Best pocket 18650 thrower?

Tumbleweed48 · 2019-03-30T06:06:37.000Z

Anytime somebody says ‘best’ I cringe a little, but ‘very good’ at a very affordable price would be a standard S2 Convoy with an inexpensive smooth reflector and an XP-L Hi emitter in the flavour of your choice.

Pot it well with some of those squishy little cubes from Intl-Outdoors, drive it at a humble 3 amps or so, and you’ll see it everything you need to see this side of an actual foot long, two pound light sabre.

Slightly better, a bit more bullet proof (but a bit less pocketable), might be a hot-rodded Solarforce P60.

Bottom line? Everyone’s ‘best’ is different, and subject to a whole lot of variables.

Yokiamy · 2019-03-30T07:07:31.000Z

Pocket throwers, Emisar D1s of GT mini.

Yoordie · 2019-03-30T07:14:29.000Z

Macka17:

Yoordie.
Get some “wrangler” jeans. then you can wear in comfort AND carry a C8+ or several other torches in there with room to spare.

I’m fine with my jeans

Yoordie · 2019-03-30T07:16:41.000Z

toddcshoe:

I’d just grab the Convoy M2 with XP-L Hi in it. Has the biscotti driver already installed and a nice throwy emitter and SMO reflector. Pick your tint and shine on my friend.

22.49€ |Convoy M1 XPL HALLO LED, DTP platte, 7135*8 biscotti, glatte reflektor, 18650 taschenlampe, taschenlampe|Taschenlampen| - AliExpress

I was already thinking about buying this one, but it is a little bit thicker. I’ll look up some reviews.

robo819 · 2019-03-30T07:18:01.000Z

Something I have not seen mentioned , that to me is a great little thrower for the size (310 meters ANSI rated and 2100 lumens) and also serves as a headlamp / EDC (comes with a clip as well as headband) is the Thrunite TH10 V2. It is a single 18650 with XHP 35 HI emitter and smooth reflector.

My full review with charts , beamshots and live outdoor comparisons …… HERE

Yoordie · 2019-03-30T07:20:03.000Z

Tumbleweed48:

Anytime somebody says ‘best’ I cringe a little, but ‘very good’ at a very affordable price would be a standard S2 Convoy with an inexpensive smooth reflector and an XP-L Hi emitter in the flavour of your choice.

Pot it well with some of those squishy little cubes from Intl-Outdoors, drive it at a humble 3 amps or so, and you’ll see it everything you need to see this side of an actual foot long, two pound light sabre.

Slightly better, a bit more bullet proof (but a bit less pocketable), might be a hot-rodded Solarforce P60.

Bottom line? Everyone’s ‘best’ is different, and subject to a whole lot of variables.

The best one for my use case. Everyone has got their opinion and their favorite ofc.

Yoordie · 2019-03-30T07:22:41.000Z

robo819:

Something I have not seen mentioned , that to me is a great little thrower for the size (310 meters ANSI rated and 2100 lumens) and also serves as a headlamp / EDC (comes with a clip as well as headband) is the Thrunite TH10 V2. It is a single 18650 with XHP 35 HI emitter and smooth reflector.

My full review with charts , beamshots and live outdoor comparisons …… HERE

21700 is fine but I don’t like an emitter on the side.

Geuzzz · 2019-03-30T07:30:57.000Z

In unmodded tube format definitely the mh20gt.

Yoordie · 2019-03-30T07:37:49.000Z

Lightbringer:

MH20GT? One of the smallest 18650 lights I got, only slightly wider reflector than most tubelights, but emphasis is on throw even vs the regular MH20 (“GT” = “Greater Throw”).

If you don’t want a big-head light like a GTmini or P30, the MH20GT might suit ya.

But value wise I think the convoy m2 will be better. How does it compare to the m2 and s2+(+).

Yoordie · 2019-03-30T08:13:47.000Z

Yoordie:

Lightbringer:

MH20GT? One of the smallest 18650 lights I got, only slightly wider reflector than most tubelights, but emphasis is on throw even vs the regular MH20 (“GT” = “Greater Throw”).

If you don’t want a big-head light like a GTmini or P30, the MH20GT might suit ya.

But value wise I think the convoy m2 will be better. How does it compare to the m2 and s2+(+).

And what about the sofirn sf36w

4492011 · 2019-03-30T13:05:15.000Z

Yoordie:

Yoordie:

Lightbringer:

MH20GT? One of the smallest 18650 lights I got, only slightly wider reflector than most tubelights, but emphasis is on throw even vs the regular MH20 (“GT” = “Greater Throw”).

If you don’t want a big-head light like a GTmini or P30, the MH20GT might suit ya.

But value wise I think the convoy m2 will be better. How does it compare to the m2 and s2+(+).

And what about the sofirn sf36w

It is the same size as the Convoy M2 different emitter, the M2 will have a better throw with the XPL-HI also has a little deeper reflector great light, head is larger than S2+

Yoordie · 2019-03-30T13:32:55.000Z

4492011:

Yoordie:

Yoordie:

Lightbringer:

MH20GT? One of the smallest 18650 lights I got, only slightly wider reflector than most tubelights, but emphasis is on throw even vs the regular MH20 (“GT” = “Greater Throw”).

If you don’t want a big-head light like a GTmini or P30, the MH20GT might suit ya.

But value wise I think the convoy m2 will be better. How does it compare to the m2 and s2+(+).

And what about the sofirn sf36w

It is the same size as the Convoy M2 different emitter, the M2 will have a better throw with the XPL-HI also has a little deeper reflector great light, head is larger than S2+

I did some test and I think about 25 mm really is my limit when it comes to the thickness.

4492011 · 2019-03-30T13:43:22.000Z

Yoordie:

4492011:

Yoordie:

Yoordie:

Lightbringer:

MH20GT? One of the smallest 18650 lights I got, only slightly wider reflector than most tubelights, but emphasis is on throw even vs the regular MH20 (“GT” = “Greater Throw”).

If you don’t want a big-head light like a GTmini or P30, the MH20GT might suit ya.

But value wise I think the convoy m2 will be better. How does it compare to the m2 and s2+(+).

And what about the sofirn sf36w

It is the same size as the Convoy M2 different emitter, the M2 will have a better throw with the XPL-HI also has a little deeper reflector great light, head is larger than S2+

I did some test and I think about 25 mm really is my limit when it comes to the thickness.

The M2 is about 31mm, for 25mm better stick with the tube lights like S2+

Yoordie · 2019-03-30T13:54:12.000Z

4492011:

Yoordie:

4492011:

Yoordie:

Yoordie:

Lightbringer:

MH20GT? One of the smallest 18650 lights I got, only slightly wider reflector than most tubelights, but emphasis is on throw even vs the regular MH20 (“GT” = “Greater Throw”).

If you don’t want a big-head light like a GTmini or P30, the MH20GT might suit ya.

But value wise I think the convoy m2 will be better. How does it compare to the m2 and s2+(+).

And what about the sofirn sf36w

It is the same size as the Convoy M2 different emitter, the M2 will have a better throw with the XPL-HI also has a little deeper reflector great light, head is larger than S2+

I did some test and I think about 25 mm really is my limit when it comes to the thickness.

The M2 is about 31mm, for 25mm better stick with the tube lights like S2+

Yeah, I was just looking up the dimensions. Tube light are the way to go.

AllecMn · 2019-03-30T14:06:08.000Z

Yoordie, “Which is the best? Do you have any other suggestions for a different flashlight?”

Here is a photo review for Convoy C8+ - https://forum.guns.ru/forummessage/234/2356363-0.html
You don’t need a text, see only photos and I hope that will help you.
Price history for this item Convoy C8 Cree XML2 U2-1A Led Zaklamp, Zaklamp, Lantaarn, Lanterna Fiets, Zelfverdediging,. The price is very stable.

ValuseekeR · 2019-03-30T15:06:59.000Z

I’ve dithered around on this topic myself for a while, but haven’t bought anything new yet.

GT Mini, Emisar D1s, Thrunite Catapult V6, C8+ and other Convoys, various Sofirns, etc… All look like nice lights, but I’m not sure any of them would get more use than the S2+ (I have 3,) especially in terms of being pocketable.

I do already have a couple of Sofirn SF36’s. Fantastic budgets lights for the price I paid and fairly throwy, but even those are a little bulky for a pants pocket.

Also have the ss BLF X6, which is a gorgeous light, but mainly a shelf queen. A lot of that is the weight, which is why I keep thinking about another compact thrower, but I haven’t been completely sold on anything to this point.

So if you were looking for an unhelpful ramble, there you go.

Yoordie · 2019-03-30T15:25:03.000Z

ValuseekeR:

I’ve dithered around on this topic myself for a while, but haven’t bought anything new yet.

GT Mini, Emisar D1s, Thrunite Catapult V6, C8+ and other Convoys, various Sofirns, etc… All look like nice lights, but I’m not sure any of them would get more use than the S2+ (I have 3,) especially in terms of being pocketable.

I do already have a couple of Sofirn SF36’s. Fantastic budgets lights for the price I paid and fairly throwy, but even those are a little bulky for a pants pocket.

Also have the ss BLF X6, which is a gorgeous light, but mainly a shelf queen. A lot of that is the weight, which is why I keep thinking about another compact thrower, but I haven’t been completely sold on anything to this point.

So if you were looking for an unhelpful ramble, there you go.

I know where you’re coming from mate

Edit: typo

Yoordie · 2019-03-30T22:33:08.000Z

d_t_a:

These beamshots are taken at a ground distance of around 120 meters (flashlight to opposite building), diagonal distance estimated to be around 150 meters or so (400+ feet).

Sofirn SP31 v2.0 (XPL-Hi)

YouTube

Convoy S2 (XPL-Hi 3A neutral-white, 7135x8) [note: this is the S2 with deeper reflector, not S2+]

YouTube

Convoy S2+ (XPL-Hi 4C warm-white, 7135x8)

YouTube

Convoy S2+ (SST20 4000K, warm-white, 7135x8)

YouTube

They look very similar.

gchart · 2019-03-30T23:26:19.000Z

Yoordie:

I did some test and I think about 25 mm really is my limit when it comes to the thickness.

25mm is squarely tube-light territory. Nitecore P12GT is a nice but pricy option (a thinner sibling of the MH20GT). I’m working on a review of the Sofirn SP31 V2.0 - a tube light with XP-L HI. It seems to be a great light so far… smaller than the P12GT, much cheaper, and has 90% of the throw of the P12GT (I measured 17,900 vs 20,150 lux).

d_t_a · 2019-04-08T09:04:30.000Z

Yoordie:

d_t_a:

These beamshots are taken at a ground distance of around 120 meters (flashlight to opposite building), diagonal distance estimated to be around 150 meters or so (400+ feet).

Sofirn SP31 v2.0 (XPL-Hi)

YouTube

Convoy S2 (XPL-Hi 3A neutral-white, 7135x8) [note: this is the S2 with deeper reflector, not S2+]

YouTube

Convoy S2+ (XPL-Hi 4C warm-white, 7135x8)

YouTube

Convoy S2+ (SST20 4000K, warm-white, 7135x8)

YouTube

They look very similar.

From afar, basically the differences are not big, considering they have similar-sized reflector/heads. The Sofirn SP31v2.0 is a bit brighter (confirmed when I use a basic lux meter and do a ceiling bounce test at the same distance).

For instance, using a fully-charge battery, and doing the same ceiling bounce tests, I get these lux readings:
Sofirn SP31 v2.0 (XPL-Hi) : 115 lux
Convoy S2+ XPL-Hi NW (7135x8) : 90 lux
Convoy S2+ SST20-4000K (7135x8) : 60 lux
(lux readings when on max brightness, at the start)