I have a couple of ultra wide beam Foursevens key chain flashlights from 10+ years ago as well as a Fenix TK76 which has a ultra wide beam option available. The Foursevens lights are a Atom AL CR123 powered light and a Atom ALR2 that takes a CR2 battery. They have beams that are circa 120 degrees in diameter with no noticeable hot spot. The Fenix is a 3 LEDs light which has two small sub beams, each separately controllable, and the widest beam is close to 150 degrees wide, again with minimal center hot spot. The Fenix is a very large light from again circa 10 years ago.
Are there any current USB charged relatively small lights with ultra wide beams being made or still readily available? I am aware of the Triplelite models but the head on those is too large and only the largest model seems to be USB chargeable.
Single 18650 powered lights cover quite a range of sizs from not much larger than the battery plus about a inch added length for the light head and tail cap to relatively large. I would prefer something in the smaller end of the range with USB charging. I have an old 4 Sevens Quark RGB that uses two CR123 batteries and is 22mm diameter by 123mm long that is in the range of acceptability. It also has the desired beam pattern but the price of CR123 batteries has gotten ridiculous as so may flashlights are now USB charged.
Most of the wizard line is about 120°. Length is 112mm.
There are multiple lights that at first glance look very much alike. The nichia 4500k model is probably the best.
If you don’t want to deal with their magnetic charger they do have an elf 18650 and 18350 that uses a ”micro” USB. If you can wait, killzone. com will be getting some more of their custom nichia 3000k models back in stock at some point. With the clip on the bottom end it rides deep in pocket or can be clipped near the front of a belt or other clothing for hands-free operation. The wide beam is very useful for that. And obviously you can strap it on your head.
There are other headlights that have a wide beam but none of them get quite as wide as the wizards.
Not too small but definitely a flood beam with no obvious center hot spot is the 1000 lumens TripleLite TL1000 aluminum light with USB C charging of a replaceable 18650 cell. Relatively inexpensive at under $40 list price. Claimed 180 degree beam in one direction and almost as wide in the other direction. An odd shape flashlight head, almost like a hammer in shape. The actual light source looks like a COB LED array about 3.1" by 0.5". The less expensive plastic body versions are about the same shape but smaller and powered by AA or AAA batteries. They use 3 standard LEDs and oval reflectors set side by side to provide a similar beam pattern apparently. I do not have one of the smaller ones. 3 modes on the TL1000, selected in turn by quick presses of the operating button, high, low and strobe, then back to off.
The one pictured in your post Oli is not the same as the 1000 lumen aluminum version I bought, which is pictured in my post. The aluminum version I have uses a 18650 rechargeable battery, includes a USB C recharging port and is not offered by Amazon currently.
Look into “mule” lights (lights with no secondary optic) or lights using wide TIR.
USB charging limits things a lot, only thing I could think of is Fireflies NOV-MU, which is a high CRI mule. Without USB charging, emisar/noctigon has tons of options, and so is Convoy S21D.
I doubt that his opinion would have been much different. You started off wanting something relatively small. This ain’t it. It is likely still cold white and low cri. I did my best to find an objective and credible review. Could not. The manufacturer gives nearly zero specs besides the 1000 lumens and the 180°.
Hello Sir, when ultra is one of the requirements, there’ll be points to compensate. I believe everyone here have plenty good stuff to offer as an option.
I’d like to suggest the Wurkkos TS 22 , its a 21700 light but feels 18650. Good regulation with its buck boost driver, it has no distinctive hotspot.
Shallow 'orange peel reflector, usb C, tail magnet, for better tailstand on metal surface(not the best perpendicular to the fridge door though).
It won’t burn a hole in your wallet. It’s an edc,sideswitch, and no bigger than a Convoy S2+
Edit: *Boost driver
Here is a link to a review by some of our fellow BLF’ers
With it’s 80 claimed degree beam and available continuous ramping mode the Wurkkos TS22 looks good. Even a high CRI version is listed. Remarkably small for a 21700 battery powered light based on the pictures and info in the Amazon listing and currently a good price with the 20% off coupon offer on Amazon.
Another option, just received, is the Wurkkos HD11 which has both spotlight and floodlight capabilities as well as a red light capability for night vision preservation. In flood mode it claims a 100 degree beam coverage and offers both straight ahead and 90 degree head angles. Base mode switches automatically as the head angle is adjusted but all modes are available at either head angle. The one flaw I have noted on mine is that it appears that the USB C charging is not fully topping off the original battery, even after 12 hours, but I have multiple external chargers available and a different 18650 battery has topped up fine. It uses a single LED for spotlight mode and 6 surrounding LEDs for flood mode. 3 additional surrounding LEDs provide a relatively low output red light flood mode if desired. A nice amateur astronomer’s flashlight with the red light option to help preserve night vision.
My favourite option for the Emisar D3AA is no optic or the floody frosted. I use these little lights to take the dog out (poop location), inside cupboards at home etc
Also have a Fireflies PL47MU that I run in stumpy mode (18350) that’s a pretty perfect flood. It’s magneted on the fridge in my van with a Sofirn IF24.
Looking around I also found a couple of small lights from Wuben, the E7 and the X0. Both claim beams of 175 degrees. The E7 claims 1800 lumens from a 18350 battery and has an optional extension tube for 18650 use. Includes a USB charging port. The X0 has a non removable battery and claims 900 lumens, again with USB charging. Both are right angle configuration lights and reasonably priced.
Tried them out and the flood beams have uneven illumination with a more intense center area and are not as wide as claimed, at least to me. So far among current lights the best compact flood beam light I have found is the Wukkos HD11 with the articulating head that can be set to straight on flashlight mode or set to a right angle mode for headlamp mounting. A reasonably compact single 18650 battery light. I wish it had alternative battery tubes available for 18350 and 18500 cells.
If its like all the rest of Wurrkos lights in 18650 size, all of their bodies (and tail caps)interchange, both theirs and Sofirn. (And partially with some Convoy parts; modifications can be needed)
Thanks. I spotted a 18350 Wurkkos tube on Amazon. Arrived today and fits the HD11 perfectly. Shortens the light by about 30mm. The flood beam on the HD11 uses 6 reflectorless LEDs and the coverage angle seems to be primarily limited by the distance of the LEDs behind the bezel. A very evenly illuminated wide flood beam with 5 intensity levels.
No longer current, or compact, but one of the more interesting flashlights with a excellent flood beam is the Fenix TK76. Also in my opinion possibly one of Fenix’s most ugly flashlights they ever created. Certainly unique. Three separate beams, a throw beam and two flood beams listed as 60 degree and 120 degree. Each beam independently controlled by it’s own switch along with a master on/off switch and a turbo switch for a total of 5 switches. This one definitely showed some highly original Fenix design and engineering.
Below is a link to the original BLF review. Unfortunately the photos are hard to view as they all have a Photobucket overlay unless opened individually in a new tab.
