I have decided to add just one 22650 light to my now meager collection, but can’t decide what. Criteria for deciding is…
-lightweight
-compact
-well-driven
-NOT a HD2010 (I’ve had four of those and the quality just sucks too much).
-budget
-more thrower than anything else
My runner-ups are…
-JM26
-JM07
-Prairiefire D11
Help me decide with a few-words review of what you recommend. Otherwise, I’m gonna get rid of the 26650 format and stay with 18650s from here on. This is driving me nuts!
This light just entered the race…
i hope this light doesn’t need to cycle through all the modes to turn it off 
how about this light
JM07 or a good clone, it’s my favorite 26650.
It has decent throw, but it calls for a different driver and thermal grease under the mcpcb.
If HD2010 quality is not enough for you, you should search for a non-bugdet flashlight.
Where did you buy your HD2010s?
1) Easy(HARD!)LightBuy.com
2) Tmart
3) Lightmalls
They all crapped out on me or flickered.
I believe you were unlucky, HD2010 is one of the best budget lights out there.
I own Trustfire A9 which is 26650 and might suit you. Also search for Palilight, they offer some 26650 models. Hope I helped you a bit.
Thanks. This search is expanding with nearly every post!
you should consider XinTD X3
convoy l2, great build quality and moddable.
Absolute best bang for the buck IMO assuming you can find someone to do a simple bore out of the switch end of the tube, is the DST.
You don’t have to chop it either of course to gain the best of a few battery configuration worlds to boot plus that big reflector gives you so many options.
Can’t say enough good things about this or a similar setup.
Since that has an integrated pill, a replacement pill would be huge and very expensive. There isn't a thermal path with the X3 is already quite good aside from a little dip in the middle. The main benefit for a new pill would be if it was redesigned to allow the use of protected 18650 & 26650's, or if it had a hole and plug to accommodate the use of a side clickie.
Oops. Wrong thread.
Yes, the X3 is a nice light. I have one. I'd buy an updated version if it accommodated protected cells, and then I'd buy a third one if it had a side clickie that still used the Qlite driver.
+1 to this ^
the x3 is minor developments away from being perfect.
I would add to the above, make the body tube 34mm id and 70mm internal length, it should then be possible to take 4aa/32650 protected cells and 26650/18650 with appropriate sleeves, side clicky would be easy to implement with a qlite but would add a little overall length, the trade offs for the above would make it just about the most awesome light available in this class.
3.5 amp at the tail on a Sony 26650 VT
I need 3 of those Flomotion, I could strap them together for 12,000 lumens of light! 
Chinese Looomens real about 800, hey, I was impressed for the money, nice gift to yourself. I find myself actually using this torch for actual use, it is a good combo light.
I just recently ordered the Raysoon F13, plan to mod it into a useable daily use light. Have a couple of 26700’s I need to put to use, hope they fit (if not, I’ll make em)
