My EDC is a red Fenix L0D Cree Q4. I'd like to find another (black/olive fine), or a suitable replacement subject to some funny constraints.
First question: Somebody got an L0D they're dying to sell?
Second question: what's a good substitute... subject to some constraints. I'm looking for something very small, like the Fenix L0D, with low/medium/high and strobe, and a user interface that's not so complicated I get lost going between modes. I want to run AAA NiMH and do not need the ability to run Li-Ions. I'd like something that gradually fades the longer it runs, rather than constant brightness then moon. I am happy with the L0D beam and would be happy with something wider/less-focused. That said, lots of light (even if spread out) is important, so lights with low-bin LEDs are not appealing, and high-bin LEDs are more appealing. The L0D came with Q4 -- something Q5 or better might merit more tradeoffs. Weight is important, so aluminum is desirable over SS or ti. Bulk is important, so a single diameter is desirable over something with a wider head, even though that would allow for better optics.
The Fenix L1D lost the strobe mode, so that won't do. In practice I get just shy of 1 hour on fresh NiMH from the L0D; the 4Sevens Preon has a much shorter high run time, about 40 minutes, and the medium setting is dimmer and longer-running than I'd like. (The various tradeoffs make lots of sense for some users, just not me.) There's lots of other AAA lights, but I have so far not found one with a tradeoff collection I like better than the L0D.
I suppose if I could define my ideal light it would be the highest-bin XM-L with the smallest head that will hold it (even though optics are compromised), smooth-shape body, "high" runtime a bit over an hour, "medium" three, "low" 10 (at whatever brightness that gives) and strobe mode about 1/3 brightness and 1/3 duty cycle (for around 10 hours strobe). All running on a 1x AAA NiMH driver with efficiency tuned to that, at the expense of not being able to run 10440s -- or runs with the above settings from 10440s, but most lights taking 10440s seem optimized for very bright light, albeit briefly.
I've looked at a bunch of lights and have yet to see anything that strikes my fancy more than the L0D, but I bet I've missed lots of lights, some of which might be a great match. Any suggestions?
First question: Somebody got an L0D they're dying to sell?
Second question: what's a good substitute... subject to some constraints. I'm looking for something very small, like the Fenix L0D, with low/medium/high and strobe, and a user interface that's not so complicated I get lost going between modes. I want to run AAA NiMH and do not need the ability to run Li-Ions. I'd like something that gradually fades the longer it runs, rather than constant brightness then moon. I am happy with the L0D beam and would be happy with something wider/less-focused. That said, lots of light (even if spread out) is important, so lights with low-bin LEDs are not appealing, and high-bin LEDs are more appealing. The L0D came with Q4 -- something Q5 or better might merit more tradeoffs. Weight is important, so aluminum is desirable over SS or ti. Bulk is important, so a single diameter is desirable over something with a wider head, even though that would allow for better optics.
The Fenix L1D lost the strobe mode, so that won't do. In practice I get just shy of 1 hour on fresh NiMH from the L0D; the 4Sevens Preon has a much shorter high run time, about 40 minutes, and the medium setting is dimmer and longer-running than I'd like. (The various tradeoffs make lots of sense for some users, just not me.) There's lots of other AAA lights, but I have so far not found one with a tradeoff collection I like better than the L0D.
I suppose if I could define my ideal light it would be the highest-bin XM-L with the smallest head that will hold it (even though optics are compromised), smooth-shape body, "high" runtime a bit over an hour, "medium" three, "low" 10 (at whatever brightness that gives) and strobe mode about 1/3 brightness and 1/3 duty cycle (for around 10 hours strobe). All running on a 1x AAA NiMH driver with efficiency tuned to that, at the expense of not being able to run 10440s -- or runs with the above settings from 10440s, but most lights taking 10440s seem optimized for very bright light, albeit briefly.
I've looked at a bunch of lights and have yet to see anything that strikes my fancy more than the L0D, but I bet I've missed lots of lights, some of which might be a great match. Any suggestions?