Most lumens per dollar flashlight under $50?

Everyone’s got their preferences in flashlight categories from aesthetics, UI, tint, throw distance, beam profile… but objectively, what flashlight under $50 has the highest lumens (verified OTF or ANSI) per dollar. It can be any emitter type, battery type, battery number, body material… This is just lumens/dollar under $50.

This is unanswerable :slight_smile:

Haha. I’d like to see someone give it a shot. I personally don’t have enough experience or knowledge of what’s out there to give a good suggestion. If I were to look at some lights that I have:

Foursevens Mini MA - 108 OTF lumens at $32 = 3.375 lumens per dollar
Starry Light SA22 - 673 OTF lumens at $24 = 28.04 lumens per dollar

So… I’m sure there are some better ones out there…. c’mon guys and gals. :party:

Trouble is “lumens” without context doesn’t really mean all that much. Of course all else being equal, then the higher the better, but the trouble is, ‘all else’ is rarely equal, as it really depends on what you want to do with it.

Cheapest is probably:

2 x IMR/INR 18650’s
a XHP70 on a star
some wire (16 gauge)
and some sunglasses

Forgo the host and optic.

I’m looking for a new flashlight for a specific application. I just wanted to know what was out there that had great bang for your buck. So although your setup might be uber bright, I probably wouldn’t be toting that around without it being in at least some kind of host. I guess I should modify to OP to say stock flashlight. I know mods would change everything.

Anyone with a calculator can answer this question. However what I will say is, out of all my lights the one that still stands out is my olight i6. It only has 420 ANSI but seems to be so, so much brighter than both amps and the spec suggest. What’s more I can’t be sure but I think I played $12 in a wallbuys sale. So for me its a clear winner.

Marc.

In that case, what is your specific application? Suspect some kind of multi emitter setup will be the answer, but most stock lights don’t push the boundaries on amp draw, as heat and runtimes become issues.

Sorry sorry sorry… that was a total typo. I meant I’m NOT looking for a specific application. I guess that’s the trouble with typing with a finger splint. I have to concentrate so hard on the actual typing that I don’t realize I’m saying the wrong thing.

ok no worries.

And sorry to sound picky, but can I just check your question.

You’ve said ‘most lumens per dollar’ and ‘under $50’

so which is it you want to know?

i.e. the most lumens you can get for $50 or the best ratio?

e.g. for arguments sake if you bought a torch for $1 that did 500 lumens that is great lumens per dollar at 500:1

Spending $50 on a light will not beat this ratio.

I guess between the two options, most lumens you can get, since your argument for the ratio would mean all those $3 sk68 flashlights would win. :smiley:

Solarstorm T4 if you consider stock lights with at least 2000lm.

I just picked up a modified SRK clone from OldLumens - 3x XM-L2 pulling 9A for $40. Guessing it is in the 2800 lm range, which would be 70lm/$…
I got a free light from Harbor Freight, which would win lm/$ for sure! LOL
Otherwise this will be the highest lm/$ light I have, followed closely by the $3 SK68…

Good luck!

Zeusray 800 lumens for $7.99, less than a penny per lumen.

Like has already been said, the winner is going to be some 1, 2, or 3 dollar light. For something over 2000 lumens, one of Sky Ray King clones with 3-7 xml’s for $20 to $30 is hard to beat.

Only slightly over your $50 limit, my candidate is the Option 1 Mountain Electronics Supfire M6 at $53.50 + shipping. Per actual measurements by RMM a maximum output of 3230 Lumens on one he built for me with the additional modification of braided battery holder springs. Tested by RMM using VCT4 batteries. IMO hard to beat that output for circa $50. Currently not available but I am sure Richard can give you an estimate of when he will be opening up orders for it again.

I also just received the new RMM modified 12 LED M6 prototype that is, again per RMM’s measurements, putting out 8820 Lumens using Panasonic 18650BD unprotected batteries. Measured after 30 seconds on time which is per ANSI test procedures. Tried it out with a set of fully charged batteries and all I can say is that it is totally ridiculous for it’s size and weight. 7 output levels from a low of 2.2 lumens to the maximum noted above. Totally outrageous but fun! :wink: Out of your listed price range but boy what a torch.

I’m thinking 100 lumens for $1 you’ll end up with cheap 1000 lumen if really lucky. Once you get down to 70 lumens for $1, I think you can get 3000 lumen low end beasts.

When the OP set a $50 range limit I figured that he was after quite a lot of lumens. After all with some good SRK clones and the stock M6 available for less than that we are talking some pretty high output cheap lights.