I gave the one USB-chargeable light I had to a friend for dog-walking, and it seems to have failed a drop test
(details to follow once I figure out if the problem is with the built-in charger, the driver, the emitter, the battery, or go figure)
Meanwhile.
Soliciting gathering up recommendations of, or at least info on the existence of, USB-chargeable flashlights.
Why? Because I feel a bit safer giving lithium-ion cells to people when they don’t have to understand charging precautions.
Eagle eye X1R, paired with a headstrap. I’ve used mine lots since it arrived, I feel it’s pretty ‘muggle-proof’ as I don’t find it gets as hot as my other lights.
Zanflare F1 is quite a popular and nice rechargeable light. Little bit of throw and a little bit of spill. NW version is nicer than the CW in my opinion. Hard to beat the price too.
I just got an Amutorch X9. It has USB C charging and so far has been OK. Very small and a very unique UI. Ramping or stepping depending on how you turn it on , either long or short click. Similar in size to a D4S.
Oh, big big big plus in my book, the ~1buk deep-carry clip for the S2+ fits this light perfectly, as if made for it. Also, the anodisation is a perfect match, too, no gloss vs matte conflict or anything.
I hate clips in general, especially when the light rides high with almost a third of it sticking out of a pocket, but this DC clip lets the UT20 ride nice’n’low, almost nothing sticking out.
For dog walking pretty much every light will do. So I suggest something cheap but not too cheap.
Boruit RJ-02 on a good deal? OK, It will work but for some people that will be too cheap.
If the friend is a quality oriented I suggest Zanflare F1, looks quite like a premium product yet has a budget price.
I’ve been beating on the same ’02 since I got it, and it’s still going strong. Saw it was “cheap”, ordered a bunch as “disposables”, yet the first one is still chugging away just fine. I wouldn’t dismiss it as low quality or anything. Sure, it doesn’t have a fancy emitter and everything’s on one PCB, but it still… works.
Yeah, where we live “dog walking” and “fleeing outdoors during the earthquake” are both routine uses one has to expect.
So reliability counts. USB charging is a nice convenience.