My collection is in a bloated phase, as I try and compare various lights. For me it’s less about the specific light, so much as the functional slots.
1: Tiniest edc - Olight S mini cu
The copper makes the tiny light feel more substantial and easier to control. The switch is a bit mushy, and I haven’t gotten around to swapping the emitter, but I keep trying to find a replacement for it and failing. Bought another at a markup after losing my first.
2: Rotary/Nightstand light - Jetbeam rrt01 2019
I was initially disappointed when getting this light due to the size. But my opinion reversed upon nightfall. While the tuning of the ring is not perfect, there is a lot of space for ultralow modes, replacing Anduril sunset mode for me. Shame the new version is longer and has a redundant clicky.
3: Bright, medium size, with compromise beam - Noctigon k9.3
Currently this slot is filled with the fireflies eo7 with 219b sw45k. The beam pattern is perfectly even, but too floody for the outdoors. My old Fenix tk45 could throw similarly with less output. The k9.3 should have better throw, and I’m interested to see if I use the red channel. A Convoy m21d in gt-fc40 will compete for this slot when it comes out.
4: Pocket thrower - Lumintop x9l
I was expecting this one to be an impractical hotrod. But the beam pattern is great, the spill is brighter than you would expect, and the body is lovely and practically sized. The Noctigon Kr1 is fighting for the same spot in the collection, maybe the incoming sst20 version, along with 18350 tubes will change my mind. Manker mc13 with emitter swap will also be a contender, but my guess is that an edc light needs more spill.
5: Dedicated single-cell thrower - Manker u22iii
I’ll be sharing this slot with my Dad, as I don’t really need one, but he likes these a lot. Currently have an L21a Osram, which is capable, but somewhat unbalanced to use with the tailswitch. Have the K1 in w2 and sbt 90 to compare. W2 has cleaner, less ringy beam than the Convoy, with a tighter spot. Sbt 90 beam pattern is tighter than my x9l, but still versatile. The beam quality is muddy though, visible artifacts when spinning it. Also, it gets much hotter for the same throw vs Osram. Will try the fireflies t9r next. Then manker u22 iii for Osram, or mk37 or acebeam k30-gt for sbt90. Predicting the u22 wins, for compactness and the preferred tir beam pattern.
Dt8 lh351d and nov-mu would need to fight the first two, probably won’t make the cut.