coachclass
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2011
- Messages
- 109
Hi,
So, I'm stuck trying to decide between the Black Diamond Apollo vs. the Rayovac Xtreme 300. Links for these at the end.
The Black Diamond is dimmer (up to 80 lumens). It uses an XR-E cool white LED. 80lm seems bright enough for a flashlight, but not enough for a lantern where the light is spread out 360 degrees. But, then again, it's well built and every raves about the way it diffuses the light. So, it's dimmer, but high quality light. And, the light can be adjusted to be dimmer, huge plus.
The Rayovac is plenty bright, but I don't know about the quality of the diffuser. Anyone want to comment on it? It's got the one advantage of being able to hang right side up or upside down, and the cap can come off, which adds to the flexibility quite a bit (use it as a floody light). It uses D-size batteries, but I'm going to use AA's with adapters. The Rayovac also only has two mode (high and low), both of which are pretty bright, so there's not much options of adjusting the brightness. It doesn't have the expensive feel of the Black Diamond.
I plan on removing the stock LED and replacing it with neutral. For the Black Diamond, it'll have to be a neutral white XR-E. For the Rayovac, it'll be a neutral white or maybe warm XP-G. The Rayovac seems to have enough heat sinking for it, as others have done it.
Am I missing some other consideration? Anyone with either lanterns want to chime in?
Thanks!
Here's the Apollo:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004AJK48K/?tag=cpf0b6-20
Here's the Rayovac
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018S4XIS/?tag=cpf0b6-20
So, I'm stuck trying to decide between the Black Diamond Apollo vs. the Rayovac Xtreme 300. Links for these at the end.
The Black Diamond is dimmer (up to 80 lumens). It uses an XR-E cool white LED. 80lm seems bright enough for a flashlight, but not enough for a lantern where the light is spread out 360 degrees. But, then again, it's well built and every raves about the way it diffuses the light. So, it's dimmer, but high quality light. And, the light can be adjusted to be dimmer, huge plus.
The Rayovac is plenty bright, but I don't know about the quality of the diffuser. Anyone want to comment on it? It's got the one advantage of being able to hang right side up or upside down, and the cap can come off, which adds to the flexibility quite a bit (use it as a floody light). It uses D-size batteries, but I'm going to use AA's with adapters. The Rayovac also only has two mode (high and low), both of which are pretty bright, so there's not much options of adjusting the brightness. It doesn't have the expensive feel of the Black Diamond.
I plan on removing the stock LED and replacing it with neutral. For the Black Diamond, it'll have to be a neutral white XR-E. For the Rayovac, it'll be a neutral white or maybe warm XP-G. The Rayovac seems to have enough heat sinking for it, as others have done it.
Am I missing some other consideration? Anyone with either lanterns want to chime in?
Thanks!
Here's the Apollo:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004AJK48K/?tag=cpf0b6-20
Here's the Rayovac
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018S4XIS/?tag=cpf0b6-20