AWESOME! will KIV. Will wanna keep the length short, 14500 ensure higher output also

I whole heartedly cast my vote for:

3. Keep this existing compact design use anduril 2.0 and aux lights but only work with 14500

Looking forward to owning a WK10!!!

I vote option 2. If the only sacrifice is a small increase in length, AA compatibility makes a ton of sense to me.

Wurkkos wrote:

Will a charging port necessary for a AA /14500 light?

A charging port is not necessary, but I for one love integrated charging, even if it only works for the 14500. If you could use some of the added length to add a USB-C port and charging circuit as well, I’d love it. If you would have to increase the length further, then to me it’s not worth it at that point. The light would become too large.

I would rather see Anduril 2 and Aux LED instead of a simple UI.

I would buy this as it is now and hope to see AA compatibility in a future version.

I do not believe onboard charging is necessary.

Thanks for accepting opinions!

I would vote for #2 with NiMH compatibility.
I don’t think a charging port is necessary – especially if the light can be shorter without it.
An AA light that runs Anduril, with aux LEDs and is compatible with NiMH would be unique in the market.

Is it feasible to sell both 14500 only and 14500/AA versions?

AA support is very important to me. Option 2.

If you manage to get a charging port and that supports both chemistries and keep the size relatively small than go right ahead. This would be a unique feature that’s great for gift lights.

Can the clip become deep carry?

Option 3 would put the WK10 in a class with only one true competitor…the FWAA. However, with the SP10 Pro sorta-kinda released and the complete redesign along with the extended length necessary to add AA support, the WK10 would be placed in direct competition with the SP10 Pro.

Please don’t mistake what I’m saying…I’m still a buyer of either version. However, Option 3 puts the WK10 in my pocket every/every other day, alternating with my FWAA. Option 2 puts the WK10 in my backpack, along with my SP10 V3, where it will get occasional use.

RTWiFi wrote:

I whole heartedly cast my vote for:

3. Keep this existing compact design use anduril 2.0 and aux lights but only work with 14500

Looking forward to owning a WK10!!!

3. I also vote to keep the existing compact design, use Anduril 2 and aux lights, but only work with 14500. Small triples like this make great pocket rockets … but not with AA. I don’t see internal charging being necessary.

Some additional suggestions:

• The shiny anodizing of your prototype looks ok, but matte anodizing tends to look higher quality.
• 2-way clips are the “in” thing right now…. but they SUCK for actual use. The backbend gets caught on things when you try to deploy the light, the lack of lip makes it hard to use one-handed, and the entire clip sticks out too much. It is much more useful to have a one-way, low-profile, deep-carry clip.

This looks so much like the FW3A and FWAA lights that “we” designed here and Lumintop made. Is it the same design using a center tube to carry the tail switch signal to the driver or did you come up with something better?

I would love a 14500 with aux lights. Sign me up for Option 3.

I would like to see a better clip, though (captive! held by a ring between tail cap and body…it’s the best), and a finish/surface with a little grip. The way Hank does his KR4 bodies is quite nice but some sort of reeding or knurling would be better than a smooth matte surface.

Many people would probably like the same version in a single emitter, too, for a little more distance than what small triples with optics usually give.

I would vote no usb charging – to keep it simple and easier to repair or modify, reduce costs, and not add any length or bulk to the flashlight.

I vote #2 because I love AA compatible lights. #3 is next choice. No charging needed.

I like the compact design, it’s really small. If that means no AA compatibility, then so be it. There are other options for that in the Sofirn lineup (e.g. SP10) and this small size makes it stand out. Also vote against onboard charging.

Anduril 2 is nice (ramping) to have. But would it require a different microcontroller or is the one in the prototype already suitable for it? Aux LEDs is nice, but a bonus imho.

Is it possible to have a basic version and pro version at the same time? In any case, a pricetag of 16 USD for the basic version is hard to beat. That’s a guaranteed buy for me (with or without Anduril). Ideal as gifts as well.

Long story short, option 3.

Edit:
Is some texturing possible? It looks indeed very slippery (as Boaz points out in the next post)

Option 5!

I don’t see any purpose of the thinner middle of the tube.

The triple head requires a certain diameter anyway, so this light could be much better with a tube for 18500 cells, which would double the capacity of a 14500 and/or allow more current (whatever you prefer).

#2

3 … and I agree it needs a CAPTIVE, one-way, deep carry clip.

The value Wurkkos places on customer input is greatly appreciated. Thanks for reaching out.

Vote: #3. Keep this existing compact design use anduril 2.0 and aux lights but only work with 14500

I don’t want to sacrifice anything in the name of an AA that I have phased out of my flashlights.

Wurkkos wrote:

If it is a combination drive, it will affect the performance of the 14500

Also, a deep carry clip is a must. Single-direction is preferable but deep carry is almost a deal breaker for me. A light this small should be able to be carried fully within the pocket.

Already very floody. Needs full 14500 output to be useful past ten feet. I vote #3

Well I kinda like those all options. More length ain’t issue, but I don’t really need AA support so #3 and #2 seems best options for me.
Charging is not needed.

Maybe it would be good idea to make both, simple UI model and more advanced with Anduril. You could call later as Pro.

Hopefully we also see those fresh and crisp body colors, same as in HD15 lineup.

I vote option 3, with RGB aux LED’s, and no charging needed. Keep it as compact as possible because that is the point of using a small cell like a 14500.

Please use a better clip too like TIFisher said: captured (screw-on like Zebraligiht, or ring-style like Noctigon KR4) and deep carry that goes all the way flush with the tailcap.

I don’t care if it’s bidirectional or unidirectional, but make sure it has a wide enough opening at the front to slip over pocket material.

The clip in the prototype appears to be the same as SC21, and that clip is far too stiff, does not have an opening at the front, and is nowhere near deep carry.

I like the tapered in body tube, like Noctigon KR1/KR4. It allows a comfortable place to hold the light when using a cigar grip.

Thank you for taking community feedback on this design! That is rare and we appreciate it a lot! You guys are making awesome lights and we appreciate your hard work.

1. No to the version with no AA compatible, and no built in charging, and No Anduril.

2. Yes to AA Compatible. No onboard charging if AA compatible.

3. Yes Anduril UI

4. Yes onboard charging if 14500 only. No Single color Aux lights.

If there are Aux lights, they should be user selectable color.

No press fit clip, yes fully captive ring clip.
No dual function S clip.
Yes body can be flipped so captive single direction clip allows use on a hat.

This is an excellent clip design, that can be flipped:
.
note the clip only rests on the body… the clip does not need to be removed when changing to hat mode, just flip the whole body, leaving the clip installed.

14500 with aux LEDs and anduril 2.  Really tough to beat anduril 2.  I almost don't wanna buy any lights without it.  Charging port is not a must nor is AA compatibility.  Compact size, Anduril 2 UI, and aux LEDs would have me buying a couple. 

With it being a triple please keep it 14500.
If this was a single reflector, I’d say make it dual compatibility with USB, but please remember however you make it there will always be complaints and haters

Quote:

3. Keep this existing compact design use anduril 2.0 and aux lights but only work with 14500

(4. Will a charging port necessary for a AA /14500 light?)

3/4.

For a triple 14500 is best for performance.
USB-C would be nice, especially with an EDC that sees lots of use, thus could benefit from quick charges away from home. But the charge port shouldn’t add much to the size.
AUX: Multi-color preferrable as it allows determining battery voltage with a glance.

The shortness of the WK10 prototype is very promising! But personally not a big fan of the KR4-like curvature.. would prefer the tube (and tailcap) to be as slim as possible. That would also help with making the flashlight lighter. Minimal size and weight are big factors with an EDC, at least to me.

The ring clip design by jon_slider above would be nice.

Any thoughts on the emitters? Will it be the usual LH351D? Or SST-20?
Nichia 519A seems to be all the rage right now and I don’t think a triple with those would be a bad seller..

My personal preferences (listed from highest to lowest order of importance to me):

Small (short and slim) as possible (does not need on-board charging)

Single LED with ~4000 CCT Hi-CRI LED using TIR (to have more throw than FWAA)

Very Low Brightness in Moonlight Mode (with usable brightness ramping)

Compatible with AA-sized NiMH Battery (even if it does not support Li-ion Battery)

Anduril-2 User Interface (most current version with accessible flashing pads)

Side-Switch (more reliable than double-tube designs with tail switch)

Lighted Side-Switch (with low current drain and controlled by Anduril-2)

Captive Single-Clip (preferably on a reversible body as "jon_slider" post showed above)

No built-in non-removable Magnets (I just find these more annoying than useful)

No Aux Lights (Sorry, I don't understand the fascination with these)

Wurkkos wrote:

If it is a combination drive, it will affect the performance of the 14500

Knowing this, option 3 is my preference.

USB charging would be very useful for an EDC light, less battery swapping.

Thanks for reaching out to the community.

First off I want to say thanks to you guys for listening to community feedback. I know I was quite vocal in the other thread about it and I do value the extra time and effort it takes.

My ranking for options would be:
#3: Considering that you have said the 14500 performance of the light will be affected with 14500, I do not think the extra compatibility would be worth it in that case.

#2: This would still be a good option if you were making multiple versions of it.

#1: I think having a higher priced light running Anduril 2.0 would be much preferrable to a simpler UI. Anduril 2.0 is very customisable and is the best flashlight UI on the market IMO. I’m sure most people here would pay more for a light that is equipped with Anduril 2.0

#4: I do not think built in charging is worth it in a light of this size (and it would increase cost and complexity to do it well).

Some other general thoughts:
Driver: I don’t know how possible it is at this stage, but a driver with a regulated, flat output would be fantastic and would really elevate this light into a must have. From my experience owning an FWAA, an efficient driver is preferable in a light of this size. The FWAA is inefficient with its FET+1 7315 driver and it has poor battery life at any level above the regulated 350mAh.

Clip: I think that a very important consideration for lights of this size. So many manufacturers get this wrong and it can really compromise with how well the light is carried day to day. The clip that is present on the prototype seems like the same clip present on the SP10V3 and SC21. It isn’t a very good design and I think a lot of people would pay more for a one way – deep carry clip. Ill post an image of one modified by reddit user grzybek337.

Finish: The finish of the light looks great; would it be possible to have colourful anodising like the recent releases of the HD15?

AUX Lights: This is a minor point, but would an RGB LED be possible to source? I find them extremely useful on my Anduril 2.0 lights as they can be used to quickly see battery voltage at a glance. I know I am asking a lot, but I do think that having the ability to change them would help to elevate the WK10 above its competitors.

Finally, I want to say thank you again for listening to community feedback. It is rare to be able to speak to manufacturers like this and I think it’s a fantastic thing!

MaseBase wrote:

Some other general thoughts:
Driver: I don’t know how possible it is at this stage, but a driver with a regulated, flat output would be fantastic and would really elevate this light into a must have. From my experience owning an FWAA, an efficient driver is preferable in a light of this size. The FWAA is inefficient with its FET+1 7315 driver and it has poor battery life at any level above the regulated 350mAh.

Clip: I think that a very important consideration for lights of this size. So many manufacturers get this wrong and it can really compromise with how well the light is carried day to day. The clip that is present on the prototype seems like the same clip present on the SP10V3 and SC21. It isn’t a very good design and I think a lot of people would pay more for a one way – deep carry clip. Ill post an image of one modified by reddit user grzybek337.

I would love to see these features as well.

MaseBase wrote:

Driver: I don’t know how possible it is at this stage, but a driver with a regulated, flat output would be fantastic and would really elevate this light into a must have. From my experience owning an FWAA, an efficient driver is preferable in a light of this size. The FWAA is inefficient with its FET+1 7315 driver and it has poor battery life at any level above the regulated 350mAh.