I’m looking for Aurora A5x kind of light and despite it has more clones, copies and variations than coronavirus has mutations, I can’t find one that suits me.
So I’d like to share my thoughts, maybe you know light that is close to my vision or maybe it’s just a mix of mutually exclusive features? Or my expectations are so bizarre, that noone will create something even close to it?
So, my perfect A5x style keychain would have:
- 300+ mAh Li-Ion battery (preferably - user replaceable, not necessary in the easiest way, but without damaging the light)
I want to be sure that if required, my light will work for few hours not in firefly mode, but also in a bit more challenging scenarios, when e.g. 50-100 lumens are needed for more more than an hour. Don’t want to check if 80 mAh is already half empty or had to charge the light every 2 days. And I somehow don’t trust Li-Pos to much, but it’s just me.
This one requirement alone shrinks currently available options drastically.
- main LED - non XP-G3, 5000k or so, 400-500 lumens capable
Don’t have extra requirements for main LED, just anything not to ugly or extra cold will do. Tir optics preferable, but not crucial.
Moon, 2-3 nicely spread levels + turbo. (but nothing like 700~~100 in 10s with 500~~>100 in 10s pretending to be different modes)
- side LEDs
This is another part where I can’t find setup that suits me well. I don’t plan to pretend I’m a cop or DJ, but want to use the light in more “standard” situations.
Perfect set for my needs:
- high CRI white flooder - 4000k or so, 2-3 levels, maybe with 1s bacon hidden somewhere, but that’s not must have; ~60 lumens.
- red LED - 1-2 levels + beacon, to be visible for drivers while walking next to the road, as an extra tile light for bike - this sort of use.
- UV LED - 365 nm for checking bills and other stuff that UV usually does, but not for charging GITD and being completely absorbed by the body.
- control - preferable 2 buttons control for easier access to main\side LEDs (sth. like Nitecores maybe?) - but I can live with one as well, if UI is not messed up or overcomplicated.
With 1H for moon, lockout, fast access to turbo, no strobe in main group kind of nonsenses.
Battery check and some sort of work time prediction would be perfect (like 1 flash for each 0,5h of time left in selected mode when checked?).
- hard-rubber style, transparent body, preferably GITD, but not limiting side LEDs output (clear/transparent window above side LEDs only?)
It would be great if light can be attached to all kind of keys, like nice car keys or with other EDC gadgets, that normally would be damaged by hard plastic or metal shell. And if keys will not damage the light as well, so material similar to hard rubber should be fine. Original A5x size is good balance between battery size, bells and whistles and being a kaychain at the same time.
- retention - besides obvious keychain ring/lanyard, also flexible pocket clip
Reversible clip would be great, but something I’d be totally crazy about is a clip that can point SIDE LEDs in front of you - to have nice, soft hi-CRI headlamp if attached to the beak of the cap. Haven’t seen anything like this on any lamp, but doesn’t sound like sci-fi for me.
I’d love to have mini magnets in the tail as well, like in S11 clone.
- other features - USB-C charging (may be micro, not a deal breaker), reasonable level of water protection, LVP, any other ideas?
I’d love to hear your opinion.
And I’m sorry for my broken English here and there, I struggle with delivery of my thoughts in nice and compact way even in my native language, so at the end we have what we have :person_facepalming: