Rich, you’ve really hit the nail on the head with the above. In addition to that, they also forgot to realize they’ve overpowered some of these lights to the point, only the highest end IMR26650 cells can run them on HIGH mode.
I guess that old saying fits here, be careful what you wish for, you may get it.
My background in Silicon Valley was Reliability & Specification Compliance Test Engineering on electromechanical monsters for years, ie daisy wheel printers at Xerox Diablo Systems. Any one remember them? Electromechanical monsters that the laser printer and then the inkjet killed. So I know something of subjects like component derating, temperature sensitivity and it’s effects etc. Overall a LED flashlight is pretty simple in comparison.
Speaking of batteries does any one think that this TrustFire flashlight could come close to reaching full output with TrustFire batteries? 
I haven’t received mine yet, but I did want to see how it performed with the 4 different 26650 cells I have. The light is wired to have the cells in parallel, which is another thing I liked about it. I assume the Trustfire 26650’s would act as a single 4.2v 15,000mAh cell (rated mAh not actual) and simply share the 10 amp current load between each cell on HIGH mode.
The power output I come up with is, 10a*3.8v= 38 watt gross output.
Considering it’s rated to run on HIGH for 2-3 hours, depending on how good the cells are, I’d say on lower settings, this should be a real long runner.
This was the review HKJ did on the Trustfires, REVIEW TR26650
ok now theres an incentive . i didnt know that this light has superb heatsinking. thats what makes the difference.
since this group buy isnt a huge savings, i think id wait for richie to give us his 2 cents after he receives his light.
im curious to know what the otf lumens is after 5 mins of running it on turbo.
JohnnyMac posted a review of the light on the FastTech web site shortly after buying the light. I suggest you read it. Short but interesting and it has a Pros list which references the heat sinking and it is expanded on in the text.
http://www.fasttech.com/product/1398604
Click on “Reviews”
I have no means of testing Lumens. I know what some of my lights output as I sent them to RMM for modifications and asked him to give me his test sphere results for all levels. The TR-S700 will probably make the same trip for wiring, LEDs and braided springs upgrades along with testing before and after.
I didn’t even check the normal price until blueb8llz said the GB isn’t much cheaper. If they GB doesn’t go through. I’ll still buy one for sure.
Want a light that can run on high for a long time.
Only wish it had a tripod hole so I could use it on a tripod when working on the car and stuff.
If you're not planning to mod, then the GB price doesn't save you much. If you plan to mod, the XM-L2's will allow you to drive the emitters harder, especially once you reflow them onto Noctigon mcpcb's.
Read post #3 from JohnnyMac. It looks like increasing the output much with the current driver board may be difficult. Does any one know of someone who has upped output appreciably or has a source for an alternative driver that is compatible with the current switch assembly?
I’m abit confused.
http://m.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_80245.html
Isn’t the one listed on gearbest the same as the GB? Both XML2 or am I missing something?
The GearBest one claims to be XM-L2 while the one I bought from FastTech is XM-L per the listing. When I originally looked for the light my Google search did not show the GearBest listing. So it all depends on where you buy it looks like.
It looks like they've lowered their price. With that price, I see no point in waiting for a GB to happen. That said, there's two other options being looked into, so I'll wait to see which of those is best.
Sorry guys, the price was wrong by the incorrect system operation, now it’s revised now 
Should of bought it. Now the price went up 
Acccording to the Trustfire representitive I delt with via email, a retailer can order these lights from Trustfire in any of 3 versions.
In either Cree XM-L T6 emitters (didn’t ask color temp) Cree XM-L2’s available in both 6500k and around 5000k-5500K color temperature.
I went with the 5000k-5500k NW. Gearbest does have it in the XM-L2 version, but I’m not sure which one, so if it makes a difference to you, please get clarification from them.
I’m pretty sure JohnnyMac mentioned on one of these threads modifying this light with wiring and braid made very little output difference. To get output up higher, would likely require a driver mod of some type.
From what little we do know about the s700, it seems Trustfire really did a nice job on it and appears to be a very efficient design, inside and out.
I ordered mine direct from trustfire with batteries and XML2 T6 4C 4000k emitters for ~$170 shipped.
It might sound like a lot, but I really dont like cool white tint and changing the emitters myself would be quite costly since there are 7 of them.
Its also shipped fed ex ($60 of the cost) so it will be at my door in about a week or two max.
I must have hit the lottery or the size of the box caused a hit. Per the last USPS tracking email I received the light package is “Inbound into Customs” in LA. The first time I have seen that particular post office notification. Wonder how much delay from that?
I won’t be getting mine until sometime after October 6th. Trustfire had to order the XML-2 NW LED’s I wanted. It’s also some type of holiday that first week of October for them too.
Mine will eventually be shipped FedEx, but considering mine will be shipped with the batteries, I hope it won’t cause any customs issues after having to wait weeks just to have the light built.
Looks nice. I like the 3*26650 aspect, but 3500 lumens is kinda weak. I think something like MM15 is a better value in spite of being more expensive.
My light cleared Customs in LA Sunday afternoon so I will hopefully have it Tuesday or Wednesday.