Please help a lost Flashaholic with Cree selection

[FirstDsent]

I've been off the forum for several months. I need an inexpensive (around or <$30) Cree light that runs bright and long on a single 18650. What lights have been getting a lot of praise here lately? There seem to be lots of lights in this category to choose from, but I don't know which ones are good and which ones are trash. At this price point, you can't tell from the description (if any).

Reqirements:
Cree XR-E emitter
Aluminum reflector
1x18650
Regulated
850 mA or greater drive current
Easily or reasonably mod-able with new driver, new emitter
quality tailcap switch, clicky or reverse clicky
Multi-level not necessary, but nice
HAIII not necessary but nice

Thanks,
Bernie

 

[Marduke]

Well, I know of one good starting point for 18650 Cree lights on the cheap:
http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.940

A couple of them use P60 style lamps for future upgradability

 

[FirstDsent]

Yes, DE and Kaidomain are the two sites I looked at before posting. I just can't tell which lights are winners.

Bernie

 

[bspofford]

The Q5 Conqueror with holster and shipping included at New Excite is on sale and close to your price. DX also has a Trustfire V-68C for < $30, but you will need to do to small mods including putting an o-ring over the lens and covering the emitter with insulation to prevent a short from the aluminium reflector. Both of these lights are type II finish and multimode.

 

[lightbug]

I like the following 2 from DX

VB-16 HA-III Q5 Cree 16
Pros: HA III, forward clicky
Cons: too many modes

UltraFire C2 Cree Q5 5-Mode
Pros: Decent build quality, supports 18650, 2x RCR123

Cons: Strobe modes, not HA III