Recommendations for single 21700 EDC?

LED Flashlights – General Info 21700 Flashlights
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I have Sofirn SP36 BLF with Samsung 5650lm LEDs. I like that very much, the beam is pleasant all corners covering with enough throw for my preference, runtime is very good in normal use. Yet I’d like also a little lighter weight version for the side.

SP36 BLF has all the lumens that I feel like needing and have been walking with it many times for example in dark forest paths. I just noticed that I could do with less weight for easier carry, so started thinking that maybe a single 21700 would be nice alternative. Something with high lumens between 1000-2000lm, turbo somewhere between 3000-5000lm. I usually run my SP36 BLF at about 150lm or so, which is quite enough for comfortable walking, double the lumens and you see very well, I use high or turbo only on occasions to test the throw or to signal back for too bright on coming lights, be it other flashlight/headlamp users, bicycles or cars.

I’m not so much a flashlight techie and have hard time browsing through all the many models and their reviews, so would like kind of consensual recommendations on such flashlights that have pleasant beam with smooth fading, floody edges and enough hot spot in the middle to have some throw, so not entirely flood light. Also preferably good technical and built quality without weird quirks or short comings.

I was already interested in Sofirn SC33, but read something about auto lock feature that people are put off by and that didn’t sound very appealing. Wonder whoever wanted such feature in their flashlight and for what reason? Also I’ve read here and there about design flaws, was it SP33 having springs in the battery enclosure enabling battery to lose contact, resulting the light to momentarily go off on impact. A “perfect flashlight” at reasonable cost seems a bit hard to find.

So, if you have recommendations the would fit my description I’d be happy to know about those. I understand that in affordable price ranges its more likely to expect some short comings, but thinking my SP36 BLF 5650lm has felt pretty good value for the sale price I paid for it few years ago, I hope there would be similar success in lighter weight single 21700 flashlight. Or it there’s some other battery version, I don’t mind recommendations for those either, since I just thought single 21700 might have quite nice run time without excess weight, that’s all.

EDIT: Every time I go to parametrek and find an item of interest matching my parameters, I start looking for reviews and learn about issues more than often, so maybe getting honest recommendations from experienced flashlight experts would help see past the issues or learn about the better alternatives.

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This is what I EDC, with the XHP70.3 HI emitter…
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/2255800253418541.html

It has a large, heavy head, but overall it’s much smaller than the Sofirn SP36.
A large, heavy head is ideal for the XHP70.3 HI emitter because that emitter pumps out a lot of lumens and causes smaller flashlights to overheat.
Also, the larger the reflector (especially the width), the more throw you get, so I prefer flashlights with larger reflectors. :+1:

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A lot of the things you want are kinda what’s needed in a big light.

For the beam as you describe, a multi-emitter with small individual reflectors gets you that. So you’d want a triple or quad.

5000 lemons would mean either multiple cells in parallel, plus a pretty big physical size to shed heat. If you could live without that, and “settle” for 2000lm or so, those choices open up.

If it’s just weight and not actual physical size, you can run it with only 1 cell. Just don’t hit turbo or go near the top end of the brightness range.

For 18650s, you can get small lights with triple- or quad emitters, like the E2L or similar.

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If that flashlight I linked is too big for you, there is this…
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/3256803171542744.html

I don’t own this one, but it’s available with the XHP70.3 HI emitter.
It’ll probably get hot quickly on 100%, though.

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Thanks for the both Convoy recommendations! Actually the Convoy M21B seems quite good an option at the first glance. Have to delve deeper into what’s there to know about it. Aliexpress customer reviews, if they’re to trust that much, show straight 5 stars for M21B, whereas M21C has more divided ratings with total of 3/5. I’ve seen Convoy mentioned often in forum’s listings, so they shouldn’t be that bad at least, yet obviously no brand has all their models absolute perfect, but quality may vary from model to model. Thanks again!

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If you like side switches instead of tail switches, there are other options.
(I personally like tail switches, so that’s what I generally talk about.)
I think I’m going to bed soon, but I’ll be back tomorrow. :raccoon:

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Thanks for the heads up, I may have specified my lumens hopes a bit on the higher than realistic tier, but then again with the very latest LEDs efficacies thought that the brightness could be achievable at expense of the run time of single 21700 or 18650. But yeah, I could definitely settle for 2000lm high/turbo, if all other specs are good. XHP70.3 HI, CRI 90 and 3000K of Convoy M21B recommended by raccoon here are specs that seem pretty good. Top lumens with extended battery run times not the highest priority, if there’s still ‘enough’ and the beam is somewhat sensible, not too biased on flood nor spot.

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Alright, thanks! Think side switch is more my thing, but might accept tail switch, if the light in general matches my preferences.

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How about Convoy M21H? Side switch, compact, wall of light and good throw with XHP70.3 HI (comes with 12 degree optics, 8 and 3 degree are also available), 4000lm with low CRI or 3000lm with high CRI.

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You can also look at the Acebeam E75, the reviews have been very positive. I like mine as well.

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Not sure if it’s what you’re looking for, but I’m really happy with an Emisar D4K. Mine has 519A 5700K dedomed LEDs (~4000K actual), a boost driver, steel bezel, and a clip. And the latest firmware, of course.

The beam is pretty floody so I don’t know if it would have enough throw for your needs. It also has no charger or battery, so you’d need your own solution for that. Otherwise though, it’s very nice.

The boost driver increases the efficiency and allows it to sustain a higher level without overheating, or just run longer in general, but maximum output is only about 2000 lm. The non-boost driver can go twice as bright, but it gets hotter faster and end up at a lower level after thermal regulation settles.

…

For an EDC companion to the SP36 though, it might make more sense to look at a Wurkkos FC13 with SFT40 LED. It’s an all-in-one type thing with a charger/powerbank and battery, and has a fairly low price, which makes it a great one to start with. It has a more balanced beam than the D4K, meaning less floody so it can go farther with the same amount of lumens. And if you like the SP36, Wurkkos lights are made by the same factory.

However, the beam is cool white, and the battery is 18650.

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Seconding a D4K. My EDC one is a dual channel with 519A for flood and high CRI, and W1 for cool throw. Probably ~3500lm on 200% turbo, and ~350m throw with the W1s.

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D4K is “either or”. M21H has both. Or even slightly more compact Emisar D1K with XHP70.3 but it has “just” 2200lm.

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I wasn’t going to mention this one becasue I thought it was a tad too big for EDC but larger ones were already recommended.

I really like my Fenix C7.

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Here’s some Convoy side switch flashlights with the XHP70.3 HI emitter.
Some of them take a 26650 cell, but can be used with a 21700 cell.
You might have to get a 21700 to 26650 adapter for a few dollars, though.
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/2251832827404094.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/2255801107622556.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/3256803592854822.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/3256801548469795.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/3256803015217233.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/3256802672652119.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/3256805458339913.html

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OP wants something smaller/lighter than his SP36 and 26650 lights are everything but compact.

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The SP36 is a 3 x 18650 flashlight.
A 26650 light is much smaller and lighter than a 3 x 18650 flashlight.
In other words, the OP might be fine with a 26650 flashlight.
I like 1 x 21700 throwers, but if I found a 1 x 26650 thrower that I liked, I’d probably get it (along with some 21700 to 26650 adapters.) :+1:

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+1 for M21B. The gtfc40 and b35am models are especially nice.

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26650 lights are still significantly thicker than 21700. OP was looking at Sofirn SC33 which is much smaller than most Concoys you listed except for the M21H.

And it doesn’t have to be a thrower, just not pure flood. SC33 is almost pure flood. Convoy M21B is ok but it’s a tail clicky. That’s why Convoy M21H and Emisar D1K are the best options in my opinion - small, bright, side switch, good balance between flood and throw. Out of these two Convoy has a slightly larger head (40mm instead of 35mm) but it’s also brighter overall.

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I’m just listing different options out there that can run on 1 x 21700 that are significantly smaller than the Sofirn SP36.
I’m focusing on the XHP70.3 HI emitter because it’s very efficient, very bright, and if the reflector is large enough, it offers a massive amount of flood and some throw simultaneously.
The OP hasn’t yet said that a 1 x 26650 flashlight would be too large.