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Hey guys thanks for voting!
I do not see many 16340 flashlight threads on here. I am more likely to see 14500 threads why is that?
I personally prefer 16340 because of the size I feel that if I use a 14500 I might as well just use a 18650!
Maybe it has something to do with overall diameter? I know I like the slimmer profile of an AA or 14500 light when not at work. The extra length doesn’t bother me as much as a big ole fat light in my pocket. I use an 18650 light at work because I need the extra runtime.
I prefer slim profile. It feels more comfortable inside your pocket.
I use them both. Getting a bit more run time out of my 14500’s, difference not noticeable in real use, Could be because my 16340’s are old. When I want shorter form factor I go 16340 or 18350. I don’t see myself buying any new 16340’s though, buying lights that will run 18350’s. There is more cell options with 14500 unless its 14500 only light.
So far this forum does enjoy the 14500 more lol i do not own that many 14500 flashlights maybe that is why.
Those of you that are overseas and can buy cr123 would a 16340 flashlight be more versatile in an emergency? Or can most 14500 flashlight also be used with AA batteries?
i know my sk68 can.
yeah most 14500 lights can use AA. But a 16340 light is not versatile in my country as cr123 batteries are so much more expensive. at least 3-5x more expensive than AA
I own both formats but find as a rule runtimes are far too short to be useful on moderately high outputs. For my EDC use I find this to be an issue.
In term of size. I don’t really free float torches in my pocket, I like them clipped to the inside of my pocket, carried face down. So in this respect most 16340 lights are about the same diameter and the length is immaterial and unnoticed. A 14500 is thinner, but not enough to matter. This is why I almost exclusively carry 18650 lights.
14500 I find is a little too long for keychain carry. I have a BLF 16340 stainless lint on my keys (I forget the model number), but it’s about as small as you can get in that format.
For smaller sizes I think I’d prefer a true 16650 or 18500 size. But both very rare it would seem.
But yes runtime is the real decided here. 700mAh vs 2500-3100mAh. I can EDC a 3amp 18650 for over a week easy and make use of the output. Whereas a 1.5amp or lower 14500/16340 manages 3 days EDC carry.
An 18650 is hard to beat for performance so I voted “None”. I tend to carry as much as use a light so between the two I’d go for the AA, it has much more cell variety and is smaller diameter for easier carry.
I like 10440/AAA for small & convenient and 18650 for big & powerful. No other size cells have much appeal to me as these two will do everything I want from a light with no others being so much better as to unseat them from their places in my life.
Phil
I voted for 14500s, because I have ~40 lying here and I don’t like that short 16340 hosts.
They don’t fit my hands as good as 14500 hosts.
asking the real questions
I prefer 18650 cells. :crown:
EDIT: Just about all of my favorite flashlights are 1 x 18650 or 1 x AAA. 14500 and 16340 cells are too big to fit on my keychain, and compact 18650 flashlights fit in my pocket quite well.
My sizes mostly favor runtimes with some heft or extremely low weight and volume.
1x18650 just can’t be beat in power-to-size while keeping it light. Far and wide my favorite, wins by a nautical mile.
2xAA offers about the same power of 14500 while feeling better in the hand and lasting far longer.
1xAAA you practically forget is there with you, moreso if you don’t carry it on your keychain but instead clipped to your clothes like I do.
16340 just feels awkward on my hands and is impossible to reverse-grip - I already have to hold my S1 with just two fingers -, and it’s jarringly heavy given the size. The battery life leaves a good bit to be desired as well.
My edc has been a small 16340 light for three years now (currently a modded Supfire S1), I keep trying a 14500 light every now and then because it comes higher current, but it is too long free floating in my pocket (it must be a xlicky), even the ET D25A is too long. Will try a Thorfire TF06 next, but doubt it will last for long.
I use 2 sizes overall. Prefer 18650 then 14500/AA/NIMH for size, power, and convenience.
16340, 123A,etc. are the peasants of my troop and see the least use.
14500……….
It lets me use up all the various half used AAs around the house, so I can recycle the dead cells
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My EDC is on the left the Xtar WK21 and the others are pretty famous lights lol
As much as I like my Olight S1, I still usually prefer AA/14500 cells. It’s mostly due to the thinner aspect ratio. That is, assuming the lights don’t have a lot of extra bulk. I like them in the size of the CNQG brass AA, or the L3 L10. Perhaps even as big as the ZL SC52. However, the ET D25A is pushing it as far as size goes, the TN T10T is also on the large side, and the Kronos X5 is actually bigger than some of my 18650 lights.
About 16340/18350, they usually feel uncomfortably wide. I like the Olight S1, but it’s an exception because it’s unusually small for its cell type. The Rey Ti 18350 is nice too, but that’s mostly due to bling (it’s large for its cell type). However, the Olight S10 is overall bigger than the 14500 lights I like, and even it’s consider small-ish. Going up to things like the UF-602C, those are bigger than a L3 L10 in every dimension, and so is the JB RRT01. However, the UF-602C is uniquely appealing since it takes standard-sized parts easily so it’s great for custom builds. A Convoy S2+ shorty or BLF A6 shorty is even bigger…
So… I guess my answer is either/any, as long as it’s small for its battery type. For example:
- DQG Fairy
- DQG Tiny AAA IV
- L3 L10
- CNQG Brass AA
- Olight S1
- CNQG Brass 18650
- Meteor M43
But there are some I still like despite being big for the cell type:
- UF-602C
- Rey BLF Ti
- Kronos X5, X6
- JB RRT01
- S2+ triples
I guess, for me to like it, it needs to be small or somehow special.
Other than 18650’s, my favorite EDC cell would have to be those ‘NICE’ AA lithium primaries from FastTech.
They’re about 99% as good as Energizer Ultimate Lithium primaries for about a third of the price. A couple of 4-packs of those in my shaving kit and a very small 1xAA light in my pocket, and I’m good to go for a really long time. The added advantage is that they can be used in almost all small portable AM/FM/SW radios and even a lot of cameras - and they never leak!
In general, I am open to many cells but since I live in the Phoenix area I have started to use only primary cells for the lights in my car; either cr123a or aa primaries. The heat will kill any other cell as the temp in my car after work could easily be 130 degrees or higher.