Most powerful EDC flashlights?

Dimitri Stephan

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I'm curious to know what are the most powerful flashlights in terms of lumen output in the EDC category (fits in pocket).

Things like the Nitecore T4K and the Manker E14 III come to mind but is there more than 4000 lumens to be had in these types of flashlights?

Would be cool to compile a list of these lights on here.
 
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Convenient, usable pocket lights (for me) have to be 18650 or smaller. Personally I love my FW3A lights, all three of them. Almost 3000 lumens for the brightest one. Super compact, light, and my favorite interface by far.

I do have a Lumintop GTvn Mini - Baby Ultra Thrower, SBT90.2 version. 4000 lumens, incredible throw (205Kcd/905m), and excellent spill. Comes with bodies for 18650 and 18350.
GTVn Mini Hand.jpg


GTVn Mini 18350.jpg
 
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Dimitri Stephan

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Convenient, usable pocket lights (for me) have to be 18650 or smaller. Personally I love my FW3A lights, all three of them. Almost 3000 lumens for the brightest one. Super compact, light, and my favorite interface by far.

I do have a Lumintop GTvn Mini - Baby Ultra Thrower, SBT90.2 version. 4000 lumens, incredible throw (205Kcd/905m), and excellent spill. Comes with bodies for 18650 and 18350.
View attachment 15216

View attachment 15215
Nice lights! Not exactly pocketable though ;).
 

idleprocess

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Emisar D4, Noctigon KR4 clock in at a bit north of 4000 peak lumens with XP-L HI LEDs while maintaining a relatively low profile for 1x 18650 lights.
 

Lighteous

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Plus one for both the Emisar D4 and the FW3A. Another for the list is the Acebeam EC65 which has 4000 lumens with the 4 Cree XHP70 LEDs or 2500 with the 4 Nichia 90 LEDs.
 

fuyume

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I'm curious to know what are the most powerful flashlights in terms of lumen output in the EDC category (fits in pocket).

Things like the Nitecore T4K and the Manker E14 III come to mind but is there more than 4000 lumens to be had in these types of flashlights?

Would be cool to compile a list of these lights on here.
How big are your pockets? Both your pants and your purse? :)
 

WmArnold1

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Dec 24, 2004
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Fenix E35 V3.0 EDC Flashlight - 3000 Lumens
I'd EDC that! Personally, I've got a bigger issue with the 98-degree spill angle on the E35 tho; that may be okay for working on stuff at lower power levels, but it blinds me nearly as bad as a bare lightbulb when I'm trying to spot stuff farther than 4 meters out when my eyes are night-adjusted.

Since we're considering 21700 lights, I'll toss-in the Fenix PD40r v2.0; it's 3000 LM too, but Fenix dialed it's spill down to 65-degrees, and, it's only 3/4 inch longer than the E35. Yeah, both are pushing the pocketable envelope, but I've been pocketing my trusty ZebraLight SC600 since 2011 and it's 90-degree spill, for close-range stuff. I think the only time that I needed the SC600's full 1000 LM up close was searching under car seats in broad daylight.

EDIT; ocassionally I EDC my Olight Warrier X pro 2250; it's 5.8" long, has a 60-degree spill, and is 1.15" longer than the E35. Admittingly, that's really stretching (literally) pocketable..
 
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3_gun

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Jun 27, 2021
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I go more with run times for EDC than peak output that lasts 30sec. Run times was the major reason for me moving away from 14500 lights. New EDC for me is a Klarus ST10 with solid run times from the 18650, 100L for 18hrs, a good level for indoors. It will hold its top output, 1100L claimed for a full 10min without dimming. Turns out that is roughly the limit set for unrestricted high. After 10min'ish it will start dimming according to specs & testing I've since read. Honestly I've seldom had to run a light that hard outside of LE work & I'm not in that field any more.

If I do want more peak from a pocket light (& this is where a 40" waist helps; LOL). I can take a IF25a with me. It claims a 3500L+ turbo & I can't find a reason to argue. 60F + a 35mph breeze while driving had it run without dimming for 20minutes, until the LVP kicked in. Fun for S&G but not very practical. Still a solid useful light with great run times at or below 200L from the 21700 battery.
 

lomeranger

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If you were to keep it under $50 and favor throw over lumens, what would be your choice?
 

lomeranger

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a maglite.
Right. I've been getting $10-$15 xm-l2 T6, U2 & U3s for years. Just hoping I could find a single emitter flashlight with fair to good throw and more than 2000 lumens for under $50 hopefully powered by 18650s.
 

lunas

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Apr 18, 2014
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i have a solarforce l2p with a xhp 35 1800 lumen engine in it runs off 1 18650.
 
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