Would you buy it again?

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

A very insightful answer that gives us a good feeling when we’re researching another purchase is to know quite honest opinions on whether a light is good enough that we would buy another one without question (probably not the most well put together sentence but you get the drift)

We don’t like telling people we blew money on a bad choice but we’ve all done it

So positive ones (still thinking about my negative ones - will update later)

Thorfire C8S - YES
I have 3 at home and bought and or recommended friends this about 6 times

Convoy L6 - YES
Beast value going around

Lumintop Tool -YES
Solid as a rock

XINTD C8 - YES
But discontinued

Yunmai Y3 - NO
Cheap S2+ wannabe with nasty PWM

2

Convoy C8 - YES
Matte finish is beautiful

Astrolux S41 - YES
1600 lumens and 93cri (My most used light by far)

Glad to hear the Thorfire C8S is good. I’d like to build one with an XP-E2.

3

The only light I ever bought two of is a Zebralight headlamp… over a half decade ago. Haven’t made a repeat purchase since.

next closest would be an E11 and UT01, but they aren’t exact.

4

Convoy c8 plan on getting more can never have to many in different emitter flavors.

I have one s2+ would purchase another but in smo and xpl hi

I have a convoy m1 with xpl2 1700+ lumens and would like another m1 with a different emitter.

Would and plan on another vg10 at some point.

Some people knock them but I’d purchase and want to later in the year the nitenumen ne01 new xpl v5 version. Wife lost the original one somewhere. Its in the house somewhere.

I would buy more x6s just like c8s can’t have to many in different emitter options.

The only way I’d buy another p12gt is it was $30 or less. Nice light but to many xpl hi tube lights wouldn’t pay $55 again for it. Especially in CW.

I would purchase another l6 or s70. I’d like to have one stock and one modded of each. One for decent run times and one for wow factor of each.

5

• Convoy C8 - YES
I figured an OP reflector would detract from throw, but I wanted a “prettier” beam. Didn’t realize how versatile that would make this torch.

• Thrunite TN12 2014 - YES
Sadly discontinued. Love the beam pattern, mode distribution (save for High and Turbo being so close together) and form factor, and that’s not bias because it was the first good 18650 torch I’ve ever owned.

• Olight S1 - NO
It’s nothing but an S2 Baton that’s got one less mode and awful runtimes even by 1x16340 standards. I keep it as a hatlamp because I already have it, but that’s the extent of it.

• Olight S30 - YES
Some torches just feel good in the hand, and the S30 is so far the only side-switch light I have that I can say that of. Mine arrived with driver defects apparently (only low and medium are usable, high and turbo are just medium with added flickering), but I got it from Gearbest’s bargain bin for 20 bucks, so it’d still be a good buy in my book even if you don’t count the potential of the strong magnet in the tailcap.

• Thrunite Ti3 - YES
Holy moly, yes, so much so I did buy a repeat in NW and gave the original CW one away. Mode distribution is perfect for the category, bootiful floody beam with just a modicum of throw, and forget the Catapult, the Ti3 is Thrunite’s true tank - I do not have a single torch that withstood half as many impacts as the Ti3, including a number of falls from over 2 meters high.
(the C8 doesn’t count, I never dropped it from above waist height and even then that was only twice)

• Thrunite T10 - YES
Essentially a Ti3 with longer runtimes, a nice switch at the tail and a bezel that’s much harder to deform, and almost as portable on top of it. Even if mine has a slight greenish shift in the NW tint, it’s hecka good.

I have a Convoy S2 and a Biscotti-loaded M1 on the mail, but I think I already know the answer those two will get :heart_eyes: OTOH, the jury is for sure still out on the Lumintop Tool that’s also coming - the final verdict depends on how visible or distracting the PWM is on the lower modes.

6

Most lights, the cheaper they are, the more I buy “just in case”.

I hate getting attached to something, it breaks or gets lost, and them I don’t have an instant backup.

Convoy L2, only 1, because it was something like 50bux, and I’m really not crazy about the rough chalky finish. But it’s the Queen Thrower. No more.

XTAR WK50s, I got like 6 of them, for me and as gifts. Yeah, the Barbie Pink ones. Got enough.

Boruit headlamps, 4, again, me and as gifts. Only 1 head, so got enough.

S2+es, only 1 off-the-rack which has a great CT/tint but is quite annoying in actual use (UI), but quite a few hosts to populate as I see fit. No more.

C8s, only 1 off-the-rack, same damned 2-group 3/5-mode 105D driver with blink-on-low, but lots of hosts. Got plenty, so no more.

DV-S9, got 1, ordered another. Hmmm. Is “only” 2 enough?

’501s/’502s, I don’t even want to count how many…

Jet-I, 2. Jet-II, 1. Handy, but don’t think I’d get more “spares”.

UV/365nm S2+es, 2. Nah.

VG10s, 2, want like a dozen more iff identical to the ones I got (low→high), otherwise not interested. Well, several more.

Quark 2AA-X, 2. Too green a tint to order more.

River Rock 1×AA and 2×C, 2 of each. Nice, but 2 each is enough.

3buk 1×AA from MicroCenter, a bunch. Got plenty, only reason I wouldn’t order more. One’s my “bobofett” light that’s quite worn but still works like it did on Day 1.

Mag 2×D, only 1. Work of art, but woefully outdated. No more.

Mag 2×AA, a few, match-modded or to be so. Similarly outdated, even with Nite-Ize refits. Got enough, no more.

Astrolux A01, 1. Would get more if single-digit bux, otherwise too pricey. Ain’t an AAA fan.

BLF348-219, ordered a few to try, only after finding out they’re 1-mode only. Otherwise wouldn’t want any.

Probably a lot of loners I’m forgetting to mention, maybe for good reason.

—

Those off-the-rack I’d recommend w/o hesitation? Boruit headlamps, DV-S9, VG10 (only if low→high), WK50, Jet-I and Jet-II, bobofett, RR 1×AA.

As hosts only: S2+, C8, WF-502B, Mag 2×AA (for match-modding). The UI for the 105D sucks, so reflash or use a 1-mode driver.

7

Convoy C8 XML2 NO bcs of XPL-Hi one

Convoy C8 XPL-HI YES, but with new firmware

Convoy S2+ U2-1A YES but in NW

Eagle X2R U2-3C YES definately
Modded with AR glass

Klarus XT11GT NO, bcs XT12GT got released shortly after it
Modded XT11GT driver in a dead XT12GT using a XHP35 HI E4-3C LED

Skilhunt H03 in NW definately YES

Nitecore P12 YES but in NW,
got mine modded with Noctigon Star and U3-3D LED

Nitecore Tube YES, great keychain light

Jetbeam Jet-1 MK YES but modded with XPG2 S4 5D2 and Nichia 219C

7$ Ultrafire Zoom with fake XML2 NO!

8

…YES…

9

Skillhunt H03: yes, I allready both 3, lost one. It’s the light I use the most so big chance something happens to it or I lose. I can’t live without a headlamp (well I could but life would be shit). So I make sure I have always one in reserve just in case.

I like my Cu tool but I wouldn’t buy it again, too expensive if you compare it to the skilhunt.

Nitecore MH20 NW: maybe don’t know now that there are replica’s out there I might just buy the replica. But it serves me really well I just don’t like the reverse polarity protection Nitecore uses. A little bump and the light goes out with a flat top battery. Maybe I should solder a spring on the driver side….

10

Armytek Wizzard Pro v3 YES

BLF A6 Yes

Astrolux S41 yes

olight s2 yes

Klarus G20 meh (it’s not a bad light, but it’s just big enough that it takes an extra effort to carry it around, and if I’m doing that I’m more likely to grab something like my Mega M6 or Haikelite MT03(if it ever gets fixed)

OTR m6 no (light is fine just don’t like the UI)

Haikelite MT03 NO (the concept was great, but the build quality has been a let down, and then followed up with very poor communication with the company has pretty well left me deciding that I won’t be buying another light from them until I see some major improvements and a couple of years of stability.

11

Cometa - you all know, NO :frowning:
Tk75 2015 - oldie after the tm16gt, NO
PD35TAC - ugly tint, rather long, NO
Any garden variety Manker - Got some, enough, NO

M43 - got two longing for at least two more, YES
Zebra SC600 mk3 hi - YES
Lumintop tool/tool TI - two of them each already, YES
Maxtoch - two hunting throwers already, YES
Astrolux A01 - in love, YES
TM16GT - goodie, YES
Old Lumens custom 2D mag with 3x XHP50 - you all know, YES

12

Nitecore HC30 Yes!

BLF A6 Yes!

Convoy C8 Yes!

Thorfire S70 Yes!

These cover my main areas of flashlight usage.

Cattle dog (well we found her) Yes!

My ex fiancee an engagement ring NO! (Put that one down to being young and dumb) lol

13

Considering the good value of the question, the surge of Emisars and Sofirns in the forum, and the inflow of new members, I think this thread is worth a slightly necro-ish bump :smiley: If not, well, we can always put it back down on the grave with a few comment deletions :wink:

14

Utorch UT02: YES, I really loved this light despite mediocre UI
$7 Convoy S2+: YES, solid light, bad UI, but worth the price. Great deal for $8 as well and good buy for $10.
Emisar D4: YES, great light
Emisar D1: Yes, great light
Haikelite MT02: NO, it is a better thrower than Emisar D1, but just slightly; yet it’s way bigger and heavier. Bad UI. And I liked UT02 so much more…
DQG Tiny 4th 18650: NO, superb size to performance, but Emisar D4 18350 is better in every way except runtime….which it has good enough for me anyway.
Peak Eiger: NO, very good light, but way overpriced and communication with Peak can be terrible.

15

Klarus mi7 Yes
Olight i3e eos Yes
Convoy S2+ Yes, but cool or neutral only
BLF A6 HELL YES!!!
Zanflare F6 No Way
$2 zoomie, surprisingly well made but No
Elfeland 18650 zoomie power bank, Feel sick just thinking about it, could make a better light with string and gum.
Maglite 6D, solitaire 1xAAA, 2xAAA, Regretfully No, they have had their day.
Boruit Rj01 Yes
Led Lenser H7, No, useful but overpriced and outclassed now.
BLF 348 1xAAA, Yes.
Singfire 348, Yes, for the price.
Many more on the way to look forward to….

16

Emisar D4 and D1 : YES
Lumintop Tool AA : NO, too dim, beam is purplish and low modes is too high
Convoy S2+, C8 : YES, stock or modded, they are the way to go and discover flashlights
Nitecore HC30 : NO, I had to deeply mod it to enjoy it (emitter swap, reflector replaced with TIR, driver swap for TA with Narsil…)
Nitecore EC4 : MEH still unsure, I got it for 30 bucks so I guess YES
BLF 348 : YES YES, 7 bucks to discover high CRI is perfect !
Klarus Mi7 : NO, I hate the UI and low mode is way too high (or lacks a ML mode) and the red (no called pink) was… well pink
Brinyte B158B : YES, if you have to buy ONE zoomie it’s the one ! Highly moddable and well heatsinked for DD LEDs
BLF D80 : MEH, not that pocketable, not that throwy in stock form (XM-L2) and H->L UI was quite annoying
CNQG Brass beauty 18650 : YES, my first brass light, no a Biscotti driven triple NIchia 219C 2700K… Not that enjoyable in stock form, but standard dimensions of the driver (17mm) and MCPCB (16mm) are perfect for a stylish mod
CNQG Brass beauty AA : YES, compact and stylish even if the driver is somewhat basic
Amutorch S3 : MEH. Body is beautiful but the driver is whining with 14500 due to PWM and the stock emitter is greenish
Skilhunt H03 : NO, I can’t stand that UI… long press to OFF is counter productive

17

Hmm, addendum to my earlier post…

No offense to any of the “no”s listed, just that they don’t thrill me.

Thorfire VG10S, nah. Went backward from the original VG10 (which I love) in many ways, despite being brighter.

Sofirn SF36, nah. Nice, but very similar to the VG10S, so…

Sofirn SP31… probably not. Can’t get used to the up/down steps, despite trying quite hard. It’s otherwise a nice light.

Sofirn SF31 in WW, absolutely positively. Such a nice color, no “fried-egg” beam, still got strobe but it’s sufficiently hidden.

Sofirn SP10A, yep. Nice for a side-clicky e-switch, and I’m generally not a fan. Might get 1-2 as gifts. Nice neutral CT/tint, good beam.

Zanflare F1, yeh, already got a couple extra. Still a greenish beam, but I still like the rest of it enough to kinda overlook that.

Odepro AAA twisty, absolutely. Was very impressed with it, as I don’t expect much of AAA lights (ie, not a fan at all, despite getting dogpiled on quite regularly for saying so :smiley: ). Quite solid, kinda lives up to the “sexy” design they advertise. :smiley:

Glaree AAA twisty, yep. Got a few, hard to beat at the sale price I got ’em for (7bux?), worth it. More of a lightweight (ie, “cheaper”) design, but still worth the (sale) price.

Ultrafire F13, absolutely. Makes a beautiful host, pretty decent right out of the tin, but so much better when you upgrade the emitter and driver. Built like a tank. (And no, not a 007.)

Solarforce L2M host, niiiiiiice. ’Nuff said. Roll yer own drop-in, go crazy.

18

convoy= yes
Crelant = yes

19

Good idea. Allow me to steal it :smiley:

• Convoy S2 – DEPENDS
I love the form factor of the tube light that it is, and the length is absolutely perfect for my hands. The beam is fairly tight, which some may not like, but I love it to pieces because of two things: one, the edges of the spill stay within the frame of my glasses so there’s no light wasted illuminating something I can’t see; and two, it doesn’t present any of the tint shifts that I hear complaints about in the S2+ with reflector, in fact the 4C tint (the one on both my samples) looks a beautiful peachy white color. Ultimately, it depends on what firmware it comes in.
○ S2 with 3/5 – NO
The firmware is not bad on a torch you’re gonna use in the higher modes most of the time like the C8, but it blows chunks harder than a raging volcano when it comes to an EDC model. The ON-time memory means that if you use it like a normal EDC light (very quickly to look behind or under something), it’ll behave as the dreaded next-mode memory, the blinky on Low mode is grating and means you have to spend at least 6 seconds with the torch on, and I don’t know if it’s my perception or anything, but it seems incredibly inefficient: the S2 in question, despite being having only three 7135’s, was the one 18650 flashlight of mine that managed to drain one of my cells (a 3400mAh at that) until protection kicked in, in normal operation. It’s gonna sit as a shelf queen until I scrounge up the dosh to get a pair of Biscotti drivers.
○ S2 with Biscotti – YES
So much yes! This beauty allows me to use the S2 as an EDC torch without any of the reservations I have with the 3/5 firmware, and that’s a ticket to appreciate the finest features of the model. A 6*7135 S2 on mode 8, for me at least, is pretty much the perfect primary indoors flashlight.

• Convoy M1 (with Biscotti) – YES
The spill+spot combo makes it a pleasure to use at any range, and the 7A warm white tint is the prettiest I’ve had the pleasure of seeing :heart_eyes: Goes great with it. On a way different note, it makes me giddy in a silly way that this is more or less equal to a P60-style light like the Surefire 6P or the Solarforce L2 series, because I’d been wanting one just for the beam pattern :sunglasses: For a downside, it’s not as pocket-friendly as it might seem, as the merlons on the bezel can dig painfully into your leg if you’re sitting with it at an awkward angle, and if you have thin skin on the inside of your hands like I do, you gotta remember not to squeeze it too hard or your hand will end up awful sore thanks to the cooling fins.

• Lumintop Tool, both Cree and Nichia – YES
I’ve never seen a minitorch that punches as far above its weight as this little one. The tailcap button is incredibly convenient, and the mode distribution makes me confident that if I’m in the house in lounge wear, this is the only flashlight I’ll need on me. Runtimes aren’t too hot compared to the competition, but when you can get the Tool for US$10 on a sale, it’s way more than worth it.
It’s just a crying shame that they didn’t just change the host size and kept everything else the same when making the Tool AA, instead they messed up the lumen distribution (and emitter) and totally ruined it.

20

Interesting. Compared to D1 it has triple the capacity. MT02 is able to maintain max output fairly well (larger body and non FET drive). But… driver is just not reliable, so I cannot recommend it either.

Noctigon M43: YES. It’s a reference light.
Manker MK34: YES. Amazing achievement by Manker to produce something so close to M43, yet so different. Despite its flaws it’s definitely a YES.
Emisar D4: YES. Reference single 18650 light. Definitely a better object to fidget than a dedicated fidget spinner.
Astrolux MF01: YES. Although we’re in an early stage, it’s just amazing bang for the buck. Excellent premium feel. Dream tint with 219C, and dream beam. Certainly has its cons in terms of regulation (unlike M43 and MK34), thermal management and UI. But come one, for $70 or $80 it’s definitely a YES.