Out of the game fo 5 years....need advice please

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
1

Backstory:
Recently started to pick up biking again. It’s a bit dark there so my bog standard bike light doesn’t cut it. Naturally, was pleasantly suprised my favorite flashlight forum is still up and running and also looking the same!

But therwise, a lot has changed in the last 5 years. Technology in batteries, leds and electronics has surpassed itself.

Dillema:
I am in the market for a new “EDC” 18650 light. The current models are, as far as I can see, a lot better than my current onces. So I’m looking for a light with:

  1. Quite some flood, to see pedestrians on the path
  2. Single cell 18650, I’ve got quite some 18650’s currently so it would be nice to keep that flexibility
  3. Not to heavy, since it will be handle bar mounted
  4. Easy UI, also operatable with gloves

At this moment I’m looking at these lights:

  1. Noctigon KR4 Quinta
  2. Lumintop FW4a

The question being:

  • What would be the best pick for me?
  • As my current batteries are a bit old; what cell’s whould be the onces to go for?

Thanks alot for your answers!

2

I looked at this starting about a month and a 1/2 ago, and what I found is that people who are mounting L shaped lights like headlamps on their handlebar or helmet get lot less light bounce. Thats why I’m considering something like the new wurkkos HD20 headlamp for night trails. It has both spot and flood and you can tune your light.

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1. Regarding my initial question:
Thanks for the advice people!

Some things to consider: My route is almost 100% smooth tarmac (near a city park), light bounce is not much of an issue. However, since the Convoy M3 is quite heavy (280 gr ex cell?) and I don’t need that much light on my bike and it’s a bit large as an EDC-ish light. I don’t think it would be a good pick for my current use. However, it might be a good pick for a flooding single cell! (see below)

Allright, went out last night to try some of my current lights, namely:

  • Warsun CT9T, good throw, good usability (on/off near the light head). But heaviest of them all (280 gr including cell)
  • Luckysun BLF D80, nice flood, can run on mode 3/5 for my use. But not the best light color maybe?
  • Eagle Eye BLF X6-SE, nice flood, can run on mode 2/5 for my use.
  • And since my mount isn’t the best, I also brought my Nitecore EA11 14500 light.

So I found out the main issue of my current bikelight seems to be the lack of flood. Throw isn’t much of an issue, since I don’t bike that fast. In the end, I’m going to give the Eagle Eye BLF X6-SE this week. Enough flood and great modes for (hopefully) not blinding fellow road users. I’ll keep you guys posted on this.

2. New thrower or refreshing the collection!?
I’m am contemplating to refresh (a part) of my flashlight collection. Currently I have:

  1. Nitecore P12, on my nightstand. Has a great moonlight mode for navigating the bedroom
  2. Nitecore EA11, in the hallway. Small and handy light closeby for odd jobs and in a pinch in the nighttime. Also great as holiday EDC. Bit of shimmering on turn on however.
  3. Balder TD-0, on the car keys. As an EDC on the road.
  4. Eagle Eye BLF X6-SE, as a bike light (if it does its job when I go biking this week)
  5. Luckysun BLF D80, as a backup bike light (if it does its job when I go biking this week)
  6. Supfire M6-T6X3, as a camping floodlight
  7. Warsun CT9T, as a portable thrower
  8. Warsun MX900, as a big thrower
  9. XStar XP4 charger

- New thrower
Of those, I am surely going to change numbers 7 & 8 for a good modern thrower. The 3 stacked cell format is just not my thing. The soda-can style suits me better or maybe a single cell thrower if sufficient. What would be the best option for this in 18650 format?

- Refreshing the collection
However I am also tempted to change number 4 to 9 for:

  • A good thrower, however in still a bit compact format. (soda-can or single cell)
  • Flooding single cell with good usabillity and UI for bike riding (not blinding people) and maybe as a camping flood light
  • A modern camping/hiking floodlight, if the flooding single cell above isn’t sufficient
  • A new set of batteries where necessary for the new lights, maybe go towards 21700’s?
  • A new charger, maybe one capable of charging protected 21700’s if necesary?
    Then I’ll be gifting my current lineup with cells and chargers to some friends and family. Which lights would you pick for this?

- Free stuff
By the way, I do have quite some random flashlight parts (leds, drivers, lenses, thermal paste, fandyfire STL-V6 body, Convoy C8 body, cables, chips etc.). If anyone is interested, you can have it all for just the shipping cost (I’m located in the Netherlands by the way).

Sorry for the long story, in the end quite unsure on what to do. Hopefully you guys can help.

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Welcome back to the madhouse, Nbabu! :partying_face: :beer:

If the light is going to stay mounted on the bars, you have two options that I know of:

  1. Convoy S2+ with stripped TIR lens, 8*7135, running Biscotti;
  2. Lumintop B01.
    The latter has the advantages of already coming with a mount, being able to fit 21700 and USB charging. However, the former has far more mode picks with Biscotti (an absolute gamechanger for Convoy), is easy to mod out the TIR for a more normal circular-beam one or even a reflector, and for me nothing beats the meaty tactile feedback of a reverse clicky switch, moreso with gloves. The S2+ is also not harsh on batteries, old or new.
    (P.S.: Both the B01 and the strip-lens S2+ produce a purely horizontal beam, perfect for biking if you don’t have to mind tree branches and stuff above.)

For 21700 you can also look at Convoy’s x21x models, like the S21A (fatter S2+ with wider reflector) or M21B (exactly the old M1 with 21700 battery tube). They can fit 18650 with spacers if you’d like, but as a caveat, I hear they’re VERY picky with what size 21700 you feed them.

For a dedicated single cell thrower, check out the Lumintop GT Mini.

For batteries I tend to go for Vapcell. They just work well, and HKJ tends to like them too.

As for chargers, no idea. None that I know fit 21700. So, I’m all ears for other answers too :wink:

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About the charger, take a look at this: groupbuy: Astrolux® VC04 QC USB Charger

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Thanks man, good to be back (but my wallet is allready antsy… :person_facepalming: )

I do allready have one of those (not running Biscotti), but since it is in the same categoy as my Nitecore P12 I was allready thinking of gifting it. But it is a great size and with the lens mod might be a great solution. Thanks, I am going to give it a try!

The GT mini is looking great for a single cell thrower! Been checking out several replacement options, still very much on the fence though.

I almost forgot the testing and reviews HKJ does! Legend!

As for chargers, see the one MascaratumB posted above. And also Vapcell S4+ Analyzing Charger for instance

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I was under the impression that Nbabu lived nearby (at 10km I was right) and I hate the shipping costs op Post NL. So I reached out to Nbabu via PM to see if he could agree to a live transfer.
But since we both kinda live in a COVID hotspot we turned back to plan A, shipping by Post NL.
Well the parcel arrived this afternoon, and I was quite surprised by the contents of it.
If was far far more than the items he mentioned earlier in this thread.

I feel a bit like Paris Hilton in reverse. People pay her big to show up.
And I get huge rewards if I don’t show up (just kidding).
So once again Nbabu, thank you for your kind and generous offer/gift.

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As you can see in the post above, I’ve found a recipient for my donation. Have fun with it Henk4U2! I’m sure you have much more use for it then I did/do.

Bikelight
For my bikelight conundrum I’ve settled on a Convoy S2+ (which I had laying around). It has enough output for my needs and is nice and small, light and inexpensive. I did order the TIR stiped lens. Since running a “normal” hotspot isn’t really funny for other road users on my route.

Collection
As for my flashlight collection, I’m getting rid of allot:

I’m gifting:

  1. Eagle Eye BLF X6-SE, is a bit much as a bikelight for my use. Going to my sister who loves hiking and camping.
  2. Luckysun BLF D80, also a bit much for biking. Going to gift this to a colleguea
  3. Convoy L4, had this laying around. This one is going to a friend to aid him if he’s in a pinch (again) on his boat.
  4. Supfire M6-T6×3, as a camping floodlight for my father in law. Still love this lamp, but I have no use for it in my new collection

I’m scrapping:

  1. Balder TD-0, this one has issues. Don’t know why, but it has. And in a pinch, I want to be able to rely on such a lamp

I’m keeping:

  1. Nitecore P12, on my nightstand. Has a great moonlight mode for navigating the bedroom
  2. Nitecore EA11, in the hallway. Small and handy light closeby for odd jobs and in a pinch in the nighttime. Also great as holiday EDC. Bit of shimmering on turn on however.

I’m getting:

  1. A single cell 21700 EDC high output (4000+ lumen) flashlight. Enough flood, throw isn’t that important.
  2. A new keychain light. Something like a Nitecore TIP SE or something. Or some 10440 light.
  3. Maybe a soda can style hot-rod. Just for kicks….
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If you need a thrower, i do have a Cyan KR1 with Osram 2mm (cslpm1) which is only used once and now is collecting dust…

I use my KR4 way more often, its quite versatile, i think it will work well on your bike

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@Wim, that’s a nice set!

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I use a Enfitnix Navi800.
I tried several flashlights and bike lights thatˋs the best for me.

Here you find it https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001146307048.html