Spark SF5 XM-L2 NW (AA/14500) Carbon fiber and Flood/Throw reflector kit

Lol I got paid today too. I love the sf3 so much the sf5 is a no brainer :slight_smile:

I don’t get paid until the 1st [twitch] [twitch] :frowning:

Hmmm I think I’m gonna go for the NW version of the SF5. Probably that and a D25A Ti clicky will hold me over for another couple weeks. With some of my lights coming from China and some coming 2-day from Prime, it’s always like Christmas :slight_smile:

Fantastic review, one of the best ones I’ve read in a long time!

I’ve owned/used this light for several months (attracted by the throw/flood reflectors) and must say it is in my EDC rotation.

No, not cheap but dual reflectors actually gets you two good looking, very functional lights!

How is the clip? Is it decent? The review said this:

The Pocket clip is strong! it feels thicker than the one from the V11R, but the V11R clip is less flexible… Much stiffer than the clip of the Spark SF5.

…but I’m not sure what that means. It’s stronger and thicker without being stiffer? Does that mean it’s good? :wink:

Yes, it is very strong and rigid. So rigid, I’m opting not to force it on to the body of the light - I just hate to scratch anno surfaces.

BTW, it mounts on rear, opening facing forward.

Thanks. It looks nice. I wasn’t originally a big fan of snap-on clips but I have a few lights where it’s done right, like the V11R.

Nice! The comparison with V11R is really helpful as I’m in the market for a SF3 or V11R.

hkequipment has a pretty good price on a v11r

sometimes they will popup on ebay or the cpfmarketplace for $50-60

I have both the V11R and the SF3.

Personally, I prefer the SF3. It feels better in the hand. No need to flip it around to get to all the controls. And it looks better.

from hk equipment

You are weclome. For SF5-NW, we can offer US$49.00 with coupon SF5NWoff. For group buy, we can down to US$44.00 for 15pcs. The price including shipping with tracking for group buy. For our web coupon order. We offer free shipping but please select extra US$2.00 option if member prefer package with tracking. Thanks for your interest.

who is interested in a group buy?! I am!

feeler thread: PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS IN OP Spark SF3/SF5 Flashlights + SG3/SG5 Headlamps —— CW or NW —— $44 shipped w/tracking – minimum met!

Thanks for the review, looks like a very nice light.

I just broke the rubber switch cover as I tried to see how I can open the light.

I'm still a little concerned about the contact issue.. it's working, but when I push on the side of the head I can see the output changing, like small flickering.

This doesn't do it all the time, but from some angles more than from other sides..

About the clip? I think it's just a different material from the V11R.. thicker but less stiff. I didn't say it was stronger.

So far, it seems that carbon fiber is only decoration over an aluminum body. Real carbon fiber products use it as structure. I am not sure if it could be used as the conduction path or not, maybe if one could find ways of connecting it to metal.

It's just a carbon sleeve, nothing more.

Yes, the carbon fiber sleeve is just decorative. It sits on top of aluminum.

On my SF3 the sleeve does appear to be glued in. It doesn’t move or rotate.

Is this light better and more recommendable than SC52 flashlight?

Or are they just very similar?
Either way, nice looking light.

I also own the Xtar WK41 and the EagleTac D25C Ti (moddified by VinhNguyen54).

These three lights are my EDC rotation.

Another update:

After getting the light back from WallByeBye (paying $6 for shipping to them and $10 for return shipping to me, they didnt cover these cost),

I contacted Spark about this issue in July.. They sent me a replacement at the end of July.. and it arrived 1 or 2 days after I left for my vacation.. But I had to sign for the package, and they only keep packages for 2 weeks at the post office before sending it back.
When I came back home, after 2.5 weeks, the light had been sent back to China.. and last time I checked, still hadnt arrived... probably lost in the mail, what a shame.

So I just wanted to get that thing open, and see what the problem is!

and I`m pretty sure I have found the problem!

First thing is that I actually got the tube unscrewed from the head... maybe I used more force this time, because I was pretty sure it was all 1 piece..

Glad I was wrong.

Then looking onto the driver board, I saw they soldered a ring underneath it.. (to make contact with the battery tube for negative).

No, the light is not bend, but thats the effect of the lens of my camera.

There are 3 problems I could find.

  1. The driver sits too deep in the head to make contact with the battery tube. (solution, lower the driver)
  2. The battery tube is too short (use a spacer, but a better one than they used)
  3. The O-ring that fits just behind the threads near the head doesn`t go deep enough into the head because of the inner threads.
  4. The piece of carbon fiber is too long, so with the 3 above points, the battery tube doesnt make enough contact.

a very quick and non-permanent solution I came up with:

  • Shorten the carbon fiber tube
  • Take out the metal contact ring
  • Take out the -ring

and its working as it should be.. but this is something that SPARK has to learn.. fitment.

they should have measured it before putting this thing together..

my question now: Does anybody else have this ring underneath the driver as well?
I think it was a last-minute decision Spark made before selling these of.

Also I noticed that the threads on the batterytube near the head had very sharp edges... so I sanded them down.

  • for a permanent solution, I will have to take the driver out,and see if I can let it sit a little lower, or put a copper washer or something similar. Because I really want to keep the O-ring there.