like my convoy l6 can do highest turbo 3000 lumens something nonstop no termal stepdown really until batteries wear down first… but can i fit the light in my pockets ? not realy… but a fw3a and similar that can punch out almost that evne for short time is fun xd
You need to look at the mass of the light, something like the fw3a can’t possibly put out high power for too long. You can tell this by just looking at it.
I prefer cri (r9/r12). I sometimes use turbo to see far, but since I’m trying to make perfect long range shots, turbo seldom lasts long enough.
In fact, most lights can’t even sustain “high” which is ridiculous. All lights should have a larger mass and efficient buck driver imo
Max output…Turbo whatever you want to call it.I have NO use for lights from factory whose drivers only sustain Turbo for 10, 20 30 seconds or whatever.
I have a dozen modified lights that sustain Turbo for awhile.Basically they sustain the highest output possible in direct proportion of battery depletion. The output loss is not that noticeable until 10, 15. 20 minutes later until battery depletion.
Those are the lights I like.In addition my Hand determines the step down in warmer months, Not these bursts/ timed step downs that are for amateurs! 
Good thing that you have expensive, large and heavy alternatives!!
Well, in my opinion and experience turbo is actually pretty useful when you need that extra light, even if it doesn’t last. It goes without sayibg that a small host with minimal heatsinking won’t hold high output for long until throttling back. A big light with lots of thermal mass or active cooling will be brighter longer also. As was mentioned, thermal management on the UI side has gotten continously better also.
I say we get rid of turbo & go back to old single glass light bulbs. At least you knew you flashlight was consistent & sustainable albeit very low output. Power would throttle down as the cells went flat. Who’s in?
A lot depends on how fast it steps down. A few seconds is useless.
But something like a Streamlight Protac HL 5-X
Gives a little extra for a short time. Maybe all ya’ need for a quick peek.
Of the late lamented Tacklife.
But make no mistake, I would sure like a mode that gave me the maximum brightness sustainable without stepdown.
Allowing for external conditions. Winter in Michigan vs Summer in Texas.
All the Best,
Jeff
“Are you willing to buy a light that is super bright but only has a limited run time at turbo brightness?”
yes.
it was the only style available
at the time which i could afford.
“How do you usually use the turbo mode?”
illuminating trespassers.
human and animal.
I don’t know how it does it but my Convoy M3-C sustains the max setting for a long time.
I find turbo to be extremely useful in many scenarios.
That said, if I had no use for it, I’d just simply not use it. I’ll take the option for a heavy slam of extra light any day though. I prefer options.
If turbo didn’t exist, I’d definitely have stayed a muggle.
Why do you need to be able to run if you can only hold 50 or 100 meters at the top? Surely you don't run every day, but do you want to be able to run?
I scan at an appropriate throw for the terrain until eyes glow in the distance. Then double click to see what they belong to. Very useful and practical for those who do not live in a city.
So I asked my wife if she would prefer a small one that had very high output for a few seconds or a bigger one that sustained a lower output for much longer. She thought about it and asked “we’re talking about flashlights right”?.
Turbo with temperature regulation is fine by me, even if it’s short lived. I don’t like timed turbo since the flashlight can easily be turned on again into turbo and can cause LED damage.
Some temperature regulation is better than others. ZebraLight is awesome with so many step downs that it’s barely noticeable. And it’s very quick to go brighter again if you disperse the heat like holding the flashlight tightly in your hand. Others are slow to respond and have very abrupt step downs, but better than nothing.
If you want more lumens longer, then you will need to get a bigger flashlight. Simple physics. I usually use smaller EDCs (like an S2+), but when I use my “big” Meteor M43, I’m always impressed with how well it can absorb and disperse heat to allow so many lumens for a long time!
… until you accidentally drop it and the filament breaks.
I hated that when it used to happen with my old incandescent lights.
if you are outside, and it is really cold, turbo goes longer 
This problem is quite easy to solve. Get a bigger light. There us nothing like bigger mass to combat heat. All of the edc type lights are a compromise in more ways than others.
We all want that perfect edc that can throw like an FT03 but is the size of an fw3a. Does not exist unfortunately.
So what do we do now? We get both.
There are few practical examples - weapon lights for hunters do need to be light and punchy for few seconds, where short maximum turbo comes just in place. Another example is Lumintop X9L being just about the biggest light I would put in jacket - great beam profile and long sustainable runtime, but turbo is also there if you need it.