I've never got around to getting a recoil light - the Solarforce Skyline desperately needs more output  - it is better on primaries and works very well with an XR-E but really needs to be able to work with an 18650 at full output - this requires a driver swap - I'd like to get an R2 driven at 1.4A as a short burst thrower. You can see beamshots of the stock Skyline 1 here. 

The Skyline 2 has a smaller reflector and probably won't throw as well. I don't have a Skyline 2 to compare it with.

The true pencil beam dedicated thrower is great fun but is of fairly limited usefulness in the real world. I'd also look at the Uniquefire HS801/802, and the RQ Raidfire Spear clone from KD which is the best thrower of all the lights I own - and is a Q5. The MRV is also worth a look as a more generally useful light that still throws well.

I don't go in for the silly high power incandescent lights with 5 minutes runtime till it has cremated everything in sight and can't afford the NightSun, Megaray or equivalent HID devices. I spent rather a lot less than they cost on my last two cars. If you want crazy throw you are going to have to spend rather a lot of money. I do enjoy reading about such madness though.

I think the choice is whether you want throw from a bigger light, or floodier light from a more compact shape. The C8 isn't going to fit well in a pocket, whereas the L2 will. I have a bigger light (2x18650, so a little bigger than a C8) and hardly ever use it. The P60 lights are just a better size for carrying around while walking the dogs. And if you don't want a big wall of light, you might even choose a L2 with a XP-G. That's what I use for the most part, though the XM-L's are impressive and will light up my whole backyard.

You won't regret the L2/XM-L, my friend and the Skyline I is a pretty good thrower value, in my opinion.

solarforcefanboyFoy

Both the L2 and the C8 will fit in any of my coat pockets - the C8 is only 4mm longer. The head of the C8 is larger of course, but doesn't impact the fit. Neither will fit comfortably in my jeans.

The real difference between them is the C8 has much better throw and better heat sinking because of the larger head/reflector. With the Manafont drop-in in my L2P, they both put out a huge amount of light. If it's your first XM-L I think you'll be tickled with either one of them.

IMO, get the L2P/MPP-1 combo from solarforce sales for $60 shipped, then get the MF XML drop in for under $20 shipped. For $80 shipped you will have an awesome thrower or swap the XML in and have a wall of light.