I, too, have been looking for such a light! That is, a zoom flashlight that uses a 18650, throws farther than an SK-68, and is small. For reference, I now use an LED Lenser P5R (XR-E R2 LED, 220 lumens, 193-meter range, 26mm head, 117 to 121mm long). It lives in my shirtpocket. I would like a similar "big brother."
Only one zoomable 18650 can fit in a shirtpocket:
UltraOK VS-05 (7W-VS-05). 115 to 121mm long, 27.5mm head, 23.3mm body
Other 1x18650 zoomables have heads that are 32mm or wider:
LED Lenser M7R (156mm x 37mm head), rechargeable, 220 lumens, 230-meter range
MTE M2 (the best "X2000" light) from MTE-LED.com (124 to 136mm, 33mm head, 26.5mm body (XR-E Q5 or XP-G R5; 5-mode, glass lens)
Wolf-Eyes Defender III (123 to 131mm long, 34mm head, 24.5 mm body, 138g; 4.5-38 degree beam, XR-E (285 lumens), XP-G (350 lumens), or XM-L (680 lumens, but "260 ANSI lumens")
Romisen RC-C8 II R2, 180 lumens, 128 to 137mm long; 30, 34, or 35mm head (I've seen all three numbers!), 800ma regulated, 2 or 3 modes?, reportedly "nearly 2X as bright as the SK68...but I don't remember where I read that or whether bright means lumens or lux.
Small Sun ZY-C84 (an X2000), Q5, "300L" 120mm long (before extending), 30mm head, 80g
If you are willing to use a head wider than 37mm, you will find many others. But these models, together with various cheap variants of the X2000, have the narrowest heads.
I would probably buy an MTE M-2, but I don't like lights with 5 modes. The UltraOK VS-05 is uniquely small; and it costs very little. I may try it, but I can't imagine that it will be throw farther than my LED Lenser P5R or have more output.
Nothing is really going to throw further than the Sipik SK68 with the same size head as it’s already using an overdriven XR-E.
The Smallsun will definitely out throw it…probably twice as far but it’s a larger light. It’s certainly worth having though IMO.
i have the light linked in last post, bought from ebay seller ultrapire. great for the price - pill isn't as good as sk68 clone, and it drives the emitter a bit too hard on high (>1.7A)
but it is a great light for <$10. actually, it is probably my favorite zoomie (I own 8 different styles). If it had a better pill it would easily be my vote for best value 18650. DX has it, too, called 'new c55'
the small sun c10 zoomie has a much narrower flood but throws MUCH farther (smaller image when focused).
I've had a few zoomies and none impressed me more than the sipik aa and the romisen RC-C8 (3AAA or single 18650). Zooming is by twisty and not very convenient at that but i liked (still do) that light very much. Buidl quality was spectacular at that time and price range. Still does stand up on its own nowadays.
Thank you guys for these. I like all the lights you told me about and I think i'll try the Small Sun ZY-C10-S. A big upgrade in price also. The SK 68 was only 6$ from ebay :). Everyone who saw it was like "woooow" when on Li-Ion. But it has one problem: 1 mode only. It really smokes the cells very fast. This is why I want a 18650 multi mode.
I've seen many 200-300 and today - 500 lumens in the above link. How many lumens can the Q5 provide anyway?
The OP asked for a light "as compact as possible," ideally not much larger than the SK68, which measures about 95 x26 mm. At 170 x 44mm, the Small Sun isn't even in the ballpark.
Not the smallest but it is what I was going to recommend too.
...but still smaller than the Z5. When your requirements are a larger cell and better throw, you are going to need a bigger flashlight. The Small Sun is roughly the size of the C8 (just 1/2" - 13mm longer) which is still fairly compact and can be pocketed easily...
My favorite all purpose all around light is still the SS-A-100 in the XML... MEGA room filling flood, with resonably great throw too.... for a bid die XML
I have four of these now to mod out… they are truly great lights… beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder… and I am holding them… look good and run good for me… J