K106/K16 alternatives?

[Surnia]

All issues aside concerning the two budget giants of Hong Kong, I'm curious if anyone's ordered anything from KD recently and received product. I ordered a K106 programmable from them a few weeks ago (page lists ships in 1-3 days), but the thing's been backordered the entire time.. Just recently applied for a refund and it went through almost instantly, through an automated system.

I was planning on purchasing a PDC K16 or Akorady K106 for my sister (she's the last one in the house without a proper power LED... I have my D10, parents are running with their TK-703s) and program some functions in for her, but I guess that's not happening anytime soon until KD starts working again..

That aside, are there any alternatives to the K106 or K16s? I'm aware of the Maratacs and the small iTPs, but I'm leaning to a clicky for her in a budget package because I don't think a rechargeable is going to like her at all, so they're most likely going to be run on alkalines until I find that she's a little more responsible with charging things (she begged for a cell phone, but now she rarely keeps it charged properly, or has it on her person..).

Thanks for any help!

 

[Nautic]

KD is still in business. Got something from them a few days ago.

Allow me to sugest you get the TrustFire XP-E F23 for your sister.

Its a "ladies light" by the looks of it. Cheap, bright and runs on ready
available AAA batteries. Good runtime.

 

[ky70]

All issues aside concerning the two budget giants of Hong Kong, I'm curious if anyone's ordered anything from KD recently and received product. I ordered a K106 programmable from them a few weeks ago (page lists ships in 1-3 days), but the thing's been backordered the entire time.. Just recently applied for a refund and it went through almost instantly, through an automated system.

Dealing with the same issue myself. Ordered a K106 on Feb 26th and it has not yet shipped. I've been talking to them via email the last couple of days and to their credit, they have been very responsive. Per KD, it's taking time to get the item from their supplier, but they do expect them. So it's definitely not in stock and I'm debating about continue to wait or getting a refund. Since I don't "need" that light right now and with the communication being good, I'm leaning towards waiting.

I don't know of any other programmable alternatives in the $20 range...another reason I'm willing to be patient on this purchase.

 

[mfm]

Allow me to sugest you get the TrustFire XP-E F23 for your sister.

It's both bigger and heavier than many AA lights... get the iTP A3 instead.

Also, I received an AKOray AK-12 from KD today.

 

[Nautic]

It's both bigger and heavier than many AA lights... get the iTP A3 instead.

If it´s going into a ladies handback i´m not sure it matters most!

 

[vali]

A MiNi if its not too expensive or a ITP A2.

 

[LeifUK]

I have the 5 mode AK106, and the ITP A2. Get the A2. It is far superior. Much smaller, much better made, just as bright on high but with more spill. The twist user interface works well. And it comes with a much better and stronger clip. I assume the Maratec and Quark Mini are just as good. I don;t know what you mean about rechargeables. The ITP A2 takes disposible batteries, as well as rechargeables.

 

[Surnia]

Dealing with the same issue myself. Ordered a K106 on Feb 26th and it has not yet shipped. I've been talking to them via email the last couple of days and to their credit, they have been very responsive. Per KD, it's taking time to get the item from their supplier, but they do expect them. So it's definitely not in stock and I'm debating about continue to wait or getting a refund. Since I don't "need" that light right now and with the communication being good, I'm leaning towards waiting.

I don't know of any other programmable alternatives in the $20 range...another reason I'm willing to be patient on this purchase.

Lucky you, there's been no email response for me (and I have junk filters completely off with that email account). If they returned any I'd still be glad to wait for it, but we'll see how the current hunt goes.

My sister's fairly irresponsible with recharging things, and I'd rather not destroy some eneloops because she decides to run them down too far. With that said, I'm thinking of a budget light so that IF the alkaline vents (honestly its never happened to me, I still have alkalines sitting in devices that have been in there for a good 6+ years with no issues...) there will be not much lost.

iTP ones have always been a consideration, esp. the coloured upgraded ones for her.

I've even considered up to the Preon II as a birthday gift to deal with multiple things at once, but then the issue of alkaline venting in such a nice light... However the Preons aren't likely to run the eneloops dry...

 

[LeifUK]

My sister's fairly irresponsible with recharging things, and I'd rather not destroy some eneloops because she decides to run them down too far.

I routinely run my lights continuously until the freshly charged batteries (Eneloops and Infiniums) are 'empty', with no problems. That said, for someone who uses a torch (flashlight) for a few minutes every week, the cost of Alkalines will be low, and the convenience high. And I think a single Alkaline is unlikely to leak, as long as it is replaced once it gets old. Someone more knowledgeable on batteries will give you more accurate information.

 

[ky70]

I have the 5 mode AK106, and the ITP A2. Get the A2. It is far superior. Much smaller, much better made, just as bright on high but with more spill. The twist user interface works well. And it comes with a much better and stronger clip. I assume the Maratec and Quark Mini are just as good. I don;t know what you mean about rechargeables. The ITP A2 takes disposible batteries, as well as rechargeables.

love my Quark mini123...that thing really puts out with a rcr123 (repotedly 255 lumens).

I also have a ITP A3 and it is a great little light, but the clips that come on the A2 and A3, though of solid construction/well made, I would not consider an upgrade over the akoray clip (I have the 6 mode version). The akoray clip is affixed to the body of the light and very secure for pocket carry, while the ITP clip easily snaps off the body of the light and doesn't give a tight enough hold on the pocket to make for worry free pocket carry.

 

[LeifUK]

love my Quark mini123...that thing really puts out with a rcr123 (repotedly 255 lumens).

I also have a ITP A3 and it is a great little light, but the clips that come on the A2 and A3, though of solid construction/well made, I would not consider an upgrade over the akoray clip (I have the 6 mode version). The akoray clip is affixed to the body of the light and very secure for pocket carry, while the ITP clip easily snaps off the body of the light and doesn't give a tight enough hold on the pocket to make for worry free pocket carry.

The clip on my AK106 is rather thin and poor quality. Perhaps the 6 mode one is better? I didn't think I'd like the clip, but I do, as it stops the light rolling around. Pity is does not tail stand like the Akoray.

 

[ky70]

...I didn't think I'd like the clip, but I do, as it stops the light rolling around. Pity is does not tail stand like the Akoray.

I'm able to actually get my A3 to tail stand. It takes about 2-4 seconds of concentration and coordination but I was surprised to find that it tailstands. Any bump to the table and it will fall over, but it does do it.

 

[ky70]

I contacted Kaidomain and found out my Akoray 106 shipped on the 16th. So I'm glad it's on the way and presumably they would have inventory now of the 106 3 mode as the hold up for me was they were waiting on the light from the supplier. I am concerned that I'm receiving my light from a new batch and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is the 3 mode programable version as it should be.

I'll update everyone when it arrives. If I can get this light, it's worth the aggravation of waiting 18 days for the item the ship because I don't know of other $20 lights that can be programed to your liking.

 

[jk037]

ky70: I'll certainly be interested to hear how you get on with the 3-mode K-106, I currently have the 5-mode and would like to add the 3-mode to my collection and see how the two lights compare.

I think that 3 programmable modes would make the light more convenient to use as I presumably can do away with the strobe and SOS modes that I have to cycle through on my 5-mode K-106. I'd also like to have the lowest "low" mode possible and a slightly lower "medium" than the 5-mode has, if that makes sense?

 

[ky70]

I'd also like to have the lowest "low" mode possible and a slightly lower "medium" than the 5-mode has, if that makes sense?

Makes perfect sense...that's how I plan to setup my bottom 2 modes with the 3rd mode being high.

 

[ky70]

I contacted Kaidomain and found out my Akoray 106 shipped on the 16th. So I'm glad it's on the way and presumably they would have inventory now of the 106 3 mode as the hold up for me was they were waiting on the light from the supplier. I am concerned that I'm receiving my light from a new batch and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is the 3 mode programable version as it should be.

I'll update everyone when it arrives. If I can get this light, it's worth the aggravation of waiting 18 days for the item the ship because I don't know of other $20 lights that can be programed to your liking.

GREAT NEWS!!

I received the K-106 light from Kaidomain today and is indeed the 3-mode programmable version. I was able to follow the general programming instructions posted here and followed the suggestion of member brted at the BudgetLightForum who suggested programming high 1st, then low, then medium...since the light has memory, we're able to program the light H,L,M, but then use as L, M, H. This is done to work around the fast ramp up in mode 1 when you enter into programming...which makes it difficult to set your low, low. By setting High first, it's easier to catch that lower, low in mode 2 instead of 1. Lastly I selected the desired medium in mode 3 and the lihgt was/is good to go.

I don't think there's a better sub $20 light out there. I really like the form of this light and I appreciate the pocket clip as that is my preferred way to EDC. I've already loaded it up with a 14500 cell and can't wait for night time so I can get a better look at the mode spacing I selected...and if I don't like the spacing, I'll just reprogram it.:twothumbs

 

[shark_za]

Not bad on KD side, drilled anything I ever got from DX on this one order.

Its sitting at my customs already, 14 days after order.
Should be cleared in the next day and I will have it by the weekend.

Hoping the combo pack is in fact the 3-mode. I'm liking them already.
Spear clone next ;)

 

[jk037]

GREAT NEWS!!

I received the K-106 light from Kaidomain today and is indeed the 3-mode programmable version. I was able to follow the general programming instructions posted here and followed the suggestion of member brted at the BudgetLightForum who suggested programming high 1st, then low, then medium...since the light has memory, we're able to program the light H,L,M, but then use as L, M, H. This is done to work around the fast ramp up in mode 1 when you enter into programming...which makes it difficult to set your low, low. By setting High first, it's easier to catch that lower, low in mode 2 instead of 1. Lastly I selected the desired medium in mode 3 and the lihgt was/is good to go.

I don't think there's a better sub $20 light out there. I really like the form of this light and I appreciate the pocket clip as that is my preferred way to EDC. I've already loaded it up with a 14500 cell and can't wait for night time so I can get a better look at the mode spacing I selected...and if I don't like the spacing, I'll just reprogram it.:twothumbs

Excellent, glad to hear you're pleased with it. I've just pulled the trigger on one myself; this will be the first time I've dealt with KD so here's hoping they don't let me down :)

 

[gcbryan]

I just got the K-109 version (Cr123) from Kaidomain and used the programming suggestion I read on here somewhere regarding programming that first mode.

I did it L,M,H but the key to getting the low as low as you can (which on mine isn't all that low) is to just hit the button to select a level even before you actually see the light when programming mode 1.

As soon as you see the single flash for programming mode 1 but before the light actually ramps up...just give a half press to select and you will have the lowest low that you are going to get.

I had to do it a few times to be able to have distinct settings between low and medium but that was the easiest way to do it. When programming medium I just wait until I do actually see light and wait a second and then hit select.

For high of course I just wait until it gets as bright as it's going to get but before it starts in with the strobe modes.

The only frustrating thing is you can't just program one mode...you have to do them all each time. It would be nice if you could make the low mode really low but it doesn't get any lower than 50 lumens or so.

 

[ky70]

For high of course I just wait until it gets as bright as it's going to get but before it starts in with the strobe modes.

The only frustrating thing is you can't just program one mode...you have to do them all each time. It would be nice if you could make the low mode really low but it doesn't get any lower than 50 lumens or so.

High mode was the easiest mode to program for me. The programmming sequence starts with the 0-100% ramp up and then sequence 2 is high mode...so instead of timing the ramp up at full power, I just wait for it to complete and move to sequence 2 (high mode) and I half press then.

Regarding low, I haven't confirmed this but I read somewhere that you get a lower, low by half pressing right at the front of the ramp up instead of immediately half pressing when the mode signal is given and before the ramp up. In any case, my low is lower than 50 lumens as it is not as bright as my ITP A3 on medium (but close to this level) which is 38 lumens on medium (or somewhere around there, but under 50).