Review: Trustfire X8 XM-L T6 5 Modes

Great review! The only thing keeping me from an X8 is my funds or lack there of. One day though...one day...

I don’t think that the C8 can give it a run. The Trustfire F15 and the C8 have the same emitter and lens, so what you see against the F15 is what you should get with a C8. While in the pic the hot spot doesn’t look any brighter than the F15’s, it certainly is smaller. That X8 reflector is very narrow and deeper than it is wide and makes for a fabulous thrower. I’d bet it has quite a bit more reach than a C8/F15.

I hope it´s ok, to post my beamshots here...

Driver of X8 is chanched, but with orig. driver, i measure with one 18650 = 3,14A....not really less bright ;)

The KD C8 is modded and much brighter, as the orig. KD C8!

In the beamshots it look´s like, X8 has a little bit brighter hotspot, but i mean, hotspot of Brinyte is little bit brighter. (only a very little bit) ;)

Thanks for posting those pics Andi. Driver change might be in my future



Deeper reflector doesn't make smaller hotspot. It just makes bigger spot at the cost of smaller spill. Frontal area and good focus is what's needed for "throw".

From what i see when shining the p60,F15 and X8 on the wall from the same distance, the larger the reflector got, the smaller the hotspot became. brightness got brighter too. just my observation.

Fixed the tailstanding issue by adding an oring on the rubber tailcap cover. moved the boot deeper into the cap so no more mode changing or wobbliness.

A "larger" reflector isn't the same as wider reflector though. The p60 size is much smaller than the other two.

The x8 as a more expensive light probably has better reflector than F15, and perfect focus. With the F15, they probably just took the xr-e one, slapped it on and hoped for the best. Also, the f15 comes with OP reflector so "hotspot" size doesn't really indicated the "hot" part of the spot if you used that to compare.

Fixed tailstanding problem by adding an o-ring to the rubber tail cap. I was disappointed that it did'nt come with a clip for the lanyard but i made one from some thin ground wire. i just bent the wire around the body and shaped it with a small loop to attach the lanyard. I really like this light a lot and i find i use it more than my other lights.

Thanks for the great review James. You talked me into one and it just arrived today. Initial impressions were a "jaw-dropping" surprise in how well built, finished and designed this light is. You certainly took several fantastic shots of your X8 but the photos simply dont do this light justice. It looks far better in person. Out of the zillions of other "x"-fire lights that I have, this one boasts the best overall quality. I concur with all of your observations. The large deep reflector does an amazing job of keeping the hotspot small and tight for greater range while still having plenty of spill. I was equally as impressed with the hosts ability to wick away heat through the head and into the surrounding air. It offers great heat exchange that actually works throughout a long run period. I kept mine on high for about 30 min in a 75 degree F room and it reached a certain temperature, but never got to hot to hold by the head. Again, Im amazed. I'll eventually need to get some thermal paste. I like the way you applied yours, but its probably unnecessary... but it sure cant hurt. All I have at this moment is thermal glue, so the paste will have to wait. This host also lends itself to easy mods as newer emitters become available.

Tail cap readings on high with 1 & 2 18650's were about .16A higher than yours... nice production standards so far!

Mine came with the clip already attached, a nice braided nylon and metal beaded lanyard, two spare lens, a spare clicky already mounted to a threaded "clicky drop-in", MANY spare GITD o-rings (in fact, all the o-rings on my sample are GITD). I probably would have wanted the clip if mine didnt come with one. It is SS, rather stiff and robust, but you arent missing a whole lot without it. IMO, it looks cool but isnt very functional. With the head so large, I think deployment would have been easier if the clip provided a heads-up carry position. The way yours came, tail-up carry with a long lanyard hanging down the outside of a deep pocket will probably be a far better choice. With the head being the last part to come out of a pocket, it could easily get snagged and the lanyard might allow for fast rotational movement to be applied in getting it past. Sounds good in theory anyways. My emitter came perfectly centered and focused in the reflector. The distributor for mine is unknown but I could probably ask.

Mine came used and was in brand new condition. I suspect that someone was in desperate need for money and needed to part with it quickly. Its sad to think that somewhere there might be one less flashaholic in this world.

Gawking again at this light just now, its still actually difficult to believe that this is a Trustfire. I might need to see what the gutter-nazis-mods on CPF have to say about a light that gives so much bang for the buck against what their paying contributing vendors offer. Besides, its been a while since Ive even been to the other place, but then it would be like ones admission to enjoying herpes to say they enjoy the constant mod ridicule in a place called hell.

Anyone on the fence? BUY THIS LIGHT BEFORE THE MANUFACTURER SCREWS IT UP! Would you concur James?

So far, no light has beat the sheer intensity of my early production TR-1200 (another light they screwed up after initial production) accept an Olight with SST-90 and a 3 x XML mag. I'll have to wait till dark to run these two against each other before I find a champion.

I probably wouldnt have bought this light if it werent for this review. Thanks again James!

Hmm... this or the 3 * XML skyray. At least both have drivers instead of the usual XML direct draw.

What????

I was wondering out loud which is better for $50 or so. Both are big boys that put out a lot of light. The other one on the surface seems more for the money (3 times the emitters) but build quality looks better here.

You're welcome Flashpilot! Im glad you really like this light as much as i do. I posted a real good deal on ebay a week ago for the X8 so whoever got it got a great light for almost half the price. I still enjoy this light and use it daily. I was testing it last night against the F15 after i swapped the F15 driver to the UF MF 3 mode dropin and the X8 was still a better thrower. Heat is no real issue. specially using it with 1 18650 it takes a while before it heats up. the body stays warm but not hot so you can still hold it. I would trade the blinking modes for lower modes but that is for a future upgrade. If you want it to tailstand a small oring to bring the boot up will do it. Im in search for an aspheric lens that might fit, just a curiosity. there should be enough threads to adjust the lens for a good focus. I'd still recommend this over the more expensive lights. I was thinking about the jetbeam BC40 but i think the X8 is still brighter and throwier at around the same pricepoint. Manafont sells it cheaper with less extras. the other stores vary on price and extra items. If you want a bright, throwy light, this is the one to get that is somewhat budget with good build quality and functional heatsinking. Can't wait to hear the results from those lights. Thanks Flash!

Ah... gotcha! I wasnt to impressed overall with 3 x XML's. If you need a massive amount of flood with medium throw, nothing beats it for efficiency.

Ive found that most single emitter XML's provide far more range and still maintain a decent amount of spill. But what the heck, might as well buy both if you cant decide.

Lol, the "budget" light philosophy!

I think this might be my next light . single xml big reflector.

62mm head on that one. How big is this one?

46mm outside head dia. think how far it would go if it was a deep 62mm.

You're welcome James. Alright, I admit it. I was the lucky ebay'er! I havent put this light down for about an hour now... it just feels so proper in the hand. I have 30 new 18650's that need to be discharged and this seems the correct light to do it.

62mm head on that Sky Ray? From the pics, the aspect ratio looks much wider than it is deep - as compared to the X8 lens. I guess you never know if its effective till someone tests it against a known powerhouse. Lens quality plays such a large part in transimitting lumens instead of absorbing them.

Im waiting for detailed reviews and pricing for the Fenix TK70, with its massive reflecting surfaces and 3 x XML. Initial Russian beam shots show it to be one absolute hell of a photon blaster. But it will still never equal 3 x X8's bound together... and will always weigh a ton and a half... and rival the length of a baseball bat. Now it is I who is day-dreaming aloud. I think Im done with multi-XML's for the time being. It was fun to own one of the best but equally as satisfying to have sold it.

Darkness approaches.

Cheers!

62mm is even bigger than the SF masterpiece at 57mm.

Im glad someone here got that light.

I keep mine under the bed just in case it is needed for other purposes. the head has enough weight on it to do damage.

I wish there was a driver mod like dropping a blob of solder to get rid of the blinking modes for the x8.