We all have them, those lights that are really quite good but were maybe yesterday’s news or just don’t get enough mention. One that I am still blown away by is the Trustfire F23 - small, stainless, rear clicky and eats 10440’s with style. Mine has a Fenix clip on it, but I usually just drop it in my pocket. Super bright, lots of wow factor for such a small, cheap light. Any others out there?
I’m a fan of the Olight S20 baton, but I certainly don’t see much about it. It’s practically the same size as the 18650 it holds. Side clicky, tiny, good clip, bright, hidden strobe, hidden moonlight, no PWM. I use it everyday and I haven’t seen a better flashlight for under $50. I got it for $35. The tint is maybe the only downside, but I honestly don’t think it’s bad unless I’m doing a direct compare.
I have been very happy with my Solarforce Masterpiece head. It’s the best pure thrower I have seen. It doesn’t have the raw lumens of some lights but every lumen goes into a small dot for concentrated spot.
i think skyray SR5 is rarely mention.
the original copy - lumen seraph p6 is also rarely mention.
SR5 is my favorite form factor light though 
I’ll second the vote for the L3 L10 with Nichia 219. Nothing about it is particularly impressive, but it gets a lot of things just right. The biggest selling point is the high-CRI neutral tint emitter, but it also gets a very nice beam pattern, great firefly/low/medium modes, no PWM, and is a very small but comfortable size/shape which can be held like a cigarette. I use it more than any other light lately.
Things which could be significantly improved about it: screw-on clip (to keep it attached to things and to prevent rolling), longer battery life, less sharp and less awkward tail shape, convert from battery-crusher to spring+anodized-threads… possibly a AAA version too, and little extras like a GitD lens O-ring and more body colors.
The XP-G2 version is okay too I guess, but I hardly ever use it. Its firefly mode is too low, its spot-to-spill transition is less smooth, and the color rendition is nowhere near as good. I got mine only for parts.
Edit: After further testing, it seems the 2012/XP-G2 version simply has poor regulation on its firefly mode. With a fresh just-charged battery it was significantly brighter than with a half-used cell, while the 2013/N219 version I have seems to stay at a much more consistent output level throughout the cell life.
I’d have to say, the lowly C8. You can get a T6, C8 for under 10 bucks, an some of them are pretty good throwers with some flood. Yea, kind of like butts, everyone has one, but they still are pretty good lights.
BTU Shocker!! LOL just kidding it’s hardly under-appreciated.
Of my lights it would be the Fandyfire L1 it’s a 5T6 18650 it’s overpriced and kind of goofy looking.
The thing about this light is with two good cells on shorty mode it’s nice to carry and it has simply the best flood to walk with through the woods. It’s one of the few lights that I own that I have no intention of modding. I don’t want to take the chance of messing up the beam because I think it’s perfect just the way it is. It’s the perfect tint for me and it reaches out a good long way without seeming to have a hot spot. The trustfire J series dominated this type of light and although I will say the J18 is brighter I didn’t like it half as well.
I'd have to go with the Balder SE1 XM-L. It's a nice bright light on 14500 (OK on NiMH), $20 ish), and built like a tank.
Another would be the Shadow TC-300. I never heard of it until Ric put them on clearance. Looks nice, I might have to snag one.
These days, I’d say the KE-5. MIne still kicks up a storm in output and throw.
Another vote for the L10 with the Nichia 219.The Orange XP-G2 version went into the ‘bag of shame’ but I still carry the natural finish, 219 version in my pocket at any given time.
Also, I love my iTP SC1. They also make a 1xAA (SA1) and a 2xAA (SA2) version. I thought the series was way ahead of its time, and the SC1 still lives on my desk at work and I still haven’t found a better replacement even with my decent size collection.
I like Olight S20 which looks beautiful, but i got it at a high price.
Who heard of Crelant V01A? I like the claret V01A. Their website didn’t show this model, but it seems i saw it somewhere.
I have the same S20 and use it alot too. One of my most used lights. Tint is better now after swapping the emitter with a XM-L NW.
I’ll second balder, especially HD-1. rarely mention too and always out of stock on most retailer. just like a discontinue item…
+1 on the SE1 XM-L right up until the driver failed. I was running it on a 14500 but after only about 3 months the driver fried. Wasn't practical to return it so replaced the driver with a AA board from FT and now run it on 2AA. Not quite as bright and now almost twice as long so has lost some of its original appeal. Perhaps I was just unlucky.
Everytime I see this thread I think of the Thrunite ti . Maybe because they were 5$ lights at the time so they get used and always appreciate having them ...nice cheap light .
I like small 2 mode lights too
Sipik SK-68 clones? Many members probably have one some already so yesterday’s news. I have a few in different spots around the house since I bought more than one in my excitement about it, but they are still very useful.
I often overlook the SK-68 and reach for another flashlight, i put a 14500 in one last week and was blown away by how much brighter it was (very happy with it now) :bigsmile:
A couple here:
- I’ve mentioned this one before in a similar thread:
UniqueFire UF-K21
https://www.fasttech.com/p/1300400
- A newer one, which I just received:
Solarforce L2M host:
http://www.lighthound.com/Solarforce-L2M-Host-for-1x123-or-16340-Black-Type-2-Anodized_p_2982.html
The “Versatile, and Tiny Host” review was mine, and it’s amazing with an XM-L drop-in, and probably even better with an XM-L2 drop-in, which SolarForce now has (which I don’t have yet):
trustfire t2, edc sized, side clicky, xp-g.
mine came pulling 1.7a, I have heard of them pulling over 2a, very very throwy for an edc sized light and look classy.
Throw in a 4c xp-g and a nanjg ak47 with an extra 7135 and its a dammed nice light, my next plan is to put nlight firmware on an ak47, stack four chips for 2.8a drive and an xp-g2 on copper nw of course.
Add an X power holster from fasttech and it eliminates the clicky activating in your pocket issues (why did they not anodise the damned tail threads?).
Yeah, I kind of like them, as does anyone else who gets a hold of them.
I should get this light…
I have DQG AA but:
- it has terrible beam since it has TIR, is small and tries to throw.
- Tint, tint, tint…
- Low not low enough
It hardly ever travels with me anymore after I got BLF Mini. Sits in the toilet drawer.