I recently bought a Solarforce L2i to use with an 18650. It was pretty cheap, at $9.99 shipped. However, to make the bezel a pocketable one was another $2.50. So I started thinking, what are some other budget P60 hosts? And I figured I'd come to the best budget light forum on the net to ask. 8)
Uniquefire L2/Ultrafire WF-504B (Preferably the old style)/Ultrafire WF-503B. The first two have almost complete parts interchangeability with the Solarforce L2 series lights (Except the L2i/L2r which have different sized battery tubes) - and Surefires come to that.
I've been happy so far with those:
http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-c1-flashlight-tube-no-led-emitter-p-4846
http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-wf502d-flashlight-tube-no-led-emitter-p-4295 Interesting if you want the cheap 2x 18650, otherwise unreccomended.
http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/ultrafire-wf504b-flashlight-tube-no-led-emitter-p-4049 <- this is the non reccomended By Don but i like the design better than regular. Has less mass than the old style but for me it is non impotant. Ther “real” issue is that it does not embrace the dropin so well than the old style but it doesen’t make much difference for me.
http://www.lightake.com/detail.do/sku.L2_Flashlight_Body_Tube_Black-30271 <- fake but good
http://www.lightake.com/detail.do/sku.SKY_RAY_S_R5_Flashlight_Body_Tube_Gray_-29782 <- good body if you like the aesthetics.
Would not bother with 501B&502B.
That's pretty much all from the resonably priced up to 10USD or so shipped.
Solarforce L2 series. Don L2i can take 18650 just fine!
The L2i tailcap and battery tube are not interchangeable with the others though. Mine almost always has an 18650 in it. I'd like a cell the diameter of 3AAAs and 65mm long for use in it - it would run for ever. But I don't know of anyone making a 21650.
http://www.sunwayman.com/html/products/201005/26.html You know you want one ...4 -AA's
I haven't seen anything better than solarforce ... I like the looks of some other hosts. but i'm terrified by bad threads .I just end up staring at them and think .. what trash . When I first started reading about flashlights people were talking about threads and O-rings ,lube and modifying lights . I had visions of pocket protectors and slide-rules .hair gel and flood pants.white socks and black shoed geeks with their flashlights .all discussing threads . i couldn't care a less if my lights have any o-rings or grease at all .BUT give me a perfectly well made host with some thick walls , a ton of threads ,and maybe some gold plating ..I dunno .. impress me .and I'm a buyer .Maybe I'm less of a budget guy than I think I am ..I just hate trash ,I wouldn't give you 2 bucks for a 501B. When you're at the size of a p 60 host , you're not concerned about weight ,As far as I'm concerned the heavier the better ..Consider this ..a D cell weighs 150 grams that's more than your p60 solarforce host a 4 D maglight weighed like 700 pounds . almost everything I own seems too light . I looked at the thrunite catapult V2 and thought ...Now that's a flashlight !!!
You're right. I do!
I like the 504B, especially in silver. I like the 502B too though. It just looks and feels rugged. But the inner diameter of the head is bigger than the other hosts so you have to put in more heat sinking. I have a 501B as well and am not impressed.
A lot of people like the Skyray body, but I don't have one.
It's not always easy to buy the hosts by themselves for cheap. The cheapest way to get one seems to be if you are looking for a drop-in to get the drop-in in a host. The complete light is usually only $5 more than the drop-in, so you get the host for $5.
If I had to do it over again, I would get the L2P for $20 shipped. Instead I got the L2 in gunmetal gray (nice) but the had to get a flat bezel. For another $5-6 I could have just had the L2P.
Best 18650 P60 hosts: L2P, L2X and L2X extended.
This is in my opinion the dumbest thing solarforce does ...Attach razor baldes to the front of their lights and make you pay more to get something intelligent in the first place ..they figured out the //no stobe thing and make a great host ..lets drop the sharp edges . if you know how to fight ..You don't need a sharp bezel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D99NHb6B03s < use the Texas flashlight instead .
I might buy one of the real SF bodies to actually see what it the fuss about.
No doubt, L2P is the best bang for the buck. But... add $3 to $6 for AR coated lens (from KD or UCL from Flashlightlens), and that is some 25 or more bucks. For a few dollars more you can get brand name like this one:
http://www.dereelight.com/cl1hv4.htm
I like this one even more:
http://lumensfactoryshop.com/online_shop_product.php?id=120&cid=11&sid=10&page=1
I've got a couple of L2P's and I really can't fault them at all, the finish and machining is amazingly good, It's rather a shame you can't get matching HAIII extension or cr123 tubes though.
I want it!!!!
i love magpul!
reminding me, gotta get me some AR clips before they ban em. even tho i know i wont be able to use them after the ban, they might be handy to have around anyways!
never know when the s*** is gonna hit the fan!
IS has a complete P60 host w Xenon dropin that could be a great gifter or
cheap backup/upgrade/moddable light.
For only $8 …… 
I’m sure you noticed this, but in case someone else missed it, this is not an aluminum host, it’s nylon fibre…. maybe like a G2 Nitrolon knock-off?
I’m not saying its not a good deal, but it’s not metal.
yes.
I have 3 G-2’s, they’re great for my purposes.
I never suggested building a beast with lots of heat dissipation.
For that price, it would almost be cheaper to replace the entire torch than the batteries!
Awesome!
Plus you get that first thirteen seconds of beautiful beam…
Tempted!