I like the XPs because they are just superb value for money. Simple, honest, well-made lights at a bargain price. If you covered up the name on the XP-1 and told people it was a new model from, say, Tank 007 and cost $15, nobody would bat an eyelid. Hopefully the XP-11/12 will continue that trend. They certainly look just as well made.
Personally I prefer 1 mode in small lights for everyday work use. Nothing more annoying than faffing around with different modes when all you want is some quick light to see what you’re doing. But that’s just me.
I also applaud Hugsby for being far more realistic in their output claims.
There does seem to be a couple of different versions of the XP-11 but I wouldn’t pay twice as much for the XP-G/G2 one. More satisfying and cheaper to swap the LED out yourself if you want to (if you can get the head apart, that is).
It goes without saying that whoever gets one first will have to do a quick review for us.
My Hugby XP-11 and XP-12 arrived. Quality is on par with the XP-1/2 lights. Nice anodized finish on body and OP finish on the reflector and apparently AR coated lens. Threads are decent, have a decent fit, and are smooth enough to be considered acceptable. There were aluminum shavings in the threads that I brushed out with an old tooth brush. O-rings fit very nice and give the feel that light may be water tight. Emitter appears to by XP-E2, but I couldn't open the head by hand to verify.
Compared to the XP-1/2, the XP-11/12 have:
a much brighter beams across the board. Smaller, more intense hot spot. Much brighter spill. Beam diameter is the same diameter. The AA XP-11 is much brighter than the 2AAA XP-2. The 2AA XP-12 is much brighter than the AA XP-11.
a more neutral tint. XP-1/2 beam is slightly purple tinted in a side by side comparison to both the XP-11/12. The XP-11/12's have a very slight yellow tint in the corona.
single mode too.
No clip.
Two more great Hugsby bargains. No beam shots, been raining for days here. I just noticed the tail caps appear glossier in the below pics. In real life the cap caps are slightly more glossy, but not as much as the below pics indicate. The difference may be due to handling as I recall having some lube residue from the threads on my fingers.
Shocked by the quality of this light. It’s not the tiniest but the machining and in hand feel are awesome. AR lens and deep SMO reflector. Only downside is the reflector is limits LED selection to XP-E, XP-G, and 219.
Shocked by the quality of this light. It’s not the tiniest but the machining and in hand feel are awesome. AR lens and deep SMO reflector. Only downside is the reflector is limits LED selection to XP-E, XP-G, and 219.
Excellent news. Thanks for the report. They look like Trunite Tis' which have awesome knurling and are the brightest AAA I have. Do you have a Tis's to compare the output to?
It comes with a CW XP-E Gen1 emitter. I’ve just ordered some 5a3 XP-E2s from LCK to put in these lights. The reflector basically uses the dome to center the LED, and it’s just big enough to clear the emitters I’ve mentioned. With the XP-E though it has a really nice spot.
Yes and no. The LED shelf is wonderful (perfectly flat and almost a mirror finish) and is a perfect fit for 10mm Sinkpads (though at boost driver current levels this isn’t necessary). The reflector is where the challenge comes in. Refer to my last post for more details.
I’ll try and take some pics of this light and some others that I just received later this evening.
I know about the 10mm square Sinkpads; I’m assuming this refers to 10mm round boards fitting the Hugsby? Where can those be bought? Any that fit the Luxeon Rebel?
