$200 to spend. Looking for brightest 18650 light.

[Kenaz]

Hello again,

Ok, so I am looking for a light to replace my duty light, which is an aurora SH-42 (POS)
I have a budget of $200. The only batteries and charger I own are RCR123's and 18650's, so I want to stick with those batteries. I am looking for a good compromise of throw and spill, with throw being more important. I want the absolute brighest light that $200 can buy. Suggestions?

 

[AutoTech]

Guess it depends what size of light you want. As you say 'duty light' I'm assuming it will be belt carry in holster?

The thrunite TN11 is very impressive for it's size, it'll take 1x18650, 2x18650 or 2/3/4 cr123's in either it's original form or with up to 2 extenders (1 comes with it). It throws amazingly well.

 

[xul]

Here's one tradeoff between discharge rate [brightness] and runtime.
link removed. see red banner at top of page

 

[Kenaz]

Guess it depends what size of light you want. As you say 'duty light' I'm assuming it will be belt carry in holster?

The thrunite TN11 is very impressive for it's size, it'll take 1x18650, 2x18650 or 2/3/4 cr123's in either it's original form or with up to 2 extenders (1 comes with it). It throws amazingly well.

Yes, belt carry in a holster, around 7" in length or less.

 

[AutoTech]

In that form I think the thrunite TN11 is one of the brightest and best throwers out there at the moment.

Olight sr51 looks good but its a bit chunky, takes your required batteries though (2x18650 side by side in holder)

Fenix tk35 looks great also for throw and spill too, also takes 2x18650's in a holder, nice form to it.

 

[joe1512]

Um... 7 inches might be pretty restrictive, requring a 1x18650 solution (or some kind of side-by side deal).

I do have one possible suggestion if you really do want nothing but pure firepower in a short length package. For 75 bucks you can get a DRY 3x XM-L, that uses 3 18650s in a battery carrier arrangement. Yes it is ridiculously fat, and probably of dubious quality. (there are reviews you can look at though)

link removed

 

[tre]

You have to make a choice. Do you want the best thrower or do you want a small light?

The Olight M3X will out throw everything mentioned in this thread so far but it is 8.5" in length with 3 cr123 cells or 9.5" in length when used with 2 18650 cells (18650 requires use of the included extension).

A favorite small thrower of mine is the Maelstrom X10 which uses a 26650 cell but it would still be way under $200 with a couple 26650 cells and a charger. Still not as much throw as the M3X though.

Skip the Fenix TK35. It is not a thrower (especially considering the size of the light).

Holy triple post Joe! :hahaha:

 

[ResQTech]

I'd suggest the Eagletac T20C2 or 4Sevens Maelstrom G5. T20C2 will be close to half the price, but both around around 350 lumens out the front and both will leave you extra money for batteries. For a duty light replacement, either one will fit nicely in a holster without being too heavy or bulky.

 

[PhillyRube]

Vinhnguyen is selling some 1000 lumen P60 drop-ins. Get a Solarforce L2 host, and you can cobble it together for about $60.00. Since it is Surefire sized, it would also make a good carbine light (the reason I bought one).

 

[scheven_architect]

Get a DRY triple XM-L with 3000 lumen for 75$ shipped. If you really want to spend 200$ buy 2 or 3 of them and tape them together 🙂)

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sh...White-Warm-Tint-2500-Lumen-3x18650-Flashlight

 

[cummins4x4]

Another vote for the Olight SR51. Love mine. Get some quality batteries for it, ask me how I know..

 

[varuscelli]

I don't know how others might feel about this one, but I recently picked up the Klarus XT20, wanting a very bright 18650 light (2x18650, 1200 lumens). For my purposes it's being used primarily as a bike like mounted to the handlebar. It's a bit longer than you mentioned (8.5 inches), but it's a heck of a light. Cost after CPF Going Gear discount was about $144 although it lists for around $160. It might be worth a look for your needs. It's got good throw and spill but is slightly more oriented to throw, as I see it.

There are a couple of reviews on the XT20 in the Flashlight Reviews section:

Mjölnir, thy competition has a name: KLARUS XT20 (review, runtimes, pics, beamshots)

Review of Klarus XT20 with measurements and outdoor beamshots

GoingGear has their YouTube review of it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkunawU9T6M

 

[Kenaz]

Vinhnguyen is selling some 1000 lumen P60 drop-ins. Get a Solarforce L2 host, and you can cobble it together for about $60.00. Since it is Surefire sized, it would also make a good carbine light (the reason I bought one).

Philly,
I dont know who that is. Does he have a store? So I just buy the solarforce and then the drop in and it is a legitimate 1000 lumens in such a small light?

 

[Tommygun45]

SR-51. Excellent light. Throws like a monster and has a very good deal of spill with xml in there. Have to get the optional 18650 battery carrier for it though, its only $6. Its head is a little chunky but it comes with a holster that goes on a belt. Fits alright, good quality overall light for about 150. Simply operation too, just high and low. Can get strobe if you double click it. Low will be around 250 lumens for I think for 10 hours. High is 900 lumens for maybe 2 hours. It looks brighter than that though and still throws well on low.

 

[Kenaz]

SR-51. Excellent light. Throws like a monster and has a very good deal of spill with xml in there. Have to get the optional 18650 battery carrier for it though, its only $6. Its head is a little chunky but it comes with a holster that goes on a belt. Fits alright, good quality overall light for about 150. Simply operation too, just high and low. Can get strobe if you double click it. Low will be around 250 lumens for I think for 10 hours. High is 900 lumens for maybe 2 hours. It looks brighter than that though and still throws well on low.

Tommy,

The SR51 looks BRIGHT! its too fat however. If PhillyRube's recommendation does not pan out, I think I am going to purchase a Jetbeam BC40 AND a Spark SL6-800CW XM-L.

 

[Tommygun45]

Ya it is a little pudgy. Well neither of those guys will throw all that great. The bc40 is a very long light. It doesnt necessarily throw that great due to its xml emitter. Just more of a general purpose light. And the sl6-800 is basically a flood light. How about an Armytek Predator? Runs off an 18650, throws very well, and is as durable as they come. Very programmable as well.

 

[Kenaz]

Tommy,
I saw beam shots on youtube of both and they look good. That armytek looks pretty sweet. Are there beamshot pics/videos? Cant find anything good on youtube.

 

[Kenaz]

Ok, I saw some beam shots of the predator. It looks impressive. I wish I could see some beamshot comparisons of it going head to head with the spark.

 

[tre]

Tommy,

The SR51 looks BRIGHT! its too fat however. If PhillyRube's recommendation does not pan out, I think I am going to purchase a Jetbeam BC40 AND a Spark SL6-800CW XM-L.

PhillyRube's recommendation is a P60 drop-in. The reflector is too small to get any throw. It is a flood light.

The BC40 has some throw but is not that great. Think Fenix TK35. The Spark SL6 is a flood light.

People are confusing lumens with throw. You need an intense beam to get good throw. Beam intensity is measured in cd or lux @ 1 meter - not lumens.

I've measured the beam intensity (throw) of every light I've had in the last year (at least 50). If you want throw here are some choices:

Olight SR51
Olight M3X
Thrunite Catapult V3
EagleTac M3C4 single XML
4sevens Maelstrom X10 (smallest of all of these but also least throw)
Sumwayman M40A XML
Sunwayman T40CS

The Maelstrom X10 can do nearly 28k lux @ 1 meter while the best on this list will do about 45k lux @ 1 meter.

I have throwers that will do 120k lux @ 1 meter but those are much bigger lights.

For reference the best P60 drop-in will do about 10k lux @ 1 meter, the T20C2 MKII will do about 6k lux @ 1 meter, and the spark SL6 will do about 8k lux @ 1 meter. Now you can see why none of those are considered throwers. They are nice general flood lights.

A Great little thrower is the Lumapower D-mini with the TurboForce head and XRE emitter. It will do about 70k lux @ 1 meter. It does not have much spill at all though and is a pencil thin beam. The lights I listed above don't have quite as much throw but have a nice big hot spot with bright spill.

 

[Kenaz]

Tre,
Thanks for the info. Just read some beam stay info and the Thrunite scorpion with turbo head is looking pretty sweet.