I mean, we can call these pocket throwers. A 16340 tube light, no matter the emitter, will never be a thrower.
But given your first post, it seems you’re basically limited to tube lights. So, get the best reflector you can, an Osram W1, and shove ~4 Amps into it (for brief periods). It’s been done with S2+, etc. All the modern high-output 16340, 18350, or 14500 can still push 4A into a W1, so you can get the size down some. But you may as well compare lights in those categories for length vs. apparent reflector size. If you’re willing to deal with slightly larger heads, then the KR1 is an excellent option (particularly with shorty tube). But the reality is the throw you can get depends directly on the diameter of the optics (be it reflector, aspheric, or whatever).
reading this post again made me realize you are ranking these lights for throw vs physical dimensions.
Reality is, (as Scallywag already mentioned) that the die size with the reflector or optics size define the throw. One of the reasons the BLF GT was the throw king 2 years ago (until Astrolux just did their Chinese trick and made a cheap copy)
So size wise the Tool with a W1 will be your number 1, but throw wise, the KR1 with W1 will outthrow it by far.
Yes - but he is comparing throw (in meters) to volume (in cubic centimeters). Hence the units: m/cm^3
What he’s therefore saying, is that the volume of D3Cvn must be less than ~1/3 that of the KR1 in order to have better throw per volume.
To each their own, but I don’t agree with these units.
Throw distance in meters increases proportionally with optic frontal area. If I were to suggest a “best pocket thrower”, I’d first start with identifying maximum ‘pocketable’ diameter. From there it comes down to bezel thickness, optic efficiency, and which light is modded/comes with an Osram W1 running within an inch of its life…
From my own research, a GT micro with a W1.1 and an ‘H10’ 14500 is likely a really safe bet. 36mm might be to large a diameter for some though to be considered all-day pocketable… (The KR1 also lands in the same territory)
For me, with optic efficiency isn’t the highest I’ve seen, my Convoy M2 running a W1 @ 4.3A makes throws around 90Kcd. Bezel diameter under 32mm makes this light for me the sweet spot and the current champ.
It is old topic but I must say that Wurkkos TS12 with SFT25 is very good pocket thrower.
I have purchase it before a few weeks and I am very satisfied in every aspect.
The TS12 has a 33mm head diameter but only 432 meters of throw, which is far from the best one can do. From the product page one can see that the reflector is not focusing correctly: lots of area in the center and near the edges is not lighting up. Plus the very thick but optically inactive bezel.
A Convoy S6 with the same emitter can easily get the same throw if not more, and be only 24mm in head diameter instead of 33mm.
This is picture with first type of led, mine is different with SFT25R led and it has larger emiting area with specs 1350 lumens and 470 meters of throw.
The SFT25R, having a larger die, will outperform the first LED, as you suggested, despite having slightly lower surface intensity! I’d guess the S6 would be on par with the TS12 with the same SFT25R. Maybe a bit more throw as the 18650 cell can drive the LED harder if required.
S6 is very interesting host with its deep reflector.
5 amps driver and 18650 battery can give better performance than 14500 form flashlights.
It has SFT 40 option and that is very powerful combination.
My favorite thing about the S6 is that the reflector is very high quality and can be used with small-die LEDs such as Osrams and SFT25R. Unlike the S2+ reflector, which I have yet to encounter a sample that is not deformed and doesn’t make a lopsided beam with a emitter smaller than 4mm^2. The production process is probably less rigorous/precise because the S2+ reflector is not intended for throw anyways.
With 5A (even 8A) driver and SFT25R the S6 would be an excellent balance between output and absolute throw. Of course, the SFT40 as you suggested is also excellent for better flood and a fatter hotspot that throws almost as well on maximum.
