Anything better than the BLF A6?

Yeah, I’ve got a couple of A6’s I bought within the last couple of years. Threads are nice.

But as with all lights, I always clean and re-lube when I first get the light. That gets out any grime that might be on the threads from the factory.

Overall, I think the BLF A6 still holds up well, when compared to present-day budget lights.

I can not think of one.
It’s a very good compromise between a lot of factors.

For instance, I like smaller lights, but I have not found one with a UI I like.
Or it will use a smaller battery, which I also dislike.

What I’m doing now is rotating between 3 lights, and one is an Astrolux S1 (same as BLF A6, with the great UI and a warm white LED) with an 18350 tube, though I use it with CR123A primaries (because i have a ton of them).

The other ones I will use are a 1xAA thorfire, and a Jetbeam 18350 light that was a giveaway on here.

These have weird or plain UIs, small batteries, and cold tints ( I can live with cold tints).

I’ve given up on AAA lights. Batteries too small, UIs i have found are even worse.

whats the software on the A6?
The biscotti is nice on the S2…………

Custom firmware by TK, AFAIK:
http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~toykeeper/flashlight-firmware/trunk/view/head:/ToyKeeper/blf-a6/blf-a6.txt

ActiveAl,
thanks,for the reply i’ve had convoy and astrolux flashlights and liked the threads.i carry a light everyday and the a6 would fit in my pocket.
thanks for all the information.

I got a BLF A6 recently and I have to say it ticks my boxes.
Especially with the 18350 short tube, you have an incredible EDC for the price.

I put a tiny amount of Vaseline on the threads.
I have experienced more quality-feeling threads on more expensive flashlights but it is not a priority.

I think they should increase the range, a mini-BLFA6 with 14500 or smaller. I would go for that quite happily.

I like the FW3A best - but the BLF A6 (AKA Astrolux S1) is 2nd

wle

Greasing.

I firstly clean all new torch threads with Turps. Wipe with old tooth brush.
Then.
I have a tube of INOX mx6. PTFE Machinery grease.
High temp, E.P. Food grade.
Thick. NOT really greasy. Lasts forever on twisty’s.

Says.
Anywhere a HIGH TEM’P. NO MELT. Extreme pressure
grease required.
It doesn’t run out of any of my high output torches.

My first purchases with Bangood were yrs ago.
Apart from one doa, one with sw that went walkabout later. Died.
and 2 x wrong size rear metal switches. ALL fixed.
I’ve always got what was ordered.
And had civility from the person I speak to.

Oh. It took a long time to get a S2 torch I won a long time ago.
Thought they forgot.But sent another by return email.
That first silver one never fronted.

I have a couple of A6’s but I actually like my convoy S2+ that I put a nichia 219c and a fet driver in more.

They are still great lights, and have stood the test of time.

Well, Simon released a 21700 version of the S2+ recently, so this might be exactly what you are looking for.

I prefer the BLF A6 over the FW3A. The A6 just seems a lot tougher and more reliable.

About a month ago I was using a BLF A6 as a rear light on my bike (with some red gel filters). It dropped off without me noticing. I thought I lost it, but a couple of hours later on my return trip I saw it up ahead, flashing away. No damage, just a very small ding on the bezel. It hit the pavement going about 25 km/h, and luckily never even shut off (or there’s no way I would have found it in the dark).

I think if my FW3A did that, it would have smashed into a dozen pieces and the tailcap exploded.

In addition to my BLF A6 lights I have two Astrolux S1, in red and blue. With the 18650 battery tubes fitted I have two more A6s. But I usually use the 18350 tubes just for the variety. It's good to have options.

The only 18650 lights I own are A6s. They are nearly perfect for me.

due to green tint in my A6, i switched to Convoy S2+ 4500K added FET driver with Bistro UI
and it has smooth tail, unlike sharp tail on A6
minus be the clip, clip is much better on A6 but Convoy clip have never failed on me yet … just doesn’t feel as firm

I’ve got a silver A6 and a red & blue S1 (w/ 18650 tubes for each). They are wonderful, solid lights for those times when having light is more important than bells & whistles. For the price, I don’t think you can do any better. OK, maybe the Convoy S2 line, but I don’t own any of those (yet), so I can’t speak to their quality.

I just got an FW3a too. It’s nice. I rather like the ramping compared to the fixed levels of the other lights. It’ even compatible with ‘normal’ folks when Muggle Mode is enabled. :slight_smile: It’s a bit more expensive, and I think I need to open it up and do the general cleanup to remove grease/oil from contact surfaces… but overall I’m quite tickled by it.

On paper, the ZebraLight SC700Fd 21700 XHP70.2 Floody Neutral White High CRI Flashlight looks like one of the better hand held flashlights, these days. If I could afford its $119 price tag, I would buy it over the BLF A6. Then I would buy two or three A6s to go with it!

'Course, I already have three. They were very affordable, indeed.

One thing I have decided is that I strongly prefer boost and buck-boost drivers over FET and similar "direct-drive-like" drivers. I don't like it when output slowly declines at the battery goes down.

If I can get it, I also really like high CRI.

The A6, which offers neither of these, certainly ain't perfect, but, hey!, what flashlight is? I use my A6s almost every day. They're great.

Yeah, Zebralights are far better lights than the BLF A6, but they’re also much more expensive. Worth it, IMO, but perhaps not worth it to everyone.

For a comparable light to the A6, I’d go with a SC600w MkIV HI (throwy-ish) or a SC600w MkIV Plus (floody). Or just the regular 600w for an in-between beam profile, though I prefer the SC64w HI for that.

But it’s tough to go wrong with the BLF A6, when you can buy 4 or 5 of them for the price of a Zebralight.

blf a6 is awesome

i think FW3A is better, because it is smaller and true pocket size
but it costs 2x the blf a6

Now that the FW3A is around, it's my current fave.

It is a little pricey, but I love the ramping feature.