Brightest LED Flood Light for 50$-150$

[Skylumen]

Hello Guys,

I did my research here on CPF but I could not locate a nice floodlight yet. Could you guys please recommend me a light with the following criteria? Thanks!

1. Very Floody. I need to see the immediate surrounding.
2. Will use for camping and hiking in the forest at night.
3. Long throw is not necessary. Already have flashlight for that.
4. Must take 18650 or CR123. But Highly prefer 18650 since they have long run time and I have 30 laying around.
5. The shorter the better. But long length is not a deal breaker.
6. Price $50-$150. Do not want to go over $150. I already have battery and charger. I just need the light.
7. Easy DIY option are welcome
8. The brighter the better of course


If you got something in your collection that match most of these criteria please let me know what it is and the price.

Thank You So Much!!!

 

[sol-leks]

Fenix TK30
Romisen RC-C8
MG Rocket SST-50

maybe get a p60 host and a linger special, supposed to have great flood.

perhaps this would interest you too:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=277748

 

[Henk_Lu]

Best match would be the Triple from Oveready, but that is about 140$ without a host, those vary in price.

I also have a Nailbender SST90 (3000K) dropin, 80$ IIRC, nearly as floody as the Triple but not just as powerfull (not much difference if you use both on a 18650 I suppose however). That one would leave you more money for a serious host, a bored SF from Oveready is always nice. The Linger Special is indeed very floody as well, the beam is not so nice, mine is a 5000K.

I'll soon get a Zebralight SC60 and suppose it's on the floody side, the SC50w is. That would be the shortest light. Another possibility is the H60(w), that's pure flood, used with the clip (instead of the strap as a headlight) it can serve in your hand.

For use in nature, I'd definetely take a neutral white (or even a warm white). You loose a few Lumens, but the color rendition is so much better, that things look clearer in nature, you have the impression you see "more" with the warmer tint in a forest and if it gets moist, the warmer tints don't reflect that much. :wave:

 

[jh333233]

Best match would be the Triple from Oveready, but that is about 140$ without a host, those vary in price.

I also have a Nailbender SST90 (3000K) dropin, 80$ IIRC, nearly as floody as the Triple but not just as powerfull (not much difference if you use both on a 18650 I suppose however). That one would leave you more money for a serious host, a bored SF from Oveready is always nice. The Linger Special is indeed very floody as well, the beam is not so nice, mine is a 5000K.

I'll soon get a Zebralight SC60 and suppose it's on the floody side, the SC50w is. That would be the shortest light. Another possibility is the H60(w), that's pure flood, used with the clip (instead of the strap as a headlight) it can serve in your hand.

For use in nature, I'd definetely take a neutral white (or even a warm white). You loose a few Lumens, but the color rendition is so much better, that things look clearer in nature, you have the impression you see "more" with the warmer tint in a forest and if it gets moist, the warmer tints don't reflect that much. :wave:

Hi, for your SST-90 P60, did you customize the heat sink system?
May i know about it? thanks!
Jh

 

[bedazzLED]

Hi vinhnguyen54.

The best floody lights I would recommend are:

Elektrolumens EDC-MCE - This one is absolutely AWESOME as a floody light.

The MG PLI P-Rocket.

The M30 Triton.

All the above use 18650's.

If you want an absolutely awesome floody, single RCR123A light, then take a look at the Peak Rainier P7. On CR123A's this is an average light, but put in a rechargeable and this becomes a flood monster!

And last of all there is always the 4Sevens Quark RGB. All flood and multi-colored also.

 

[Skylumen]

Hi vinhnguyen54.

The best floody lights I would recommend are:

Elektrolumens EDC-MCE - This one is absolutely AWESOME as a floody light.

The MG PLI P-Rocket.

The M30 Triton.

All the above use 18650's.

If you want an absolutely awesome floody, single RCR123A light, then take a look at the Peak Rainier P7. On CR123A's this is an average light, but put in a rechargeable and this becomes a flood monster!

And last of all there is always the 4Sevens Quark RGB. All flood and multi-colored also.

I got the TK-45 and none of these seem to be brighter than the TK-45 huh?

 

[mvyrmnd]

+1 on the linger special - easy way to get lots for flood for little $$

The trick is to go and get a LDF coated UCL lens from flashlightlens.com. This will smooth out the beam and give amazing pure flood. I have this very setup in a solarforce L2 as my "around the house" light.

~$25 for Solarforce host
~$45 for Linger special
~$5 for lens

Winner

 

[joe1512]

I got the TK-45 and none of these seem to be brighter than the TK-45 huh?

Yeah, they aren't going to get any brighter than the TK45. It uses 3 XP-G emitters which is brighter than a 3Amp driven SST-50 or MC-E or P7.

If you have a TK45 already then you can't expect to see much brighter. I mean, TK45 is 150 bucks. Why would you think you can get even brighter for less than 150 bucks? You would need an SST-90 driven at 5+ amps to get any better and most of those are throw-based, not floody. Unless you get a custom job.

 

[Henk_Lu]

Hi, for your SST-90 P60, did you customize the heat sink system?
May i know about it? thanks!
Jh

I didn't do any changes, I couldn't even do some...

I use the dropin as it came from Nailbender in a bored 6P host. It doesn't matter if you use an SST50 or an SST90, you have to be careful with all of them on high.

 

[Nasty]

Got an old C or D Mag lying around somewhere?

Look into the Fusion 36 drop in for $25.

Lots of info under the "Budget showerhead" thread.

 

[Skylumen]

+1 on the linger special - easy way to get lots for flood for little $$

The trick is to go and get a LDF coated UCL lens from flashlightlens.com. This will smooth out the beam and give amazing pure flood. I have this very setup in a solarforce L2 as my "around the house" light.

~$25 for Solarforce host
~$45 for Linger special
~$5 for lens
Winner

Where Can I buy the Longer Special. I already have 3 solarforce host. Can the Linger Special handle 2X18650? Thanks!

 

[Skylumen]

Yeah, they aren't going to get any brighter than the TK45. It uses 3 XP-G emitters which is brighter than a 3Amp driven SST-50 or MC-E or P7.

If you have a TK45 already then you can't expect to see much brighter. I mean, TK45 is 150 bucks. Why would you think you can get even brighter for less than 150 bucks? You would need an SST-90 driven at 5+ amps to get any better and most of those are throw-based, not floody. Unless you get a custom job.

I love my TK-45. But I hate AA batteries! I really want a 18650 version. :-( Once I find a comparable 18650 version I will sell my Tk-45.

 

[Skylumen]

Best match would be the Triple from Oveready, but that is about 140$ without a host, those vary in price.

I also have a Nailbender SST90 (3000K) dropin, 80$ IIRC, nearly as floody as the Triple but not just as powerfull (not much difference if you use both on a 18650 I suppose however). That one would leave you more money for a serious host, a bored SF from Oveready is always nice. The Linger Special is indeed very floody as well, the beam is not so nice, mine is a 5000K.

I'll soon get a Zebralight SC60 and suppose it's on the floody side, the SC50w is. That would be the shortest light. Another possibility is the H60(w), that's pure flood, used with the clip (instead of the strap as a headlight) it can serve in your hand.

For use in nature, I'd definetely take a neutral white (or even a warm white). You loose a few Lumens, but the color rendition is so much better, that things look clearer in nature, you have the impression you see "more" with the warmer tint in a forest and if it gets moist, the warmer tints don't reflect that much. :wave:

I think I will have to get a Zebralight SC60. Its so Short!!!! I have a Trustfire Tr-801 at about 4.5 inches. The SC60 is only 4". Wow. But damn its $8. Thats alot of money for a little thing. :-( It is worth 6 times the price of the Tr-801 though? Although the TR-801 is a budget light it looks and works great!

 

[Skylumen]

Got an old C or D Mag lying around somewhere?

Look into the Fusion 36 drop in for $25.

Lots of info under the "Budget showerhead" thread.

I have a 3W Maglite 4D. That thing is heavy and dim as hell. I don't like it cuz D size batteries are expensive.

 

[pwatcher]

seems to me an Elektrolumens EDC MC-E might be perfect for your needs!

I just got one, and can tell you it is very floody and bright!

http://elektrolumens.com/EDC-P7/EDC-MCE.html

 

[jorn]

If you alredy got a solarforce host, you could buy this : http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=277951
I love it.