I am looking for a new EDC / front pocket carry flashlight with the following specs:
3 - 3.75 inches / 7.5 - 9.5 cm long
More than 300 (actual) lumens
Momentary-on capable TAIL switch
Comes on in “high” mode
Don’t need more than “high” and “low” - but as long as it always comes on in “high”, don’t really care
Would like it to be around, or less than, $50 US
Does something like that exist?
I have / use an Emisar D4 (great light, but not a tail-switch, and it comes on in my pocket unless I keep the tail cap unscrewed.)
Zebralight SC64-series light (great light, but no tail-switch)
Eagtac D25 Tactical (great light - meets all the specs - except it’s too long). I know Eagtac makes a shorter version - but it’s almost $100.)
A couple Lumintop Tool lights (great lights, but do not come on in high, and are not bright enough.)
I do not care about the battery format. I don’t care if it’s fancy - though durable would be good since it’s an EDC light.
I don’t attempt to categorize interfaces to that degree but these lights meet your requirements for lumens/size/price/switch.
Iirc the Nitecore MT1C and Armytek Partner C1 can be configured for 1 mode. That is the lazy way to get an “always high” interface
The Klarus XT1C and LedLenser F1 should always come on high in their mode cycle. You’d have to look at some reviews to figure out the rest.
edit: I forgot about the Jetbeam RRT03. That has a control ring and it will always turn on to whatever mode the ring is positioned at. Not exactly what you asked for but many people in your position find that UI to be the best. It is a little over your budget.
It does. Find a Sunwayman R10A, swap the emitter for an xpl, swap the switch for a forward clicky, and you’re good. The stock driver is 2 modes, high and medium. It’s multi chemistry and can take a 14500. The stock emitter is a xpg2, and it does about 210 lumens.
If you can find one of the recent versions of the Olight M1T Raider, which comes in High-Low, you’ll be done with your requirements! Maybe it will be difficult as those lights were discontinued…
Other than that:
Klarus XT1C, mentioned above, has 3 modes and can be configured to start on High - Medium - Low with momentary action for High (then you need to click the secondary button to go down from there, either momentarily or in continuous)
- On The Road 311, in case you can live with High only and eventual activation (by quick double click) of Strobe. This light doesn’t have forward switch but it is feasible to mod it and put a FC swich on the tail. Not the most straight forward option, though.
- Convoy S2+, with driver with Biscotti firmware, which you can configure to have 3 modes (100% - 20% - 1%). If you go for this option, you can but an 18350 tube that will make the light shorter. Also, you can but it from Convoy Store and ask Simon to put a forward clicky switch instead of reverse switch, so that you have momentary operation.
You can also mod a light with different drivers to make it have 2 modes only always starting on High! And it will probably be less expensive than some “stock” lights!
Thank you, everyone, for the suggestions / ideas. From what I’ve researched so far, it looks like the shorty Convoy S2+ with the modified switch, and one of the driver upgrades might be my best option.
Been looking for that perfect EDC light for 20 years now.
I wouldn’t have thought this was such a difficult search.
Stock thorfire TG06 is spot on. Starts on HI every time and then goes to L and M. Needs 14500 IMR for full brightness. M-L modes have very bad PWM… IMHO. I use this light all the time for several years, never given me any problems. Long discontinued though.
eagletac d25c would be close too. It is about $50. when head tightened, it is on turbo. It does not have momentary switch though. It has a reverse tail switch
x2 on the old 47 Quark lights. I still use a AAT regularly. Meets almost all the OPs requirements, except stock they’re not 300 OTF. I upgraded mine with a 5K XPG3 a while back and I think its in the 250 lumen ball park. Not bad for a single eneloop.
I went to look again to that Trustfire L2, and it actually seems a nice light!
As far as I perceived it can be operated with :
a) High as single mode
b) High and 25% if the head is slightly unscrewed
It probably doesn’t go to the 1000 lumens with a 14500 but, still, it is a pretty straightforward flashlight and seems capable to produce some lumens! https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000492464729.html
