Hey BLF’ers… just wanted to share some thoughts on my preferred lights this past winter, and how my lighting system has evolved over the years.
FWIW I am a purchasing consumer of everything in my YT channel. Nothing has been provided and I am not receiving any kind of compensation from anyone for posting my gear reviews. I also decline commercial advertisements on my channel videos.
Cheers and enjoy the light friends!!
Thanks for sharing. Your system seems pretty well thought out. How many days do you typically backpack at a time?
Having both AA and Li ion 14500 compatibility certainly can be handy or even crucial for any unexpected situation where you have to rely on a gas station/supermarket for your batteries. There is something to be said for the superior energy density of 18650s, though. One could really simplify one’s system, depending on how long the trip is. For example, if I was going out for just a few days I would be comfortable with my skilhunt H03 with just one fully charged high capacity 18650. Where if I was using 14500s I would tend to have “range anxiety”.
I’ll usually do 3 days and 2 night trips. The battery bank and being able to recharge cells overnight helps a lot too though. I don’t normally use the brightest settings all the time though, only when I need to see farther out. I also use Energizer Lithium primaries too sometimes in my headlamp. They are really light and have good run time too.
I like the Li primaries quite a bit they go in all of the AA lights I give away because they don’t leak. I just wish they were less expensive. I have looked to a Chinese source with little success.
That thrunite is a weet little headlamp.
That’s a very nice setup. I also really like your battery consolidation and packaging.
I have the same headlamp and I love it. It’s simple, intuitive, and sufficient for my needs.
I’m not doing overnight backpacking trips so I’m not quite that simplified. I use an 18650. But I see myself going in your direction.
Good complect.
My AA collectin is: Skilhunt H15,Thrunite Archer A2,Thrunite TN4A HI, Nitecore E81W.
But finally I preffer my Skilhunt H03 and Thrunite TC12. Both give me big runtime in 400 lumen mode.
Thanks fellas!! I don’t always use the UT01/E11 setup car camping though. I certainly can, but like you say can’t beat the energy capacity of 18650, and that Fenix E35UE has been very reliable for ~3 years…. can’t say that about my UT01/E11 just yet.
That TH20 headlamp is great though. I didn’t mention it on the vid but, I usually just wear it loosely around my neck.
You have only unprotected 14500 battery. I have two questions.
Does TH20 has low voltage protection?
Can TH20 work with protected 14500 which are longer than unprotected?
I’ve run the TH20 on both olight and fenix protected batteries. It’s a tight fit but it works.
I don’t use protected cells, but others have reported it working fine. That would make sense, from what I can observe, the tailcap spring is not fully compressed down with any of my cells, so there is extra room.
It does not have LVP, in the absolute sense. More of a low voltage warning. When eneloop, 14500 or alkaline Vin drops, the UI will abruptly drop to ~10 Lumens and single mode on / off. Essentially its enough light to grab another cell and reload in the dark.
I have seen forum comments made about the TH20 not having LVP ‘because’ it accepts alkaline and NiMH, that is not true. The microprocessor is intelligent enough to detect cell chemistry based on Vin. ~1.5V and ~4.2V are far apart enough for it to determine which cutoff to use. When I drained a 14500 cell the LV warning mode kicked in around 3V, so I would not want to use it much beyond that. I have drained Lithium cells down to 2.8V with no ill-effects, but I would NOT make doing that a habit. IMHO LV warning is there but its a backup. I would not make it a habit of repeatedly discharging cells that low.
Good chance To subscribe To your channel. I like the setup
Batteryjunction sells a Chinese brand lithium batteries that is similar to energizer ultimate has a couple graphs on the site at around a $1 a cell. Home depot also sells the 8 packs of energizer ultimate for 1.50/cell in my area at least. That’s cheaper then amazon or anywhere else I’ve seen. Amazon comes close at $12 for subscribe and save
Cool thanks!! Note though its not really a flashlight review channel. I used to do flashlight reviews 10-11 years ago, but I found its a practically useless endeavor since I like to use my gear for several months before posting up my impressions. By that time, the light is ether out-dated or discontinued. LEDs continue to evolve at such a fast pace.
But thanks for taking the time to sub!!
cool thanks for the tip… I like Lithium primaries (1.7V) in my headlamps, although my video doesn’t really reveal that.
Interesting video and thread. I am also a backpacker, who gets out in all seasons of the year. Most trips, especially in winter, are just one night, as opposed to the two you do. I find it interesting that you might go through 4 AA batteries on a two night trip. Please don’t take this as criticism, but I wonder how you do this. I are you using more than just your flashlight, or the 8 batteries you show typically for longer winter trips?
I just returned from a trip today, and of course the days are much longer in May. I used my Ti3 in moonlight and low mode last night for maybe 10 minutes total. Lots of sitting by a fire and just chatting with others until time to go to sleep. I did go off for a bit to explore at night and found the low mode of the Ti3 ample for finding my way on trail, as well as shortly off trail. I was imagining I could get along with that light, or the Manker E02 I am awaiting to arrive, for a 21 day JMT trip this September on 2 or maybe 3 lithium AAAs. Clipping either to my hat brim saves the weight of the head band. As you clearly stated in your video, and I completely agree, each person does what is best for him or her. But since you clearly stated you are looking to save size and weight, why so many batteries?
I look forward to your response, as I enjoy hearing about lights and backpacking, so the two together make for very good conversation. Just for grins, I started a run test on my Ti3 on low as I think I can get 10 hours on a white AAA eneloop based on current measurements I have made a various voltages on low. I will let you know how it goes 
Oh, I wanted to add a thanks for your recommendation for the TH20. I have not looked at Thrunite headlamps, but I agree that this looks like a very good one. I especially like the infinite adjustment capability, I have been interested in getting a light that has this feature at a budget price.
Edit - got 9+ hours of bright light on low (10ish lumen) with the Ti-3. At 9:17 the light was noticably dimmer, and the battery measured 0.8V when removed. Not bad for AAA, I expect lithium to be 1.5x or so.
Keep in mind what you observed serves both as my car camping and backpacking setup. Sometimes my sons boy scout troop wants to go out on night hikes, where we may do 3~4 miles. So realistically I don’t “need” that much amp hours in total. Especially if you factor in a full moon, which many times cam be surprisingly bright.
Realistically though a couple cells of either chemistry is sufficient, and if I really were into really ounce-counting I would pack energizer Lithium primaries, not rechargable. those things are remarkably light weight. I have done that before with really good results.
[EDIT] I think if you add up the watt-capacity density, mass and volume space… 18650 comes out on top. So really, for me I think its more about convenience of having a common power source for hand held as well as a headlamp.
Thanks for the update. If I was planning on hiking at night I would definitely want a brighter setup than what I described. It is enough for safe navigation, but not what I would take for planned night hiking. And I am sure the extra batteries come in handy for your son as well.
I also like the spot of my Ti-3 (and your TH20) as you put the light where you need it with plenty of spill, but not a 180 degree flood that does not put a lot of light anywhere in particular.
That’s great your son’s troop gets out for 2 night outings, in general my son’s only does single overnight trips. Pros and cons to each for sure.
The other variable here too is how much light one needs at any given moment. This varies greatly from person to person. For me ~200 Lumens is plenty. So I only use the turbo brightness mode for spot-use only. Its not a constant-on scenario. If I needed a brighter constant-on hand held, then for sure 18650 and a larger host like the fenix light E35UE is a better choice. I still use that setup every now and then too… so there are times the one cell type arrangement is not preferable.