I'm sorry stevetexas Did I say 40$ to you ?
I meant 60$
the sipik sk68 is a clone of this light
it's called a Nitecore Extreme Infinity.
I love sipiks, but Citipower G7 is much better looking, robust, mostly cheaper and has 3 modes without having to jump through hoops for it to be in stock.
Takes both AA and 14500, has smaller zoomed in beam than SK68.
I personally have one, and it replaced my Sipik SK68 as a pocket EDC hands down.
I've also talked about it here:
Viktor
Viktor is the citipower brighter than the sk68?? What you mean less zoom? Less zoom out (throw) or less spill (flood)?
I have one of those from DX
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/nf-x8455-flood-to-throw-zooming-cree-q3-wc-3-mode-160-lumen-led-flashlight-w-clip-1xaa-1x14500-90381
Great little light for the $. Typical budget construct, i.e. threads a bit rough, press-fit switch, twisty zoom function can stick on occasion so you have to fiddle a bit to get it working smoothly. But actually better than it should be for the price. Can be used in mule mode, but more fiddly to do this than with the Sipiks. It's also quite a bit bigger
This will vary hugely depending on the Sipik clone model that it's compared to. In the above photo, all aspects of beam output are near enough identical between the two models.
EDIT:
Sorry Viktor, I didn't see that you'd included a Sipik in your group shot, it was cut off on my screen. May as well leave my pic up now that it's there..
had even resent the email.
never got a reply message from them.
doesnt matter too much, you guys have already ordered the Meritline :)
I've opened a new thread about Sipik SK68 vs Citipower G7:
https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/7619
Beamshots available there.
Viktor
As of this moment, the price for the set of three has dropped to $19.99. I have ordered a set, which I think I'll keep, and give away some of the black ones I have. :-)
My three colour set got shipped yesterday. Interested to see what they are like when they arrive. They aren't for me though so no rough testing will be done.
Just checked the link at meritline and it says 1 mode not 3. I guess they changed it?
Ruh roh
switch and bait 
Heh…they also say “Digital Regulated 3000mA Current Output” and “Stainless Steel Assault Crown” and we know it has neither of those either. Who knows, maybe some will come through with modes but I doubt it.
I bet they are just 1-mode. Dang. Has there actually been any 3-mode Sipik labeled SK68s in the wild? Any 3-mode clones?
I have a one-mode UltraFire Sipik clone and it is really nice for an eight dollar light. I have been carrying it around in my pocket with an AA in it. I was thinking this would be the perfect light to give to the unenlightened if it had a lower level to conserve battery and a strobe to dazzle.
I was really liking this form factor. I may have to look at some of the larger zoomies like the one Lensman linked.
Will have to wait and see.
I wonder if kreisler's email to Sipik got Meritline to change the description. I would think that it would be too early for someone to have already recieved their lights and complained.
wondering too
:~
@ fnsooner: "Has there actually been any 3-mode Sipik labeled SK68s in the wild? Any 3-mode clones?"
Don't know about Sipik labelled 3 moders, but plenty of 3 mode clones: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/5581 Problem was that they were too inconsistent in quality, output etc. You could order three from the same seller and get three completely different models. (Which is exactly what happened to some of us..)
> Nitecore Extreme Infinity
So there were a bunch of leftover bodies, and someone figured out how to make a zoomable light by adding the slider and lens?
Totally different lights. The Nitecore is a standard reflectored light, not a zoomer. It has infinitely variable brightness via a ramping driver with 2-stage memory. It’s also HAIII and runs on a CR123, not AA like the Sipik.
The only thing they have in common is the outward appearance. Can't compare apples to oranges.
Does anyone have an idea as to why the price went from $24 to $19, then back to $24 over the course of a few days? I realize none of us will likely know the real reason, but I'd like to hear your speculation regardless. Also, does anyone care to guess as to whether or not it will go back to $19? I really should have struck why the iron was hot, but I was trying to wait until someone got a set, so I could get a quick review. Oh, well. :(
I just received the first set of 3 colored Sipik SK68 flashlights from Meritline and they are definitely 1-Mode. I do a reasonable amount of business with them and plan to call them up.
By the way, they have changed the description to 1-Mode.
I got several, definitely 1-mode.