For beginner

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.

Lightbringer · 2018-09-13T03:51:59.000Z

Sofirn SP32Av2, everything from moonlight to over 1000 lemons, with battery-level indicator.

Boruit RJ02 headlamp, 10bux, hella value, usb charging, replaceable 20mm TIR lenses.

Sofirn SP10 and/or Thorfire TK05, bright AA light for late-night stumbling around.

Hoka · 2018-09-13T04:04:13.000Z

Not exactly a budget option, but take a look at Zebralight. Flexible programming, pretty efficient.

BeyondTheBox · 2018-09-13T04:05:18.000Z

Lightbringer:

Sofirn SP32Av2, everything from moonlight to over 1000 lemons, with battery-level indicator.

Boruit RJ02 headlamp, 10bux, hella value, usb charging, replaceable 20mm TIR lenses.

Sofirn SP10 and/or Thorfire TK05, bright AA light for late-night stumbling around.

Loving all the suggestions.

I guess now I need some more battery suggestions. So far I’ve got some 30Q, look to be Samsung rechargable AA (18650 or whatever) and some Efest of the same, just higher in what I’m guessing are volts(?).

Anyway, what are the AAA equivalents? 14500? And what are some good recommendations for those?

Hoka · 2018-09-13T04:12:35.000Z

14500 are AA size. 10440 are AAA size. I like the Efest versions.

BeyondTheBox · 2018-09-13T04:14:48.000Z

Hoka:

14500 are AA size. 10440 are AAA size. I like the Efest versions.

So what size are the 18650?

toddcshoe · 2018-09-13T04:25:09.000Z

Sillen:

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.

Agreed. I don’t carry one normally. The wife likes one click on and one click off and not have to go through modes so it works for her and keeps her happy. Needless to say I have lots of TG06S’s around the house and single mode SK68’s. Tried to get her a single mode P60 light but she was having no part of a bigger light.

Sillen · 2018-09-13T08:19:48.000Z

BeyondTheBox:

So what size are the 18650?

18mm diameter 65mm long, theoretically
26650 - 26mm diameter, 65mm long
And so on

Protected are longer and some like keeppower 26650 6000mAh are closer to 27mm diameter

Edit: better remove a zero

BeyondTheBox · 2018-09-13T06:24:21.000Z

Sillen:

BeyondTheBox:

So what size are the 18650?

18mm diameter 650mm long, theoretically
26650 - 26mm diameter, 650mm long
And so on

Protected are longer and some like keeppower 26650 6000mAh are closer to 27mm diameter

Wow, very confusing stuff. But I’m learning, slowly.

Boaz · 2018-09-13T07:11:13.000Z

18 mm wide

65 mm length

0 ='s round ...cylindrical

Zulumoose · 2018-09-13T08:50:26.000Z

Q8 for bedside, huge lumens and battery power, ramping, direct access to moonlight/memory/turbo, and a locator light built in.
A6 for backpack, rear switch for safety, starts on low, full range of outputs nicely spread, powerful, mix of flood and throw.
C8 variant for backup/throw, great searchlight for distance, useable spill for other work. Variety of good brands available.

Or just an A6 in neutral white for everything.

Button top 30Q 18650 unprotected is readily available, fits all of the above, and works well for probably more than anything else in the performance light business.
Lii-500 is a great value 4 bay charger if you have a Q8, comes with a car adaptor as well as AC plug.
Otherwise a budget USB powered 1 bay charger is all you need, Lii-100 or similar.

If you want a pocket light, a good cheap start is the Sofirn SF-14, puts out over 500 Lumens, has a rear switch, very strong clip, 3 well spaced modes, and always starts on low. Takes a 14500 lithium or (at lower output) works with AA size alkalines or rechargeables. Consider it a versatile baby A6, all you need without frills.