A treat for myself! (The search continues...)

This can end being out of budget, reason for posting to off-topic ;)

As some may remember, I keep posting "recommend me X" threads every now and then.

This is because I usually get pulled from sleeve "hey, get me a good flashlight, you know, a GOOD one, bright!", at work, at leisure, relatives etc.

This has been going on for almost a year.

This forum and many users have made things far easier to me because I find it hard to handle the whole, big view of things, thousands of options and what is suitable for some specific job. But I´m learning...

So, I deal lights to friends. Recently got DRY in Neutral. Liked it especially tint-wise (Thanks 2100!) but decided to sell it. I do it often, I keep my herd thin. Got few bucks extra from it.

I´m usually on a tight budget, got kids, wife at home for still a while. you know.

This time, I´ve been selling stuff, making dropins, fixing drivers and sold DRY, so budget is pretty much higher than ever.

This time I´m getting a treat for myself!

DRY was mindblowing, great tint. Had a couple dealbreakers: Rattle, PWM, overall quality...

Next up, I would like to get something more of the higher end of quality.

Be adviced: I have practically NEVER bought even a 18650-sized QUALITY light. Always budget, Solarforces make exception, UL-980 also.

Recommend something. Avail. budget is at least 120$ which I got from DRY + some.

I don´t like PWM much, neither do I like strobes.

CR123 -size is almost out of the question: I carry AAA or AA for size, 18650 for power or runtime. Multi-AA, probably.

Multi 18650, not bad either.

It does not have to be necessarily multi-emitter. I like XM-L´s for big hotspot but maximum output is not the biggest deal (DRY was purchased for that).

I seem to like cigar-hold for smaller lights. On DRY size, side-clicky would be good IMO.

It should be of a solid construction yet have some touch of class. A better user-light.

My ideas for now are:

-Sunwayman V60C, not on discount anymore but... Multi 18650, innovative ring-control.

-The usual suspect, Zebralight SC600. Small, pretty, simple yet "does it all". Not sure about tints... Would like 3C, not too warm. Could get it even locally.

-Jetbeam X, Klarus Y, Olight, Fenix ??

- Joker: My First HID?!?

- Deal With It: just get another Solarforce, consider it done

- Some crazy-priced custom

:)

Long story short:

Good quality, brand name light, on the bigger size perhaps.

That's an easy one for me. My first choice after having quite a few lights in different classes would without a doubt be a Fenix TK41 hands down.

My second choice would be two professional lights for about $100 together. Shiningbeam Blaze and Shiningbeam Caveman. Both choices cover a lot of ground.

you can't go wrong with the v60c and the sc600..2 of my favourites in my collection..I EDC my sc600 and it's a great size..v60c is a little bit longer than the Dry, but is thinner..and of course quality on both these lights is top notch..

klarus xt11 looks nice also and I want to buy it, but I think it has PWM so it doesn't make the cut..the thunite tn10 is also nice..and I wish sunway made the t20cs full brightness with 18650's..it's really a shame they fudged that up..

How about the Ultrafire UF-T70, you liked the DRY a lot and this seams to be a higher quality version of that. I am seriously considering one myself, I am just waiting for a review. This will be the most expensive light I have ever purchased but if it's built anything like my MCU-C88 it should be very high quality. Like me you really liked the Dry, but would like a little higher quality unit and this looks like the one.

I must admit I have been keeping some eye on Shiningbeams lights.

They would cover IMO a need for a very reliable, not too provocative looking light. I just feel this base is covered with my L2 2011 with a good high PWM self assembled dropin.

On AA point of view, TK41 is not out of question. Got MAHA, Eneloops also, I like very much the immense reliability and low cost they offer. Jetbeam PA40?

4 x AA, Zebra Q50? :) Wait for S-series and go nuts?

Have you ever though ZL being an Apple of flashlights? :D

These are quite heavy arguments in favor of these two.

Very different lights, Got one Zebra, liking it pretty much. Sunwayman is strangely attractive. Not sure if I can deal with ring control but I´m somewhat sure I could make a good user from this with that charging station (yep, still have to check batteries since no balancing).

Sunwayman is Big. I would like to have biggish light but there+s a danger it will get less use cause of it´s size. It´s also more expensive but I can live with it.

Zebra feels right size in hand, button is small, though. "I already have one zebra", someone yells from the back of my head...

The Jetbeam BC40 is ok but it doesn't do anything really outstanding. I doubt it will put a smile on your face when you turn it on. Of course you could get a BC40 and a Caveman and still stay within your budget. If you want something about the same size and battery configuration as a BC40, get yourself a Olight M3x, Sunwayman T40CS, Crelant 7G5 or some of the others ILIKEFLASHLIGHTS has reviewed here on BFL.

The TK41 never fails to put a smile on my face. It throws with the big boys but it does so much more.

A valid point.

This just somehow screams to my face: Low PWM! :D

Feels awkward to buy Ultrafire as a classy option but then again, 980L is one of the "not-for-sale´s" on my shelf. Have to say, I hate the PWM on it like nothing but doing it the Foy-way - using it always on High 8)

I really should update the driver, really....

Get a TK70

A Xeno G42 V2, http://www.hkequipment.net/?sp=&p=6&cat2=181&cat1=68&cat0=1&id=965&cat1=68&cat0=1&new=&more=&s=36e76444c9d1417f904ab299ac1012d8&lang=en

And you get $5 BLF member discount!

Or a Sunwayman T20CS.

Hopefully my treats soon.

I'll tell you 4 lights to have. And I'll put them in the order I like them.

Fenix TK41

Sunwayman T40CS

Sunwayman V60C

Olight M3x

I love both my Sunwayman flashlights, but as much as I love them if I had to keep only one light it would be the Fenix TK41. But if I wanted to keep strictly a good quality thrower, I would have to pick the Sunwayman T40CS.

A bit too big and I don´t have appetite to go back to D-NiMh, at least not now.

T40CS seems promising. Cannot say to be a real fan of throwers but T40CS seems to have a wide spill, no PWM, side clicky, hidden flashies, good regulation and efficiency... Many good arguments.

ILF; what would you say about those beam rings, are they that bad?

TK41, hmm, seems also "legit" but for some reason does not ring the bell.

How about something different! The Photon Proton Pro. It’s only about $40 and has been out for years but is a totally cool light IMO.
It’s single AA with a side button that ramps the output from high to low (uses a XP-E). It also has a red LED. That ramps from low (almost invisible) to high.
It has multiple beacons/strobes/SOS but they are all hidden.
It throws well for such a small light but if you like flood (and I do) you can take the head apart easily and put some diffusion film in there and you’ll have both a beautiful white and red beam.
You could also wear it around your neck, use it with a key chain or use the removable clip as well as just dropping it in your pocket.

The beam rings you basically will see indoors more than you will outdoors. But even if they are present, they don't bother me in the slightest. The T40CS will become one of your favorite lights. Trust me.

tk41 - if you change your mind it will sell quickly to one of your 'hey get me a light' buddies ;)

HKequipment seems to have a set of 8 Eneloops with TK41 for 130$. Not NECESSARILY needin 8 more Eneloops but it does not hurt. Not sure if I have 8 more absolutely idle...

DD does not have, Batteryjunction for 130$ but no loops...

dthrckt:


I quess a light with AA-configuration would sell here, if I decide to sell it.

I think I will get that TK41 to see, what´s that all fuzz about :)

Had one Fenix before, L0D...

If it´s a no-no, T40CS is next in the line :D

there's a long thread on cpf about diffusers for it - I forget which one specific model, but there's an olight diffuser that's supposed to fit well...if you're into that sort of thing

You have made a wise choice with the TK41. Look how long I had to keep bugging ILF before he bought one. Now it's his favorite light.

Have not ordered yet :D

Soon...

Noticed someone ranting about battery holder rattling.

Does this TK41 have bad PWM on low levels?

With greeting: Allergic to PWM :|