We’ve seen an acceleration in flashlight development over the past couple of years. It’s getting more difficult all the time just trying to keep up with it all. So, I want to know what is the best small thrower available for a budget price. I’m looking for a reflector light, not a lens or optic. Also, I’m thinking of using the “White Flat” which has been declared the “Throw King” of emitters recently, dethroning the ancient XP-G2 S4 2B after all these years. Some of you guys have already made some awesome mods using this emitter. I’m considering hosts the size of a Convoy C8 or not much larger. So, not jeans-pocket size, but jacket-pocket size. The C8 used to be the one everybody seemed to be using. The Eagle Eye X6, although not as good at throw as the C8, looks a lot better to me. Then the Luckysun BLF D80 came along, and some said it was better than C8 by a bit. Now, we have the GT Mini coming out. Will it be the best? Are there others I’ve forgotten? What say ye?
Get the Emisar D1S and White Flat 2mm2 emitter.
Best combination, and smallest 
I love the Emisar D4, but I haven’t owned the D1S. The head size looks quite big compared to the body. Aesthetics are a bit important to me (though not the MOST important). I’m certain I would have liked the D1S better if it had a wider tube for a 21700 or 26650, since the head is so big. I’d probably prefer the Emisar D1 because it looks more balanced. Although, according to the listing at Intl-outdoor, the D1S has almost 3x the throw of the smaller D1 with less than a 50% increase in the head diameter (50mm vs 35mm). Hmmm…
Still you would need a buck or linear driver(mosled external fet)
Yes, you’re right. I wouldn’t want to direct drive these emitters, even with PWM. It would need to be a regulated driver somehow. The led4power drivers are the obvious best choice for linear. I don’t know if there are any great buck choices (thinking about the firmware and user interface).
C8T right out of the tin? Samesame C8 form-factor, but optimised for throw. Could always mod it for extra oomf.
How big are your pockets? Have you seen the GT micro ?? AA 14500
I have a GT mini on the way. I have been eyeballing the GT micro.
I saw the M4D M4X page here on BLF for the GT Micro. I do like the look of it. But if I were going to buy a 14500 size light for “throw” it would likely be the BLF X5 or the Astrolux equivalent. Unless I already had one (or more) of the other GT series lights and wanted to match them. I’m really looking for a light that uses a single 18650 up to 26650 cell. I don’t need it to fit a jeans pocket, just a jacket pocket.
Okay. I tried snooping around and using the BLF Search box, but I couldn’t find anywhere that said how it’s better than any other C8. I mean, I did see some posts claiming it’s better/best in the C8 format. But I haven’t seen anyone say how or why. Do you know what makes it so great? 
FET+1 driver like the D1S and GT Mini.
IMO, it’s just like the Astrolux C8 with a better UI.
So, since it’s bigger than the D1S and GT Mini while having a smaller reflector, it would be best to just get the GT Mini/D1S.
You like side or tail switch for your jacket pocket thrower lights?
I have been very impressed with the GT mini, it’s on the larger size to fit in my jacket but it still does. The IU is great and makes sense, easy for me to use. I can’t say compared to the C8, but it does quite well against an L2 (dedomed XML2 I think), B158 (XPL HI), and Cometa. Because of the IU and size its the one I’m using most right now. I also scored it for 32 so that definitely helps my view if it’s value. I think Illumn is still running a deal for the Nitecore P30, or the Catapult V6 still worked with the ‘cybermonday’ code, but it might be getting too big
Unno. The C8A (HD, I think) throws out more lemons but is a wider beam, whereas the C8T (HI, I think) throws out fewer lemons but is a narrower throwier beam. And the C8F is just a lemon-factory.
Then what about an L2 with shorty tube?
Emisars. they too bloody UGLY .
Last torch I’d ever put money on.
Budget lamps?.
I’ve got the Astrolux, C8T/C8+ with decent LED driver.
plus several others.
Good looking. comfortable to hold, good heat management.
would take some beating
You’d have to go a long way to beat one as a pocket torch.
C8A long throw. C8T not so long and warmer . C8F, triple.
ALL one step up driver wise to the Astrolux.
Have the L2 long/short. but bigger head for a pocket type.
Closer to the larger L6.
I’ve got a Imalent DN35and 70. so don’t need any alternatives.
They the next step up, running on 26650 cells.
but the C8/8+ style’s would cover 98% of most peoples needs,
as a pocket torch with extra’s.
I prefer my Convoy C8+ to the other 4 or 5 C8’s with differing mfg’s.
Better all round torch methink’s.
Just an ’orrible dark chocolate colour. NOT the tan they advertised.
I’m going to strip and heat treat to fix it methink’s. Terrible colour.
I’m on the fence between a C8 and an X6 host for my White Flat pocket-thrower. I like the looks of the X6 so much more, and its a little smaller, but then, the reflector is a little smaller, too.
I have one remaining White Flat, which will probably go into my Convoy L2. The D1S or GT Mini are more svelte and have a nicer UI, but they’d need regulated drivers, I already have the L2, and I care less about the UI on an extreme thrower. I was looking at other hosts with a ~50mm reflector, but realized that I was approaching the price of an L2 host, and, not only that, but I had an L2 that didn’t get much use.
My L2s are snoozing in their boxes, and I don’t want to disturb them, but isn’t it with the shorty tube about the same size (head, tube, length) as the Cometa?
I use the Commie for poking around outside, in the house for nighttime jaunts, etc. I drop it into my shorts-pocket, and while it’s a bit weighty, it still “fits”.
So… the L2 should be just as “doable” in that sense. No?
Emmisar D1S
Thrunite catapult v6
Another vote for the Emisar D1S. Yes, the proportions would be better and it would last longer between charges if it were a 26650, but its a heck of a thrower and it fits in a jacket pocket easily. I have several other newish small throwers, including a couple based on the C8 host, but the D1S out-throws them and has a nice amount of even spill to boot. Easy UI too. It gets a lot of use.
Can’t wait to see what you put together.
GT Mini is beautiful and not much larger than C8. With a shorty tube I would call it smaller.
But it doesn’t seem to perform well with White Flat. 
One can swap D1S reflector and have both great looks and great performance.
You can ask Hank if he would sell you reflector alone; for the price of 2 lights I definitely wouldn’t call it “budget”.
Regulated driver for e-switch is a problem. You can do with a weak cell instead, but that’s a clunky solution….
Maybe the 2 mm² LED would work better with 18650 FET+1?
It won’t throw as far, but for some uses the larger hotspot is just better….also with the larger die it may work better with GT Mini stock reflector.