Hi,
I'd like your input on two lights. Please let me know if I'm expecting too much
, and what compromise you think I should make.
Current budget: $150, could go up a bit
Time of purchase: the Main EDC is prioritized, ideally during the 4th of July discount period
Country of purchase: USA
Main EDC: easy access
Length: ideally up to 6''
Switch: forward tail with momentary and on/off function (I'm open to side button or twisty head/tail for mode change)
Mode: Up to 3 (High-Medium-Low / High-Low / High), with memory
Beam pattern: both spill and throw (NOT a pencil beam, I prefer a medium hot spot and a decent, meaningful spill. I'll leave this to your interpretation)
Throw distance: >=200m / 820ft / 273 yd (It's easier to reduce the throw than to increase it. If I can spot something spooky from far away, I have more time to escape. If I need to see at a closer range, I can point the light downwards.)
Brightness (if it adds to throw distance): >=30kcd (It's easier to reduce the brightness than to increase it)
Battery: 1 or 2 x 18650 / 26650 / 20700 / 21700 (for large capacity)
Battery life: >= 1hr on CONTINUOUS >=200m throw/30kcd mode (be it a Medium or High mode, as long as this is continuous ) (I don't mind if the light can drop out black when out of battery, as long as I have the most time on this sustained mode)
Backup/Hobby: in backpack, at home, no fast access needed
Length: up to a foot long
Switch: forward tail with momentary and on/off function (I'm open to side button or twisty head for mode change)
Mode: Up to 3 (High-Medium-Low / High-Low / High), with memory
Beam pattern: both spill and throw (NOT a pencil beam, I need to have a medium/large hot spot and a decent, meaningful spill. I'm not sure how large these should be, so I'll leave it to your interpretation)
Throw distance: >= 500m / 1640 ft / 546 yd (It's easier to reduce the throw than to increase it)
Brightness (if it adds to throw distance): >=70kcd (It's easier to reduce the brightness than to increase it)
Battery: 2 or 3 x 18650 / 26650 / 20700 / 21700 (for large capacity)
Battery life: >= 1hr on CONTINUOUS >=500m throw/ 70kcd (be it Medium or High mode, as long as this is continuous) (I don't mind if the light can drop out black when out of battery, as long as I have the most time on this sustained mode)
I have used parametrek to narrow my search. However, many of these lights won't hold a continuous output, but rather, they drop significantly after minutes or even seconds and remain at this much lower output, until they drop again due to battery capacity.
Again, please let me know if I should compromise.
Hope to hear from you soon.
I'd like your input on two lights. Please let me know if I'm expecting too much
Current budget: $150, could go up a bit
Time of purchase: the Main EDC is prioritized, ideally during the 4th of July discount period
Country of purchase: USA
Main EDC: easy access
Length: ideally up to 6''
Switch: forward tail with momentary and on/off function (I'm open to side button or twisty head/tail for mode change)
Mode: Up to 3 (High-Medium-Low / High-Low / High), with memory
Beam pattern: both spill and throw (NOT a pencil beam, I prefer a medium hot spot and a decent, meaningful spill. I'll leave this to your interpretation)
Throw distance: >=200m / 820ft / 273 yd (It's easier to reduce the throw than to increase it. If I can spot something spooky from far away, I have more time to escape. If I need to see at a closer range, I can point the light downwards.)
Brightness (if it adds to throw distance): >=30kcd (It's easier to reduce the brightness than to increase it)
Battery: 1 or 2 x 18650 / 26650 / 20700 / 21700 (for large capacity)
Battery life: >= 1hr on CONTINUOUS >=200m throw/30kcd mode (be it a Medium or High mode, as long as this is continuous ) (I don't mind if the light can drop out black when out of battery, as long as I have the most time on this sustained mode)
Backup/Hobby: in backpack, at home, no fast access needed
Length: up to a foot long
Switch: forward tail with momentary and on/off function (I'm open to side button or twisty head for mode change)
Mode: Up to 3 (High-Medium-Low / High-Low / High), with memory
Beam pattern: both spill and throw (NOT a pencil beam, I need to have a medium/large hot spot and a decent, meaningful spill. I'm not sure how large these should be, so I'll leave it to your interpretation)
Throw distance: >= 500m / 1640 ft / 546 yd (It's easier to reduce the throw than to increase it)
Brightness (if it adds to throw distance): >=70kcd (It's easier to reduce the brightness than to increase it)
Battery: 2 or 3 x 18650 / 26650 / 20700 / 21700 (for large capacity)
Battery life: >= 1hr on CONTINUOUS >=500m throw/ 70kcd (be it Medium or High mode, as long as this is continuous) (I don't mind if the light can drop out black when out of battery, as long as I have the most time on this sustained mode)
I have used parametrek to narrow my search. However, many of these lights won't hold a continuous output, but rather, they drop significantly after minutes or even seconds and remain at this much lower output, until they drop again due to battery capacity.
Again, please let me know if I should compromise.
Hope to hear from you soon.