Best 3 of 2013

What are your Top 3 flashlights bought in 2013?

Are we looking at top 3 ‘best buys’ or just best flashlights purchased in 2013 in general?

Tuff to pick only 3 (Smile), but here it goes:

  • HD 2010 in black
  • TN31
  • XinTD C8/X3 (ok - 4, I'm cheat'n)

Jetbeam RRT01, Eagletac MX25L3, Zebralight H52. Two of those were easy picks.

1) K40vn by a far shot, no contest!
2) Barracuda
3) Toss up of X10vn or Mvn

Honorable mention: SL3, Convoy C8, Crelant 7G5CS & L3 Illumination

1. Most Shocking for the Budget — garrybunk’s DST
2. Prettiest to the eye — XinTDx3
3. Brute force/size — FF4

Here’s my take:

1. Supbeam K40 self-modded.
2. SupFire M6 self-modded.
3. Convoy S8 4C tint.

Since you said bought i can’t mention a light won as a prize

Convoy M1
Convoy S2
Klarus P1A

I believe they are also the only lights i bought last year

My nomination is the:
XP-11 CREE XM-L T6 700LM 5-Mode Magnetic Tail Cool White LED Flashlight-Black(1x18650)


Paid a budget friendly $8.80. Currently sell for about $12.
Includes decent heat sinking, tail magnet, clip & side switch… Odd 5 mode layout [needs lower low of course] My only regret is not buying a couple more at the sale price!

Top 3 keepers of 2013, figuring in value vs cost.
BTU Shocker
Fandyfire Warrior
Roche F6

Only $20.50 at time of sale.
OK, scratch the T08, it’s new to me but been around a while. Good quality econo thrower!

Mini CREE-XPE 20LM 3-Mode Cool White LED Flashlight with Clip-Black(1xAA)


Flood-to throw

I’ve recently run into sort of a wall here. I simply don’t need any more torches. I use a couple on a pretty frequent basis, but everything else is used mostly for special purposes.

The two I use most often, and the only two which really count for “best of 2013” are:

  1. L3 L10-219 (awesome EDC)
  2. DQG Tiny AAA IV (on my key chain)

That’s my answer to the original question. Just two, not three.

However, I have a lot of others I really really like, even if it’s mostly just for specific purposes. I’m particularly fond of these:

  1. CNQG “brass beauty” (gorgeous… and a nice EDC, but I rarely need something so bright)
  2. Zebralight H52w (headlamp-ish purposes) (soon to be Fw instead of plain w, if it ever ships)
  3. XinTD C8 V4 (great mini-thrower, best stock C8)
  4. Convoy S7 (nice beam for biking, attractive chrome finish)
  5. ZL SC52 (gets used mostly as a night light, due to crazy-long sub-lumen runtimes)
  6. Skyray King (mostly for impressing muggles)

With any luck, next year’s list will only contain items I modded myself.

I should have put the XP-11 on my short list. It's my current favorite - Dr Jones driver, 3.5A of XM-L2 awesomeness, nice pocket size, magnet tail.

Moe, Larry, and Curly!

I think the Defiant Super Thrower was a good one, from the first of the year.

you have that backwards :smiley:

My Top Three:
Most Used: ArmyTek Wizard Pro (EDC and headlamp)
Favorite Mod: ZY-T08 MT-G2 (2500 Lumens in a jacket pocket)
Massive Output: LusteFire 3XU2-U3 Modded with 3xMT-G2 (5000 Lumens OTF)
Honourable Mention: Sunwayman D40A (favorite 4xAA light)

After 50 or so lights purchased/used/modded in 2013, IMO, these lights deserve their place at the top.

I bought my NW ET D25C last year, along with two rechargeable 16340s (also ET), and it has made me very happy. After a couple of years of rotating through several edc lights, this one has hit the sweet spot of intensity, color, size and the right modes for my needs. We moved this year and the D25C was probably the single most useful tool for the whole process.

If I had to list another one it would be my XinTDv4, which has relegated my TK41 to permanent hall closet duty.

Those are the two outstanding ones, but if I had to name a third, for sheer budget fun, I finally got a Sipik SK68 clone (Ultrafire) 3-mode that I run on an equally budgety trust fire 14500. After reading about these for a few years I just wanted to see one in person, and it’s a kick. So much fun for so little money.

1 - FF4
2 - k40vn
3 - Shocker (mod by Tom E.)