Thorfire graciously sent me another VG-10 to review. This current version (May 2015) has some very nice upgrades over the already awesome previous version I reviewed in March.
The most obvious upgrade is the addition of a cigar style ring. I simply love it and it really feels great. It’s now much more comfortable to securely hold between your fingers.
Another notable change is the new attack-style bezel. I think it looks great. However I prefer the smooth bezel from the previous version because it’s more pocket friendly. Also, when shining the light on white walls, rings are now present on the outer most edge of the spill. Thankfully it is not very noticeable when using the light outside.
When taking a closer look at the light, there are several changes that may be easily overlooked. The addition of a gorgeous AR lens is wonderful upgrade. I don’t know how much it increases output, but I sure love the way it looks!
Also the reflector has been slightly altered. It is no longer screwed in and it is now significantly easier to remove and get to the LED. The opening is larger than the previous version and it is a perfect fit for a MT-G2! These slight changes in the reflector reduces the size of the hotspot and should provide a little more throw.
When disassembling the light, I was surprised to see how much beefier the aluminum is now. It is quite a bit thicker than the previous version and it just feels solid. The old light felt great and now this version feels even better.
The retaining ring on the new version is a lot thicker and is still tough to remove…but it is possible using compressed air in a can to freeze the ring. Using this method and a pair of pliers, I was able to remove the retaining rings from both versions Yay! (Thank you M4D M4X for the tip). Unfortunately I broke the ring on the older version, so it’s good that the new version uses a thicker more sturdy ring. Now that I know how to remove the driver, there is nothing holding me back on modding this light!
The drivers look different, but to me the modes seems pretty much identical. It has the same great spacing between the 4 modes, and the firefly mode is still awesomely low. Tailcap measurements were just about identical, however unlike some others have reported, I got slightly higher readings with the new version. High mode registered just below 2.2amps.
All in all, the new VG-10 remains an awesome light and gains some upgrades. It easily competes with the other well respected brands here on BLF.
Some upgrades I would like to see in the next version:
- Bring back the smooth bezel to remove the rings
- Keep the AR lens, cigar ring, and new reflector
- Copper DTP star
- Screw in type retaining ring for driver
- The possibility of purchasing an extension tube
Now on to modding these lights. One will get a XM-L2 on a Noctigon with a BLF17DD, and the other will get a MT-G2 with a LD2. Modding these lights should be piece of cake. I will report back after I complete them.
