Amazon Deal Alerts & Discussion Thread

Todd, not a zoomie fan. But if price drops on Wowtac BSS V3 I would grab 1.

I regret making this purchase. It turns out that this headlamp is poorly built and performs poorly. After a couple of presses, the buttons started receding into the housing and I expect will soon become a point of failure. One must cycle through all modes (including strobe) in order to turn if off. The output is not even close to 200 lumens. But it does work, fits my large head, and did come with batteries.

Got the following message after trying to submit a review for this product on Amazon:

"This product currently has limitations on submitting reviews. There can be a number of reasons for this, including unusual reviewing activity."

Tried several times and was not successful. My query on Fakespot.com showed 0 reviews for this listing, which indicates no one has ever been allowed to submit a review.

This crap product showed up under a new Amazon listing on DealNews.com this morning. I was able to review this listing and gave the headlamp there two stars. Please be wary if you see it. I expect this headlamp will keep popping up on Amazon under fresh new listings - staying ahead of reviewers.

Thanks for the update. That’s unfortunate.

FYI, I ended up buying this one instead: Amazon.com

It only has two modes for the main LED (low/high), and single mode for the side LEDs. No strobe or any other blinkies. It runs on a single AA cell and is pretty lightweight. Head strap looks to be of pretty good quality and is comfortable. The main LED is somewhat throwy. The side LEDs give a very diffused/dispersed light output. My kid loves running around with it on his head.

Pete, thanks for the info and link. This new headlamp is appealing, but I'd rather get it cheaper.

According to Keepa.com, it was in an Amazon lightening deal on June 26th for $6.79. So, I think I will wait awhile before purchasing it to see if it goes on sale again. I set up tracking on Keepa to trigger at $7.00, but (if it like camelcamelcamel.com) the notification may lag too much to be useful. What peaks my interest is the fact that it uses a single AA battery which is unusual in a headlamp.

I like my thrunite TH-20 headlamp, it runs on a single AA battery. It looks like the latest ones run on AA or 14500, for some reason I am thinking mine runs on AA only, but could be wrong about that. Regardless, ramping UI with moonlight and double click to turbo. its a winner IMO.

I also have a NW TH20 and love it. Ramping, AA + 14500, neutral, double click to turbo… winner!

I believe that the Thrunite Th-20 is probably the best available AA/14500 headlamp with a T-shaped (i.e., 90-degree-off-axis-head centered on the body) form factor currently available. I love the tail switch, build quality, long-press firefly mode, double click turbo mode and the fact that is can use AA & 14500 batteries, but I have the following issues:

  • I don't particular care for mode ramping. I'd rather have discrete modes.
  • I don't care for mode memory - I want to know for sure where I start out at every time I turn the flashlight on.
  • I'm kind of alarmed at the weight of 76 grams empty. For comparison, the Enogear AA/14500 stainless steel is only 68 grams empty. I hope the 76 gram TH20 weight includes the headband and mounding pad.
  • I am not willing to pay $29.99 for a headlamp unless it is perfect (for me). If it was cheaper, then I might pull the trigger.

Most of these issues, of course, are about me and not the headlamp. IMHO, the Thrunite TH20 is the best available in its class.

Three pack of Mr. Beam 300 lumen spot lights at Amazon.com for $40. They use four D-cell batteries which means they run for a long time between battery changes. Don't drop them or they die instantly. Otherwise, I have experienced impressive longevity, but protect mine from direct rain.

Edit: Price for this three-pack is now $47.39. Sorry.

Edit #2: The price for a three-pack in white is still $40.00!

There’s one big downside to the TH20: It’s quite heavy. This is good news if you want durability, but for people like me who want to use it for backpacking and focus on ultralight gear, it’s silly heavy.

Example:

The 18650 skilhunt H03 body weighs only 44g / 1.55oz.
With headband and battery it’s around 120g or 4.2oz.

The smaller AA/14500 TH20:

Lamp without battery 1.53oz (43.3g) - despite being smaller, it’s the same weight as the H03 18650 body.
Headband with rubber lamp holder. 1.14oz (32.4g)
Spare holder, called slot in literature. .43oz (12.2g)
Add an eneloop pro AA 1oz (~30g) and you are at 4.1oz

The Zebralight H53Fc AA headlamp, for example, weighs only 32g (1.1oz) for the body and about 2.8oz total, or 32% less weight.

Would love to see a new AA/14500 model of the H03 that’s around 30g, or for Thrunite to use lighter materials. Hell, I’d be happy with an ultralight plastic model.

The Lumintop Tool AA 2.0 is scheduled to be in a lightening deal starting at 7:50 PM EDT on Amazon.com. The new Tool AA 2.0 boasts mode memory and an added Turbo and Strobe mode (see table below). It appears that the Strobe mode is separate from (not inline with) the other modes. So it is probably accessed with a double click.

Although not mention in the description, there is almost certainly a step-down timer from Turbo mode to High when using a 14500 battery. For comparison, following are the parameters for the original Lumintop Tool AA:

Battery Lumens/Runtime in
Low Medium High
14500 8/
28+30
95/
4+00
550/
0+45
Alkaline 7/
36+25
25/
11+00
110/
1+45
Ni-MH 7/
30+30
25/
11+40
120/
2+55

The orignal Lumintop AA Tool has no mode memory, and no Turbo or Strobe modes

I just picked up a Lumintop Tool AA 2.0 from amazon for $14.09. The have a 5% coupon on top of the flashsale. Deal ends soon.

The Zanflare C4 analysing battery charger (with both 110 V AC and 12 V DC power supplies) is scheduled to be in an Amazon.com lightening deal starting on Aug 27th at 04:39 AM EDT. The deal will probably last for about five hour (that is to say, until about 09:30 AM EDT). I got one in a June 27th Lightening Deal for $17.99 (about 40% off the $29.99 price). If you can get one under $20, I would definitely recommend it. IMHO, it is as least as good as the Liitokala Lii-500, which I also own.

Edit: It turns out the deal price is $22.79....(yawn).

I got one then also, seems like a reasonable charger. Not high end by anymeans, but it does well for me. :+1:

The Lumintop Tool AA 2.0 is scheduled to be in a lightening deal again starting at 10:45 AM EDT, Aug 30th on Amazon.com. Currently, the price is $17.99 and there is a 5% coupon. See my above post for more details.

Edit: The Lightening Deal price is $14.09 after the 5% coupon. Looks like the sale is scheduled to run until 4:50 PM EDT.

I'm passing on this version because I don't care for the mode memory.

Thank you for all the alerts and info you have been finding. Much appreciated ActiveAl. :)

AKA

At your service!

The Sofirn SF14 is scheduled to be in a lightening deal starting at 9:04 AM EDT, Sep 7th on Amazon.com. Currently, the price is set at $14.99. See SF14 details in the table below:

Manufacturer
Model
LED/Tint
Output in lumins
Runtime (hrs + min)
Dimensions Weight
(grams)
Reflect Comments
Length
(mm)
Diam
(mm)
Sofirn
SF14
XP-G2
5350-5700 K
L M H
14500: 5 (100+00) 110 (5+40) 600 (0+50)
Alklne: 3 (111+00) 33/(10+27) 230 (1+30)
Steps down from High to Med after 3 1/2 minutes
97.6 20 39 OP No mode memory
Always starts in Low
No noticeable PWM

Some owners report that the SF14 goes spastic when NI-MH batteries are used. See this thread for more info. I haven't seen this problem and I have been running an Eneloop in my SF14 for weeks. Sofirn reports, however, that the anomaly is fixed in SF14 V2.

EDIT: The deal price is $12.50 which is somewhat disappointing. A SF14 can be purchased from Ali for $11.01 but you have to wait an estimated 19 - 39 days for delivery.

Only had two SF14’s one of them did have a fit on NiMh. low and med would work fine but it would have a flashlight seizure as soon as it was put on high mode. Figured it was just mine. Didn’t know it happened to others. The other one worked fine though. Gave the fit thrower away and sold the other one.

Might grab another one though. Thanks a bunch ActiveAl

Sofirn SP10A V2. $11.99 after $3 coupon.

https://www.amazon.com/Sofirn-SP10A-Mini-Flashlight-Keychain-Ring-CREE-LED-Gives-max-550-Lumen-Great-Small-EDC-Light-Daily-Use/dp/B07FMKN5K4/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1536287626&sr=8-6&keywords=sofirn

Zanflare F1 $15.50 after coupon