Hi all,
I’ve had a mild case of flashaholism for several years now, which has left me with a few Thrunites (including a TN12), a few Fenix (including my LD15 EDC), and most recently a cheap C8. I recently decided I wanted a new EDC pocket light, and since then I’ve spiraled down the rabbit hole! Now I not only want a new pocket light (in high-CRI tint, of course), but also a neutral floody headlamp for house/repair projects and a big multi-emitter for walking the dog. You know, essentials.
Anyway, thought I’d finally join here to get some advice/empathy/consolation.
Andy
Welcome to BLF Andy. :bigsmile: i started out like you did with getting bitten by the flashaholism bug, but now i’m at this point now. :party:
Advice - Run...fast
Empathy - We all went down the same hole
Consolation - Don't worry about it..there is always someone that has it worse than you
Welcome!
And like any other hobby, it is part avocation and part obsession. It just depends upon your point of view. 0:)
It's nice to see you, Andyman!
Andy, my best advice is to go all in early, I doddled around with a bunch of different entry level options and was occasionally happy and then also dissappointed.
Jump on one of the group buys right out of the gate, I’d recommend the X6/X5 because you get a set of two lights that you couldn’t build yourself for the cost that they are providing it at, but there are others as well that might suit you depending on your budget.
I’m assuming based on your post that you are familiar with lithium rechargeables. If that is true, one of the best deals I’ve ever seen on any of these forums is the above mentioned X6/X5 Stainless/Copper set. I realize it’s a big jump in price from the Alu set and many other budget offerings but if you have the cash I’d strongly recommend you go for it.
You got on the forum at a very good time in all regards, and if you want another option check out the Astrolux S1 on banggood.com, it’s the revised version of the BLF SE group buy A6 and it is a fantastic light that comes with the BLF designed driver in addition to a shortened accessory tube to accomodate 18350 cells if you want a little pocket rocket at the expense of reduced runtime.
BTW, the A6/S1 is more of a floody type light meant for edc and close up work although at full power it can reach out a bit, the X6/X5 lean more towards long range, but that doesn’t mean they can’t work up close at lower modes.
All of the lights I’m talking about use the same driver, which is absolutely fantastic and was completely designed by BLF members, aka Wight who designed the board and Toykeeper aka TK who wrote the firmware. I apologize if I’m missing someone!
I also would recommend Zebralight in the headlamp department. I have the neutral version of their AA headlamp, aka the H52W. It is absolutely fantastic in every way. It is, however, a little pricey, and I think the 18650 version even more so. It is worth every penny though if you can swing it. The user interface is a little different and could take some getting used to, but the ability to access high and low without multiple buttons from off is just great.
I’m sure the 18650 version is amazing, but I can say this about the little AA, it is barely bigger than a AA cell, it has incredible output when run from a single AA rechargeable such as an eneloop, and it can take a 14500 lithium ion cell if you want even brighter output!
The new Manker T01 just came out, and it looks amazing as well, and should be leaps and bounds brighter than the Zebralight. The video review I watched said it seemed to match ZL’s quality, we’ll see 
I hope it does, and as an aside, the X5 in the X6/X5 GB I mentioned above uses the reflector from this light. Unfortunately, the T01 would have to be side mounted to funtion as a headlamp.
Nitecore just came out with a new headlamp that looks pretty good, I think there was a thread recently but I can’t remember the name off the top of my head.
Welcome!
”
Here you find a modest GAW”:100+ post GAW *CLOSED winner decided by random.org*, if you win it helps feeding the flashlight hunger 
Wow, thanks all! I’ve participated in several forums over the years, for cars, woodworking, tractors, etc. But this is already probably the nicest welcome thread I’ve seen! Seems like a friendly place. Looking forward to hanging out here to learn, and just to feel better about my “problem”.
Thanks! Just replied to your Skilhunt group buy thread - sounds like it would be perfect to fit my current hankering for a small, pure-floody, neutral-tint headlamp.
Yep! I have quite a collection selection of nice woodworking hand tools to show that I understand this completely.
Thanks! How can I resist a welcome-invitation like that?
Wow - a big sincere thanks for all the helpful advice! Some of what you typed I’ve picked up from recent reading, but some is new. Especially appreciate the info on the X6/X5, and the users who helped create the various special lights. While those lights are beautiful, it’d be really tough for me to justify the X6/X5 right now budget-wise. But I’ve already had my eye on the Astrolux S1! I especially like the 18350 tube - seems like it would be useful for pocket carry, when I don’t necessarily need the slimmest light (depending on how big pockets are, activity, etc.). I currently carry a Fenix LD15, and I think it’s an excellent balance of size, utility, durability, and runtime. Don’t particularly care for the tint, though, and brighter would sometimes be nicer. I already signed up for the single-AAA Astrolux group buy, as I like the small size and higher CRI of the Nichia, and of course the price is great! Now I’m trying to decide whether to jump on an 18350-size light also, and if so, whether to get the S1 for maximum brightness and versatility, or stick with an S2+ at ~half the price. I don’t currently have any 18350 cells, so that’d be another expense in an already-stretched budget. I have a few 18650s I pulled out of an old laptop pack, and a Nitecore i4 charger.
Thanks for the Zebralight headlamp suggestion - I was seriously considering the H502w (or -c or -d…) but as you say it’s pricey. If the group buys go through, I hope to get bugsy’s Skilhunt headlamp, an Astrolux AAA/Nichia, an S1/S2+, _and _some new Li-ion cells, all for the price of one Zebralight. 
Then I’m SURE I’ll be satisfied and have “enough” lights! 
Write that on sticky notes and place them on your mirrors. LOL
There will never be “enough” lights
Soon you will discover throwers. Then you need a proper zoomy. Then something with high CRI, your first UV flashlight, monster flooder and so it begins.
And then you see your favorite light, on sale… and this time it’s pure copper special edition or titanium… and you NEED that one too!
Run my friend, while you still can…
welcome to the dark side :evil: