Whats your favorite walking light as of today?
My favorite walking lights are Fireflies E04 Surge with quad FFL505A and X1L w/ FFL707A, replacing the Convoy GT-FC40 trio. Their discussion start HERE. Surprisingly not because of Firefly’s famous rosy tint (I love GT-FC40 4500k’s more neutral tint equally), but for other reasons. All of these are subjective, no right or wrong, just personal preference.
In order of importance: First, the Fireflies are brighter and throw further. Nothing complex about this, all else being equal, I like brightness. Second I much prefer Anduril, and love the latest Anduril with automatic battery indicator (I don’t tripple click anymore). Third, while acknowlidging that Fireflies are 2-3 times the cost: the premium quality and feel of the Fireflies. Holding and using them is fun, with some degree of pride of ownership. Next, the button travel and tactile feel of Fireflies are the best among all of my lights, and world apart from Convoy’s M21E and F (extremely short travel and feel, worst among the trio Convoy, Hank, & Firefly). Again subjective, no right or wrong.
No I’m not selling ANY of my Convoy with GT-FC40! I still love them, all 5: M21B, two M21F, two M21E. All with GT-FC40 4500k. I should note the tint lottery is real and a big problem with some Convoy’s GT-FC40. The latest one I bought, M21E’s with GT-FC40, has a horrible green tint. So bad as to be unrecognizeable as a GT-FC40 4500k.
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Some relevant numbers:
Convoy M21E 4500k
CCT 4395 Ra 98.2
x 0.3623 y 0.3520 Duv Turbo: –0.0030 cold, -0.0040 hot
Throw 324 m
Flux 2140 lm
Firefly E04 Surge FFL505A 4000k Rosy Tint Discussion start HERE
CCT 4200k Ra=97 R9=92
Duv Turbo = -0.0090
Output Turbo: 3240 lm w/ AM04 Battery, 3200 w/ Molicel P45B
Throw ANSI: 500 m
Firefly X1L Elite FFL707A 5000k Discussion start HERE
CCT 5400k Ra=98 R9=96 w/ Opple LM4
Duv Turbo = -0.0095
Output Turbo: 2860 lm Turbo w/ P45B, 2730 w/ AM04
Throw ANSI: 480 m
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OK I’m buying the Surge 
does it throw further than the X1L?
No, Surge does not throw further than X1L, at least not with the specific FFL LEDs I chose. The main distinction between my E04 Surge and X1L is one, the beam profile, two, the tint, and three, X1L is on sale for 30% off, quite a bargain. Oh and four, X1L has a large head than E04. Still small, but just a tad more cumbersome in pocket. These lights are different from each other, not one is “better” than the others.
Shape of beam:
E04 is multi-TIR, with beam profile similar to that of a reflector light: hotspot and reasonable spill. For a walk light, strictly personal preference, I like to have spill for near-field view (with light point straight ahead) so I like it. X1L is single TIR: classic TIR beam profile with prominent hotspot and very little spill.
Tint:
Despite of similar Duv numbers, FFL505A 4000k (in E04) is less rosy than FFL707A 4000k (in X1L). If you prefer a less rosy look, than FFL505A 4000k would be the best choice.
I prefer 4000-4500k range, but if you like 5000k LED, the FFL707A 5000k is far and away the best 5000k LED I’ve had. (My other ones: GT-FC40 5000k, Nichia 219c 5000k, Nichia 519a 5000k.) Beautiful tint, at this CCT looking more whitish as expected, with a rosy tint still, but not as prominent. Again all beautiful lights with beautiful LEDs, you can’t lose.
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