I am after a backup torch for my pocket, to be used whilst out shooting, I have several larger torches which work very well but tend to be left in the backpack on account of their size.
The background is that I had ditched my backpack to stalk into a deer. As is the way of these things the stalk turned into a more long winded affair that first envisaged when a group of does that I hadn’t originally seen appeared between my starting position and the pricket.
In order to avoid them bumping me I had to box around at stalking speed (i.e. one step at a time ) and by the time I had gotten into position and shot the pricket it was almost pitch black in the woods.
I was now faced with the problem of finding my backpack in the dark, in order to find the deer in the dark…
I would like a high/medium/low power setting that is properly spaced so that the I can use the low mode to find my path in the dark without spooking the whole wood whilst the high would ideally be powerful enough to reach across a field to spot a carcass or to find a lost object. I find that following blood trails is a paradigm for the middle power setting of a torch as too much light is as bad as not enough.
I would like as small as humanly possible with a switch that is unlikely to be turned on by accident and a pocket clip.
Spotting a carcass across a field sounds like you want a throwy light (Holster carry a C8?) so you will want as deep SMO reflector as possible, or a tight-angle TIR.
One of my favorite 1xCR123 lights at the moment is the Olight S1. Its tiny, but powerful with a nice smooth TIR beam. I’m not sure it’ll illuminate across a field, unless its a small field of course, but then most 1xCR123 lights aren’t really up for that task either. Its got everything you’re looking for though - multimode output with good spacing, simple single-button UI, pocket clip, and good output.
My only gripe with the light is that the side switch can be kinda tricky to find by feel, but its not bad.
Here’s a few of my CR123 lights, with the S1 being the smallest one on the end:
Spotting a carcase across a field is mainly a matter of picking up eye shine or a white belly so throw isn’t quite as impotant and in fact I would like a reasonable spill bean for close up work gutting deer, etc.
I has to be a single 123 torch though, I want it as small as possible.
Cost is not a consideration, I will be keeping the right torch for as long as practical.
I have an Eagletac D25C Ti and it’s an excellent edc. Very compact with decent brightness in stock form. Probably not at bright as the 500LM S1 but I believe it is thinner in diameter and comes in titanium. Mod friendly and mine now produces over 1000 lumens!
If you’re actually using CR123 primaries and not 16340 Li-ions, the Convoy is not an option. A 3.0V battery with a Cree XM-L2 requires a boost driver, and the Convoy does not have one.
The S1 is indeed very small, and a good option here. Another light to consider is the Peak Logan. It uses quantum tunneling composite for infinitely adjustable brightness - a rare feature.
This is confusing me. Initially you're looking for a super compact backup light, then you're talking about having a low mode for stalking through the woods, a medium for following blood trails, throw for looking across fields, and an area light for gutting. That's sounding more like a primary light.
Thanks for your explaination.
I have two S2+ with 7135*3 drivers that I’ve tried with 18650, 18350, 16340 and CR123.
I have no problems whatsoever when using the 3 types of rechargeable cells, but when I switched to CR123 cell, it will start flickering after a while and normally it will go to the lowest mode. The primary cell works as normal when I used it in my S1, so now I know why.
I think the starting, no-load voltage of a CR123 is about 3.2 - enough to get about 500lm out of an XM-L2, but that drops as soon as a load is placed on it. Working voltage with a light load is about 2.8, and that’s not enough for even 100lm. Also, Convoy drivers have low-voltage stepdowns and eventually a warning flash. You will trigger those quickly trying to run one on a CR123.
1) I have several larger torches which work very well but tend to be left in the backpack on account of their size. The background is that I had ditched my backpack to stalk into a deer.
2) I was now faced with the problem of finding my backpack in the dark, in order to find the deer in the dark.
So maybe a high CRI is in order so you can pick out your backpack against the background (assuming it is camo)
Maybe putting some GITD or Tirtium vials on the back pack would help? Maybe a Nitcore “tube” that you leave on low and attached to the backpack?
I have found that the xtar H2 is surprisingly throwy for a cr123/16340 cell
I have several excellent primary lights and as mentioned above, one of them, always lives in the backpack.
The issue is when one is separated from one’s backpack, for whatever reason.
I realise that the above is demanding a lot from a small backup light, but ten years ago so was demanding more than 50 lumens from something the size of a 4D Maglite.
Thanks ReMan, that’s a really cool light in your review. I will look into that one a bit closer but for the precise role I am wanting something as small as possible with the most light output.
It’s the one I keep in my BOB. You remember that famous golfer say “don’t leave ghome wittout it”? Well, he was not referring to my D25C Ti but I follow his advice. Nice tight beam, it comes with a holster and I feed it lithium primaries. And I will never sell it or give it away. Ever.
I looked long and hard at this one but decided that on the basis that if I am going to be looking for a deer it would probably be in the woods rather than on a field I would rather a more floody beam for this backup.
If I need a tighter beam I can go for my pack and find a primary light.
