I hope you have fun here.
Regarding chinese vendors: Its not a 50/50 thing with issues. Its more like a 1 in 10 thing. Maybe less.
And I won't even get into advising anything because you already have so many choices offered that I suspect it all seems a bit much right now. Just relax and have some fun.
@ Toysareforboys: Ref. #5: LMAO :-)
Watch carefully if you buy an i4 charger, some include the DC cord, others don't. It's about $5.50 separately.
The 18650's in the Amazon link say 2 in the package, if I'm seeing the same deal. Sometimes Amazon redirects you, though. The page I was on also listed the combo with the i4 for $15.05 more under 'Frequently bought together', no DC cord (separate i4 link):
http://www.amazon.com/Nitecore-IntelliCharger-i4-Battery-Charger/dp/B005UAI372/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_y
Some good US sellers:
http://www.e2fieldgear.com/panasonic-ncr18650b-3400-mah-protected-li-ion-battery-single-cell/ (Use code BLF)
http://www.e2fieldgear.com/keeppower-3400mah-li-ion-protected-18650-battery/ (Use code KEEPPOWER for 20% off)
RMM's sales thread:
https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/22440
If you go with Tenergy, get the Premium or Centura rather than the green 'economy' cells.
If you don't mind the length, the TR 3T6 runs great on 8 AA NiMH's with 3 extra extender tubes available from Banggood, cut a sleeve from .5 inch electrical conduit to prevent rattling, cover with heat-shrink or a couple of pieces of tape on the ends.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_72711-1792-101543_0__?productId=3129551
or
http://www.lowes.com/pd_118909-1792-807256_0__?productId=3127645 (fits in car)
hello and welcome.
to bad airsoft consider illegal at my place because several moron use it for crime |(
I would recommend a single Li-ion configuration, you won’t have to worry about anything going bad with mismatched voltage on the cells, also I think it will give you plenty of light in a pretty small form.
Have you looked at the Convoy lights yet? They’re much smaller and lots of reviews say they’re good quality, the ones from IlluminationSupply.com come with an XM-L2 driven at 2.8A so you can expect around 800lm. Price is $25-30, plus its in the US so fast shipping.
Convoy at Illumination Supply
Another one they have is the Armytek Viking V2 on clearance, this will be definitely waterproof and very tough. If I hadn’t gone for the SN6X-2X group buy I think I would have bought the Viking V2
Viking V2 clearance
I also recommend the Nitecore i2 or i4 charger, has been a good one for me and I also recharge my NiMH cells on it too.
So this would be around 800 lumens? And what batteries would you suggest with it? Has anyone else had experience with these?
I just noticed that the Convoys at IS don’t have the strobe you mentioned, don’t know if that’s a deal breaker for you though, fasttech has the 5 mode version.
M1 review
XM-L2 emitter results
I usually estimate a 20% loss through reflector and lens when looking at the emitter results vs flashlight lumens
I think the Panasonic NCR18650B (protected, button top) that RMM has for sale look good, they are on the long side so you might want to see of anyone has fitment issues with long cells in the Convoy lights.
Also, if you want to replace the driver the Qlite is a really good one (also at RMM’s store), no visible PWM flickering or hum, and you can solder the second star for strobe and a beacon (5-mode). I use it in an L2T with a warm XM-L2 and am very happy with it.
The Convoy lights are sized to work with unprotected cells only, but for a single-cell light the protection circuit is a non-issue. The drivers that IS use also cut the power down to low and flash when voltage drops to 3v so you have protection anyway. Those NCR18650B’s I linked to, that banggood sell, if you’re committed to li-ions those are the best way to go and not a bad price. The IS drivers draw 2.8A, so you’ll get about…an hour and a half out of the cells. (current draw decreases as voltage drops).
Incidentally, you should actually be getting almost 800 lumens out of the Convoy lights IS sell. Theoretically a XM-L2 will produce just under 1000 lumens @ 2.8A, factor in reflector losses and you’re pretty good.
Just curious, what is the disadvantage of using Ni-hm batteries vs Li-ion. I know quality is everything but if you theoretically got the same quality of Li-ion and Ni-hm how would they compare. Also im probably just going to get the trustfire tr-3t6, however is their any place i can buy batteries and a charger in the US. I really dont want the risk of $20 batteries being taken by customs. As ive been looking at reviews for this light ive noticed many people saying the battery life is really bad using high. Like 20 minutes bad… anyway im guessing this is beacause its just so bright and the 3 leds. So is this true? IF so are their anyone 1 led lights that are still over 800 lumens and good quality. One last question. I would also like to have a pocket light around 200 lumens or so. Just something cheap but good. Any suggestions?
Josh, check out this SK68 zoomable flood and spot mini which works on AA batts (alkaline or NiMh) : http://www.focalprice.com/LF571B/Sipik_SK68_Mini_Adjustable_Zooming_LED_Flashlight_Black.html
PS : The difference between NiMh and Li-ion is the internal chemistry. Both are rechargeable. But the result is higher voltage from Li-ion. Eg an AA sized NiMh batt is 1.2v whereas the voltage from a 14500 (AA size) Li-ion is 3.6-3.7v but fully charged is 4.2v.
If that’s the single mode one, try and find the 3 mode one 
-Jamie M.
Hows this for the little flashlight. And the topic of a 1 bulb light and the battery life issue is still up for grabs :D. Im so glad i joined, i see why Joe like you all. Ive learned so much already.
Hmm…I suppose for fulfilled by Amazon it doesn’t look bad. The battery will be mediocre at best, Illumination Supply sell good 14500’s. I’m just worried that it’s only single mode as they don’t promote the modes.
For pocket lights, like I said, Costco have 3-packs of good 3AAA lights for cheap.
That is a single mode flashlight, look for the 3 mode version.
The battery that comes in that kit will last 1 minute and 8 seconds with that flashlight (on high, its only mode). And when you recharge the battery you roll the dice on burning your house down. Don’t risk it.
$6.23 shipped three mode (BLACK AND SILVER MODEL ONLY!): http://www.ebay.com/itm/7W-300lm-Bright-CREE-XR-E-Q5-LED-Adjustable-Focus-Flashlight-Torch-lamp-3-Types-/360737384458
Best 14500 batteries: http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10002603/1287511-authentic-sanyo-ur14500p-14500-840mah-li-ion-batte
Best charger: http://www.ebay.com/itm/XTAR-SP2-charger-for-14500-17500-17670-18650-18700-lithium-battery-/271075424258?pt=Battery_Chargers&hash=item3f1d5ab802
Cheap charger: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-x-AAA-AA-18650-CR123A-14500-10440-2A-3ARechargeable-Multi-Battery-Charger-/200940601440?pt=Battery_Chargers&hash=item2ec8fe4060
-Jamie M.
And that light is just for a pocket light, I still want a biger more powerful light. I may still get the 3 bulb one, I’m just weighing my options. Again so any suggestions fore a 800+ lumen that has a one bulb.
Does 900lm for 5mins before stepdown: https://illuminationsupply.com/zebralight-c-28_56/zebralight-sc600-mk-ii-900-lm-flashlight-18650-p-495.html?zenid=e1f66fd437c2284339704726b38c7874#.UoLV9-JV-NM
-Jamie M.
Josh, by the way most of the flashlights mentioned here use an LED (Light Emitting Diode) as opposed to the traditional incandescent bulb which you mention. The LEDs have either higher CRI (color rendering index) below 5000K (more yellowish) or lower CRI when above 5000K (whitish). K stands for Kelvins which is a score for color temperature. The higher the K, the brighter it is. But while the brightest LED is 7000K, it distorts colour rendition and ‘bleaches’ it. At 7000K, the white light may even get a bit green or blue in tint. Incan bulbs typically have lower K and look yellowish.
LEDs consume less power and produce more lumens than incan bulbs (more efficient). LEDs last an average 50,000 hrs whereas incan bulbs last an average of 1,000 hours. LED flashlights don’t burn out so easily and can withstand impact. LEDs also make your batteries last longer but incan bulbs will deplete battery power very fast. Disposable batteries are called primary cells (eg alkalines, Lithiums) but recycleable batteries are called rechargeable cells (Ni-Mh, Li-ions).
The incan bulb which consists of a filament in a glass bulb containing inert gas is almost getting extinct like the dodo. There are some purists amongst us who still swear by bulb flashlights like argon, krypton, xenon and even HID (high intensity discharge). The yellowish halogen incan bulbs typically have a rating of 3200K and 100 CRI. The whitish mercury-vapor incan bulbs have a rating of 6410K and only 17 CRI. Incan bulbs can burn out easily and cannot withstand impact which can crack the bulb too.
Sorry if i made is sound like i did, but i dont want an incan light. I do want an LED. I was just saying i may want a 1 LED light instead of the 3 led light that was recomended because many of the reviews said the battery life was horrid.
Who’s said battery life is horrid for the 3T6? IIRC mine drew…four and a half amps stock, which was more like 1.5amps per cell, if using 3 18650’s, which means if you use the high-quality cells like the Panasonic NCR18650B, you’d have a couple hours of battery life. Now, I tried powering my 3T6 with 4 rechargable AA’s and it lasted all of 20 minutes on high. 
Why would you pick that over the Skyray King? Just curious, not doubting your choice.
-Jamie M.
Jamie:
Battery options are much better (in my opinion) for the TR than the SRK
Jake:
Battery life is terrible with AAs, but pretty good with lithium