Which of these flashlights has a longer and better throw? I am interested in a cool white light. I am a Scout leader and need a good thrower at times.
Thanks very much.
https://us.gearbest.com/bathroom-lighting/pp_356667.html
https://www.fasttech.com/products/1601/10002364/4694300-convoy-l2-led-flashlight
Second link, Convoy L2, has the largest reflector.
As you are looking for a cold light, BLF Q8 drops out because there is no version> 5000K.
Of these, L2 should light up the farthest.
From what i can gather
BLF Q8 4x XP-L 5000LM
around 50kcd should be around 448m throw
Convoy C8 XPL HI V2-1A
Around 65kcd should be around 490m throw
Convoy L2
around 80kcd should be around 566m throw
Could not find no throw data for Eagle Eye X6 Cree XPL - HI V21A
I would guess that the BLF Q8 although slightly less throw than the others would provide so much more light on target it could be a winner depending on what you need to do.
Might also want to check out
Astrolux C8 XP-L HI 1300Lumens ”
639m throw from this light, i have just ordered one myself to test it out.
I am sure others will have better suggestions as i have been a little out of the loop on what lights are the hottest thing for the money.
Just so you know, cool white does not throw as well as some of the warmer tints.
Also as a scout leader, I would assume it would be used during the Spring thru Fall months. Once again a slightly warmer tint will show details of what you are trying to see in those seasons.
Having just recently used the BLF Q8 for a 2 hour search* looking for a lost dog I can testify that has pretty awesome throw and additionally, as someone mentioned above, it also has such a huge "bucket of photons" to use that along with that good throw, it can completely light up everything from "A-to-B" with a wall of light.
The ramping capability of the light also allows you to select precisely the light level you want so you can get some insane run times.
The Klarus G30 is another light we used during the dog-search and although slightly less powerful than the Q8, it really was up to the task and did an impressive job.
I think a lot of people get impressed by pure-throw and don't realize how awful a turbo-head type light is to use for anything medium distance or close up.
*Just FYI the search was over a roughly 500 acre farm, and into a 5,000 acre public forest area so we're taking undeveloped rural terrain not a urban or suburban setting so the Q8 and the G30 were the only light. Oh and yes, we found the dog.
The ANSI NEMA FL1 distance is calculated for the same light on an object as in a night with full moon. If you want to have practical values divide the numbers by 3 or 2.
The Q8 is not a thrower, it has a good mix from flood and throw with a lot of power. So it has some reach.
And it has the best user interface of all flashlights today. IMHO
It is a very universal light. Everybody should have one 
Agree!
Or, you might want the Emisar D1s, which has a slightly larger reflector then the Convoy C8, (it will outthrow the convoy C8) and has a nice UI as well!
Apparently, you can only use unprotected 18650’s in the Emisar D1s. Is that a crutial factor in running that light, the fact that you can’t run protected batteries?
Yep, they’re able to give higher output.
Just buy some decent 30Q’s or VTC6, or HG2’s and your’e good to go.
I think I’d be interested to hear your definition of “a thrower” because to my mind if a light has enough photons to send downrange that it covers 300 yards or more…. that is a thrower (even if it is also a flood).
To me, with over 150 flashlights currently and some 400-500 builds to my credit, a thrower is a light that exists purely to put light downrange, with little excess for spill. Most reflectored lights will of course illuminate to the side to some degree, but a dedicated thrower minimizes this to a great degree. The BLF Q8 is not a thrower. The Convoy L2 does pretty good with the right combination of components. As much as I love the Eagle Eye X6, it’s not a thrower. A nice light, yes, and it works great for a wide variety of general purpose… not a thrower.
300 yds? Baby steps. 600 yds and more, a good start to becoming a thrower. 1100 yds and beyond, we’re getting there! Perspective tempers all things, if you’re searching for something in a restricted area then your parameter is defined by the longest distance you can see. If you’re in a wide open area where the ability to see is the defining factor, like do you need optics?… then the parameter’s change accordingly.
The difference there is that a light that can show a subject at 300 yds but not much more is completely overpowered at that same 300 yds by a light that can illuminate a subject out to 800 yds or more, at 300 yds the subject is quite bright, like in daylight, and clearly identified not just located. This is why the phrase thrower exists, that light that can make almost anything you can see easily identified at distances approaching and exceeding a half mile.
The Convoy L2, with an XP-L HI emitter (cool white or whatever, this is widely argued but most people that focus on true throwers enjoy a cool white emitter… for the most part. I don’t care for a warm white or slightly below neutral tint for a thrower, and a lot of people I know that are deep into throwers like the 6000K and higher output bins. This is due to the fact that at great distances the object is to clearly identify the subject, not exactly what color his/her shirt is.) and an FET driver for direct drive from the 26650 cell. A top cell like the LiitoKala 5000mAh flat top is a premium choice for maximum output in the L2.
Like in so many things, compromise rules the day. Determine, if possible, what the expected search parameters are and go from there on your search for the perfect light. (good luck with that, by the way)
The Utorch UT02 is a great smallish light with good downrange punch.
The Olight M2X-UT is also impressive
As is the Nitecore P30
Finding a balance of everything you’re looking for, coupled with the correct cell requirement at a price point that appeals, it’s almost like buying the perfect engagement ring. 
The Convoy L2 should throw the farthest. I’m pretty sure it needs to be in 2x26650 format to perform at its brightest… let others correct me though.
If it needs to be in 2x26650 mode, IMHO thats a bit much to pack carry. I too am a boy scout coordinator and I honestly never pack carry my L6 (slightly larger)… its just too big, bulky and heavy for pack carry where weight and volume matters on our backpacking trips. So I only use the big 2x26650 light for car camping trips.
I am a fan of the 1x26650 format though. If the L2 can perform optimally with one cell I think thats your ticket. FWIW I have been using a thorfire D26 and am pleased with that decision. Its a great all around light.
Might i make a suggestion?
For a C8 sized light the three best THROWER options around are:
http://www.kaidomain.com/Search/SearchResult.KDLITKER%20C8.2
The KD comes in xp-L HI and xhp35. Both outshine the convoy offerings with the xhp35 being quite impressive.
I really like the Skilhunt S3pro as well. Onboard charging is nice and it never heats up. Xhp35 HI is an awesome LED. Under $50 with a coupon code.
https://m.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_630260.html?wid_couponsfromchina_com_wid=21&source=couponsfr_omchina_com&eo\_=3iA7KHGc6dsjO79x&coup_ons=\_from_chinacom&site=coupons_from_ch_ina_com&lkid=10856773&wid=21&ea=6D4cHdtkMI9rQ8w8&\_eo=ngGuIHKf5scyOp1k
Last but not least, the Emisar D1 and D1S are very impressive.
http://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=891
Dbcustom posts nailed it. But if you still need smaller, then a highly modified convoy c8 should serve you well.
A buddy of mine got the KD Litker C8.2 and it was well underpowered, not even coming close to the claims.
The Emisar D1s is indeed a nice performer, being no bigger than it has to be to get the job done and fitting the hand nicely.
I love the L2, don’t get me wrong, but it’s a bit bulky for a lot of purposes. I truly love it in the single cell configuration and yes, an HI emitter works well in this regard… absolute maximum output is not usually the most desireable format in any light as it skews the heat and runtime equations (I know, I did just say that) Balance is key, and a boosted XHP-35 single cell light is pulling hard on a single cell if it’s making any real power, might as well run an XP-L HI at 6.6A instead.
For the money, all things weighted, the Emisar D1s is really outstanding. For size vs performance, look at this one (the D1s) in comparison to lights like the P30 and M3X-UT, these are lights that just continue to amaze for the size of the package and what comes out of them.
(trying to keep in mind what all of these lights are like right out of the box, since most of mine are modded in extreme it can be difficult to remember just what they did in stock form. The D1s is amazing, without alteration, not many lights in it’s class.) That said, my modified Olight M3X-UT blows the doors off the D1s even though it’s emitter is old and outdated. Lightweight, easily handled and the head diameter is significantly larger. The M3X-UT has the same diameter head as the L2 but the reflector is actually even larger than the L2’s.
There’s a lot to choose from, for sure, but the best are in a pretty narrow field in the end…
To Ansi Nema Spec over 400 meter.
In real world over 200 meter.
I see the Q8 for good use up to 120m. Then it loses down to 300m because of its wide angle sheeding light left and right.
A thrower has also much less spill then the Q8. The spill reduces the contrast of what you see in the distance.
A thrower is a tube of light, the Q8 has cone of light with some reach.
Toykeeper has somewhere numbers of the ratio from lumen to candela to characterise a lamp.
Thanks very much for each and everyone of your responses. I appreciate it more than I can say. I read every word of all your responses.
Thanks for everything!
Usually the best throw is the light with the biggest deepest reflector