Xtar has released a new XM-L version of A01, now renamed R01. I'm sure some of you remember the A01 from the Xtar promotion a few weeks ago and from Budgeteer's mini review. Its available retail here:
It is kind of pricey at that level, but Xtar does make a solid light and that built-in charge circuit does add a bit. (Plus they throw in a decent amount of accessories). In any case, I have been in e-mail contact with Miles at Xtar and I ordered one direct from him and will post a full review when it arrives. I'm excited. This will be my first true 18650 light. From the specs, the reflector is smooth and slightly larger than a standard P60 so throw should be better pending on how hard the XM-L is driven, but still on the floody side. I know I was after throw at first but this should provide a nice compromise in a rather unique package.
I hear from Miles too that all the flashlight except for D series can DIY to the spec you like to have. We can change the mode and the emitter to fit our needs at some cost.
Miles did give me a very good price on this. I must say he is really easy to work with. I don't know if he gave me an extra break because I promised a review, but perhaps if enough of us are interested we can present him with a group buy (about $44 shipped with one of their 18700 2600mah thrown in). It has accessible pins for all the modes and you just add a glob of solder to each pin to eliminate the modes you don't want. If I get access to a working soldering iron, I might give it a shot as a first attempt at basic flashlight modding. I don't know if he'd be willing to give already modded to 3 mode versions out as that might be too much to ask.
Xtar chargers have been tested as having excellent termination. They are among the safest and better built budget chargers out there. There is a light that turns green when fully charged as well so you won't be charging blind. Most likely the light uses the same circuit as their MP1 charger. I would venture that it is as at least as safe as using any external charger (those aren't 100% safe either). I'd still use the included adapter to plug into the wall rather than into a computer though.
