Hi all, new user here.
I have few of these Ultrafire Q5 flashlights.
They are okay for around the house and in the backyard.
I got them for a dollar so can’t beat the price vs performance.
Pretty bright to walk around the park using rechargeable AA batteries.
I’m thinking of upgrading to slightly better light.
Budget is $10 or up to $20 if needed.
Anything decent in that price range that’ll be an upgrade?
Or do you guys suggest getting 14500 batteries and using the same lights?
Thanks
Sofirn SP10 and/or Thorfire TK05, with 14500 (’though will take NiMH and alkaleaks).
Your options are overwhelming, I fear :weary:
But you will find out, welcome to BLF :party:
My most used light is the Convoy S2. Would you be willing to go up 1 size and a little bit in weight? The S2 fits in the hand, not too large or heavy. It runs on a 18650 li-ion and has a lot more light if required.
$10-$20 is a tough price range for someone starting out.
There are some nice lithium-ion 14500 or 18650 lights in the upper part of that price range. My recommendation is the BLF A6. It’s a couple of years old, but still an excellent performer. However, it takes an 18650 battery. Unless you already have a battery and charger, that will add $5 for a Samsung 30Q 18650 cell, and $5 for a basic Xtar MC1 charger. So, you’re up to at least $30.
If you stick with AA NiMH lights, then there’s nothing that really impresses until you’re getting up to the $50 range. A Zebralight SC5w is the best performer for a 1xAA light, but it’s around $69 I think. At 500 lumens, it’s very impressive for a 1xAA light. This is probably way out of your price range, though.
If you can justify $10-$20 on 18650 batteries + a charger, that’s your best route to impressive lights at a fairly cheap cost. BLF A6 for a really bright general-purpose light that is small enough to pocket (sort of). Astrolux C8 for a small light that throws really far (good for long-distance use in dark open areas). Both are in the $20-$30 range, but can sometimes go on sale.
A Convoy S3 or S2+. Both are cheap, good lights out the box and plenty of scope for upgrades or modification if you want. I think the S3 is the better light, but many would disagree.
So, this is on /r/flashlight and it’s a few months old now, but… Zak’s arbitrary list of popular lights might be a good place to start.
Sofirn just introduced the SP10S, which puts a very nice LED with great color quality in their existing AA/14500 model. I don’t love the UI though.
The Thrunite T10 II is a decent light with a UI I like better, but I don’t love the LED it comes with. Of course, changing the LED is always an option, and not terribly hard on the T10 II.
In 18650 size for $20 you can get a Wowtac A1/A2/A3 or a Sofirn SC31 from Amazon, with battery and charger integrated either in the battery or in the flashlight. You may be able to get Sofirn lights cheaper from AliExpress.
Thanks for comments.
Yes, it’s okay to go bigger in size as long as it’s noticeably better than what I have.
Look at the “coupons” offers on here. after you’ve decided on a torch.
You can normally get up to 40% off on some.
Me. I’d go a C8. Look around and get the best on offer for your $$’s.
It can easily be updated later with a “drop in” C60 pill quite cheaply.(Screw head off. Lift out. drop in. Screw back on.)
That simple.
Until you start with the soldering iron.
It CAN be updated to a flame thrower. Cheaply,
and leave the S2’s for dead. (Bigger, more modifiable
head unit).
Just buy a cheap Chinese battery now. It’ll do the job.
then next pay get a coupla better Samsung 30Q etc with double charger.
I wanted ONE for replacement.
Last count, around 40. 38 battery’s, 3 chargers.
I restrict myself to $20 per pension nowadays.
$10 per week.
Keeps me more in control.
I Love it
PS.
Later. 3 torches will cover full gambit of lighting to 500m plus.
C8+. Convoy L2. Convoy L6.
I should really. Throw the rest away hey.
@Macka17, isn’t 10$/week a lot still?
I mean, that’s still 520$ per year just in lights…
IMO, it’s so much better just to mod things rather than buying new stuff.
Not only is it less expensive, takes less time, but it is much more environmentally friendly.
This is also why I like P60: if you want a new flavor of LEDs, like SST-20s, you can just change out the head.
I bought this from the amazon deals thread.
https://www.amazon.com/MODOAO-Flashlight-Rechargeable-Waterproof-Flashlights/dp/B07RSBP9F9/
It has XM-L2 and uses 18650 so must be better than my Ultrafire Q5.
It’s only few bucks. Will see how it works and will watch the deal thread here for others.
I wouldn’t buy this light.
Bad UI.
A simple Convoy S2+ is better.
Everyone’s jumping in with 18650 lights, so I’ll throw in (as mentioned as well) the SC31 kit. Comes with cell and has onboard usb charging, quite nice for the price. Anything else, you’ll have to spring for the cell and charger separately.
FWIW, the light shown is called a SK-68. Most people around here have one so it’s pretty well-known, and you may even spot a red one in BLF’s banner on the site’s front page. They’re popular because they’re cheap and yet still generally a bit better than a lot of what local retail stores sell for 10X the price. But they’re pretty much the bottom end of what gets used around here.
I measured one of mine just now, in a calibrated integrating device. Here are the results:
I wouldn’t recommend running one with a li-ion cell though, unless you’ve taken it apart and verified it actually has a decent thermal path to pull heat away from the LED.
For comparison, the light I’ve been using daily (FW3A, in the pic below) is the same size but performs a little better…
… and it has a lot of extras. However, it doesn’t zoom so it doesn’t have a spotlight mode. Usually people go for dedicated thrower lights instead of zoomies.
The two grey lights in the middle are FW3A:
It looks like the light you found at Amazon is probably similar in size to the light at the bottom of this image. It’ll probably be a bit difficult to carry around all the time.
Bluesword.
$520 Maybe, BUT at $10 a week. You don’t notice it really.
Jeez. I’m 78 next month. on old age pension.
I buy a Lottery ticket one (fortnightly) pension and $20 for torches next pension. ($10 P.W.) Actually $260 Pr yr.
Other half on dreamers tickets.
Never missed a meal yet.
When I was working I was on $2.500 pw.AUD.
I am on restricted income nowadays.
But still comfortable Cause we planned ahead.
Invested in Brothers company 50 odd yrs ago.
That Canadian money covers our overseas holiday annually and AUST gov’t knows nothing about it.
You have to plan ahead for your old age.
Bluesword.
PS.
Welding. I’m fine. Soldering. Hmmm.
Too heavy handed methink’s.
I fark everything I try. Plus I like collecting.
ALL sorts of things.
If he wants a one off. no need for upgrades for a long time.
I’d say get $25ish together and buy a Astrolux S41 Quad head 18650. on coupon.
Moon to wall of light with decent throw.
Keep it on 4 or 5. it don’t get too hot. I got 2.
Mystery, I second the advice about the lousy User Interface (UI) on that Amazon light. Cycling through the strobe modes is irritating at best.
Stick with the lights advised here by others; Convoy S2+, C8 and the BLF A6. I've found the moonlight mode on the A6 to be very useful. You can find them for $17 if you are patient.
My $.02
Okay. That was $3 so not a big deal.
I can always put few extras in corners. 
I’ll do more research on the lights mentioned here and purchase one.
No hurry.
thanks