Hi all,
Found this forum after reading battery reviews. After reading and learning about all the fake Cree LED’s including my own from wish (I know I should have known better but is was 2$ including shipping). I have decided to seek help 
Looking a new flash light with these specs:
1x26650 batt.
Zoom function
XM-L2 or better.
reasonable compact
reasonable price
Any good suggestions?
Br
Machine
Jaxman Z1 is your best choice from the specs you mentionned.
Although it’s not exactly budget, but I don’t see any other lights that meet your requirements
Zoom function + good suggestions = difficult to match :zipper_mouth_face:
I don’t know much of any reliable zoomable flashlight But Fenix has one 26650 zoomable flashlight. The price is quite high but Fenix is a well-know brand with their quality worth your money.
If you are aware of li ion and its operation (well a must when starting this so read the li ion safety linked in my sig) the Jaman Z1 is really nice.
There must be a zoomie in the Convoy BD series, this will brings you clever in-light charging
EDIT: Oh and welcome to BLF!
There’s a new warsun 2000 lumen zoomable flashlight that uses 26650s I think its around $30. Uses xhp 50 emitter. Only see it on amazon habit seen it on GB or bg
Its 29 for flashlight and batteries/charger and 27$ for just the flashlight. I think I’ve seen on here war sun batteries are OK. I have no idea if its true 2000 lumens or not. No experience with warsun products.
I have this one:
Pretty good for the price. Does not have blinkies (that’s excellent!), but it’s 18650. Quality is also very nice.
I know the warsun x65 zoomie is worthless garbage on the inside, some of the cheapest parts I’ve ever seen, makes sk68s look good. The Jaxman really probably the most well built light in this criteria. Palight also makes some 26650 zoomies but at least the I took a look at is very nicely machined but the design is so convoluted. It was a twisty switch with like a fake mode change interrupter switch on the back that was almost impossible to use. I would also avoid them. If you can give up the 26650 the convoy/thorfire are reasonable, as is the solarforce Y2 (although I only used it in it’s stock form for about 2 minutes but seemed good). It’s a shame nobody makes good stock zoomies, they are all let down by poor driver and led choices. When properly modded a nice 26650 zoomie can do in excess of 400kcd, well beyond any reflector light that size.
FD40 FENIX FLASHLIGHT
Fenix FD40 Cree XP - L Hi 1000Lm Zooming LED Flashlight - BLACK
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_257537.html
coupon:FDXDEAL
$56.79
I really don’t know why you want 26650 batteries .18650’s are superb and have so many options available …if you need more runtime than go with a multiple battery set up.
I’d suggest the Brinyte 158B
Hello everyone and thank you for the good advice
Boaz, Yes, in retrospect the 18650 would have been smarter more versatile choice, but I bought a pair of 26650 batteries already, since it was no problem to find a flashlight at Wish that had these criteria and I also like that it can use several different types of batteries. So I estimated it was an okay to sacrifice a little on compactness and get the extra runtime + battery options. A multi batt setup would presumable have done flashlight even larger and more complex by needing similar batteries to run in series.
Don’t know if I’m correct in any of this the last time I played around with flashlight was in the Maglite era 
Think I will have a closer look at the Z1.
Thanks again!
What batteries did you buy?
Liitokala 26650, they seemed to be a bargain. I hope HKJ will come with a review soon, but fear it will not be the same liitokala 26650 “subversion” as mine…
But I recently learned that 18650 are very common in laptops batteries wich I (working with IT), has no problem getting my hands on. So the battery situation is handle for the time being
If 18650 are an option, then you can have a look at the Brinyte B158/B158B on GearBest