Hello everybody!!
I am new here and would value the opinions of those with more knowledge on the subject than I have.
I need a new flashlight / torch.
I use it mainly for work. We are going around at night to medical calls and very often finding the address can be an issue in the dark.
I already have to carry quite a lot on the job so do not want to go down the route of carrying more than one torch.
Quite often I’m having to check notes in the car while the other person is driving, a so I need a “low level” mode that won’t run the risk of dazzling the driver.
One of the most frequent uses for it will be looking for house numbers from inside the car. For this the torch needs to have a very bright, bright, BRIGHT mode and the ability to focus the light to a very tight narrow beam so that I can pick out house numbers from a distance without “spill” dazzling the driver.
When we are out of the car it’s more a case of needing to light the way so I’d be wanting to use the bright etc mode but more of an “area” beam. Since I’m often having to write / balance maps / use phone at the same time I want the focusing to be a one handed operation.
It needs to fit in the jacket pocket, so something 5 1/2” to 6” long would be perfect. I’d like the torch to be reasonably robust as something that is out of action after falling from my top pocket to the concrete is no use to me. Waterproof is also a necessary feature, although by that I mean “puddles / ponds / rain”, not “scuba diving / deep sea exploration”. If we can keep the weight down it would be nice as I’m already carrying loads.
The old T7 did the job well and was about right for size but could have done with being ever so slightly brighter.
I just tried out a Coast A25R but it was too big (just) and too heavy (just). It was very bright, but the beam couldn’t be focused narrow enough for our needs and it lacked range.
Budget… I’d happily have bought the Coast A25R if it did the job so around there is my budget. I don’t mind having to purchase special rechargeable batteries as long as they do the job.
So there we have it. Does anybody know of a flashlight / torch that is available in the UK that ticks all the boxes? Or even the US, could pick one up when on holiday.
Keep in mind you may end up with some people calling the police on you.
That said perhaps a laptop you can check on google street view would be helpful?
Maybe you should have two lights (so you dont accidently turn on a small sun in the car). One permanent mounted in the car, and one bright for shining out the car. The one in the car coud be a headlamp, so you can use both hands.
I’d say go with the a custom Convoy S2 (Full-sized S2, not the shorter S2+). It’s not a zoomie though, if you are set on keeping a flood/throw light. The S2 has a deeper OP reflector so you would get a throwier beam for spotlighting your house numbers on high. Use a driver with the lowest moonlight mode possible for your inside-vehicle use. You could select this option with a custom mode selection going from moonlight to progressively higher. Also, you could select a no-mode-memory option so the light always starts on moonlight-low so you won’t have to worry about blinding anyone, but are only a bump or two away from your full 1000-lumen high mode.
What about the humble SK98, modded of course. The one I have has put up with a lot, and even modified with a driver and dedomed LED it should be modestly priced. The plastic lens won’t break when you drop it, and replacements are so cheap that replacing it when it gets badly scratched shouldn’t be a turnoff. With a dedomed XP-G2 at 2-3 amps it should light up addresses just fine.
Have RMM build you an un branded sk68 with toykeepers new firmware/no memory. Always starts on moon mode and long press goes straight to turbo. That or a BLF A6.
Also, you may check out the convoy M1. It’s not a zoomie, but it has a deep reflector so the hotspot stays pretty tight. Use a low mode for in the car(or get a driver with moonlight mode), and medium or high for shining the houses.
Another member here suggesting a Convoy S2. It is a cigar shaped light so easily pocketable. Whatever firmware (determines the modes and operation of the light) you get, I suggest practicing quickly changing modes from low to high or whatever in between. The TK (Toykeeper) firmware is nice but an FET driver is overkill, a moonlight special with STAR firmware would be pretty good.
The link sends you to mtnelectronics which is run by a member here: RMM. You can get a battery(I suggest two) and charger from him as well. Get a 3400mAh battery so you wouldn’t have to stress about battery changes as often.
Just saying: 1)There are many places you can buy a Convoy S2 from however, the stock firmware that comes with these lights has a low that’s a bit blinding when shone on a page in front of you hence many of us recommending ‘custom’ firmware which RMM supplies.
2) I actually like the C8 shaped flashlight a little more than the S2 since ‘throw’ is required when looking at house numbers and having a floody beam for walking isn’t compulsory. I didn’t suggest it because it isn’t super comfortable in the pocket because of the bigger head. Look at the pictures and decide.
What about the old basic C8 with a good driver to cover from ML to High? It has a good center spot, will fix a pocket and is very durable. While not a zoomie, it has a good hotspot and very good side flood.
If you liked your old Led Lenser T7, need the ability to focus, and just need some more lumens, maybe buy some newer Led Lenser model? The Coast lights are not the same thing as Led Lensers anymore, and from what I’ve seen, the Coast lights do not fully focus their beam like Led Lensers do.
There’s updated version of the T7, called T7.2 with some more lumens. Also T7M with still some more lumens. Also rechargeable M7R, and so on. Just browse: Flashlights | Rechargeable LED Flashlights Online | Ledlenser USA
I suggested the A6 for it’s tube shape, pocket clip, and UI that fits the bill as well as being ready to ship. The FET might be overkill or might not depending on the cell used but turbo is likely to be used only briefly at any one time and a single long press takes it back to moon. I would get it with a low current, high amp hour cell with no spring bypasses. With an XPL HI and an op reflector it easily throws well enough to find house numbers and on moon needs no zoom to work just fine for map reading. The sk68 fits the bill on paper but is a bit gimmicky and gives up 3/4 of the run time using only a 14500. A Convoy S-series would be better quality and can be had from RMM with the same UI and with either the same driver as the A6 or a moonlight special with the same UI as the A6 and with shipping be close in price(RMM A6 FET driver costing $3.59 more than RMM moonlight special). A few very much not to be overlooked benefits of having RMM build and test is you will get a working light, and you can get a quality cell of just the right type for your needs along with an equally dependable car adaptable charger. The A6 is shipping fairly quickly and RMM is usually backed up a little so the A6 might be in your hand sooner but there has been some inconsistent QC in the milling processes. For someone without tools and mod skills I would highly reccomend going with RMM to eliminate the possibility of losing the QC lottery.
I know most of us don’t have much love for cheap zoomies here, but I think any of the cheap ones (i.e. SK98, E17, E26, etc) would check most of the boxes if modded with a XP-L HI, FET+1 driver (TK’s firmware), bypassed Omten switch.
the sk68 has a 15mm driver, so this build is not trivial. I have recently made a 15mm FET+7135 driver with an Attiny that I got from RMM with his version of the BLF-A6 firmware, and it has issues (long press is not recognised, only 6 modes out of seven, some random behaviour as well).
Hi folks!!
Thanks for all the advice and ideas!!
I did not expect to get so much feedback so quickly!!
I will have a think and be contacting some of the folks suggested before long.
Do not be surprised though if I return with even more questions… I did not realise how much there is to consider!!!
If your flashlight has a narrow head, you can shine it through an empty paper towel roll when you are looking for house numbers. That will go a long way towards eliminating the spill. A toilet paper roll would also work.
