Need a floody flashlight suggestion

[MikeySydney]

Hi All,
I’m looking for a medium sized light, ideally:
300-500lumens
1x18650
Very FLOODy beam, large hotspot
Budget $50-$90
Use will be for night forest walks.

The oLight m21 sounds ideal, but I simply can’t pay $120!

I have a Romisen Q6 which is really great, but the hot spot is way too small.

So – I’d really appreciate suggestions...


Regards,

Mike

 

[bstrickler]

Maybe a WF-1000L? If you get one that has a decent driver in it, you'll probably love it. I had a P7 version, and I loved it. I regret getting rid of it, with the release of the SST-90 and SST-50.

http://kaidomain.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=5201


For $50-$90, you could also mod a Mag Lite (3 or 4 D), assuming you already have one, and putting an XP-G in it.

All you would need (besides the Mag) is an XP-G R5 (on a 10mm board), a heatsink, and a driver. All of that would cost maybe $50, not including shipping (the heatsink being the most expensive piece). To make the hotspot bigger, you could spend some extra $, and get a MOP (medium orange peel) or HOP (heavy orange peel) reflector. You will also want a UCL lens, to allow maximum output. You will also want some Ni-Mh batteries (they don't have to be the best and the greatest out there. just something that can happily take a 1.5 amp current draw)

The reflector, lens & heatsink can be found here:

http://britelumens.com/MagLiteParts.html

Driver here:
http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-133/**NEW**-3-dsh-Mode-Regulated-Circuit/Detail

and CPFMP for the XP-G R5 (Post a WTB thread on there)


I can also make you a heatsink, if you want. That'd cost about $15.


If you don't have the knowledge on how to put the light together, I can do it for you for $10 (you pay shipping both ways, and supply the parts), or an XP-G emitter or other LED-related item (bartering is good :)).

By the way, :welcome:

~Brian

 

[iapyx]

300 - 500 lumen light on 1x18650?? and for $50 - $90 ?
I think everybody here is looking for such a light.



Let us know if you found one and hey :welcome:

 

[ResQTech]

Quark Head ($39) + Quark 18650 Spare Body ($25) + Quark Tailcap ($9) = 230 lumen 18650 powered flood light for about $73.

 

[Zeruel]

I might have suggested MG PLI, but they're sold out.
Awaiting the updated version. (oops)

 

[UpChUcK]

Check out a Nailbender SST-90 3-level P-60 drop-in module in a Solarforce L2 or a Surefire 6P host (bored by CPF member ElectronGuru). Add your 18650 battery of choice and you'll have a "wall of light".

I use mine for the same function that you will use yours. Night walks with my wife which involves trails in wooded areas. It brightly lights up everything in our path and last an hour regulated with another hour diminishing light. Mine puts out about 650-700 lumens and settling into the 550-600 lumen during regulation according to nailbender who tests his lights in an integrating sphere.

 

[Lighthearted1]

Hi Mike, I think I have a very good suggestion for you.

The post by UpChUck is very good info, follow his two links.

I would use the nailbender twin XP-G R2 4300K B3 tint drop-in named the Linger Special. (photo found down the page of his first link)
They produce 510 lumens out the front of floody yet very bright light. It is priced well at only $45 + 4%, which is much less than the SST-90. (less heat too)

The SST-50 is priced at $65 + 4% and is also a good choice in 4500K.

Of the two, the Linger is more of a flood light, and it is less $$.
I think the neutral tint LED is much better than Cool ones for the night forest walking plan. It is as bright as you wish as well.

Lighthound has the Solarforce L2P in stock in natural color HAIII, but not the black version right now. $20. plus about $7 shipping. Uses 18650 cell.

$46.80 for the drop-in.
$27 host L2P

$73.80 together. In budget and perfectly suited to task.

300 - 500 lumen light on 1x18650?? and for $50 - $90 ?
I think everybody here is looking for such a light.

iapyx you can see the light!

Quark Head ($39) + Quark 18650 Spare Body ($25) + Quark Tailcap ($9) = 230 lumen 18650 powered flood light for about $73.

ResQTech, This is not as floody or as bright as Mike asked for.

 

[uknewbie]

For all the extra, pay it and get the M21. Friend of mine just got one, nice big hotspot and floody beam. Very neat beam too. Good bit of kit, good value too I think compared to some others about. Seems durable and well made.

You know it's worth it...

 

[RedForest UK]

+1 on Nailbender XP-G module and Solarforce l2 host. I went for the R3 5000k version and it is practically perfect. But the R2 4000k is just as good I'm sure. :thumbsup:

 

[sol-leks]

I might have suggested MG PLI, but they're sold out.
Awaiting the updated version. (oops)

+1

I think the linger is a great idea too.

 

[crockett]

I've been considering the Linger special combo mentioned above with a neutral tint if such a drop-in exists. However, I have two questions.

1. Does the light require IMR series of batteries or will it run on a standard black AW 18650?

2. If yes to #1, will it run on the AW 18650's that do not have a button top or does it require the AW 18650's that have a button top on the positive end?

Thanks.

 

[MikeySydney]

Thanks for all the great advice!!!

I'll look into all the suggestions here. The whole L2/drop in thing is new to me. Is the L2 a P60 compatible thing or another standard?

I also found the Eagletac T20C2 mkII, which looks great and has a diffuser lens. Bit worried that the diffuser lens will kill the lumens, though?

Thanks,

Mike.

 

[stallion2]

Thrunite's XP-G dropin, the 1.5A version. est. 493 at the emitter (per CREE) which is an honest rating IMHO. the reflector they provide w/ their XP-G pills is a tad too floody for my tastes but it sounds like it might be a perfect beam profile for you.

 

[kengps]

If you can go up a little to $95 then Lumapower D-mini-VX Ultra. 550 OTE, comes with an 18650 tube. Great flood and actually has a pretty decent throwing hot-spot. Use cpf2009 for 5% discount at batteryjunction. I have a shelf full of lights fom far throwers to Nailbender p60's but the Lumapower is my best night walking light. Make sure to use an IMR when running the 16340 tube. 18500 tube due out any day now will triple the run-time over 16340 tube, but only .6 inches longer. Still very pocketable. a big 63mm reflector should be shipping soon that will give you massive throw also. A great combo that does everything well.

 

[MikeySydney]

Thanks kengps, the Ultra looks excellent - too bad they seem to be out of stock...
I've emailed batteryjunction to check.

You guys are turning me intol a flashaholic.

Mike

 

[kengps]

They seem to be running out fairly quickly. They are an awesome little light. Word is getting out. Lumapower maintains a good rapport with customers on Candlepower Marketplace. As does MattK at Battery Junction who as far as I can tell are their largest dealer. Another thing I like about LP is the pill is modular, so it is easy to upgrade when a new LED comes out. The driver on these makes 2.1 Amps, which gives 550 OTE. When the new Cree XM makes it into lights you will be getting 750 lumens on the same 2.1 Amp current. Of course my favorite thing about this light is the reflector. It actually has some throw to it compared to the 550 lumen P60's.

 

[HIDblue]

If you can go up a little to $95 then Lumapower D-mini-VX Ultra. 550 OTE, comes with an 18650 tube. Great flood and actually has a pretty decent throwing hot-spot. Use cpf2009 for 5% discount at batteryjunction. I have a shelf full of lights fom far throwers to Nailbender p60's but the Lumapower is my best night walking light. Make sure to use an IMR when running the 16340 tube. 18500 tube due out any day now will triple the run-time over 16340 tube, but only .6 inches longer. Still very pocketable. a big 63mm reflector should be shipping soon that will give you massive throw also. A great combo that does everything well.

+1 on the D-Mini VX Ultra...it's the light that I reach for most often these days. :grin2:

 

[hyperloop]

Sbflashlights has the Solarforce MC-E drop in which you can pop into any 18650 capable P60 host or you could get a host from there too.

 

[jhc37013]

I also found the Eagletac T20C2 mkII, which looks great and has a diffuser lens. Bit worried that the diffuser lens will kill the lumens, though?

Mike.

The T20 MII is a great light and does not seem to lose to much with the diffuser but without the diffuser the hotspot is narrow but the spill is very bright.

Like other mention to bad the MG PLI is not in stock I also think it would be a good choice but the runtime is short on high. Hopefully shiningbeam gets some more soon so I can get me another and once again suggest them.

If your at all interested in it you can follow the PLI thread over at CPF Marketplace.

http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=194757

 

[UpChUcK]

Thanks for all the great advice!!!

I'll look into all the suggestions here. The whole L2/drop in thing is new to me. Is the L2 a P60 compatible thing or another standard?

I also found the Eagletac T20C2 mkII, which looks great and has a diffuser lens. Bit worried that the diffuser lens will kill the lumens, though?

Thanks,

Mike.

The P-60 drop-in is a Surefire module that is commonly copied. There are many "host" that are compatible with Surefire's P-60. Solarfore's L2 model being one of them. But what's nice about the L2 is that you can get an 18650 compatible body tube where in a Surefire, you have to have it bored out like on my SF 6PL.

I have the EagleTac T20C2 MkII. It's a great light! 300 OTF (out the front) lumens in a 2-level light with "hidden" low and flashing modes which are actually easy to get into. The diffuser may reduce total output but you are rewarded with a beautiful flood. But you may not actually need the diffuser since the beam profile is "floodier" than most other lights. It has a medium sized hotspot that blends smoothly into the fairly bright spill beam. It is not as floody as my nailbender nor as bright in total output but the hotspot does allow you to see further down the trail. I usually carry my nailbender/L2 for lighting our path and my Tiablo A9 for spotting in the distance (it's a "thrower"). But I have used my ET T20C2 MkII before by itself and it is a good mix of my 2 light system.