Review: Shadow TC6 (new version)

Haha, great review, pal :bigsmile: Waiting those beamshots :stuck_out_tongue:

Thank you Foy for the great review.

Memo to myself: Don’t read Foy reviews - they are extremly good and at the moment I have no money for new flashlights. Solution: If I don’t read the reviews, I will not know the flashlight and don’t want it :~

One question:
Is the eternal mystery of the homepage of Shadow solved? www.a-mu.co / www.a-mu.com is it not.
Why do they print a not useful www address on their flashlights?

Thanks for the review. I couldn’t help notice you say “an SMO” as in “an S M O reflector” while I think “a SMO (smow)” reflector. Or it could be pronounced “smooth” in your head as well, that would be “a SMO (smooth)” reflector……

Beautiful review as usual Foy! Thanks so much for your hard work on this.
Frontpage’d and Sticky’d.

Here you go, Chicago . . .

Old on top, new on bottom . . .

Old on left, new at right . . .

These are lousy but it's all I have right now.

DNF - JM05?

I know they're both C8 SMO's so, it might be easy to assume similar performance. Nope. E/JM05 is brighter, has more run time and (between these two) is easily superior to the TC6. Mind you; it was not before I sent it to E1320. But now . . . (smug laughter) the E/JM05 is a different conversation. I was hoping some others that had Erik mod their JM05's would chime in and corroborate my feelings.

Tecmo -

Not sure I understand the question. Also; never gave my OP/SMO usage much thought . . . "OP" = orange peel reflector and "SMO" = smooth reflector. Don't know if it's correct but . . . that's how I roll.

busyFoy

Thorough review as usual. I like the lite, but lately i’m not liking 2 battery skinny long tube lites. Just like don’t feel of the lite. Maybe a 26650 battery would change that.

If you don’t mind me asking, where did you get the SMO reflector for yours?

Thanks for the review. Its always been a looker

Can i borrow $50 bucks

Nope586 -

I think I got it at Manafont . . . . I got my lazy on right now so, I'll find a link later . . . .

motivationFoy

Foy, reading this review made me purchase one and it just turned up this morning. Really impressed with this light it kinda reminds me of a Olight M30 Triton i had a few years back in the weight and feel of it.

One question tho, what batteries are you using in this? I was told not to use protected cells and to use unprotected, whats the reason for this?

Thanks.

I received mine as well, it really is a great light. I do have that same issue though, all of my unprotected batteries fit fine and none of my protected (TrustFire Flames, Panasonic w/PCB) work. The light is just too short. It’s not a major deal but it is noteworthy.

My AW 2900 (Panasonic) work just fine, but they are smaller than most of the protected cells.

I use every battery I have. Protected, unprotected, they all seem to work just fine. Two protected Solarforce 18650s fit in mine, no problem.

I must say, I am glad to see somebody other than me like this light. Seems like a small percentage of lights get the lions share of attention on the forum. The TC6 is a spectacular torch. Swapping the OP for an SMO made it even better.

Foy

I had it out last night with the dog and for the price was thoroughly impressed, i doubt this will be the last Shadow flashlight i purchase.

After contacting the seller the reason for not using protected 18650’s was because they were too long but ive tried a few AW 18650’s and even tho they were longer everything worked fine.

In what sense made it even better?

You can see my post where I compare the Shadow TC6 using both reflectors and you basically have no difference, to see the difference I had to underexpose a lot.

I can see in those beam shots there doesn’t seem to be much difference. In terms of throw however, the swap to an SMO made a significant difference. My use of the word “better” was probably a poor choice. It has seemed better for me because the change to SMO didn’t appear to lose much if any flood but it became a much better thrower. Slightly more ringy but the chief benefit I like most about a C8 size reflector is great reach for its size.

pickabetterwordFoy

Just bought this one in store today along with the VG20, got mine in the gun metal grey colour. Initial impressions, very nicely made, I like the fact their is no pill as the emitter is attached directly to the host for superior heat transfer. It’s very much a C8 with extension tube, makes perhaps an expensive but high quality mod light as these shadow lights are easy to take apart.

3-2-13 update:

With a collection like mine, it's inevitable that some previously "awesome" torches become less interesting over time. Not so, the TC6.

Acknowledging the generally small 2x18650/C8 form factor fan base, the Shadow TC6 remains among the top dozen or so lights that would be the last to go if . . . any had to go. Poorly worded enthusiasm aside, the TC6 is just a damn good flashlight. Bright as hell, dead reliable and a pleasure to hold and use. Its buff finish has held up surprisingly well but it must be said, mine gets little use these days. I can accurately report that if you stand a TC6 on a shelf for a year, the ano will show nearly no signs of wear.

prettyamazingFoy

It’s a cool torch, feels great in hand with a nice solid weight to it and performs well for a C8 driven at 2.5A, it out throws my ultrafire C8 at 3A. Better design and more efficient driver I guess.

Wallbuys store carries the grey version with smooth reflector and more importantly - with XM-L2 U2 emitter.