While I certainly don’t need another light, I would really like to get a good headlamp. I think a single AA should be perfect as I already have a bunch of LADA 2450s and it will mostly be used for walking the dogs. Both of these lights have a simple UI and moonlight and I have to have that no matter what. I guess it gets down to if the fixed modes would be good enough vs the ramped where I could get what I want and if there is a significant efficiency difference or reliability difference between the lights.
My first question is there a significant reliability / durability difference between Armytek and Thrunite? Armytek would normally be out of my price range but they are having a sale right now that makes the price roughly the same. I have a couple of Thrunite lights and I love the UI and they have been rock solid reliable for me.
Armytek claims 450 lumen for .8 hr on Turbo (Not interested in 14500 at this time.) while the Thrunite claims 250 lumen for 1.5 hr. First of all, I can’t imagine a AA light being able to do 450 lumen for 45 minutes. Any ideas of what actual useful Turbo time / output would be? Perhaps this is just very efficient? I think the 250 for 1.5 hr is more reasonable and useful and actually more likely to be possible in the real world. Don’t really see myself using more than 100 lumens that often for a headlamp anyway but think it more likely I would want 250 for 1.5 vs 450 for .8 if that is even possible.
This takes me to my next question for output modes. The Armytek states 90 lumen for 4.5 hrs I am pretty sure I could live with this, especially if it is actual OTF spec. Can’t find any good info on runtimes for the Thrunite in similar modes. Is there a significant difference in efficiency between the lights? In other words, ramped to about 90 lumen could I expect the Thrunite to run about 4.5 hrs?
One thing that I am quite concerned about is the low mode where I would likely be using the light most of the time. The Armytek states 9 lumen. Sometimes I use my Ti3 on a hat brim at the stated 12 lumen level. This is fine and I could live with that but if the 9 lumen Armytek is very noticably dimmer than that I think I might have a problem as the next step up is 30 lumen and I think that would be a bit too bright. Thoughts? (My sofirn SC31B claims 10 lumen but is very noticiblly brighter than the claimed 12 lumen Ti3 and is at the upper end of what I want while walking the dogs.)
Lastly, the clip for the Armytek could be interesting. Never had a light like that and it just might be useful. (I know the pro model has a magnetic cap as well and that would tip the scale to Armytek but they are out of the NW and CW is a deal breaker for this.)
If anyone has experience with either of these lights and would like to share your thoughts that would be great! If there is another light that I should be looking at let me know as well.
That looks like an interesting light however, the price I saw is $29.90 plus shipping. I don’t dislike the SST20 but I actually prefer the tint in my NW TN4a to my SC31B. Thanks for the heads up and I will definitely check illum again before making a decision in case the wicked sale comes back.
The Armytek 450 lumens is only if you use a 14500.
The Armytek will produce a more floody and even beam. If you go with a pro model, it will have full regulation.
I own a Tiara and have owned the thrunite. If you plan on using the light in it’s stock form, Armytek at 50% off is hands down a better option.
I found the ramping UI on the thrunite slow. I prefer the shortcut based UI on the Armytek. Fit and finish is better on Armytek as well.
Thrunite offer very good value and is easy to mod if you plan on swapping out the LED. The thrunite with reflector will probably appear brighter than the diffused TIR of the Armytek.
Mode spacing on my Tiara feels very good, never felt I needed to be in between modes.
Guess that sealed the deal for me. Just placed order for the warm white Tiara as well. Looks like it might get here for Christmas;) Going to try to lay off again for a while;) Perhaps a BLF A6 and a couple of 30Qs at some point but otherwise I hope this has me covered. Thanks again for the input.
Great choice! The pebble TIR is much more suited for small Headlamp use than the reflector on the TH20 (I DC-fixed the one I gave my buddy to try to make it have a little better beam profile for the type of stuff you do with a 1AA Headlamp).
FYI what ArmyTek calls “warm” is actually 4000k so unless your preference is AngryBlue™ just expect a nice neutral white.
I can only speak to the Thrunite. I’ve had it nearly 3 years and it’s about perfect for me. Ramping removes all concern about levels. Moonlight is 0.3, ramping low is 1.6 lemons. 250 high or about 500 on liion. Floody which is what I like in a headlamp.
I apologize for asking in this thread, but the discussion reminded me of something I wanted to ask. What is the difference between the Armytek Elf C1 and the Tiara C1?
FWIW, shortly after I pulled the trigger on the Armytek, Amazon had the th20 on a sale I couldn’t refuse. Have been playing with it for the past couple of weeks and I really like the light — especially with a clip! Mixed on the ramping interface. I have wanted a ramping light for years. It is exactly what I wanted. Embarrassed to admit that it took me way to long to figure out that when you stop the ramp the next time you start it goes in the opposite direction. Truly hated the ramping feature until I figured that one out. Modes are certainly easier and make the battery more predictable. OTOH it is nice to be able to set it to what ever light I want and the firefly and turbo are always available directly. Great light and if things go as I expect it will make a great gift for my grandson and I will keep the Armytek — assuming it finally completes its journey from the East soon.
Really like the regulated driver coupled with the heavy (for a AA light anyway) body. Thermal management is outstanding! Modes are the same with 14500 or AA. First light I have had where that is the case. That said, for me at least, the 14500 is pretty much just a novelty due to the fact that with the regulated driver and no LVP you end up with a light that is perfect one second and dark the next — really have to run protected cell. With the AA there is some drop off at the end. Turbo is certainly noticeably brighter with the 14500 but the AA is plenty bright for my needs. The AA on high is definitely over 200 lumen (claimed 230). When I need more than that, believe it or not, I have other flashlights
I have a Thrunite T1 and a Thrunite Neutron 2C…and I agree, I love the ramping UI. I can get exactly the amount of light I need for the situation at hand. I don’t have the TH20, but I have been looking at it closely.
bmengineer - Thank you. Those runtimes coupled with the quick attachment headband really makes me want one of these badly. I like going back and forth between using my light as a headlamp or a handheld, and that set up seems ideal.
