Mateminco MT04 (Astrolux EA01s) with SST40 @ 5000k. This light has enough flood and throw for 99% of situations and it’s quite sustainable due the efficient emitters. If you have one light, I think it makes sense to have USB charging as well.
The MT04 is precisely the light I’m bringing on a roadtrip in a month.
Honorable mentions include the Jin Heng JKK21700 with SFT40 and Sofirn IF22A.
One flashlight so it should be multifunctional…and easy to mod. One flashlight don’t mean the same LED, optics , firmware, isn’t it?
Then I think I chose Panda 4. Headlamp is most functional type of flashlights. And 3 chanal driver also add a lot of functionality.
One flashlight, since i actually use mine a lot it would have to be the most versatile, small enough to be with me 24/7 but big enough to accomodate a single 18650 or 21700 for decent runtime, maximum of 4000k led temp, at or below bbl, with a die not too big so as to have a little bit of throw (maximum size sst40 ish), a way to be locked out, a decently efficient driver, provision for a clip.
It lies in the heart of every newer member that he can make just one really good decision and get back to his life .He looks at the insanity of folks on the forum and wants to believe it could never be him.
Blame Fastech and Convoy years ago who offered 8 tube lights with 5 different emitter options , 4 driver options and then multiple color options .
If you're good at math it's about 300-500 choices .
This has always been the brilliance of Convoys business model .
My brain hurts after thinking so much about this question
I know the aim is to pick a flashlight suitable for all/many situations, but…
…if I need a light to open the door, I will have a keychain light, I won’t pick the backpack flashlight (too much trouble finding it )
…if I need to see something really fast, I will pick the “EDC” light I have in the pocket, not the keychain flashlight that I left in the jacket
…if I go out for a walk, even in urban environment, the keychain light and the EDC light won’t be adequate, so I need to carry my other light
…if I go to the countryside, I can’t use that other light because it won’t reach the 200m I need to see a fox coming from the woods
…and if I need my hands free to pick some wood in the dark, I will have to use a headlamp something like that allows me to have “free hands”.
So…I guess your “one flashlight to light’em all quest” will end up in buying many, at least one for each situation: keychain, headlamp, small EDC, bigger EDC, thrower, lumen monster!!!
I don’t have a better answer for you MUalum13, and now I don’t see how I could spend the rest of my life with only one flashlight
EDIT: does it count as 1 flashlight having a Convoy S2+ tailcap & tube and then different heads (w/ different drivers/leds)?
My MS18W is my favorite light, but if I could only have one, it would be between my Imalent R60C and my Imalent MS08 for their pocketable size but good battery life due to the three 21700 cells. I could live with either as an only light but would probably pick my MS08. The R60C's green tint is a little annoying at lower power levels and the fanned shell of the MS08 allows max power hand holding for the entire usage duration.
IKR
My most used light is my Xtar Moon RC2, but its an indoor pseudo-lantern so if i had to pare it down to one its still the Convoy M1.
But for two lights the RC2 would be in there.
Thorfire TG06S. Two of them really, because of the 1=0, 2=1 thing.
A rugged 1xAA H>M>L tail clicky. Cells are ubiquitous with very flexible chemistry selections primary vs rechargeable. GITD lens O-ring. Reversible pocket clip. Vampire extraordinaire; it will eventually begin starting only on L as the cell is consumed, and suck an alkie cell down to 0.8 ~ 0.7v before giving up entirely. Really decent tint. Sadly NLA, and I've not been able to find an exact replacement.
Seems legit, though. New budget drivers, new emitters, new cells, and the answers change pretty fast. My answer would have been different a year ago. OTOH, OP’s post count and disengagement from this thread does seem kinda spammy.
Now I’m going to pocket my M21B today and see if my answer changes again.