If a few more lights sell i’ll have some money for upgrading.
Right now i have
- Convoy M3C (26650) XHP-70
4000(?) lumens
- Convoy M1 type light, (18650) XM-L2
1200(?) lumens
- Crelant V4A (4AA) XP-L direct drive,
1300 lumens(?)
- Cyclone C88 (26650) XM-L
950 lumens
- Klarus P1A (1AA) XP-G
100ish lumens
- Starry Light (barely usable becasue of thread wear) (4AA) XM-L2
500ish lumens
- Crelant V21A (2AA) XM-L2
200ish lumens
- Coast Polysteel 600 (4AA) XM-L2
500ish lumens
- Nitecore P30 (18650) XP-L
1000(?) lumens
- Olight S2 (18650) XM-L
400(?) lumens
- Olight I3e (AAA)
90 lumens
- XTAR Moon RC2
200(?) lumens
What else would make for a well rounded collection or needs upgrading?
—
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Endgame light is Maxabeam/Peakbeam. That is the one you might need. Than you can rest.
Mike
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that. George Carlin
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So exclusive the price isn’t even available online!
And i notice its Xenon bulbed
The Journal of Alternative Facts™
"It is critical that there is a credible academic source for the growing and important discipline of Alternative Facts. This field of study will just keep winning, and we knew that all the best people would want to be on board. There is a real risk in the world today that people might be getting their information about science from actual scientists."
Maybe a D18 or MF01S or another soda can type flashlight and a good 16350 light would round out your collection.
I feel sorry for people who don't have a hobby or interest to escape to.
Sofirn SP 36 is one of my favorites. D4 is a cool pocket rocket to have.
My EDC, which is my favorite flashlight, is the Lumintop FW3A.
I don't know if you want or need it, but it's very nice.
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That looks like an awesome light.
I had forgotten to mention Olight S2. I actually want to upgrade it becasue it has about 400 lumens and i could use more. But similar form factor with magnet in tail seems to cost upwards of $100.
The Journal of Alternative Facts™
"It is critical that there is a credible academic source for the growing and important discipline of Alternative Facts. This field of study will just keep winning, and we knew that all the best people would want to be on board. There is a real risk in the world today that people might be getting their information about science from actual scientists."
You got a lot of AA-lights, me personaly I like my AA-lights but EDC my AAA-lights, that might be something for you to look at.
I do think you need something outlandish for geek-play, one for pure power like the SP36 mentioned above and one for pure throw just for giggles and show.
I do have a keychain Olight i3e AAA, works well when i need light quickly. And as a true flashaholic i keep finding more lights.
I like AA lights becasue Eneloops take a licking and keep on ticking. Also i can leave them in the car in summer heat unlike lithium.
But i have yet to find a good one, solid lumens and battery holders that don’t strip the wrapping off the batteries.
The Journal of Alternative Facts™
"It is critical that there is a credible academic source for the growing and important discipline of Alternative Facts. This field of study will just keep winning, and we knew that all the best people would want to be on board. There is a real risk in the world today that people might be getting their information about science from actual scientists."
My other favorite flashlight is the BLF-D80v2.
It used to be dirt cheap, and now it's more expensive.
If you're looking for a pretty compact thrower with a tail switch, it's an excellent choice.
It fits in my pants/shorts pocket really well.
If it were still about $28, and if the brightest emitter were still available cheap, I would recommend it more.
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Also, if you're looking for a keychain flashlight, the RovyVon ones are my favorite.
I like the RovyVon Aurora A3 Pro the most, but there are a bunch to choose from.
They're extremely bright for their size, and they have a really convenient lockout function.
I think they're overpriced for what they are, so if you don't care about the excellently implemented lockout function, there are several cheaper clones available.
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That is effing bright for a keychain light, rivalling my Convoy M1 (that i just sold) if only for a short time.
At this time i am not looking to upgrade the keychain, i rarely use the keychain light and it is sufficient when i do.
Of course if money were no object i would of course go for that car headlight in a keychain
But you say similar brightness is available in keychain for cheap?
The Journal of Alternative Facts™
"It is critical that there is a credible academic source for the growing and important discipline of Alternative Facts. This field of study will just keep winning, and we knew that all the best people would want to be on board. There is a real risk in the world today that people might be getting their information about science from actual scientists."
Not sure what you consider a collection… but it seems to me you’re just started.
To start with the classics, i’d consider a couple Convoy S2s and C8s. They come in a variety of body colors and emitters, including hight CRI, UV, red, green and blue.
Soda can lights like the BLF Q8, now somewhat deprecated in favor of the Sofirn SP36. Astrolux MF01S, Emisar D18, FF Rot66 Gen 2…
26650 lights like the DQG Tiny 26650 3rd, Astrolux MF01 Mini, Emisar D4SV2…
Pocket rockets like the Emisar D4V2, Lumintop FW3A and variants…
21700 lights…
AAA/10440 keychain lights…
There is quite some room to round up your collection.
Yep, two of the popular ones that are similar to the smaller RovyVons are the Nitecore TIKI and JETBeam Mini One.
I don't have any experience with them, but they are more reasonably priced.
There's (at least) one more popular one, but I can't remember what it is.
EDIT:
The Seeknite S11 is another clone, but it's not that popular.
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Check out the OP of this thread for some good deals on the Tiki and Mini One:
https://budgetlightforum.com/node/60338
You might need to do a text search for "Tiki" or "Mini One" to find the deals.
...
EDIT:
Here's a deal for the Seeknite S11:
https://budgetlightforum.com/comment/1769915#comment-1769915
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I like simple, the fewer lights the better, but i want to cover all situations
I have a 800+ meter throwing light (P30) so that covers the C8. I might look at a new more powerful S2, mine is for sale being XM-L. UV would be very interesting.
I never considered colours, but would be interested in a light that has all three and can choose between them.
An interesting list.
In the end i want simple, if i was starting over i would want a thrower, a lumen monster, an all purpose light, a keychain light, a 4AA high lumen regulated light, 1AA and lantern (the Moon RC2 is a very interesting design that i never expected to be my most used light).
That said colours and UV are interesting as well.
I have some of this covered already though if money were not an issue i would start over with a clean slate and buy higher end examples of each category.
The Journal of Alternative Facts™
"It is critical that there is a credible academic source for the growing and important discipline of Alternative Facts. This field of study will just keep winning, and we knew that all the best people would want to be on board. There is a real risk in the world today that people might be getting their information about science from actual scientists."
A Rotary??

I would suggest adding a Manker E02II to your collection. (4000k high CRI version). In addition to the excellent beam (TIR) and high CRI, the clip is fantastic. It is simply the most useful light I have for dog walking and indoor hands free use. Simple and useful UI. Fantastic moon modes. Can clip to most anything. So small and discrete it is the only light that I have that I will wear as jewelry. Clipped to a hat brim in is an excellent headlamp. A good right angle light is a very excellent part of any collection.
Do you have a decent headlamp?
I like the Lumintop HL3A, which is very similar to the FW3A.
(I'm a sucker for stepless ramping.)
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I don’t see any UV lights in there. That’s a whole other rabbit hole to explore
One Bulb to rule them all,
One Bulb to blind them,
One Bulb to bring them all,
and put the darkness behind them
90whatever-CRI TO46R and/or E2L. Both are reeeeally nice flooders.
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
Those are real words of wisdom and it sounds so simple. Thanks.
I wish i could have just bought THE light for each situation i could think of and be done with it – like forever, but that did not happen. Because you learn from each new light and understand more about LEDs, beam shapes, reflectors, TIRs, tints, CRI, drivers, UI… And more cool lights come up… with more lumen, usb charging, aux leds and lighted buttons, ramping… And there is also that particular situation where you just want to have fun with lights, and that has no tangible boundaries.
Speaking of 4xAA lights, you may want to check the Sofirn SF11 – which may have been mentioned above..
A UV light is quite fun and possibly useful. If you get a S2, be sure to get the one with 7135×5 and ZWB2 filter.
I only came aware of colored throwers recently with the Noctigon K1 and Convoy C8?. Not sure what’s the most common use case but it makes a fun light saber.
That SF11 from Banggood
Sofirn themselves sells it for just over half of that number! On their own site and via Aliexpress
https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/32796254593.html?albpd=nl32796254593&acnt...
Thanks to mention it. Link updated.
since you like AA, I suggest the Lumintop Tool AA with a High CRI Nichia
High CRI lights for sale
Yes, I have the original D80 from years ago, and the newer D80 with the SST40. Both great lights
Indeed, i do not know what wavelengths are available or what the differences are between them
I have a cheap Home Depot headlamp in the glove compartment.
I use the Moon RC2 clipped to my shirt as a headlamp, works quite well to be honest
I have considered a sidelight, never tried one, might be useful.
The Journal of Alternative Facts™
"It is critical that there is a credible academic source for the growing and important discipline of Alternative Facts. This field of study will just keep winning, and we knew that all the best people would want to be on board. There is a real risk in the world today that people might be getting their information about science from actual scientists."
Emisar D4V2. Sideswitch, tailcap with magnet can be ordered. Get the stainless steel bezel, too. It’s a bit more expensive than the FW3A, but a whole different class qualitywise.
Smile, you cannot kill them all.
Speaking of side switches, the Sofirn SC31 Pro is basically a FW3A with a side switch instead of a tail switch.
It's cheap as dirt, but be sure to get the Pro version if you want stepless ramping.
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you have to have something that uses Anduril
FW3A is a great light
or FW1A
my EDC, i have been through a BUNCH of others!
Anduril is a pretty great UI
The FW3A has been a reliable, small, good platform for anduril
"You never have the wind with you - it's either against you, or you're having a good day."
Daniel Behrman, "The Man Who Loved Bicycles".
It never gets easy, you just go faster. -Greg Lemond.
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Look for 365nm hosts, preferably with a LG led. As someone mentioned above, a Convoy S2 is popular. You also want a ZWB2 filter on it to filter out the visible light, which makes a HUGE difference.
Sofirn also recently came out with a version of their SP33 that’s decent but does not have a filter, but you can find the filters elsewhere (I believe it takes about a 19.5mm, or you can get a 20.5 and file it a bit).
You can also look for posts on here from djozz, he’s the resident UV testing expert, more or less :), like this one
https://budgetlightforum.com/node/59304
One Bulb to rule them all,
One Bulb to blind them,
One Bulb to bring them all,
and put the darkness behind them
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