what about astrolux mf01 mini ? even the astrolux ec01 should do the trick, it has decent throw even tho its more on the floody side and is compact.

I’m not going to be too helpful probably but I just got an Astrolux ft03 and it has/does everything you want except size I guess. If you’re wearing a coat with pockets maybe this still works?

It is a thrower but it has enough flood to see where you are walking. It has a side switch. It’s a ramping switch but if you need max throw quickly, two rapid clicks goes there directly. It has a big(ish) head but the light is comfortable to hold.

If size really is an issue, look at the Ultrafire T-50. That’s a really nice light as well, not much bigger than a 18650 battery with a head that is only slightly bigger. It has a smooth ramping side switch. It’s not really going to put any kind of concentrated beam on a dog that is 100 meters away but it might be usable for your purposes.

If you really need to tract an off-lease dog that far away I’d go with the Astrolux but if you’re just kind of keeping track/control of fairly well-behaved dogs the Ultrafire is great. It’s my most commonly used light and it’s really not much bigger than a roll of quarters (coins).

I edited my post, be sure to re-read it and see if the Ultrafire T-50 is for you.

I think my Sofirn SP36 BLF Edition with LH351D is the best for walking. https://1lumen.com/review/sofirn-sp36/

Sofirns aliexpress store $47 with 3×18650.

Hating my FT03 xhp50.2 because of the donut in the beam, also low CRI.

Not sure you need ramping do you? Ok it might be a preference. But ultimately you are only wanting a way to brighten or dim the light.

Do you change modes much or often?

Side switches will limit options a bit. But then I’ve never found an issue with tail switches myself.

I’ve bought some new lights recently. I think for dog walking the Astrolux C8 XHP50.2 would be my pick. Hugely impressive little light.

It is a tail switch and no ramping but it has the superb BLF A6 driver, which I really like. I have it set to come on in High. And you can can via a long or short press go up and down the brightness settings.

The XHP50 puts out a ton of light too and has enough lumens to give it very good beam distance too. Plus it doesn’t over heat and is still compact enough for a pocket.

The other light I’ve bought recently is the FT03 with the same XHP50.2 emitter. This makes for a much more throwier beam profile and clearly has more distance ability. But the C8 is more than good enough IMO, at least for dog walking. The FT03 does have ramping and a side switch. But it is physically quite a bit bigger and heavier. And is unlikely to really fit in a coat pocket with ease. Meaning you’ll have to keep hold of it the entire time. I also find that the intense hotspot isn’t as nice for walking as it is a bit too bright on closer objects, like the ground infront of you.

Hence why the C8 would be my choice. Plus the C8 was only about £20-25 delivered. Making it super value for money IMO.

Review here (skip to 6m 30s for the XHP50):

BTW I have the MF01 Mini also. It too is impressive, but the light is very floody, you’ll light up a big area with it. On turbo it has impressive beam distance for a floody light. But it does run hot on turbo, so not really viable for any period of time. I think the C8 has a more balanced beam with bright spill, but still a hot spot for some throw.

Not that this is much help with the flashlight choice, this is a shot using an Emisar D4V2 with XH-L Hi V3 3A 5000K emitters.

The dog has a Ruffwear Webmaster harness with a Ruffwear Beacon light, fully weatherproof and has been great for keeping sight of the little bugger on his 100-150m arc zoomies.

emisar is also a good choice, throwy depending which led u take.

Certainly not built like Dwayne Johnson, in these kind of situations I prefer my Sofirn Q8 with a lanyard. Feels a but clumsy when in the pocket of my jack, not in my hands. Good flooder, good thrower (XP-L).

maybe try the emisar d4sv2 xp-l hi

My next light will probably be a XHP 50.2 3 volt light. I’m thinking the SP 33 V3. It has the choice of ramping or steps, charging, small enough for a jacket pocket, feels good in the hand and long run time with 26650. While Anduril is nice, there is something to be said for a simpler UI. I already have the SD05 with this emitter and it throws well with plenty of spill. Nice for country walks. I also have the regulated SP 33 V2 6 volt dedomed XHP 50.2 that I like. I guess what I’m saying for walking your pooch, a XHP 50.2 would be great.

madness wrote:

Absolutely need ramping. I’m change power levels frequently and a tail switch is a pain.

My current favourite dog walking light is the Sofirn SP31T. It has a side switch but it scrolls through the settings rather than being able to go up and down. It’s just about thowy enough, but could do with a bit more spill.

The Auduril UI sounds like it would be perfect for you. It ramps up and down quickly and easily.

Astrolux offer many lights with this UI and side switches. Just pick which one appeals the most. Single emitter will offer more throw and less lumens. Multi emitter more lumens and less throw.

Really depends what kind of beam profile you are after. Or how physically small you want the light to be.

I don’t think you’ll go wrong with any of them tbh.

e.g.

EC01
EC03
FT03
FT03 Mini
FT02S
MF02S

Intl-Outdoor and their Noctigon brand also offer lights with the same UI.

The K1 can be had with the SBT-90.2 which would make for a monster of a light
Or the Emisar D18

I don’t think you’d go wrong with any of them tbh. Build quality is good on all as is performance.

I’d second the Emisar D4Sv2 with XPL-HI’s, cracking little light. Failing that, there’s the sofirn C8F. Both have a good balance of flood and throw.

TMaxxJJ wrote:

I’d second the Emisar D4Sv2 with XPL-HI’s, cracking little light.

My concern, which is the same for the Mini. Is the only way to get the beam distance is to run it on turbo. Which means huge current draw and loads of heat. On the regular ‘high’ output (top of the ramp). The beam distance is unlikely to be that great.

Fine for walking and lighting up the immediate area in front of you. But less ideal for longer distances across open fields.

I carry a thrower along with my flooder for walks.

I figure ya always need light for immediate area and sometimes need to see much farther away.

Having just one light is either too intense close up or too weak for distance… two lights doing their specific tasks remedies this need easily.

I guess it comes from my EDC traits, I can’t carry just one light cause “two is one” is in my blood.

Edit, I’m also new here, long time lurker,… Hi everyone!

D4v2 or ec03

do you need SMOOTH ramping? or can it be stepped? cuz i been using ft03 for a bit, and while the xhp version is basically perfect for dog walking purposes, i too also find the donut thing a bit annoying sometimes, and its relatively big too, i been preferring the thrunite catapult v6, its small, throws very well, side switch, some spill, the only thing is its stepped ramping, which to me is not a problem at all as i prefer to always use the ceiling level anyway, but if u need more than just LMH settings, then maybe this isnt for you, but if you can live with that, i think this is perfect.

WarRaven wrote:

I carry a thrower along with my flooder for walks.

I figure ya always need light for immediate area and sometimes need to see much farther away.

Having just one light is either too intense close up or too weak for distance… two lights doing their specific tasks remedies this need easily.

I guess it comes from my EDC traits, I can’t carry just one light cause “two is one” is in my blood.

Edit, I’m also new here, long time lurker,… Hi everyone!

i gave my mother in law c8 to walk her golden, she was pretty happy with it, built then she hasn’t used nothing else, and her golden was old and was not running away. for an active dog i’d recommend lighted harness in addition to your handheld light, i made several for my brittany who loved to roam around.
http://forum.fonarevka.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=13960&d=1303175576

Oli wrote:

WarRaven wrote:

I carry a thrower along with my flooder for walks.

I figure ya always need light for immediate area and sometimes need to see much farther away.

Having just one light is either too intense close up or too weak for distance… two lights doing their specific tasks remedies this need easily.

I guess it comes from my EDC traits, I can’t carry just one light cause “two is one” is in my blood.

Edit, I’m also new here, long time lurker,… Hi everyone!

Yep. I was going to say the same thing. You shouldn’t be out after dark with just one light anyway. A relatively small tube light such as the fairly new Wurkkos FC11 has a nice big front side switch and you can have ramping or step mode for most of your needs. And then carry the relatively new Manker MC13 very tiny extreme thrower.

probably more ideal if you’re in the country side, but if you’re in a more suburban area, you still need a leash just in case theres other people or dogs walking by, sometimes they like to complain, and you also need your poopy bags, so having 2 lights and all that other stuff is a bit inconvenient sometimes.

Emisar D4V2 from Vinh with W2 LEDs. ~3900 lumen, ~45kcd. Seems like that would be enough for your needs.

Yet another vote for Emisar D4S v2

OP mentioned the IF25a in the first post which easily throws a very nice, wide “usable” beam past 100 yards.

I set my ramping limit up at about 70% and it stays cool enough, and bright enough to use out to about 70-80 yards (the other side of my back garden from my back door- I can see our border collie fine in this scenario). But if I need past 100 yards, double click for turbo and you can hand hold the light a few minutes then the heat kicks in. If in winter… just change hands and leave it higher (makes a nice hand warmer)

But like many lights… the thermal limiter will kick in after three minutes or so, and output will be reduced so I wouldn’t suggest this light IF you need a lot of time in turbo. But if you need occasional turbo, and like a small light the IF25a would work good I think.

Note also, for outdoor I don’t usually run under 5000k as I need throw when outside. That IS what impressed me with this IF25a as it almost keeps up with my C8Fs (using the same 6500ish kelvin range output). I also have a 5000k IF25a and it doesn’t compare into throw to the standard 6500k model in throw (but looks nice of course).

Zappaman wrote:

OP mentioned the IF25a in the first post which easily throws a very nice, wide “usable” beam past 100 yards.

I set my ramping limit up at about 70% and it stays cool enough, and bright enough to use out to about 70-80 yards (the other side of my back garden from my back door- I can see our border collie fine in this scenario). But if I need past 100 yards, double click for turbo and you can hand hold the light a few minutes then the heat kicks in. If in winter… just change hands and leave it higher (makes a nice hand warmer)

But like many lights… the thermal limiter will kick in after three minutes or so, and output will be reduced so I wouldn’t suggest this light IF you need a lot of time in turbo. But if you need occasional turbo, and like a small light the IF25a would work good I think.

Note also, for outdoor I don’t usually run under 5000k as I need throw when outside. That IS what impressed me with this IF25a as it almost keeps up with my C8Fs (using the same 6500ish kelvin range output). I also have a 5000k IF25a and it doesn’t compare into throw to the standard 6500k model in throw (but looks nice of course).

Total guess about 6250k. This is compared to other lights I have and I’d say it’s not too blue at all. It’s my most used light outdoor this year. Fits in a jacket pocket nicely and runs a nice long time using a 50G.

Thanks Z, that’s another light on my to buy list.

niajef wrote:

probably more ideal if you're in the country side, but if you're in a more suburban area, you still need a leash just in case theres other people or dogs walking by, sometimes they like to complain, and you also need your poopy bags, so having 2 lights and all that other stuff is a bit inconvenient sometimes.

Quote: "...you still need a leash just in case theres other people or dogs walking by..."

Omg, the L word. I have been holding my breath while keeping up with this thread, turning cyanotic around the edges, waiting to see if a cogent,  astute person would ever mention it.

The lack of the L word is why I don't walk in the countryside without a gun on my hip and a GoPro camera strapped to my head. And also why I don't walk in a suburban area without a gun on my hip and a GoPro camera strapped to my head. Same with walking out my door to check the mail or take out the trash. Twice, in walking halfway around the earth at its equator, 12,000 loose dog infested miles in a nice residential suburban neighborhood, I was forced to be required to control somebody's loose dog, because they decided they did not have to. And they did not like the way I did it, either. Same old song, sung a thousand times per hour just in one country: "He never showed any sign of aggression.  I wonder what could have gotten into him." Because it's a loose dog, that's why!