HDS: Rotary 170 Nichia 219B, Tactical 170 XP-G2
McGizmo: Haiku AA XP-G2
Surefire: EB1
ElZetta: Bravo AVS Oveready bored 18650
Peak LED: Eiger Brass 219, Eiger SS head AL body 219, Eiger SS mute 219 (all three from Oveready)
Malkoff: MD2 turnkey, MDC 2AA turnkey
ARC: AAA L.E.
My flashlight hobby started long time ago. My first USA made flashlight should be a ARC AAA limited edition. That was what I can afford at that time. This little light impresses me a lot, not because of the beam quality, but due to its elegant design and especially the durability. It stands in my key ring for more than 6 or 7 seven years and it still works well. I bought several Jetbeam, Nitecore flashlights since then and they were used in very comfortable environments, just bedsides, and they just died some day due to no reason understandable to me. These Chinese made flashlights just died in cozy situation and cannot outlive the ARC AAA jolting everyday in my key ring. I think the problem may comes from the light engine not potted so that the electric parts just fade out and maybe the quality control is not so good.
Then fast forward to 2014, I wanted to get some good flashlight at beside so that I can use to take care of the kid when needed. So I began to surf in some Chinese forums and got to know Zebralight first besides those 'famous' Chinese local brands (Fenix, Nitecore, Jetbeam....). I liked SC52 very much at first sight. I like the design and side switch. So I buy several Zebralight (SC52w, SC600II, SC62d, H52w, H502w), but I found they not so sweet as they appears. First is with the UI, default on high is not good for bedside use. Second is with the tint. None is good, only SC62d is OK, but still not so good. Third is with the quality. H52w's switch was broken just a few days after arrival. And the switches all have different feedback, some hard, some soft. Only the SC62d is the one I think deserve to be kept, not for bedside, but for everyday use.
After more surfing, I got to know CRI, Nichia 219, HDS, Mcgizmo, Peak, Malkoff, ElZetta. I learned a lot from CPF, from everyday commentary, from flashlight guide. So finally I pulled the trigger for one HDS Nichia 219B 170 from HDS directly just before they raised the price last year.
You can imagine the excitement when I got Rotary 170n. So nice tint, so robust quality, so intuitive UI. I liked and like it so much after the fist day I got it.
But wait, I found some dark ring when white wall hunting. So I reported in the famous HDS long long post. But my report was defined as complaints, nick-picking, whining, and finally trolling. I was a little bit shocked in the beginning. I met this kind of attack in some Chinese forums when I reported on some cameras, but this is CPF, this is high civilized English speaking community Still only pros, not cons can be reported here? But after some thinking, I was quite released. It is a business, even Henry may not reject to hear the truthful reports, but many people are making living around his products, and many other people are so proud of USA made products. So how can they allow a Chinese to 'attack' their so loved person and products? So I just gave up on disputing and move on with enjoying my HSD Rotary.
Then I got another HDS clicky from one European web shop due to the great discount. I found the XP-G2 tint very appealing.
For the key chain upgrade, I found Peak Eiger Oveready 219 version (SS head + AL body) based on everyday commentary's recommendation. A real perfect key chain light. I cannot complain more except the ugly knurling and a few machining flaws at the lug.
Two HDS work as perfect beside lights, especially the Rotary. But then this year I want something I can carry to field since the kid is growing up, maybe camping or night hiking. CR123 battery is too few in capacity. Rotary with 18680 tube adds up to more than 400USD and I don't want to risk it in the field and I think the rotary tail is also weak for harsh situations. So I want some robust lights using 18650 and AA batteries.
I read flashlight guide 2014 recommendations many times. And then I pull trigger on ElZetta Bravo AVS Oveready version. Again Oveready impressed me with their delivery service and their good taste of product. They pick some models from the real manufacturers and perform some refinements. I really would like to buy more from Oveready in the future.
I also got MD2 and MDC 2AA turnkey from Malkoff. MDC 1AA was long time acclaimed as a poor man McGizmo, but I just dislike its no reverse polarity protection.
And I finally send a mail to Don for the holy grail of flashlight - a McGizmo Haiku. I hate 123 battery, so I choose AA. I wanted to choose Nichia 119V, but Don recommended XP-G2 4500K instead. When I got this light, I was totally impressed. The beam, the tint, the quality, the design. Everything is perfect! Only the 1/4 20 hole is a little ugly, but it is a perfect position to put on a small key chain and attach some clip on. And the low is not low enough for me. I hope it can be around 3~5 lumen.
But I found more problems with my two malkoff. First both are solid lights, much robust than Chinese ones, and I like them. However
a. I met flickering issue with high/low switch of MD2, which is annoying but quite OK in everyday use.
b. The problem with MDC 2AA is even more serious. The three notches in the bezel will be projected in the perimeter of the beam! And they are very annoying and distracting in normal everyday use to my eyes. I can see them every time no matter what object I am pointing the light to.
c. And the bodies are too slippy. I just don't understand why Malkoff is not adding some cross section ridges to improve the grip, just like ElZetta and Mcgizmo are doing with their bodies.
d. And the tints are totally different from the two lights even they are both listed as XP-G2. MD2 is a little grean, MDC 2AA is a little purple.
e. And the 300 lumen of MD2 is not so bright as 250 lumen of MDC 2AA
All in all, even after these 'complaints' and 'whining' and 'trolling', I still find that I like these two lights (but not the MDC 2AA head). I ordered one Ti clip from Prometheus so that the grip and carry of MD2 can be improved. I also want to try that Surefire like lanyard from Oveready. And I pair MD2 2AA body with EB1 head, finding they working perfectly, resulting a very good 200 lumen E2L 2AA outdoorman.
McGizmo: Haiku AA XP-G2
Surefire: EB1
ElZetta: Bravo AVS Oveready bored 18650
Peak LED: Eiger Brass 219, Eiger SS head AL body 219, Eiger SS mute 219 (all three from Oveready)
Malkoff: MD2 turnkey, MDC 2AA turnkey
ARC: AAA L.E.
My flashlight hobby started long time ago. My first USA made flashlight should be a ARC AAA limited edition. That was what I can afford at that time. This little light impresses me a lot, not because of the beam quality, but due to its elegant design and especially the durability. It stands in my key ring for more than 6 or 7 seven years and it still works well. I bought several Jetbeam, Nitecore flashlights since then and they were used in very comfortable environments, just bedsides, and they just died some day due to no reason understandable to me. These Chinese made flashlights just died in cozy situation and cannot outlive the ARC AAA jolting everyday in my key ring. I think the problem may comes from the light engine not potted so that the electric parts just fade out and maybe the quality control is not so good.
Then fast forward to 2014, I wanted to get some good flashlight at beside so that I can use to take care of the kid when needed. So I began to surf in some Chinese forums and got to know Zebralight first besides those 'famous' Chinese local brands (Fenix, Nitecore, Jetbeam....). I liked SC52 very much at first sight. I like the design and side switch. So I buy several Zebralight (SC52w, SC600II, SC62d, H52w, H502w), but I found they not so sweet as they appears. First is with the UI, default on high is not good for bedside use. Second is with the tint. None is good, only SC62d is OK, but still not so good. Third is with the quality. H52w's switch was broken just a few days after arrival. And the switches all have different feedback, some hard, some soft. Only the SC62d is the one I think deserve to be kept, not for bedside, but for everyday use.
After more surfing, I got to know CRI, Nichia 219, HDS, Mcgizmo, Peak, Malkoff, ElZetta. I learned a lot from CPF, from everyday commentary, from flashlight guide. So finally I pulled the trigger for one HDS Nichia 219B 170 from HDS directly just before they raised the price last year.
You can imagine the excitement when I got Rotary 170n. So nice tint, so robust quality, so intuitive UI. I liked and like it so much after the fist day I got it.
But wait, I found some dark ring when white wall hunting. So I reported in the famous HDS long long post. But my report was defined as complaints, nick-picking, whining, and finally trolling. I was a little bit shocked in the beginning. I met this kind of attack in some Chinese forums when I reported on some cameras, but this is CPF, this is high civilized English speaking community Still only pros, not cons can be reported here? But after some thinking, I was quite released. It is a business, even Henry may not reject to hear the truthful reports, but many people are making living around his products, and many other people are so proud of USA made products. So how can they allow a Chinese to 'attack' their so loved person and products? So I just gave up on disputing and move on with enjoying my HSD Rotary.
Then I got another HDS clicky from one European web shop due to the great discount. I found the XP-G2 tint very appealing.
For the key chain upgrade, I found Peak Eiger Oveready 219 version (SS head + AL body) based on everyday commentary's recommendation. A real perfect key chain light. I cannot complain more except the ugly knurling and a few machining flaws at the lug.
Two HDS work as perfect beside lights, especially the Rotary. But then this year I want something I can carry to field since the kid is growing up, maybe camping or night hiking. CR123 battery is too few in capacity. Rotary with 18680 tube adds up to more than 400USD and I don't want to risk it in the field and I think the rotary tail is also weak for harsh situations. So I want some robust lights using 18650 and AA batteries.
I read flashlight guide 2014 recommendations many times. And then I pull trigger on ElZetta Bravo AVS Oveready version. Again Oveready impressed me with their delivery service and their good taste of product. They pick some models from the real manufacturers and perform some refinements. I really would like to buy more from Oveready in the future.
I also got MD2 and MDC 2AA turnkey from Malkoff. MDC 1AA was long time acclaimed as a poor man McGizmo, but I just dislike its no reverse polarity protection.
And I finally send a mail to Don for the holy grail of flashlight - a McGizmo Haiku. I hate 123 battery, so I choose AA. I wanted to choose Nichia 119V, but Don recommended XP-G2 4500K instead. When I got this light, I was totally impressed. The beam, the tint, the quality, the design. Everything is perfect! Only the 1/4 20 hole is a little ugly, but it is a perfect position to put on a small key chain and attach some clip on. And the low is not low enough for me. I hope it can be around 3~5 lumen.
But I found more problems with my two malkoff. First both are solid lights, much robust than Chinese ones, and I like them. However
a. I met flickering issue with high/low switch of MD2, which is annoying but quite OK in everyday use.
b. The problem with MDC 2AA is even more serious. The three notches in the bezel will be projected in the perimeter of the beam! And they are very annoying and distracting in normal everyday use to my eyes. I can see them every time no matter what object I am pointing the light to.
c. And the bodies are too slippy. I just don't understand why Malkoff is not adding some cross section ridges to improve the grip, just like ElZetta and Mcgizmo are doing with their bodies.
d. And the tints are totally different from the two lights even they are both listed as XP-G2. MD2 is a little grean, MDC 2AA is a little purple.
e. And the 300 lumen of MD2 is not so bright as 250 lumen of MDC 2AA
All in all, even after these 'complaints' and 'whining' and 'trolling', I still find that I like these two lights (but not the MDC 2AA head). I ordered one Ti clip from Prometheus so that the grip and carry of MD2 can be improved. I also want to try that Surefire like lanyard from Oveready. And I pair MD2 2AA body with EB1 head, finding they working perfectly, resulting a very good 200 lumen E2L 2AA outdoorman.
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