I have never owned an HDS. The $400 pricetag is outside my budget so no HDS for me.
That said, I’m drooling over the HDS rotary simply because I love rotary lights, and the HDS looks like it has great ergonomics. Sure, it’s not going to be a pocket rocket compared to the latest and greatest. But it does have a number of advantages:
Built like a tank. An HDS would be tougher than any light I own. Probably not a great shelf-queen though as the anodized aluminum will scratch, but should be great in actual use.
Great interface. I love rotary lights and still routinely use ones that are 10+ years old. (2013 RRT-01, TCR-01, V11R, V10R, SRT3)
It’s amazing how a stale old light can instantly feel fresh with just an emitter swap to a modern LED like Nichia 519a.
If I ever got one there might be some downsides though:
The light might be too dim for my preference. I usually like more lumens than the 200-300 an HDS has (typically I prefer at least 500 lumens in a throwy light and 1200 in a floody light). I have many lights that only produce 200-300 lumen and even with a throwy beam I personally find them a bit dim. On the upside swapping in a modern emitter would probably increase both the lumens and CRI.
The price might make me so worried about losing or damaging it that I would never use it. It might end up sitting in a drawer forever unused like my Lenslight mini, my two Liteflux LF2XT, or my camo limited edition V11R.
These are a lot of my same feelings. I didn’t touch my E2D LED Defender for 3-4 months but I sat down and told myself if not now, when? And replaced my MagTac and Kershaw Blur S30V with my E2D and Benchmade Vallation. I pay for my toys and I now use them. Until then I have my “Poor man’s HDS” A Jihawaii808 Lumintop FW1A Pro stonewashed titanium I need to have the Body black DLC coated to complete the look
Malkoff is definitely up there in the reliability dept. I’d put them up against anybody.
HDS is like a Malkoff w/ the brains of a Zebralight and the best UI on the market.
Some of my Malkies
My Micro Malkoff unshrouded MDC HA 1CR123 barrel with hat clip MDC HA2AA/1CR123 Luminus 4000K 95Cri HML head with stainless plain bezel (originally supposed to be Crenny but ordered through email and they charged me
For and sent that instead, I like it more like this now that I have it)
My Mini Malkoff (my most used Malkoff) MDC HA 1AA body with VME head w/ Nichia 219 4000K 95 CRI HML drop in from Illum.
My MD2 with 18650 barrel and crennies on both ends has the same drop in as the mini ‘koff.
A new MDC HA 18650 unshrouded body arrives tomorrow!
I need to have the Body black DLC coated to complete the look
