Flashlights that are great but you hate them

AlexGT · 2019-07-10T16:27:04.000Z

Folomov EDC C2, love the small form factor for a 18650 USB Rechargeable side switch light with a power bank, I HATE the user interface, wish it was Anduril

Jack_Kellar · 2019-07-10T16:27:21.000Z

thisnameisvalid:

Jack Kellar:

thisnameisvalid:

Sofirn SP10A V2.0

I really like it as it has great mode spacing, brightness, beam, (especially now that mine has a 3000k SST-20), size, cell options, and has a shortcut to turbo but… [snip]

Did you do an emitter swap on it, or is the warm SST-20 a stock option? Because what you described as your personal reason for hate is not a problem for me.

Swapped it in myself. The stock XP-G2 had a very nice beam but I wanted to try something different

Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.

dotBLF · 2019-07-10T18:43:24.000Z

Acebeam EC65 is close to the top of this list for me.

It is objectively a great light. It’s built damn well, super solid, great USB type-C charging, super compact on a 21700 (which is a benefit itself), and has both high CRI and high output options. BUT

It’s UI is not ideal, doesn’t have low enough lows. The button isn’t exactly my favorite, but it does feel high quality. No magnet is kinda bummer. And with the nichia the frosted optic is too diffuse for me to use as a viable EDC, I have to use it at too high of an output to last any significant time for effective brightness. It could also have a powerbank feature, I think that’s a big weak point compared to say, the Wuben TO50R.

Olights S1R IIs also come in here.

GREAT lights. Good enough low, rock solid UI with good mode spacing and simple features but has everything you could want. Magnetic charging is great and simple. Super small and sleek, and now even has some emitter options and some great looks.

Emitter options still aren’t ideal. I don’t really like it a whole lot more than equivalently sized lights, and the emitter options aren’t that terrific at the end of the day. Proprietary cells are needed for the charging, which is just a total drag, it’s an archaic practice.

I’m sure the Astrolux S40-series would come in here if I thought they were great lights, but they are wicked heavy, super harsh knurling, and clunky UIs all around (until you get to Narsil). Good light for the price? Maybe, but definitely not great IMO!

roguesoul · 2019-07-10T19:02:21.000Z

Hate the siren song of Ti flashlights; buy me, buy me.

Love Ti but I know for a flashlight it’s not ideal. I’ve resisted so far…

Lightbringer · 2019-07-10T19:14:45.000Z

roguesoul:

Hate the siren song of Ti flashlights; buy me, buy me.

Y’mean like…

?

Scallywag · 2020-04-20T15:12:27.000Z

I think I'm going to put the FW3A here.

I just can't manage to clip it into a pocket without turning it on at least 20% of the time. I swapped the button for a rubber one, and I wasn't turning it on accidentally anymore but it became instantly ugly.

Maybe I'll have to stack some washers on the end of it to sitck out past the switch... I probably am going to add a washer to my D4's switch anyway.

EDIT: It's worth coming back to this to edit it. The o-ring mod that's become well-known for the FW3A has made it quite a lovely little light for me. The way it should've shipped, IMO.

BurningPlayd0h · 2019-07-10T20:44:55.000Z

Scallywag:

I think I’m going to put the FW3A here.

I just can’t manage to clip it into a pocket without turning it on at least 20% of the time. I swapped the button for a rubber one, and I wasn’t turning it on accidentally anymore but it became instantly ugly.

Maybe I’ll have to stack some washers on the end of it to sitck out past the switch… I probably am going to add a washer to my D4’s switch anyway.

Try using just the stock rubber boot without the metal switch cover.

anonymous_user · 2019-07-11T04:52:53.000Z

Tool Ti AAA - I don’t like the UI and it doesn’t have any moonlight/firefly mode. Also I tend to hit the tail eswitch by accident sometimes. I know they have the aluminum version with rubber switch but that doesn’t have the Nichia emitter.

mortuus · 2019-07-11T08:43:42.000Z

olight r50 copper, love the light but cool white tint and super heavy weight makes it that i dont use it that much or take it with me when im outside…

Jack_Kellar · 2019-07-11T10:37:10.000Z

anonymous_user:

Tool Ti AAA - I don’t like the UI and it doesn’t have any moonlight/firefly mode. Also I tend to hit the tail eswitch by accident sometimes. I know they have the aluminum version with rubber switch but that doesn’t have the Nichia emitter.

That ain’t right, unless it’s gone out of production. I have a Nichia Tool in aluminium and it’s very nice.

Truck · 2019-07-11T13:06:18.000Z

my biggest hate/love relationship with a led light was the Astrolux S42. great quality and quad for the pocket, but the software was horrible. I gladly gave it away.

BurningPlayd0h · 2019-07-11T13:34:12.000Z

Jack Kellar:

anonymous_user:

Tool Ti AAA - I don’t like the UI and it doesn’t have any moonlight/firefly mode. Also I tend to hit the tail eswitch by accident sometimes. I know they have the aluminum version with rubber switch but that doesn’t have the Nichia emitter.

That ain’t right, unless it’s gone out of production. I have a Nichia Tool in aluminium and it’s very nice.

I think you have to buy it from “Drop” to get the Nichia/Al version now.

mrheosuper · 2019-07-11T13:41:53.000Z

FW3A
i like its form, it’s so compact, so pleased to hold. But…
the switch is too sensitive, of course i can untwist a little to lookout, but i dont want to do that 10 times a day

Scallywag · 2019-07-11T14:00:06.000Z

mrheosuper:

FW3A i like its form, it’s so compact, so pleased to hold. But… the switch is too sensitive, of course i can untwist a little to lookout, but i dont want to do that 10 times a day

Right, if I'm going to lockout a light I'll bring my D4 anyway. FW3A's entire job IMO was to fix that.

WalkIntoTheLight · 2019-07-11T14:08:06.000Z

Yeah, I’ll have to go with the FW3A as well. Great light, but with all the QC issues and the fact it pocket-activates way too easy, just means I can’t carry it. It’s a shelf-queen.

BurningPlayd0h · 2019-07-11T19:22:42.000Z

mrheosuper:

FW3A
i like its form, it’s so compact, so pleased to hold. But…
the switch is too sensitive, of course i can untwist a little to lookout, but i dont want to do that 10 times a day

Take the metal switch cover off and just use the stock rubber boot. This completely changed how practical the light is to me and I’m paranoid about accidental activation.

flightless22 · 2019-07-24T18:34:37.000Z

Olight E3 EOS. it’s good quality but it lives inside my drawer because single mode 90 lumen is not ideal for me.

Sprinkles · 2019-07-24T19:57:33.000Z

Thrunite T1

I had high hopes for this light. It appeared to check most of my boxes for a small, compact, 18350 light. It has direct access to firefly, turbo and last mode used. It has stepless dimming so great versatility. Bought it, love everything except one tiny detail. If you turn the light on in firefly, you’re stuck.

They programmed it so that firefly is all by itself and you cannot increase brightness unless you turn the light off and access either last mode or turbo. For some weird reason, they programmed it so that if you hold the button down in firefly mode, you enter lock out instead of dimming. Why this made sense to them, I have no idea! They ruined a great light!

Built-in charging, XHP 50, 1500 lm using 18350, compact, stainless bezel, clip and lanyard hole. It checked all my boxes and then let me down.

I want to love it, but I guarantee it’s going to sit in a drawer. Back to my nitecore EC11 I guess.

Lightbringer · 2019-07-24T20:33:01.000Z

Yeah, same dealy with my Folomov Camp D4.

Excellent hardware and performance, grating UI.

Yokiamy · 2019-07-24T20:35:10.000Z

BLF GT, due to its size and weight.