Okay, then I am one off base. I was thinking budget lights are just what it said budget lights. Such as, $5 to maybe $45.
I got 12 lights, the highest price one cost me $37.75, and it is CLAIMED AT 4000 LUM too!! 
However, I see your point…
I don’t think you’re off base . . I would say that a high end light can be a good or great Value Light, but that doesn’t make it a Budget Light. I would propose that Budget Lights are lights the masses include in their budgets.
Might be some reasonable discussion about how much, but I’d say the amount is probably limited by what we see for pricing on the wal-mart shelf . . . last time I looked, that was probably close to whatever the LED 2 or 3 D maglites are going for. By that standard, $45 is more than I’d probably spend, but $30-something seems reasonable.
That above is exactly what I figured was “budget lights”. I have aquired about 13 lights. The highest price one is the one I mentioned for $37.75… However, it is not the brightest!!
You have reaffirmed my belief, that I do follow the “budgeteer’s code”…
This is CPF mentality. A $30 AAA light is what they suggest when you mention budget lights. A “budget” anything is just a lower cost version of that product, right?
No, a lower cost item can easily be bad value and bad for a budget. When I buy something expensive for a specific purpose, it must be good value and not just cheap or it’s not really suited to my purpose.
Cheap is lower cost . . but cheaper while still delivering most of the value is budget. You could sell a $5 minimag incan clone that works only 40% of the time, but who would want that to save the 35? And even at 35 off, if the price is beyond the budget of most buyers, then it’s pretty obvious there isn’t enough value to be a good buy for most people. The exception doesn’t make the rule.
The CPF mentality I see is that one must have the best as defined by latest, highest unobtainium and most expensive or they are not worthy. Others may see it differently but that is why I’m not spending much time there. Well, that and the forum format which drives me away the most. There are helpful people there, so it’s really more a matter of personal preference.
You are not off base, just that lights are like narcotics to some of us. Too much of the same thing, we have 10 x 16340, 10 x 18650, 10 x dual 18650 throwers, 10 of 26650.
Seriously i have quite a few triple XM-L, eight of them (after selling 2 of them) and a 5X XM-L. heh……
That’s the “problem” with budgetlights for some of us….it adds up. $30 doesn’t seem like much, till you realise that you have 40 of them.
Difficult to duct tape them together and declare it a 100,000 lumen monster.
Try the DRY or Trustfire J12 or J18. Rather reliable, good, under 100 bucks…. did I mention POWERFUL!
Hmmmmm...buding seems a little spammy today!!!
Nothing against the Keygos but for nearly 7 bucks less (also with free shipping) you can get the XM-L C8 (that should be really closely bright to the Keygos) from buyincoins. I bought 5-6 of them already to use as occasional gifts etc. and can only recommend this model from this store.
Welcome to the family, YNC!
looks great, I need to get one of those
i thought the purple one was the brightest.
Aloha and welcome to BLF keewado!
Difficult, but not impossible. Once you’re done, can you post some beam shots please?
I have to take a step back here. There’s little or no Budget when it comes to the hobby as a purest. Acquiring
an abundance of tools redundant in purpose and design is anything but conservative or as a budget minded.
I think the meaning of budget lights was knowingly discarded when you opened the 2nd DHL package.
Is this example a budget approach or a flashaholic? 3 x 3T6 @ $35 each or 1 x $100 Brand Name - Nothing Budget here just more Lumens IMO
I can see both approaches in there:
Buy the 3, pick the best of the 3 which is probably equal or better than the brand name, buy the brand name just to be sure, tweak it and then sell on CPF for a profit, put 2nd best in your wifes’s car and tell her it’s for her (plus more duct tape for later), give the old one from the car to someone in need, clean off the duct tape residue and sell worst of the 3 (someday).
:bigsmile:
I am a big fan of wash lighting and I do like to get the led effect lights out if I can use smoke but I’m using discharge effect light.
While not the absolute BRIGHTEST, the ultrafire G4 MCU I just got is unbelievably amazing thrower for a single xr-e, single 18650 light at less than 11 bucks right now. I am talking 150+ yards with a very tight hot spot but quite a bit of useable spill too.
When I bought my first one back on 5/8/2012 I was just blown away when I saw how far it throws a perfect beam. It has been my go to light every time I go outside. It is the best $10.99 you will ever spend,$14.99 regular price.