Nice review. Welcome to BLF. :+1:
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Biggest concern I have with my F1 is that the ring covering the charging port is REALLY stiff. So much so that it almost feels like I need a pliers to open it. Feels like smaller o-rings should have been used.
Have you lubed it? Mine is kinda tight to… but better tight than loose and leaking if submerged. 
Mine is a little snug. Maybe it was being over tightened but I agree that I want it snug as part of the reason I like this so much is to not worry about water. As you saw, I threw it in the pool! This is now my go to for camping or anything out doors. I’d rather it be snug the not work. But that may just be me.
I did have to buy a high discharge battery to really make it shine (sorry for the pun) but it doesn’t have overdrawn protection. Any advice as to good, high discharge batteries on a budget for this and other lights? Thanks
Try this link to a protected 18650 GA
They also have them in unprotected button & flat tops also. As well as other brands.
The GA is rated for 10A discharge… which is well beyond the the ability of the F1.
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Willthat battery fry the F1? I don’t want to do that, just make it the light it can be. I do have some other, cheaper lights that may be fun to fry by overcharging the though…
Without li-ion philistine operators at hand, I see no reason to use protected cells. Bulkier, lesser performing and really unrequired unless you plan to leave the light on unattended. 
Cheers ^:)
No…. not at all. …
It is just a regular 18650 battery, 4.2 V charged up; with 3500 mAh capacity.
Capacity does not “fry lights”. It gives longer run times.
Yes it does. The F1 shuts down at 2.6 to 2.7volts
Does anyone else’s F1 have a rattle inside the head like something is loose and moving around? My F1 showed up D.O.A. with a bad rattle inside the head. I guess something broke or came loose during shipping. I’m working on getting a replacement.
Ok. I know about capacity and what mAh is. It’s just that you said “The GA is rated for 10A discharge… which is well beyond the the ability of the F1” and didn’t know if that ment it would overpower the light due to too much amperage.
Thanks. I’ll try it out!
Sweet. Did not realize that the light would regulate like that. I was referring to the battery not having an overdischarge circuit in it as is warns about not letting it get too low and killing it. I’m glad to know the F1 will help and not let that happen as I am not the only one to be using it.
Yup, no need for a protected cell in the F1. Even says it has LVP in the manual.
No, I meant the cell was rated for 10A discharge and the F1 would come nowhere even close to that. Therefore the GA would be an excellent choice.
And has been mentioned already…. absolutely no “need” for protected. But no harm in using protected if you want.
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I got these
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01MYV86IY/ref=cm_cr_srp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8
And it seems to work well. Oils the ones you mentioned be better, because I will get them. Need to get good stuff that is sure to last.
Why did you just spend 23 dollars on two unknown name cells on Amazon?
Especially with a fly by night business that lies about the specs
There are many businesses in the US that will sell you the real thing. Brand names like Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic/Sanyo for half that price
Because I am still learning. I need to spend more time in these threads. I have poked around a bit, but need to spend more time here, then scrolling through Amazon.
RobertB, A4whlstmpr may not be as aware of the li-ion market as you may presume, for obvious reasons. My first 18650s were a couple of inexpensive 2000mAh blue UltraTurds which turned out acceptable, allowing a 1A torch to probably run close to a couple of hours, so nowhere near the fakeness rating of the newer, higher-ended 9800-9900mAh models. ;-)
Also, please bear in mind philistines are much more marketing driven than ourselves, remember they tend to believe whatever is printed on a label :facepalm: . Now, when you consider the real players in this business stamp their cells with industry geared codes philistines can't understand, you get the picture. In a middle ground you have rewrappers of good cells, but they also may have to deal with end-user misuse/abuse. 
Cheers 
Very true. At first I thought they were maybe rewrapped GA’s, then the glaring 40A rating made me think they are more likely C grade rejects or Ultrafire type fakes. I will PM the OP links of reliable sources