While I love the 348, honestly how much cheaper could a GB really get them? They go on sale for $5-6 which is a very fair price IMHO. Sure cheaper is better but if it is only a buck off I think there are better options for a GB even though I would buy a few of these.
I think the purpose of this GB is to guarantee production of more - not to get a good price. They are currently sold out and the manufacturer may not be interested in making more unless there is a guaranteed demand.
I’d buy a few more. The only change I’d want is a keychain hole. There are plenty of other multi-mode lights and the clean simplicity with good CRI is what makes this one so appealing
If this light can go out of stock for the 3rd consecutive GB and still has high demand, why not just go balls to the wall mass production of 10k+ units and drive the price down to under $5, meanwhile get companies to buy them in bulk with company engraving for internal door gifts and lucky draws to make it more viable.
I’d love to pick up one or more of these. I really like the Nichia tint and CRI, and a small edc that doesn’t chew holes in my clothing would be awesome. I like single mode personally, and I’ll second the interest in a AA version as well.
While it won’t be nearly as small as a ’348 or even an AA version of same, what was on my to-do list was a modded minimag (2×AA) with 800mA boost driver and ’219 emitter. An aspheric is some great flood, but the limited output of the ’219 spread across that big of an area leaves intensity very wanting, so a nice TIR would fit the bill instead.
While minimag shorties are kinda funny-looking (they definitely looked “chopped off” given the location of the knurling), a smaller version of that would be ideal. An AA version of the ’348 sounded perfect to me. Twisty or clicky, don’t care.
So hey, if anyone’s going to come out with a 1×AA 1-mode ’219 flashlight, definitely let me know! Christmas is a-coming!
Nah, IMHO the A01 is a totally different light (I own both), MUCH warmer tint LED, Twisty head mode selector (I HATE that!).
The neutral rosy tint of the original BLF 348 Nichia LED is just PERFECT, it´s the best light I own in terms of CRI and color, even among all the Nichia lights I have. The Astrolux S41 Nichia comes close, but not 100%, and the A01 LEd is just too warm for my taste, it´s almost yellow…
I´d take another original BLF 348 when it gets EXACTLY the same LED again. But the light would be perfect for me with the following changes:
- a little more grippable surface (the stainless steel body is just too slippy)
2 Mode driver (switch): keep the nice reverse clicky switch, but add one 10% mode selectable by short click