Hey guys, I’ve been away from the website for quite a while and I’d like to get some recommendations. I’ve got a general idea of where to start but I wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing anything the past year may have brought (product and technology-wise).
My friend and I went camping for the first time this weekend (together, we’ve both camped separately before). Since I’m into lights and he’s into knives, we decided to let each other handle those duties respectively. I brought my clear anodized Convoy L6, my Olight S2 baton, and an ugly cheap plastic lantern just to light up the general area. He brought an array of amazing custom fixed blades and a hatchet, plus the custom kydex sheathes he made himself.
Anyway, as I should have expected, he’d never put much thought into getting decent flashlights before this trip and as soon as I showed him what a real light can do, he was hooked. He wants something big and powerful like the L6, but I don’t especially want to recommend it to a newbie, especially because of the buy-in cost of batteries and charger.
So here are the characteristics I’d like to stick to:
-rechargeable on-board battery via USB/magnetic cable OR standard store bought alkalines
-more flood than throw, but throw with usable spill would work
-less than $75USD
-safety and quality are important, I don’t want to recommend something that might catch fire, break easily, burn out the led, etc.
After I decided not to recommend the L6 I thought of something like the Thrunite TN4A XP-L because of the decent output, great spill with decent throw, and easy battery source. I believe this light might be just right for him to start out with but I wanted to see if anyone had a better suggestion. Is there anything that has come out recently that might be an even better fit?
I like the Thrunite Neutron 2C as an entry-level light. It’s $50, has MicroUSB charging and comes with a good 18650. It’s available in neutral white, has a good moonlight mode and has a ramping UI with shortcuts to high, low and last-used from off.
Gear best has the convoy l6 on sale with code for 55. Liito Kala 2 bay charger. 7 dollars. And 2 26550 there’s your 75 budget might be a few dollars under and now he is set up for more lights in the future. With a good basic charger and it charges all the different lithium batteries and nihm. If he gets into hobbies hard it won’t stop at one light
Or sell him your set up for 75 and buy all new stuff for yourself I know it’s not what you were asking for. But describing his expensive knife hobby he will most likely start a light hobby as well. And he will have to buy all this in the future when he could have it now upfront and save money in the long run. If he wants something big and powerful like the l6 get it for him. That’s like you saying hey bro I want a hatchet just like this. And him saying nah bro your not ready for a knife like this. Here’s a pearing knife to get you started. Just my opinion on it, he seems like he has some common sense the l6 has low voltage protection. It’s pretty much idiot proof 99 percent of lights and batteries are today. And it’s what he wanted and your trying to talk him into a pea shooter
I agree with the sentiment in the last post, this guy makes his own custom kydex sheaths and you think it is appropriate to use kid gloves and recommend muggle friendly kit? Give the dude some credit, he obviously has the right mind-set if not the experience.
Klarus has had some quality control issues on the last few models I’ve seen and read about on here. And there lumen output rarely matches up the xt11 and 12 I think it’s called both had driver issues. And severe lack of customer service. It was like pulling teeth for that guy on here to get his light replaced. To me there in second to manker as the brand with the next most issues. I hadn’t seen one light that manker has produced in over 2 years that didn’t have serious design flaws and issues
I say just bust him out on the BLF Q8 and get it done. User friendly, great value, good throw and spill. Can be had for around $48 plus batteries = $75-80 total
A miss on the onboard charging, but I have found that once you get someone into a 4 bay charger they will quickly find other uses for it and other rechargeable cells.
I second the BLF Q8. If not, maybe a Sofirn C8F. Great beam on that triple and almost 3000 lumens for a bit over $40. Of course no on board charging. Bet he could figure it out though.
Sorry I neglected this thread, I’ve had a busy few days after posting this. Thank you all for your well thought out responses. Since posting, I’ve been leaning towards the Q8 for myself, and selling him my L6 setup. Before I pull the trigger on this idea though, does anyone have a side by side comparison of the Q8 and L6? I’d really love to see something like this to make sure I’m keeping the right light for myself, haha.
