Does the perfect flashlight for me exist? You're my only hope BLF

BPNZ · 2019-07-11T10:04:52.000Z

I’ve recently been buying far too many Sofirn and Astrolux torches, mostly thanks to this forum… Love the SP36 BLF and SP70.

However I want to get my parents / inlaws some good torches and those aren’t really suitable.

So ideally what I’m after is a torch (doesn’t have to be Sofirn) that has the following characteristics… does this perfect torch exist? Basically a lighter single battery version of the SP36?

USB chargeable.
Good flood, doesn’t need to throw hundreds of meters.
Lithium ion battery, eg 18650, 26650 etc.
Long battery life.
Ramping.

Thanks

rikr · 2019-07-11T10:31:16.000Z

There is the Convoy M3, only thing it doesn’t have USB plug. For the money, it’s hard to beat.

7pot · 2019-07-11T10:36:13.000Z

Astrolux S43S?

rngwn · 2019-07-11T11:02:27.000Z

SP32A if you can get by without USB cable charging

SC31 if “ramping” is less important than being rechargable

Both use single 18650

BPNZ · 2019-07-11T12:09:11.000Z

Just an update, and thanks for your comments…

I decided to skip the Convoy as USB charging was a biggy, these are going to old people who’ll forget to take the batteries out and charge them separately.

I went ahead and ordered a Astrolux S43S, plus a 18650 tube… so will be keen to see what that’s like…

I’ve got a SC31 and an SP32A, but already had more SP32A on order as I did like those, despite the separate charger required.

Still keen on any other recommendations though…

Sidney_Stratton · 2019-07-11T12:17:45.000Z

Got my brother (muggle) an S43. After getting past the instruction booklet, suited his needs very well. Always stunned at the the turbo output. Gets hot fast, so feels an obligation to lower the setting - a positive feedback to the light.

Parametrek · 2019-07-11T13:10:34.000Z

USB chargeable.
Good flood.
Single lithium ion battery.
Long battery life.
Ramping.

Plugging those requirements into the database basically finds just 2 lights: the Thrunite Neutron 2C and the Thrunite T1. Either of these are around $45 but the T1 is smaller. Both are good lights and have a neutral white option though Thrunite tends to use weird neutral whites.

Dalamar · 2019-07-18T14:30:53.000Z

D4
D4S
E07 (21700)
S43
etc…

don’t have to run a light on max. E07 would be my personal best if Fireflies wasn’t known for massive qc issues and poor support. I use my D4 below the first ramp flicker (>400ma, high efficiency) and it lasts longer than all my other lights while still providing more lumens

edit: but these aren’t usb rechargable, I think it’s expecting too much for usb charging and limits your options considerably.

Boaz · 2019-07-18T14:41:03.000Z

Simple ....A 10$ Boruit R2 headlamp

Get rid of the strap , add a piece of diffuser film to the lens if you want more flood and glue on a nice rubberized magnet to the flat side .

I gave one to my mom and have one attached to the side of my refrigerator in my kitchen ..use it all the time . The color is ok and for a normal human it's a lot of light . ramps , has motion detection and usb charging . what's not to love for $10.

Also the Boruit D10 is a great /maybe better light ..but no ramping .

e1000 · 2019-07-18T14:48:00.000Z

Parametrek:

USB chargeable.
Good flood.
Single lithium ion battery.
Long battery life.
Ramping.

Plugging those requirements into the database basically finds just 2 lights: the Thrunite Neutron 2C and the Thrunite T1. Either of these are around $45 but the T1 is smaller. Both are good lights and have a neutral white option though Thrunite tends to use weird neutral whites.

+1 on this. The Thrunite 2C V3 is one of the few stock lights I have in NW. What’s also great is that it can take 18650’s and 18350’s out of the box.

sbslider · 2019-07-18T14:49:13.000Z

not yet available, but the BLF LT1 would suit you. 1-4 18650, usb charging, ramping, tint mixing, and very floody. It’s more of a sit on the shelf light, but at least one prototype user tells that she uses it often.

*BLF LT1 Lantern Project) (updated Nov,17,2020) LED Lanterns

New Update section is here February,08,2022 An update on the LT1, and other projects including the LT1M (mini) The pandemic has slowed things down quite a bit, including my big move, lifes-change, etc. But i am still dedicated to new progress on this BLF project with Sofirn for future models, advancements, etc. While it may have been myself who got the project started a few years back, I do not deserve all the credit in this what so ever… I could not have done this alone at all… And with an…

red72vw · 2019-07-18T23:16:53.000Z

Boaz:

Simple ….A 10$ Boruit R2 headlamp

I have one of these but cannot seem to find them for sale now.

Do you know where to find them, Boaz?

DavidEF · 2019-07-19T00:33:41.000Z

BPNZ:

Just an update, and thanks for your comments…

I decided to skip the Convoy as USB charging was a biggy, these are going to old people who’ll forget to take the batteries out and charge them separately.

I went ahead and ordered a Astrolux S43S, plus a 18650 tube… so will be keen to see what that’s like…

I’ve got a SC31 and an SP32A, but already had more SP32A on order as I did like those, despite the separate charger required.

Still keen on any other recommendations though…

Sidney Stratton:

Got my brother (muggle) an S43. After getting past the instruction booklet, suited his needs very well. Always stunned at the the turbo output. Gets hot fast, so feels an obligation to lower the setting - a positive feedback to the light.

The S43S will get very hot. Please inform the parents to be very careful with it.

RobertB · 2019-07-19T02:43:06.000Z

Sofirn SP31. noobs don’t care about ramping

SKV89 · 2019-07-19T03:11:17.000Z

I like the Thrunite T1 alot, except for the CW tint but I plan to replace the emitter if I have time. The Niwalker MM6S is worth looking into but the current UI sucks and I read they are revising their UI. But it only comes with Nichia 219C so the tint is not great. The Astrolux MF01 Mini should have the SST-20 95CRI, which should be either the FD2 or FA3 tint bin so tint will be better than the greenish 219C 90CRI. The Wuben TO50R is also not bad but the buttons are hard to find in the dark and the Samsung 90CRI LH351D emitter is a bit greenish.

Currently, there does not exist a perfect flashlight with usb recharge, muggle friendly user interface, and good tint/cri in existence. Even ramping and Anduril UI flashlights are not suitable for muggles. They easily click their way into odd modes. For me, I find a flashlight that I like and mod it with non greenish HICRI emitters such as the SST-20 95CRI 3000K, Nichia 219B 9080, Optisolis, and my favorite E21A 9080.

Lightbringer · 2019-07-19T04:43:42.000Z

rngwn:

SP32A if you can get by without USB cable charging

SC31 if “ramping” is less important than being rechargable

This.

BlueSwordM · 2019-07-19T04:44:44.000Z

I’d actually recommend the Fireflies E07 with the XP-L HI option along with a Samsung 30T, and doing a spring bypass on the tailcap to give it even more powah!

mrheosuper · 2019-07-19T10:49:32.000Z

Convoy s9, it has usb charging, doesn’t have a lot of power so it won’t melt your hand, but it doesn’t have ramping, if it matters to you

Macka17 · 2019-07-19T13:18:43.000Z

Sidney Stratton wrote: Got my brother (muggle) an S43. After getting past the instruction booklet, suited his needs very well. Always stunned at the the turbo output. Gets hot fast, so feels an obligation to lower the setting – a positive feedback to the light.

The S43S will get very hot. Please inform the parents to be very careful with it.

Hi.
I have 2 x S41’s with 18650 tubes on them.
One Copper. one Copper/Stainless.

I use on setting 4. 90% of the time. Stays cool
and gives decent round you light when walking.

5 gets warm.

6 and 7. fergit. Unless just for a coupla seconds.

They with an Imalent DN35 are my fav’s outside.