Right now I am really undecided as to which AAA light to purchase.
My main two options are the blackcat HM-01 or the tank007 E09.
What I would prefer is to have a clicky switch like the blackcat HM01, however the HM01 only has 1 mode and I read somewhere that it has a ringy beam.
However the E09 is more desirable since it has modes but the turn off is it has a twisty interface.
What I would really like is a AAA light with the aesthetics and modes of the E09 but with a clicky switch. I am open to suggestions but if my search turns out to be unsuccessful I might just have to get the E09. I would really like to spend less than $15.
I had an E09. It broke within a few months of very light use, and for no apparent reason. Maybe mine’s just a lemon though.
I prefer the Thrunite Ti though, way better beam and real current regulation (not PWM based). I have one on my keychain for maybe 2 years, lots of scratches and very heavy use but never fails.
I know a lot of people like the E09, but one thing very rarely mentioned is that E09 has very poor PWM on med/low. It’s really bad IMO - I don’t know how people get over this.
Just thought any future buyers should know this before putting their money in. I might not have bought mine knowing that.
Thanks Pulsar. I would very much prefer getting a quality light but the Thrunite Ti is a bit out of my price range. I have the money but I intend to spend it on other more serious lights (Just now I have spent over $220 on flashlights, parts and batteries and therefore my remaining budget for an EDC is quite small). My desire for a AAA light is solely to fill the EDC gap in my life and it is not intended to be of extreme quality.
The E09 it is then, hopefully the PWM on med/low won’t be too bad. Although nothing is set in concrete until I actually order it
I think it’s something some people notice more than others. For example, I am very sensitive to flashing, CFLs, old CRT monitors and televisions can trigger migraines, but I don’t even notice the PWM in the E09.
In budget lights there aren’t many current regulated lights on lower modes either.
True. As a matter of fact I do not know of ANY current controlled lights besides the lights from the more expensive manufactures (eg. Fenix, Thrunite, Supbeam, Eeagletac, Nitcore, Olight, etc)
It is a very nice flashlight. My only complaint is I got the CW version and it has a very slight purple tint. This shouldn't be a problem with the NW emitter.
Didn’t realize the Ti has been pricey - hasn’t checked for a while. I see minimum $18 now on ebay, yikes - I bought mine for $8.
About high PWM, it doesn’t really take much to implement it. All my ultra-cheap 502, C8 and S5 (between $3 to $6) with those generic 5mode - they all have unnoticeable PWM. It takes at least 4kHz for PWM to be invisible to me so they have at least that, even on low. So really really cheap driver can do it, why not others? Tank007 really should invest a little design work on this.
I agree that E09 is a very nice light too (except for the pwm part). I’m sure you’ll love it.
I have indeed, however if aesthetics is the only difference between it and the CQG S1 I don’t think it is worth the extra $7 (CNQ sells the CQG S1 for $13).
It had an off-centre emitter which surprised me for Crelant, and scratches under the pocket clip area. Quite low output as well. There is also the Ultrafire LZZ-06, which is pretty much identical except for a sticker.
Thanks Chloe, that is ashamed because the price is very attractive for what it offers (at least from the description). Are you sure e09 has OP reflector in current revison? I did ask FT staff and they said e09 has SMO.
