Best budget flashlights of 2012

What are the best budget flashlights for 2012 ?

Now that it's the gift giving time of year I thought that we should evaluate which of the lights that came out this year give the best performance for the price .

My favorites are :

Xin TD V3 XML neutral

Balder SE-1 XML neutral

Solarforce L2m

Thrunite Ti

Mini 01 and Ti

HD 2010 (Various brands)
Thrunite Ti
MXDL SA-16

Jetbeam PA40

I don’t have the HD, but it’s had many raves along with the Jacob A60 and the Skyray King.

I’ll add the $11 UF G4MCU. Though the MXDL might be the better buy at the same price and a heck of a bargain for those who got it on sale.

EDIT: SK68 clones on the cheap!

King, HD2010, Mini-01, Small Sun ZY-T13

but for absolute budget-bang for the low dollar instant down-the-block gratification buck, #1 goes to……………

1). The 200-lumen XPG 3-pak Techlite’s at Costco for about $15 on sale which include 9 Duracell AAA batts. I bought “a few” of these for poopies, gifts, and giggles. I’m planning to mod some to a higher plane of enLIGHTened consciousness. A fairly underrated who cares torch which is fun to mess with and learn on. And it doesn’t perform actually too bad either given the batt platform. Everyone should have a least one of these paks for non-flashoholic hand-outs, glove boxes, and sundry grab n’ go give to a neighbor/family emergency application.

2). The genuine TrustFire X8 from Rey over at Solar Technology which includes the extension tube and spare parts kit. Quality torch to price bargain of the year IMO. Much less exemplary customer service.

3). The Sippy68 single-mode Ultra-Ok clone from MicroDigital on e-Bay. Consistent quality, pre-lubed, low-price, and rugged as Rosie O’Donnell in a bare knuckle fist fight.

4). And almost last but not least, those Ultrafire C8’s from Rosefireboy on e-Bay for around $7.69. Those who know, know what I’m talking about.

5). And really last but certainly not least, my beloved 10B Cree’s from DX. Maybe the lightest 16340 torch around even with a batt that puts out something useable and is still built to hang with most all in that class for less than $9. Buy one or two.

Well, this is what I can remember right off the top of my noggin for truly ‘budget’ and bang. And I really should include the XinTD V3 NW 3-mode from Int’l too here. Quality. Oh, geez almost forgot the Jacob A60 for less than $15 at DX. Talk about budget-priced and performance. Forget about it.

I’d say XinTD C8 V3, and SkyRay King. Monster of balance, and monster of flood.
For EDC use - I’d say Xeno E03, but then again, I’m a little biased. :stuck_out_tongue:

Best Budget ?

Hd 2010, Thrunite Ti

HD2010

Keygos M10, Jacob A60, cheap C8 with XM-L from ebay

What a good question.

XinTD V3
HD2010
Mini-01

Hmm, just had a thought…

This costs <$2, has runtime of ~100 hours, and is very easy to fix and upgrade. Budget light 2012 winner! :stuck_out_tongue:

Edit: proof of upgrade-ability: http://youtu.be/pgE8PhhR9Zg :smiley:

Thrunite deals…HOT DEALS…The Ti especially

DON…

Although I don’t have it (yet…?!) I vote for the small sun t08

That is some serious tint shifting going on there! :smiley:
Seriously… how/why is it doing that?

HD2010 (Various)
Romisen RC-T602 II XM-L U2 z (Shinningbeam)
Jacob A60 (DX)

The SkyRay King brought compact triple goodness to the masses, completely unseating the DRY as reigning potentate.

The Thrunite Ti democratized firefly mode, cultivating a new generation of low-lumen snobs.

The HD2010 became the torch bearer for 26650-powered performance in an affordable package.

Runner-ups include the Jacob A60, Balder SE-1, and the Mini-01.

Wait, released in 2012 or just the best of the year? SE-1, E09, C8 are older.

Lumens per dollar,sky ray king flood monster wins for flood category.I think the sleeper thrower of the year is thesmall sun zy-t13,at $24 price tag it's hard to beat.

That’s color-changing LED which changes it’s color every 3-5 seconds :stuck_out_tongue:
They can be easily found on eBay.

Edit: here’s vid of it doing same thing, but covered with piece of paper (this way camera fucks up color perception much less): http://youtu.be/PQzgwPKUSBk