix, what other better branded things are there?

I believe 1 - 2 battery light would be most liked.

I really like thrunite products, the Ti got me started, then got a TN31 to go with it, for what you want the TN11S is a good choice, the catapult is a little over your budget but well worth the extra dough.

From the TrustFire front the X8 is an awesome solid work light for just 35 bucks, rock solid 24k lux gives it a good mix of flood and throw(1 or 2 18650s). The TR-J16 is driven quite well (mine draws 8 amps on 2 fresh batteries) with good build quality and pretty amazing at flood (2 or 3 18650s).

You broke an STL-V2? How on earth did that happen? Mine is very strong and well made, I think if I broke it I would have to be using it as a hammer or something.

How about This One? It comes in a kit with 2 26650’s and a decent charger, is well under your price limit and is probably the strongest built torch I have yet seen. Waterproof too, should handle some abuse.

I’d go with a Zebralight SC600w or a Sunwayman V series.

Didn´t ask about it.
Personally I have got 3 of them, 2 dead already (one died, one didn´t ever work), third flickering.
I would just like to skip them, since drivers (they burn) cannot be bought anywhere. (you can buy drivers but not wit 2 x 18650 and 3A output).

How about a Xeno G42? Crazy tough and ridiculously sexy light.

Great review & pics from Selfbuilt here:

That´s a good one I would have forgotten for sure.
Fits also to the price window!

Looks like I spoke too soon about my STL-V2 quality, it died yesterday after only a week of light use (no pun intended)

On the bright side, it is repairable. The driver detached from the pill and shorted the battery, looks like it killed one cell.

The head fits my Keygos KE-5, so after I resolder the driver, I intend to use the KE-5 body on this with a single cell. The light is just as bright that way I think.

That might also be another option for you CheapThrills. Install a single cell driver and body from a KE-5 or C8, I believe they fit too. At least you would be able to make use of your STL-V2’s and have a handy bright throwy light.

Anybody got a dead KE-5 they want to sell cheap? :slight_smile:

Oh boy, talk about bad luck!! :open_mouth:

Yep, I think you are right. Going with one cell only seems to be the only option.
Not too interested in modding anymore though, maybe doing a giveaway at some point, let´s see…

How about a Fenix TK35??

http://www.lck-led.com/constant-current-driver-board-modes5512v30ap7mce-p-501.html?cPath=37_135

It took 3 weeks ish to get to Britain, I’ve not put power on it yet but the other driver I got off them seems a good one.

The solarforce M6 is from I’ve seen a very high quality light for reasonable price. <50. It’s basically like a L2p type finish with a bigger head, proper heatsinking, and more sophisticated UI. Since an L2p + XML drop-in is like 35-40, this is a pretty decent deal.

How about an UltraFire HD2010. Mine is definitely one of my better torches, really solid and well built and throws a lot of light. Comes with 18650 adaptor tube, but I got some 26650’s to feed it.

Keygos M13 or M10 are nice solid lights too, and also have the option of 26650’s. M10 is probably better bang for buck and safer with single cell.

Yes, but:

“Measures 19mm in diameter, and 8mm in height”

Does it fit, I recall original is smaller?

Smaller is good if there is excess material, the hole can be made bigger… :8)

Bear in mind, I’ve not seen where its going, just throwing the idea out there.