18650 is my go-to size, and honestly I am constantly surprised by how small the lights are (I’m a big guy). That said, what I like most in them is the comfort of having 500+ lumens for a while under regulation, even though it takes weeks before I need to give my cells a jolt, moreso now that it’s nearing summer and the sun is dawning at 4-ish AM already.
I think I’d adapt well to 21700 lights if it ever came to it. Moreso because unless I’m DEAD wrong, 21700 torches can take 18650 cells with the correct spacing. Big plus for me on that.
I’m settled and happy with 18650’s and have been for a while. I think the size is good, I don’t want bigger, and the capacity is plenty. I would rather see more 3500mah, or more if that becomes possible, 18650’s than I would more 21700’s. I really don’t want to get into new, bigger lights, and a new size of cells.
Kind of. They need a spacer + a metal extension. Banggood sells something that works: it’s just a small plastic tube with an aluminum cap embedded in the end, which you fit over the negative end of an 18650. Pricey for what it is, though. Cheaper to just buy a 21700 cell.
Another thing I hate about 21700 cells is that it’s really difficult to fit them in chargers. The charger manufacturers haven’t really caught up to it, yet.
I find a 18650 is ideal for pocket.
Shorts not skin tight jeans. We live in tropics. Usually a light shirt on top.
With a 26650 cell torch for walkabout.
They’re better, with a more comfortable grip for long term hold. Plus more capacity.
and it don’t hurt to carry a spare 18650/26650 in pocket.
They’re not really, going to weigh you down unless you’re a real wimp.
I like to carry a backup in case the one I’m using plays up.
Plus. Twice the range.
Often I go with my headlight. Dual 18650 in band. with 26650 in hand for throw.
Purrfect.
Take one light. (for lightness?)
3 miles from home on tracks on Moonless night. LED, battery, or driver drop out.
NO spare.
Hmmmm. Have fun.
I’m an old sailor.
Everything I carry, outside the front door.
Has a backup.
I ave been a 18650 fan for a really long time… I have recently started carrying lights that use AA or 14500’s for size alone. The Lumintop Tool AA 2.0 have found the way in to the pocket. I have had to adjust my pockets since getting moved in to a manager position requiring professional office attire. Smaller knive, light, pocket tool, ect. The only thing that I have not swapped out for a smaller version is my phone.
While I like the idea of the 21700 not sure if I will ever be a convert.
I like the 21700 in my Wuben TO50R, but that is not an ADC light to me. My prefered EDC size is about the size of the discontinued Olight S15 and S15R, using AA or 14500 cells or up to the size and weight of the FW3A. The MH20 Nitecore is doable. A 21700 will never be my EDC. It is good to have choices to match our personal preferences, though.
I’m definitely interested in 21700 lights for certain things. But I’m 95% certain I’ll never EDC one due to size. I won’t EDC 26650 either. The 30T sure looks fun for hot-rodding.
What I am kind of waiting/hoping for is a Zebralight "SC70d", basically an as-small-as-can-be 21700 flashlight (scaled up SC64 model for 21700 cell use). With a 90+ CRI LED, of course :)
I have two 21700 lights. A C8F and a FF E07. The C8F isn’t pocketable at all to me, heads too big. The E07 I can pull off occasionally depending on what britches I am wearing. Colder weather and it’s Levi’s 501’s. The E07 isn’t fitting in that pocket without it being quite unpleasant to carry. I am most often working or running around after dark. I appreciate the run time of a 18650. Even then it has to be a fairly small 18650. Zebralight or DQG mostly. Most tube lights are too long for my liking.
I carry 18350 lights a lot as well. Armytek, Jetbeam, Reylight or a shorty S2+. Don’t carry AA\14500 much. SC52w or Reylight if I do.
Weight isn’t really a issue for me. I am a decent sized fella. 6’1” and 230lbs. I always carry a full sized, steel framed pistol concealed inside the waist band in a quality holster. If I can make that disappear and not notice the weight of it much, I highly doubt I will complain about flashlight weight. What I don’t like is things hanging around in holsters, on belt loops, or otherwise outside of my pockets or waistband. Too many things to snag me up on my day to day activities.
Is 21700 the future? For some things I’m sure they are. For flashlights? Not so much. I mean it’s not really the future, they are already here. It’s just an option available if you need it. Some do, some don’t. When 18650’s came out I’m sure someone tried to make the same observation. Yet we still have 10180, 14500, 16340, 18350 etc…… Sorry if I missed your favorite in between or oddball size. Point is they all still exist and are still made today even though at one time, 18650 was the future. They are even making better quality, higher capacity and higher current versions of those cells than they have ever made in the past.
So even the old cells still have a future. We are just at the end of a very long line of users for these cells. If battery manufactures had to depend on the flashlight folks to make their livings, they would die of hunger before the end of the first quarter.
