Replacement 14500 for EDC with dress clothes

djozz · 2019-05-29T13:25:28.000Z

Please make sure that the flashlight you choose does not spontaneously switch on in your pocket. Tail-clicky lights are usually ok, and twisties too. But all e-switch lights that I tried to EDC do switch on in my pants pocket, not occasionally but a few times a week. They need a lock-out (mechanically or electronically) to prevent that and that extra operation is annoying enough for a flashlight to be expelled from EDC-use.

korkfoto · 2019-05-29T13:39:14.000Z

mrheosuper:

sofirn sp10b has all things you need, shortcut to low, high lumen, can use either 14500 or ni-mh

Hear, hear!

Jack_Kellar · 2019-05-29T16:44:53.000Z

P10pablo:

I have given up my daily commute by car (3mi/5k one way, not including client visits) and ride an electric bike. So i’m able to be fully clothed, still get my heart rate elevated, but not be soaking wet once i’m done. I like to tell people that there is more exercise to be had on a electric assisted bike than there is in a car seat. I tried bike commuting to work for a few months and it was more sweat than anything else; truly a life changer.

I’m in Atlanta, we’re pretty hot these days, though the humidity has been bearable, which is somewhat an improvement.

Where I live it’s warm almost year round, and humidity is thankfully high for most of it (I hate, hate, HATE dry weather, it wreaks total havoc with my respiratory system). My quirk is that it takes barely any physical exertion to make me leak more water than a broken faucet, to the point where even assisted pedaling doesn’t help, so I just go for broke and pump up the speed with leg power alone.

Biking to work is no token effort for me either: it saves me a big chunk of dosh at the end of the month just from fuel expenses, and it keeps me feeling healthy and more importantly, feeling good. The progression is so satisfying, too – nothing like crushing in 5 minutes a climb that you had to get off and push the bike through, shifting to a heavier gear each month.

P10pablo · 2019-05-29T20:16:15.000Z

I know the feeling. I like the Olight interface, and Thrunite, but I carry both manually twisted off for that reason. The Jetbeam did not fire in my pocket, even while bicycling, so I can’t recommend it enough. Looking at the Klarus Mi7 and the Thrunite t10ii both are the footprint I want, and there is a lot of appeal with the interface, but it just feels like it will be a headache in my pocket. Though I know the Klarus has a electronic lockout.

I still haven’t pulled the trigger, I might bide my time till the Jetbeam goes on sale, or maybe i’ll be seduced to buy something more expensive, Not sure. I know this little budget thorfire TG06S I’m carrying right now is a bit of a drag. It sticks out proud (way proud) and steps down hard after it has been on awhile; it isn’t all bad though.

P10pablo · 2019-05-30T12:12:36.000Z

I ordered the thrunite t10ii last night. I’ll let you know, but i’m pretty excited. It was a hard decision. I narrowed down to the Klarus Mi7, Jetbeam-1 MK, and the thrunite t10ii.

I missed a sale on the Jetbeam, and my love for it boils down to the carry footprint, and the fact that the high beam doesn’t step down on me (or it didn’t in my use case with the flashlight), the memory was also pleasing, but it wasn’t an interface I was madly in love with.

The Klarus Mi7 is tempting, but I don’t know the brand as well and it was the most expensive of the three lights I was thinking about.

The t10ii has most of my wishlist. a shortcut mode to firefly and high, I like the strobe function, a magnetic tail cap.

On some level i’m totally fascinated with the 14500 light category. I came into modern flashlights with 18650 lights, but the 14500 category continues to impress me as a daytime carry light. I don’t swap to AA, but the ability to do so is appealing, and unless i’m working on a car, or the house, i’m usually in a travel pant of some sort and dressed business casual; so to have that much power in a little light is impressive.

Thanks for all the advice, it really did help in the decision making.

MascaratumB · 2019-05-30T12:22:18.000Z

korkfoto:

mrheosuper:

sofirn sp10b has all things you need, shortcut to low, high lumen, can use either 14500 or ni-mh

Hear, hear!

I would say this one!! SP10A or B!
Small, access to moon, turbo and last used mode (and strobel), electronic lock-out and you can physically lock it out by slightly twisting the head before putting it into your pocket!
Led is mod friendly in case you want to change it

P10pablo · 2019-06-01T00:58:04.000Z

Well I got my thrunite t10ii.

*The Good
*
-Strong magnet
-Strong clip
-Great heft
-The CW model feels not so hot
-The polished finish is slick and perfect, if I was going to keep it I’d get to putting a patina on it.
-The flood and throw on this light is pretty exciting, the Jetbeam-1 MK is much tighter.

*The Bad
*
-The button is hard to find, if you line it up with the clip you’re fine, but it truly is hard to find.

*The Ugly
*
-There is a high pitched whine on the low setting.

This is a bummer. I can live with the button (really I can’ t live with the button…) but the whine is terrible. More important, what does the whine mean?

Maybe I am going to the Klarus Mi7, though I am a little skeptical of the quality.

It was still fun to get a torch and play with it awhile.

Marc_E · 2019-06-01T02:09:07.000Z

P10pablo:

…
-There is a high pitched whine on the low setting.

This is a bummer. I can live with the button (really I can’ t live with the button…) but the whine is terrible. More important, what does the whine mean?

Maybe I am going to the Klarus Mi7, though I am a little skeptical of the quality.

That sounds like inductor whine, though not sure you should be hearing it. Could be faulty or could be that your hearing is sensitive to it. You could refer it to the seller as a fault.

I watched the Klarus Mi7 video linked above and was liking it until the reviewer showed you could turn the switch on without knowing where it is by wrapping your finger around the head and squeezing, gave me the impression it would be susceptible to accidental turn on in a pocket. I don’t have one so it might not be the case but something to watch out for.

Edit:-Sorry the T10 didn’t work out, and even more sorry you’re coming down with the 14500 bug

P10pablo · 2019-06-01T12:37:52.000Z

My ears are on or off, but when they’re on I can hear it all.

My hang up with the Klarus Mi7 was when the the late great Marshall Hoots of Going Gear talked about them honoring their warranty. The way he explained the experience made me think two things, they sometimes need service and you are going to apparently be torchless for almost half a year if something goes wrong. That is a bummer, and some of the Amazon reviews talked about quality issues.

I am enticed by the 14500 cause i realize that as much as I want all of the light I can get the 14500 battery can drive all the lumens (300-500) I need for about two weeks at a time. I enjoy not charging my Olight S30R Baton iii for multiple months, but after a year back in the office, my trusty S30 and Leatherman Skeletool wrecked every pair of pants in my closet. When you’re supposed to be the polished face of an organization your rig has to be a bit more discrete, that and I bought new pants and didn’t want to see all the same pocket wear on every pair of slacks I own. Those wear lines and fraying have a certain charm about them, but maybe i’ve moved on. So I think I have to limit myself on the 18650 and 18350.

I enjoy the hunt. I used to think I festered about buying in my mind, but really I enjoy comparing stuff in my head a lot, before buying. For example the Jetbeam-1 MK is rated at 480 lumens, and the thrunite t10ii is supposed to be 550. Of the two the Jetbeam-1 MK is tight and strong and medium floody, with a brilliant hot center that says “dial me down to a lower setting”. The thrunite t10ii with its CW bulb is incredibly floody, does not have a hot center and really throws light all around you in addition to having a long throw. Now take the Olight S1A, The king of flooders. I keep giving that flashlight to people as a gift cause regular people seem to love what it does. The Olight S1A seems to have the least throw, which i find disappointing on walks when I want to throw light medium, and long distances; there are so many choices.

I’ve definitely learned that I like my 1000 lumen and up lights to be NW, and my 500 lumen and less lights to be CW and apparently with less flood and more of a tight beam. I guess this is what the thrunite t10ii taught me in a day. Without the whine i’d probably keep it and be pleased.

Lastly as is the case with many 14500 lights (though not all) the thrunite t10ii firefly is unusable. Who ever knew 0.5 to 5 lumens could be so functional.

avservice · 2019-06-01T12:49:03.000Z

P10pablo:

My ears are on or off, but when they’re on I can hear it all.

My hang up with the Klarus Mi7 was when the the late great Marshall Hoots of Going Gear talked about them honoring their warranty. The way he explained the experience made me think two things, they sometimes need service and you are going to apparently be torchless for almost half a year if something goes wrong. That is a bummer, and some of the Amazon reviews talked about quality issues.

I am enticed by the 14500 cause i realize that as much as I want all of the light I can get the 14500 battery can drive all the lumens (300-500) I need for about two weeks at a time. I enjoy not charging my Olight S30R Baton iii for multiple months, but after a year back in the office, my trusty S30 and Leatherman Skeletool wrecked every pair of pants in my closet. When you’re supposed to be the polished face of an organization your rig has to be a bit more discrete, that and I bought new pants and didn’t want to see all the same pocket wear on every pair of slacks I own. Those wear lines and fraying have a certain charm about them, but maybe i’ve moved on. So I think I have to limit myself on the 18650 and 18350.

I enjoy the hunt. I used to think I festered about buying in my mind, but really I enjoy comparing stuff in my head a lot, before buying. For example the Jetbeam-1 MK is rated at 480 lumens, and the thrunite t10ii is supposed to be 550. Of the two the Jetbeam-1 MK is tight and strong and medium floody, with a brilliant hot center that says “dial me down to a lower setting”. The thrunite t10ii with its CW bulb is incredibly floody, does not have a hot center and really throws light all around you in addition to having a long throw. Now take the Olight S1A, The king of flooders. I keep giving that flashlight to people as a gift cause regular people seem to love what it does. The Olight S1A seems to have the least throw, which i find disappointing on walks when I want to throw light medium, and long distances; there are so many choices.

I’ve definitely learned that I like my 1000 lumen and up lights to be NW, and my 500 lumen and less lights to be CW and apparently with less flood and more of a tight beam. I guess this is what the thrunite t10ii taught me in a day. Without the whine i’d probably keep it and be pleased.

Lastly as is the case with many 14500 lights (though not all) the thrunite t10ii firefly is unusable. Who ever knew 0.5 to 5 lumens could be so functional.

Zebralight evidently knows!

SC52w if you can get one is the one I have EDC’d since they were released 7 years ago and it is almost ideal for exactly the reasons that you list for me.

Is buying Budget lights really a Budget proposition if you don’t get exactly what you like?

I also have a Jet1-MK in the other pocket!

ActiveAl · 2019-06-01T17:15:45.000Z

Parametrek is a great searchable database for finding flashlights that meet certain criteria. However, some brands (such as Sofirn and Thorfire) are not represented.

Muto · 2019-06-02T01:24:11.000Z

I have the Klarus Mi7 in the desirable Olive if you want it, I never took a shine to it. It is very slim and bright, just not for me.
Pm Sent.

Later,
Keith

P10pablo · 2019-06-21T20:21:26.000Z

Hi all.

What follows is not so much a review, just observations for prosperity. I go through these threads sometimes when I’m searching for stuff and often i think “What happened?! Did they find it? Are they happy with the pick? What does any of this mean?” Sometimes the hunt, or conversation just ends with no closure. So if anyone comes looking for a compact day time flashlight, which doesn’t fray the pocket, and doesn’t stick out like a baton, and they’re sick of false activations in the pocket, I want to leave them with a story that has some meat to it.

Onward!

I just received my Sofirm SP10S. I’m pretty excited. As a contender in the discrete EDC pants clipping category it does great, with just a 1/2” of the light coming out of the pants; the profile in the pocket is also very discrete; the Jetbeam-1 MK is only about 3/16” if memory serves me.

The lockout mode (4 steady clicks and then it flashes twice to confirm lock status) works, but you have to get those four clicks just right (maybe there could be room for improvement,) but I’ve not had a single false start in my pocket. I can’t say the same for my Olight s30r baton ii, which I ultimately have to carry with the battery cap twisted a few turns. Going back to lockout mode for a second, if it is locked and you hit the button the light flashes twice, good feature, you know it is locked. If only those two flashes lingered for just another half second, you could probably use this feature to peek at things, without unlocking the torch. I gotta circle back and be clear though, If you don’t get those four clicks just right, you will fall on another setting, like turbo (a double click), or moonlight, or strobe mode-which happens at three clicks.

Today my office partner, who I babble too much about flashlights to, said “Paul you gotta go to your flashlight message board and ask if your light is supposed to do that.” A comedienne that lady.

The fit and finish is great, the flashlight feels weightless, I’ll have to weigh it against my other small lights, I guess the part of the “lightness” is that it doesn’t feel heavy on one end of the light. The metal button has a charm, though it took a while to grow on me. The area around the metal button is detailed such that if you stroke it with your finger, it is easier to find. And I think I officially wish for a magnetic tail cap on anything that doesn’t have a clicky tail. The clip is firm, but not hard to get on/off the pants. The finish is great, matte black with a nice bit of light bounce. Unlike so many other things in my life that I hold precious, I love the patina that flashlights get over time.

The CRI LH351D 800lm bulb is hard to explain, bright, and white, but not harsh, with this great glow. This is definitely a floody light, not in a bad way, but it throws off a tremendous amount of lumens around you, in addition to really lighting whatever it is pointed at. To me the light feels very clear and sharp. Moonlight is very useable, it isn’t .05 lumen though, maybe 5, or 10, with the 14500, I suspect the AA battery will be less. The “High” level (stated 310 lumen) is great for day time shelf searching, I’m not usually provoked to go to 800 lumen turbo. Turbo doesn’t feel as bright as the Thorfire TG06S, or the Jetbeam Jet-1 MK, but this isn’t bad, both those torches have a hot center and are bright, but obscure detail a bit. I’ll have to do a proper night time challenge when I get a chance.

Each new torch has challenges, “if only it also did this, while doing that too, then I’d be really happy.” And on top of that, as each new light arrives (I wonder if this happens for other people,) the pecking order for flashlights changes throughout the house. The Olight s30r baton ii gets delegated back to being the hidden nightstand light. The Thorfire TG06s becomes the “work light” to use when I’m doing carpentry around the house. mostly cause the Olight s30r baton ii is always turning on in my pocket, so maybe it will just become my walking and concert light And now the Sofirm SP10S is at my side as the light I spend the most time with on any given day.

The Sofirm SP10s light is pretty solid for discrete, trouble free day time carry, which is what I got it for. I think it would be the 14500 I recommend to adults like myself who had those same priorities. I might also give this light to kids, who have those quick reflexes for perfectly tapping out four steady clicks to lock/unlock and who would appreciate moonlight and strobe. I don’t think I’d recommend it to gen pop users though. I think (for me) the Thorfire TG06S is still the budget light to give to your friends and family, who are going to be delighted at the lumens they can get from an AA, and amazed by the 14500 abilities.

The story isn’t over though… I finally found a crazy deal on the Jetbeam-1 MK and ordered that bad mother. I’ll see if when it arrives I go back to it. I scoffed so hard at that twist to on function, but it is solid. I also have an On The Road coming to. The Jetbeam-1 MK, helped me stave off buying lights. I might have lost it a bit when I lost that light.

For the most discrete carry, with the simplest interface the Jetbeam-1 MK still is the pick. If you want more features and a direct access UI for turbo and strobe, the Sofirm SP10s is the way to go. The Thorfire TG06s is a great cheap flashlight that always starts on high and outside of chewing up batteries, it is a good light. Regular folks who still buy disposable batteries or use rechargeable AA, but say “14 wha?” would be well suited with this light.

lightwonder · 2019-06-21T15:28:24.000Z

Eagtac D25A or D3a

deleted-200707 · 2019-06-21T15:34:56.000Z

P10pablo · 2019-06-21T20:22:06.000Z

That’s gorgeous!

BOO5TED · 2019-06-22T22:32:22.000Z

lightwonder:

Eagtac D25A or D3a

^^this right here.

wle · 2019-06-23T15:09:42.000Z

i’d just stay with the jet beam
it seems cheap enough, walmart.com seems to have them for $19

the klarus looks good
side switches make shorter lights, usually

wle

passive101 · 2019-08-22T17:58:39.000Z

I have had a AA Zebralight for years that looks nice and discrete. It’s also very small. I thought it could only take AA for years. Then earlier this year I checked their site for the original sc52 and it said 14500 works. Just throttles 2x as fast as the newer versions.

travis · 2019-08-23T00:31:55.000Z

Another vote for the Eagletac D25A clicky!

The pocket clip is very solidly screwed to the end of the tail, making for
“Deep carry”’ and the clip is extremely stiff and sturdy.
I sometimes have to use my hand to help manually spread the clip open just a
bit to clip it onto my pants— but I know it isn’t going anywhere.
Better yet— the switch is slightly recessed, and the switch boot is flush with the
tail tube— it is almost impossible to “accidentally activate”, no matter which carry mode.
My Zebralight is beautifully made— but the side switch has accidentally activated
on too many occasions……