Hello I’m fairly new to this forum and I did used search function trying to find different lights.
So far I got 3 soda can light: BLF Q8, HaikeLite MT03 II CW, Astrolux MF01 Nichia
Now I got those fairly big lights but I want something smaller and powerful for its size. Used the search function and lot of them are from 2015 and even older (unless I’m just that bad with search function and using key words lol)
So I need your help, I know the word “pocket size” is subjective to individuals… but please keep it reasonable for fitting in dress-pants or jeans.
Please name your favorite pocket rocket light up till 2017 today
And if possible, give a few words about it too! good or bad, do you regret buying it? etc.
I have a D4 and I love carrying this thing. Used it to warm my hands while giving out candy in the 30 degree weather we had today.
I still like modes though and my modded direct drive Jaxman E2L with triple 5A 4500k XP-G2s might still be my favorite hot rod that I own currently. I have a wide beam frosted optic in it and it lights up everything in front of me. The E2L is excellent at shedding heat and I get at least 30 seconds of turbo. The tint is also slightly towards the warm spectrum which is very easy on my eyes especially later at night or in dark environments. I feel like I can easily see with it walking through brush and leaves.
Imalent DN12 for $30.99 from Amazon. I once carried the DX25C, however it did not have USB charging and it ran out of battery when I needed it.
USB charging on the flashlight itself so it can be kept full is a must on these RCR123 XPL-HI rockets. They are a one-shot use light between charges. So easy USB charging is a must.
I don’t have any of the mentioned lights, so I will have to go with the Convoy S2+ with XP-L Hi.
Not crazy output or throw, but it’s performance is great and it’s price is even greater.
A pocket rocket could have been anything until recently, now it simply is the Emisar D4, it is small with a 18650 battery, but with short tube and an Aspire 18350 battery it is even smaller. Everything is good about this light, but can you believe that this little thing below puts out 4000+ lumen? (it does, on a 18350 battery, I measured it, for 14 seconds and then it automatically steps down to prevent overheating).
(ok, I cheated a bit, I put in Luxeon V leds, but with XP-L Hi leds it is still well over 3000lm on an Aspire cell)
They are both direct drive quads but everything is better designed and built in the D4 (it is way brighter too) and the user interface is a few generations newer and really a few steps better. Just one example: the D4 has a great thermoregulation so can have its great output without destroying itself.
Everything except the negative contact of the driver and tailcap MCPCB made without tightening rings but directly on the MCPCB trace. It’s the cheapest and least durable type of contact.
My favorites are the Emisar D4 and Astrolux S41.
What I like about this primitive design of tightening directly on the trace is that if you are concerned about wear, you can just apply a thin layer (or a few dots) of solder on the trace that takes years to wear, and if it is eventually gone just re-apply for the next 10 years.
Isn’t this a design choice? Wouldn’t retaining rings add total length to the design? And although I do enjoy a durable design, one can question how long it will take to completely wear the traces. If you look at the original Skyray King, then the button top cells would even rub against the positive trace when tightening the battery tube. You don’t even have that kind of wear sensitive action in the D4.
If it works, don’t fix it and it seems to work fine in the D4, and when the trace is almost gone (in 1 year, or 5, or 100, who knows?) you can still add some solder.
