Ok 2018, I’ve splurged a bit more, but many of the lights were such great deals and anything else I say is just trying to rationalize so never mind. So onto some of the good ones. Some of these I’ve bought multiples if more than one tint was available, but here goes.
Honorable Mentions
BFL GT NW- Come on, when did you think we were going to get a production 1M Klux reflector!
BLF GT 70— just received a WW led yesterday and cant wait to put it in. CW was freaking bright but not my COT
Emisar D1S NW- Probably the best throw i’ve seen in a light this size
BLF GT mini NW/CW - prefer this over the Emisar DS1 only because I like the feel in the hand better, but the Emisar looks cooler and maybe a tiny bit more throw.
BLF Q8- awesome tint, good throw/flood mix and runtime
Astrolux MF01- 18x 219c- I thought 12 in the M43 was crazy. Crazy bright flood and great nichia tint
Runner UP
Emisar D4S xpl-HI 4000k- It’s one of those, “are you kidding me” this runs on one cell type of lights. This thing after one day has become my EDC. The optics are fantastic giving 4000 lumens some pretty awesome throw. The colored lens leds give it a unique look, and reason enough to buy, especially if you put them in brighter mode. The magnetic tailcap is really strong. Strong enough that you should be careful around your credit cards.
2018 WINNER
Haikelite MT09R NW- This is a Hand Cannon, a freeking photon blaster. It has (3) xph70.2 driven as hard as can be. It’s really insane that it’s got double springs with freeking spring bypass from the factory, are you kidding me?! I’ve been in this hobby a while and not been blown away by a light as much as this one. A little perspective, I have 3 Q8s, it’s like I’m running all of them on turbo and call a friends over with his to make it a 4th. Lumen wise that might be hyperbole, but OMG. There are lots of lights out there now with more than the claimed lumens, but this ones got deep reflectors and not too many emitters that it still has stunning throw and flood. It’s a heavy light and sinks heat very well. But it’s also small enough to fit in a winter coat pocket and could double as a hand warmer, fire starter, or for hunters you could cook your kill, and farmers could brand their herd.
2018 was something special in regards to Narsil and it’s iterations. It has made a world of difference to what a FL can be and cheers to Tom E and TK for making these lights unbelievably better than they would have been without your input and charity.
Emisar D4 - yes, I got my first D4 in 2017, but in 2018 I continued to tinker with it and got more, including a Titanium D4. The Ti version looks gorgeous and feels great in the hand, but I think the aluminum version is more useful due to lighter weight and that a substantial amount of heat can sink the body tube. My current favorite D4 is a grey 4500K XPL HI (two 4000K emitters and two 5000K emitters), with Talon Grip tape on the body tube.
Zebralight SC64w HI - great EDC light. Smaller and dimmer than a D4, but has great runtime and better runtime on turbo (about 1 minute compared to maybe 20 seconds with the D4). Better throw than Zebralights other lights in this size range. I also like the addition of programmable mode groups. I can have one mode group for EDC (default with single-click for turbo), and another group for bedside use (with single-click moonlight and double-click turbo).
Zebralight SC600w IV Plus - just slightly larger than a D4. I find it a bit too big for EDC due to the large size of the head. That said, this is a fantastic light that will run for 5 minutes on turbo before any significant rampdown. Put it side-by-side with a D4, and the 2200 lumen Zebralight will start off much dimmer, but after 20-30 seconds the D4 will have ramped down so much the Zebralight will be much brighter and will continue to be much brighter for extended periods of time.
ROT66 high CRI Nichia 219B - Great light with absolutely superb tint and CRI. Smaller than 4x18650 lights. Downside is it’s not quite the hand-cannon that my BLF Q8 or Noctigon Meteor is. All 3 lights supposedly have similar lumen outputs, but if I put my hand in front of the ROT66 it gets warm. Put it in front of the Q8 or Noctigon and I can burn things.
I’ve heard good things about the Emisar D4S, but haven’t purchased one. I mostly prefer pocket EDC-lights and find anything bigger than a D4 to be too big for EDC. I’m fairly certain a D4s would just be too big for me.
Haikelite MT09R XHP70.2. Very nice (continuous) output, also as a result of a nice chunky design. Amazing beam. I just love the looks, and I certainly love the awesome green colour!
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Haikelite SC02 SC26. Same colour and UI as the original MT09R. Very stout and unique design and feel in 26350 form. More conventional looks and feel in 26650 form where I’m using a spacer for an 18650. Nice output; definitely brighter than those single XP-L/XM-L2 lights. Really, really good price on this one with the original group buy code.
It’s not only about all the things I like about it:
- It has my favorite UI with forward momentary + magnetic ring for stepless dimming
- It feels great in hand, it’s light and it’s comfortable
- It has enough lumens for almost any real (my) world use
- It has a very useful, mostly floody, beam but it also throws a bit
It’s built like a tank
So, it’s not only about all the things I like about it. It’s mostly because in every case… before every trip… before traveling anywhere… when I want to get only one (EDC excluded) flashlight with me and ask myself the question “which one will cover anything I might run into?”, the answer is SRT9.
My EDC around the house in 2018, and often outside, has been the excellent Imalent DN70. A small 26650 cell light, it's just a little bit chunky and heavy to get taken out everyday. For the last few weeks it's being challenged by my new Astrolux S43S, the copperhead 18350 version. That's definitely small enough to qualify for EDC just-in-case both inside the house and outside, though when I have a specific purpose in mind it takes a back seat to the more powerful, longer lasting, and more consistent DN70.
I’m not sure if this thread is for lights that came out in 2018, or just ones you bought in 2018? I got a Convoy C8+ a few weeks ago and really enjoy it, nice output, great throw and great knurling/anodizing…just feels great in hand.
Also enjoy my Nitecore Tini although the 2 second hold to turn on is not ideal, it makes up for it in size to output ratio.
SC26. Same colour and UI as the original MT09R. Very stout and unique design and feel in 26350 form. More conventional looks and feel in 26650 form where I’m using a spacer for an 18650. Nice output; definitely brighter than those single XP-L/XM-L2 lights. Really, really good price on this one with the original group buy code.
That’s another of my favorites for 2018.