I had 10440 and 14500 lights with me for some time, but I found they are empty too fast. So I usually carry a compact 18650 light in my pocket: the stock UltraFire P10-R5. Recently however I modded my UltraFire A10B with an XP-G R4 4B neutral white LED @1.4A, and now I carry that, even though it is a bit bigger.
Currently it is definitely my Mr.Lite J4 with an XM-L and reflector mod. The Ultrafire U20 keeps turning up near me as does the Trustfire S-A6 and the Mr.Lite LT3.
The bigger ones tend to be in the car or in a bag. Nothing bigger than a single 18650 light is likely to be on my person unless I'm dog spotting or doing something that might need a lot of light.
Interesting ,,, Top 3 Hu !
No1 = Nlight B3 http://budgetlightforum.cz.cc/node/1168 I swapped out the electronic clicky for a mechanical one , and now its a joy to use .
Maratac AAA / ITP AAA
Ultrafire A20 [ XM-L mod ]
I have the Nlight on a lanyard + Carbiner [ so I wont lose it ] , and I just love the fully regulated output ...
I might have to get the Nlight B2 for my Birthday .. [ its an excuse ]
I've currently got a dqg tiny aaa on my key ring and carrying a 4 sevens q mini aa2. But this changes depending on my mood. I like to rotate my lights.
Resurrecting this dead thread again!
1.Convoy S2+ 2.8A 3B
2. Manker T01 
3. Lumintop Tool AAA 
Wha!! Six Year OLD Thread resurrection! With the OP last seen four years and nine months ago…
I’ll feed the necrosis…
- EDC: four-year-old heavily-modded TrustFire F20: TrustFire F20 mod with reflector bonus!. Since that thread, the light has been completely gutted. I think only the lens is original. I should order an AR coated just because. Aftermarket reflector, XM-L2 emitter, Nanjg 101AK driver in three-mode group, and replacement switch.
- EDC: FastTech C20: Review: C20 DIY EDC flaslight host from FastTech. XM-L2 emitter, 25-degree optic, generic 2800mA, no-mem/Always-start-on-high driver, and pocket clip. Carried mostly in the winter when it gets darker earlier and the longer runtime due to the higher capacity battery is helpful.
- EDC: (This far down the list, doesn’t qualify as an EDC, since it is seldom carried) Tied between my Convoy S3 XP-G2 triple with Qlite and low mode enabled, and my Convoy S6 XP-L HI triple with FET. Typically carried only when I want to have a light with high “WOW” factor.
My current EDC.
Stock Manker Ull with LG MJ1 cell. Carried in pocket, has good balance of throw and flood. 1000+ Lumens & 250M range. Charge port used to charge cells for all three lights.
Modded Nitecore HC30 with LG MJ1 cell. XP-L V6 3D LED on Noctigon 16mm MCPCB that has been filed down to fit. Qlite momentary driver with 10 total 380ma 7135s and moppydrv firmware. Driver soddered inside of 20mm partion board. Reflector replaced with 60 deg. TIR optic. Spring bypassed in endcap. Carried in backpack, pure flood. Have not measured lumens but even with 60deg TIR optic it makes 2500 candela @ 1M. Estimated 1200+ lumens & 100M range.
Modded Convoy C8 V3 with Samsng 30Q cell. De-domed XP-G2 S4 2B on Noctigon 20mm MCPCB. FET + 7135 MTN 17mm driver with spring bypass. AR lens and tailcap spring bypass. Carried in backpac, pure thrower: 185K @ 1M. Estimated 700 lumens & 850M range.
Condor Venture back pack / laptop bag.
Knife ( not pictured because I left it at home. :person_facepalming: ) Ganzo G719
1. BLF 14500 Cu SE
2. BLF A6
3. K40M
Ok, I’ll play.
- Most days my edc light is an HDS HCri200 Rotary. Yes its pretty weak, especially considering some of the monsters we all build nowadays, but its form factor and UI more than make up for it, in my opinion. Its my favorite edc light for normal daily use.
- On days when I know I may be needing more output, I go with Zebralight. My SC62w is still a favorite because its got lots of output and great tint. I bought the SC63w a few months ago but its tint is way too green, so it sits on the shelf. My SC600w mk3 HI also gets used though for its balance of great throw with tons of output. So these two together make up my “edc when I need lots of output” spot.
- Last of my favorite 3 EDCs would be my ReyLight Copper Tool. On days when I’m wearing “nicer” pants, like slacks, this is my choice because of its size and style. Love this little light.
Honorable mention goes to my Manker U11. Its my choice for times when onboard charging becomes important, like when traveling. This is also the only modded light on the list because I’ve swapped this emitter with a 219c. I mod lots of other stuff, but mostly larger lights that aren’t comfortable for edc carry, in my opinion.
So I know I cheated a bit and exceeded the requested number, but I do see four distinct roles for edc lights in my life and these are the lights I currently use to fill them. Here’s a photo of my “3” favorite EDC lights. Its the best I could do:
Personally, I use my EDC light mostly for just illuminating stuff so low CRI doesn’t bother me. I like my EDC light to have good ratio of output vs size (including length, width and weight).
1. Nitecore Tube - Always on my keys and just so small and light. Honestly I’ve hardly used this after getting other lights, but keep it as a backup for the size and weight and the long runtime at low.
2. Lumintop Tool AAA aluminium - Always on my keys also. I use this more when I bring only my keys. Good mode space and I like the long runtime on low. I use the clicky magnetic tailcap.
3. Olight S1 aluminium - My favorite EDC light, mostly for the size/weight vs output ratio. While not “perfect” (don’t care for the tint and low CRI), I still love the light. Even during winter taking a walk in a non-lit park, the S1 amazes me how much light is produced!
While at home or if going out for a night/dark walk, then most of the time I’ll bring other lights.
After trying the BLF 348 (especially the 348) and the Astrolux A01, I don’t really use any other lights while at home.
Work EDC is a Skilhunt H15 with a 7A3 XM-L2, DQG Tiny 18650 v3 with a 60 degree TIR for flood (NW) and a BLF A6 18350 in my tool pouch with an extra battery for peering into dark places…
Non work EDC is usually a Astrolux A01 on the key ring and a DQG Tiny 18650 v4 with a 25degree TIR. I will add my Manker U11 for travel, or the car has a Starry Light DXM with a warm emitter for general purposes…
At this point my top three are my Nitecore EA41W, BLF-348, and Astrolux A01 copper. The EA41W is at the top due to its batteries, run time, and the fact that while using it for illumination in a dark corner of my mother’s basement to replace some copper water line to fix a leak it fell about eight feet from where it was sitting on a pipe next to the bathroom wall and suffered only a pencil point nick to the anodizing after hitting a stone wall and concrete during the fall. I’m amazed at how long it runs with the ten year old tenergy blue aa I have.
Current EDC is Tank007 E09, CooYoo Quantum, and as needed a BLF A6. The first two are ‘always’ lights on 2 separate keyrings. If I loan a vehicle or lose one set of keys I’ll still have the other. The third light is as-needed, or more to the point as might be needed, so it will change with the anticipated situation. One of my C8’s is next likely choice, or a specialty flooder or thrower if that’s what may be called for.
If your EDC light choices don’t regularly change you’re either specializing in doing only one thing ever, expecting too little from your light, or leading a boring life. One light cannot do it all so have many to choose from and enjoy them. Flashlights get lonely too so don’t let that happen to yours :sunglasses:
Phil
For EDC, I prefer to carry small lights, so either 18350 or 16340-based lights as they can easily slip into my jeans pockets or go inside my manbag without taking up too much space.
Right now, my 3 most used EDC lights are Sinner Ti Tri-EDC, ReyLight Ti EDC (both 18350) and Olight S1 Baton (16340).
I have an Astrolux S41 in the mail and that light might go into my EDC rotation.
Other than the 3 lights, I also carry Nitecore Tube wih my house keys and CooYoo Quantum SS with my car’s key, so if I forgot to charge the battery inside my EDC light, I still have the keychain lights as my back-up,
It was either the Kronos X5 or X6
But without dropping the X6, having it hanging outside the pocket (so no keys to damage) and not banging or slamming it the light chips the black as if I was abusing it.
Its special so I don’t want it to become more ugly so took it out of roulation.
The X5 ia messed up by baking it and color is just not right but Neal send me the Astrolux version and that I use a lot.
On two and most used the light I am working on reviews on (so currently the Convoy BD01 and OrcaTorch WR10.
Also on third a review light or a new one to get to know it.
In my small pocket that Astrolux A01 in copper but rarely used
1. Keychain - DQG Hobi, Quantum DD, Klarus MiX5 (AAAA). I have lost them all but the one I miss the most
is Klarus. It’s very slim and almost imperceptible on a keychain. I used to like this form factor much better
than 10180 but 10180 also did their job well.
2. EDC - Fenix LD01, 47 Preon with Nichia. Both lights were of hight quality but are not that budget. I think
AAA lights are now well established and there are quite a few other models to consider like Thrunite Ti, Olight i3
Astrolux etc. I think there will be no clear winner in this category, lots of decend models really.
3.What I currently use is DQG AA. Fenix and Preon were given away so I was left with DQG. I bought it by accident
instead of the aaa model and didn’t like it at first but the light turned out to be quite nice. I initially had a prejudice against battery
crushers but after two years of not very intense usage the light is ok.
I just couldn’t limit it to three. I did until I realized that the S3 was in my pocket.
1. Thrunite Ti3 NW
2. L3 Illumination L10 Nichia
3. Solar Force L2m shortened pill to use Sanyo 18500.
4. Convoy S3
Wow this thread is old. I remember lurking thru this years ago.
My current top 3 or so
1./ Armytek Wizard pro warm (I use this more than anything. Clipped to cap)
2./ BLF A6 bare, triple XPL-HI 80+ cri 3000k with MTN FET+1, Bistro
3.0/ Kronos copper X5 (soon to be 3000k 80+ cri quad, I hope)
3.1/ Copper 16340 Maratac rev.1, Nichia 219c 80+ cri with 4.5a Qlite, Guppydrv
3.2/ Copper Lumintop Tool, Nichia 219c 80+ cri with 11mm FET driver, Guppydrv
#1 and #2 are always with me (work lights). I'll rotate the 3's.
1.)Eagletac D25A2 Clicky XML2 NW, my favorite light. It’s just so right for me in all aspects.
2.) Solarforce L2 with a RMM built XHP50 drop-in. It has guppydrv and is running at 3 amps on 2x18350’s. Great light for the size, amazing output, the 4500k tint is perfect.
3.) Fenix HL35 headlamp is always with me in my edc bag. As much as I love the D25A2 if I would have to chose the HL35 if I were told I could only have one light. It has a great beam, the output is plenty for the bulk of what I do, Runtimes are wonderful, and it can be used many different ways.
I would like to eventually switch from carrying the L2 with the xhp50 to a triple XPL-HI but I have other lights I’d rather buy first lol.
My EDC load out: at work its the Convoy M1 with a xm l2 and blf 17 dd from RMM and my Kershaw 1760.
Not at work; same knife, Lumintop tool AAA, Kahr PM40 (I hate it-going to trade it soon), and Orient mechanical watch.