18650 battery recomendation for flashlight use?

Batteries and Chargers Rechargeable Batteries
1

Which 18650 batteries are the best for flashlight use? I have tried Ultrafire, Trustifire, GTL, but the most die after few weeks. Can you suggest some for personal use?

2

Get a battery based on a Panasonic, Sanyo or Samsung cell, you can check my reviews for actual brands.

But even the cheap brands usual last longer than a few weeks, maybe you are mistreating the batteries (That will kill any brand of battery).

3

Any 18650 based on a name brand cell should work well. As a general rule all ****fire batteries are bad as are most chinese brand ones like GTL.

4

Thanks for your answer HKJ. Your website with reviews of flashlights, chargers and batteries is very professional. H)

5

I’m looking for a couple of 18650s and am stuck which to go for after the HiMax debacle.

Have been looking at these Xtars:

http://www.torchdirect.co.uk/rechargable-li-ion-batteries/xtar-18700-37v-2600mah-li-ion-protected-battery-sealed-pack-of-2-batteries.html

But someone also pointed me to here:

Around £12 delivered for a couple of cells is as much as I can spare at the moment and I’d welcome advice. Would probably prefer protected cells.

Thanks,

Chris

6

Doesn't Torchy the Battery Boy sell for reasonable cost in UK? I will still buy Hi-Max, but only from US ebay dealer Protactical - BLF member Shaneatproshop, who will stand behind and has promised to test his cells. Not an option for you with new US shipping regs. Have you looked at Solarforce? I've always had good luck with my SF 2400, and the price on the new 2600mah cells goes down with quantity purchased. You can't beat SF customer service.

I don't favor price shopping on cells, particularly from ebay - it's too easy to put a fresh, shiny fake wrapper on an old cell and call it what you will. Good cells is not something you should look for the lowest bidder on. I will no longer buy batteries from DX or DD, as they have been caught selling fakes; Manafont seems to be a good source, but I will no longer invest in cheap xxxxFire cells. I have never had an issue buying batteries from IOS, CNQG or HK Equipment. Xtar 2600 is another favored cell of mine, but again, I prefer getting them from Shane in the U.S., so another recommendation for them is here:

Contact Serena (szws@szwholesale.com) and ask for the BLF price.

7

The eBay seller I’ve linked to is actually Torchy but he’s got a number of cells on there and I wasn’t sure which to go for or how they compared to the Xtars.