Looking forward to your impressions on this one - I like the 2 button interface - please detail how it works though. The T13 I'm not very fond of, but thinking it's probably like that. That looks like a true SS bezel - can you confirm that? Lot of times, the pics are of a prototype, then later they cut costs going into manufacturing. The weight can go both ways - HD2010's feel like a tank, great heat sinking, but PIA to carry around.
Sorry, I should have asked if it takes 18650. The advertisement in Wallbuys only says 26650. Usually, if it can take both it says it, like for the HD2010.
Sorry I havenāt been able to get going on the review for this fine light. But due to an auto emergency (Iām $345 set back as of this morning) and a family situation that has arisen, I wonāt be able to get to it for yet some time, which is just as well since the 26650 Iāve been using seems to have crapped out after about 15 minutes of use, resulting in output drop gradually. I canāt really test the light now, and I canāt recharge the cell to do a fresh test since Iām out of town on that family matter. I also have a doc appointment tomorrow. But let me nutshell it with pros and consā¦
PROSā¦
ā4 modes (high, med, low, with hidden strobe, and with mode memory that CANNOT fail) 62ā metal reflector for throw (will out-throw my STL-V2 and HD2010 XM-L2 with a much tighter beam than bothindeed, itās a poor manās TN31)
-Bright! Best lumens guess: 965-1,025 OTF.
-Tailstands well
-Lightweight
-GREAT knurling for best grip. Feels great in the hand.
-Nice, tight, clean beam
-Has a warning flash when battery gets low
CONSā¦
-noticeable PWM on med and low modes, but not terrible.
-Light could be driven harder, but this isnāt for sure because of the battery situation. I need to test again. At first, it seemed so insanely driven I couldnāt believe it! Says 2.5 amps in the specs, but may be direct-drive, which put it as or a bit less bright than the V2 after a good few minutes of use, but again, canāt tell for sure yet. Most said the Y3 was brighter when I asked non-flashies which out-shined which on wall tests. It maintained stable output after its initial drop.
-Output drops off noticeably after turn-on and doesnāt get hot at all, which may mean questionable heat-sinking, but not sure about this (again, due to the battery situation).
-no anti-roll feature
-plastic lens
-no āmomentary onā feature (which would have been perfect for this light).
It gets my recommendation and is a great budget powerhouse alternative to the HD2010 and will out-throw nearly any stock budget light you might own (55,000-60,000 kcd maybe?). I love it. Canāt wait to retest it.
hmmā¦ out throw STL-V6?? whoaā¦ not many budget ( under $35) stock light can out throw STL-V6 edit - n/m OP says STL-V2ā¦ in that case Iām not surprise then, as itās more flood than throw
I meant the original 3.5 amp-driven V2 with 1 x XM-L, not the V2 3 x XM-L of today. The V6 model throws about the same as the original V2. And this little guy will put out a tighter beam that will go toe-to-toe with it. That is high praise, indeed.