I need an ultra super bright, very long throw flashlight (sorry for all the superlatives!). I work outside and need a bright long throw reaching at least 400 meters or more. I have seen a number of multiple emitter Cree XM-L flashlights but am not sure which brand will be reliable with good design. I can go with the 26650 large batteries.
The forum’s help is very much appreciated.
If you’re on a budget, you can check out the SkyRay STL-V2, which can throw about 350 meters I’d say. This is regarded as one of the best budget throwers along with the Jacob A60, which costs $15 and throws nearly as far but has a pencil thin beam as opposed to the STL-V2’s wide hotspot (due to XM-L wide angle bulb).
It can be found here for $37.39
If you don’t care about price, and feel like going to a higher price you can buy an Olight SR90 which uses an SST-90 bulb and throws much farther than the STL-V2 or Jacob A60 (But costs around $300).
Or, if you’re going to be working outside for long periods of time perhaps investing in a HID light would be good. They are much cheaper than LED for the output and they throw much further than an SR90 even if it’s 40W.
Hi, skytop - welcome to the BLF.
For ultimate throw, you would be better off with a single LED and large reflector light, rather than a multi-LED setup.
The choices listed above are all very good.
Thanks for stopping by, skytop!
Over 1200 meters…… I love it !
To project 1 lumen at 400 meters, it need it a flashlight with 160,000 lux@ 1 meter
there is no budget led flashlight that can do this!
Olight SR95 UT is it but cost a lot
ebay 75-85w hid is probably the only budget option
Thanks guys! I see there are a few high output ‘economy’ lites like the TrustFire X100. The $100. price point is very attractive for such alleged performance. Next up in price I see the TrustFire X6 SST-90 ($180) which may have similar abilities to the premium priced Olight SR90 and Fenix TK70. But price is an issue with the X6. Then there is the ElectroLumen someone suggested at $259.
Are the TrustFires or ElectroLumens well designed and reliable?
My first ‘high output’ flashlite buy was a Nitecore TM11 on promotion. It is wonderful quality lite but essentially all flood light at the expense of throw. I was somewhat disappointed in this characteristic and learned a lesson.
So I am now somewhat cautious about buying a multi XM-L with all those little reflectors that do not have much throw. The X100 is price friendly but it is a multi emitter so will it really just be a flood lite? One post suggests a single emitter which seems to favor a deep reflector that should throw well.
The TrustFire X6 ($185.) uses the SST-90 and cost about half what the premium Olight SR90 sells for. One chap suggests the ElectroLumens ST90 but that price is way up there too at $259.
So in summary… is the $100 Trustfire X100 going to have powerful throw? Or is it just inevitable that I must ‘bite the bullet’ and step up to the higher price level for something like the Trustfire X6 SST-90, ElectroLumens ST90 or Fenix TK70?
Again, thanks so much for walking me through this.
Did you look at the beamshot page?
Would be nice to see the others in comparison, though.
Electrolumens is a special light, it looks small compared to an SR90 and yes it cost money when you own a light that is well designed and mainly reliable ! In the woods at night trying to find a deer or pig you just shot from 500 yards and your light fails, good luck. I’m down to earth and it took me a lot of Rahmen noodles eating to afford this light the ST90, so I’m only recommending it …. Even as a WoW factor torch ……
Manny: I understand your point. Since I am new to this, seeing all the Chinese brands at 1/3 the price of the major retail brands is understandably shocking. I understand however, that one must strike a balance between value and quality.
Watch out for the excessive salt in Rahmen noodle soups! Thanks for your input!
You are right… Buy what you can afford and myself as many BLF flashaholics we are here to help and offer as accurate information …. Remember you are what you post !!!
BTW: I just ordered an Ultrafire and a Trustfire modestly priced XM-L U2 lites to use as birthday gifts. I want to see what the build quality is like on these two brands.
The trustfire X100 will not achieve the throw you are looking for. The X100 is more a flood light with its small reflectors and big XML dies. The X6 at 2300 dealexteme lumens is most likely under-driven, so its LED (most likely) is not going to have the surface brightness needed to get its SST90 to throw like the Olight SR lights.
400m is *WAY *out there. I think the only way you are going to get any “usable” amount of light that far in the $150 range is with an HID spotlight. 35 Watts should get you in the ballpark… but the more, the better.
Electro Lumens makes great lights, small company that gives great bang for the buck.
I am wondering when are the Chinese going to clone or make something to compete with the TN-31
Let me point something that I found that Wayne did on his ST90 Search and Rescue that left me baffled……
The SST is installed with 2 hex screws into the positive and negative wires. So in the future if you want to replace the led with a new CBT90 or any other, you do it yourself by removing 2 screws ……
Also remember that you Will own a very limited torch ! I don’t think there are more than 250 around. You think an SR90 is intimidating, when you see a ST90 it Will leave you speechless ……
Is there a difference between ST90 and SST90 emitters?
ST90 is a flashlight made by Elektrolumens. It uses the SST-90 emitter which is made by luminus devices.
The TN31 is such a complex torch and high quality materials and workmanship that it would be expensive to produce and rival. Would you pay $159.00 for a clone TN-31 …. I haven’t seen any Thrunite clones ? Has anyone ?
Thanks for the clarification.