For beginner

Hoka · 2018-09-12T04:54:48.000Z

toddcshoe makes some good points. Think about what you MIGHT want to do, and consider batteries and charger, if you haven’t already.

To a certain extent, if you “lean” towards smaller lights, you’ll have one set of requirements. If you’re interested in blasters, you’ll have another set.

I chose a Gyrfalcon All 44 for a charger. Does 100mah for smaller cells, 1A for larger. Those are all safe levels, and I’m not in a hurry. You’re needs may be different.

They don’t get a lot of love around here, but I’ve had good experience with Efest. They are re-badges, but if you pay attention to specs, they are top tier.

BeyondTheBox · 2018-09-12T05:04:17.000Z

Hoka:

toddcshoe makes some good points. Think about what you MIGHT want to do, and consider batteries and charger, if you haven’t already.

To a certain extent, if you “lean” towards smaller lights, you’ll have one set of requirements. If you’re interested in blasters, you’ll have another set.

I chose a Gyrfalcon All 44 for a charger. Does 100mah for smaller cells, 1A for larger. Those are all safe levels, and I’m not in a hurry. You’re needs may be different.

They don’t get a lot of love around here, but I’ve had good experience with Efest. They are re-badges, but if you pay attention to specs, they are top tier.

Thanks for the advice and recommendation.

I do like small lights for in home use, but I’m guessing a blaster is a larger light with longer range maybe? If so I do want some of those also, maybe 3-5.

So please don’t hold back suggestions.

strayz · 2018-09-12T05:33:35.000Z

Since it is going to be your first time jumping in head first, I would say get 2-3 S2+ Convoy lights. If you want one a little more floody talk to MTN electronics and get him to drop a triple emitter in to it. The reason I say this is that it is one light that has one battery type, and the UI will be the same across the three. If you want a longer range thrower I would agree with one of the suggestions of a C8 Convoy.

All of the listed with the exception of the Modded by MTN S2+ from MTN electronics should be under the $30 USD. You then have money for Cells and a charger.

BeyondTheBox · 2018-09-12T15:00:32.000Z

strayz:

Since it is going to be your first time jumping in head first, I would say get 2-3 S2+ Convoy lights. If you want one a little more floody talk to MTN electronics and get him to drop a triple emitter in to it. The reason I say this is that it is one light that has one battery type, and the UI will be the same across the three. If you want a longer range thrower I would agree with one of the suggestions of a C8 Convoy.

All of the listed with the exception of the Modded by MTN S2+ from MTN electronics should be under the $30 USD. You then have money for Cells and a charger.

Yup, so far this all sounds like a great plan of attack.

Jack_Kellar · 2018-09-12T16:55:57.000Z

Welcome to this party train, Box. Get used to there being no brakes! lol

So, folks have given you great advice for torches, and yeah, I think the A# battery format bubble has been popped - plain and simple, even AAs are not potent enough to deliver monstrous power, let alone AAAs. Li-ions, carefully selected, is the way to go for power (my advice is, get a digital multimeter); AA and AAA should be picked for matters of battery availability and smaller dimensions, including weight.

Also, “blaster” means a high-powered light, be it a lumen shotgun like the BLF Q8 or a candela sniper like the GT

BeyondTheBox · 2018-09-12T19:19:56.000Z

Jack Kellar:

Welcome to this party train, Box. Get used to there being no brakes! lol

So, folks have given you great advice for torches, and yeah, I think the A# battery format bubble has been popped - plain and simple, even AAs are not potent enough to deliver monstrous power, let alone AAAs. Li-ions, carefully selected, is the way to go for power (my advice is, get a digital multimeter); AA and AAA should be picked for matters of battery availability and smaller dimensions, including weight.

Also, “blaster” means a high-powered light, be it a lumen shotgun like the BLF Q8 or a candela sniper like the GT

So are there some simple recommendations you guys can make that are maybe general rules of thumb for a beginner, as far as batteries are concerned?

Say, for instance, “X & Y brands are generally very solid quality, reasonably priced and low maintenance, where as Z brand you should definitely avoid at all costs.” Or styles instead of brands… Etc

And can I use rechargeable options in flashlights that say they take AA or AAA?

pennzy · 2018-09-13T00:08:34.000Z

Get a S2+, a D4 and a Q8. You’re good.

Dirt · 2018-09-13T00:28:28.000Z

Zantlare F1, usb charging, there’s a sale on amazon. All you need then is an 18650 battery.

BeyondTheBox · 2018-09-13T00:34:11.000Z

Dirt:

Zantlare F1, usb charging, there’s a sale on amazon. All you need then is an 18650 battery.

Yeah, just read the Amazon reviews, huge no on this one buddy. But thanks for the the thought though.

toddcshoe · 2018-09-13T01:21:01.000Z

BeyondTheBox:

Dirt:

Zantlare F1, usb charging, there’s a sale on amazon. All you need then is an 18650 battery.

Yeah, just read the Amazon reviews, huge no on this one buddy. But thanks for the the thought though.

Don’t take too seriously the reviews on Amazon. The F1 is a fine light that will last you a long time. Their customer service is top notch too. Listen to the advice being given. Don’t read too much into Amazon reviews. Use the search function of BLF to search for reviews of lights you are looking at. Use those reviews, not Amazons. Amazons are mostly full of people who haven’t the slightest idea what a LED or a LiIon battery is. They think lights are broke because they refuse to read the manual and remove the plastic tab when a battery comes installed in the light already. You will end up buying the TACLIGHT 9000 if you read Amazon reviews.

BeyondTheBox · 2018-09-13T01:26:29.000Z

toddcshoe:

BeyondTheBox:

Dirt:

Zantlare F1, usb charging, there’s a sale on amazon. All you need then is an 18650 battery.

Yeah, just read the Amazon reviews, huge no on this one buddy. But thanks for the the thought though.

Don’t take too seriously the reviews on Amazon. The F1 is a fine light that will last you a long time. Their customer service is top notch too. Listen to the advice being given. Don’t read too much into Amazon reviews. Use the search function of BLF to search for reviews of lights you are looking at. Use those reviews, not Amazons. Amazons are mostly full of people who haven’t the slightest idea what a LED or a LiIon battery is. They think lights are broke because they refuse to read the manual and remove the plastic tab when a battery comes installed in the light already. You will end up buying the TACLIGHT 9000 if you read Amazon reviews.

Lol okay, fair enough, and sound advice. Thanks.

Dirt · 2018-09-13T01:39:29.000Z

Lol, some of the bad reviews were due to the f1 not coming with a battery. Yeah amazon reviews are shoddy at best.

toddcshoe · 2018-09-13T01:48:04.000Z

Here grab you one of these. https://www.amazon.com/ThorFire-Flashlight-Professional-Tactical-Included/dp/B06XQ4TY45/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1536803143&sr=8-15&keywords=jetbeam It’s on lightning deal right now for $12.79 for 3 more hours or so.

BeyondTheBox · 2018-09-13T01:57:21.000Z

toddcshoe:

Here grab you one of these. Amazon.com It’s on lightning deal right now for $12.79 for 3 more hours or so.

I think I’ve got enough coming in right now, to get my appetite whet at least. We’ll see if I wind up getting the right batteries for them all. Lol

BeyondTheBox · 2018-09-13T02:00:29.000Z

Hoka:

I chose a Gyrfalcon All 44 for a charger. Does 100mah for smaller cells, 1A for larger. Those are all safe levels, and I’m not in a hurry. You’re needs may be different.

They don’t get a lot of love around here, but I’ve had good experience with Efest. They are re-badges, but if you pay attention to specs, they are top tier.

I just ordered one of these chargers and 4 of these batteries, based on your recommendation. So I’m eager to try things out soon. Thanks.

Hoka · 2018-09-13T02:18:02.000Z

BeyondTheBox:

Hoka:

I chose a Gyrfalcon All 44 for a charger. Does 100mah for smaller cells, 1A for larger. Those are all safe levels, and I’m not in a hurry. You’re needs may be different.

They don’t get a lot of love around here, but I’ve had good experience with Efest. They are re-badges, but if you pay attention to specs, they are top tier.

I just ordered one of these chargers and 4 of these batteries, based on your recommendation. So I’m eager to try things out soon. Thanks.

Hopefully you’ll be happy with it. For me it had the best features for a reasonable price, and good reviews. Really like being able to charge 10440’s at 100mah. Feel free to message me if you have any questions on operation.

So what lights are coming?

BeyondTheBox · 2018-09-13T02:49:32.000Z

Hoka:

BeyondTheBox:

Hoka:

I chose a Gyrfalcon All 44 for a charger. Does 100mah for smaller cells, 1A for larger. Those are all safe levels, and I’m not in a hurry. You’re needs may be different.

They don’t get a lot of love around here, but I’ve had good experience with Efest. They are re-badges, but if you pay attention to specs, they are top tier.

I just ordered one of these chargers and 4 of these batteries, based on your recommendation. So I’m eager to try things out soon. Thanks.

Hopefully you’ll be happy with it. For me it had the best features for a reasonable price, and good reviews. Really like being able to charge 10440’s at 100mah. Feel free to message me if you have any questions on operation.

So what lights are coming?

Emisar D4
Convoy C8+
A few SK68s
Astrolux S1

… And a couple cheapo Wish.com lights that claimed something like 100k lumens, just because I love collecting absolute junk and wasting my money, apparently! Lol

I’m still in need of a couple backpack lights, didn’t love the price of the Convoy L6, almost double what I want to spend on the light itself.

Hoka · 2018-09-13T03:27:15.000Z

Kind of depends on what kind of backpacking you do. Ultralight? Or everything including the kitchen sink? Weekend? Or hiking the PCT? Want to hike at night?

I tend towards ultralight. Usually take a headlamp only, though I rarely wear it on my head. Tied to a pack strap works better for me. I use it mostly in the morning to break camp, get on the trail before the sun comes up. Actually gets very little use.

Sillen · 2018-09-13T03:32:22.000Z

Nice list - no Q8….

I’ve been told it’s getting long in the tooth, I like it, ThorFire S70S is just under USD$40 for another few hours. There’s a BF coupon for L6 “AC18” that’ll take some $$’s off.

re toddcshoe recommendation, I love my TG06S only downside, always turns on with brightest setting. Great to attach to cap visor for BYO headlamp.

BeyondTheBox · 2018-09-13T03:37:08.000Z

Hoka:

Kind of depends on what kind of backpacking you do. Ultralight? Or everything including the kitchen sink? Weekend? Or hiking the PCT? Want to hike at night?

I tend towards ultralight. Usually take a headlamp only, though I rarely wear it on my head. Tied to a pack strap works better for me. I use it mostly in the morning to break camp, get on the trail before the sun comes up. Actually gets very little use.

For my backpack I mean a camping light. Usually a 3 day/2 night max, but it’s also my hiking pack. So yeah, I want the light for evening. I do a campfire of course and have a small windable hanging lantern for the tent, but it produces very very little light itself. Still want something for evening bathroom breaks.

I would like something with a long distance beam, because sometime we’d like to do cave exploring.