Looks great. Best price I see is the preorder for 39.95.
The problem is they’re not including the 18650 tube. I picked up the black anodized on preorder and it came with both tubes.
The 18650 tube is sold separately but listed as ‘coming soon’ for 3.50.
I don’t mind buying it for $3.50 but they should just include it in the preorder and charge $3.50 more. It’s a brand new torch, people will need the tubes. Also I don’t want to pay $12.00 to ship a $3.50 1oz tube once it’s in stock
If they made S43S SKU with only 18650 tube (not incl 18350 tube) I would buy it.
I don’t want to buy the 18350 version, then $3.50 for a tube, then I have to throw away 18350 tube. (I don’t have any 18350 cells)
The Nichia version should be closer to 1600 lumen.
I just noticed that they did not print this in the specs like they did with the S42. It’s the same emitters and FET so output is the same. 2100 lumen for the xpg3 version and 1600 lumen for the Nichia 219C version.
It looks like M4D M4X is doing a group buy for the S43S for $27, but one of the tubes is extra.
It also appears Astrolux has hotrodded both the aluminum version and this copper version by doing away with the front spring and using double springs on the tail cap. It was drawing 15A on a 4v 30Q! That’s mighty impressive.
The S43S comes with an 18350 only. Their history with their prior Special editions is to offer the 18650 tube separately. I had to buy all my 18650 S41S tubes separately. That’s fine but the S43 tube isn’t listed to be sold separately. It’s listed as “coming soon”, plus you’d have to pay shipping. So this time they really should have included an 18650 tube.
That being said, I jumped on the preorder, it’s a great discount. And 15Amp holy crap I can’t wait to see that.