Recommend me a single 18650 "pocketable" size thrower

[89tiger89]

I was looking pretty seriously at the Eagletac D25LC2 clicky, I just don't know if it's the brightest or the farthest thrower in that size range. I'm looking for a good amount of power in a pocketable size and I figured the good folks at candlepower would be able to clue me in.


1) How would you prefer to purchase the light?

____I would like to purchase the light from a brick and mortar store. I am located in ______________.
__X_I will be mail-ordering or buying online, so this doesn't matter.


2) Budget: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! :-)

____Less than $25.
____Less than $50.
____Less than $100.
_X_Less than $150.
____Less than $300.
____I have no limit.
____I’m flexible, tell me what you gotJ.
____Other, please specify ________


3) Format:

_X__I want a flashlight.
____I want a headlamp.
____I want a lantern.
____I want a dive light.
____I want a portable spotlight.


4) Flashlight-specific format/size:

____Keychain size.
____Every day carry small (2-4 inches).
_X_Every day carry medium (4-7 inches).
____Holster carry.
____Big enough to need its own travel caseJ.
____I don’t care.
____I don’t know.
____N/A


5) Emitter/Light source:

_X__LED (known for efficiency, longevity, and compactness)
____Incandescent (known for superior color rendition)
____HID (known for max output, but often at the expense of size)
____I don't know.


6) Manufacturer:

_X__I want to buy a light from a traditional mass producing manufacturer that is ready to go out of the box.
____I would consider getting a light that is pieced together (for example a “host” or flashlight body from one manufacturer, and a “drop-in” emitter from another source). Under the right circumstances, this path can provide more options to the consumer to meet specific needs, and can often be easily upgradeable as technology improves.


7) What battery type do you want to use?

____I intend to use alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D) (disclaimer, while it does not preclude all choices, these are not recommended for many of today’s most powerful lights)
____I intend to use rechargeable nickel chemistry (NiCad, NiMH, NiZn)
____I intend to use lithium primary batteries (CR123, CR2, Energizer Advanced/Ultimate Lithium AA/AAA)
_X__I intend to use rechargeable lithium (li-ion) chemistry. Feel free to specify a size if you know which size you want (14500, RCR123/16340, 17500, 17670, 18650, etc.)
____I want a light with an integrated rechargeable battery. (Note: these choices may be very limited unless you are looking at spotlights)


8) How much genuine out the front (OTF) light do you want/need? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).

_X__I want to navigate a dark room or read a map (0-10 lumens).
____I want to walk around an unlit rural area (50-150 lumens).
____I want to illuminate my entire backyard or a campsite (150-300 lumens).
_X__I want to illuminate an entire field, the neighbor's front yard several houses down, impress my friends and neighbors, etc. (300-700 lumens).
_X__I want ridiculous amounts of lumens (800+ lumens).


9) Throw vs. Flood: At what distance will you be most likely to use this light? Select all that apply.

____Less than 1 yard/meter (reading, other close work)
____Less than 5 yards/meters (looking for something inside a dark shed/garage/basement)
____5-20 yards/meters (check out a noise in the backyard)
____30-50 yards/meters (I have a big backyard)
__X_50-150 yards/meters (I live in a very rural area/farm with wide open spaces)
__X_150+ yards (I want maximum throw possible)


10) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims, but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries (Measured on maximum output).

____Up to 30 minutes (I want the brightest [and potentially smallest] light for brief periods)
____30-60 minutes (I have plenty of batteries just ready to be changed)
__X_90-120 minutes (Runtime is moderately important, but still not critical)
____3 hours + (I critically need this light to run on max for extended periods in between battery changes/charges).


11) Durability/Usage: Generally the old phrase “you get what you pay for” is very accurate for flashlights.

____Not Important (A “night-stand” light).
____Slightly Important (Walks around the neighborhood).
____Very Important (Camping, Backpacking, Car Glove-box).
____Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Caving, Survival).
__X_I don't care.
____I don’t know.


12) Switch Type and location (choose all that apply):

____I want a forward clicky (Helpful for momentary activation and signaling).
_X__I want a reverse clicky (For use with multi-mode/level lights).
____I want a momentary switch (Predominantly for use with signaling and short bursts of momentary light only).
____I want a twisty switch (Tighten the head/tailcap to activate, and the light will stay on until the head/tailcap is loosened).
____I want a body mounted switch (near the head, like on a Maglite).
____I want a tail mounted switch (found on the majority of today’s high end lights).
____I don't care.
____I don’t know.
____Other, please specify____________________.


13) User Interface (UI) and mode selection. Select all that apply.

____A simple on-off with only one output level is fine for me.
__X_I want 2 light levels. (Brighter/short runtime and Dimmer/long runtime.)
__X_I want multiple light levels. (Some lights have 5-16 light levels.)
____I want a programmable light.
____I want a selector ring.
____I want a strobe mode. (Blinks to show location.)
____I want SOS mode.
____I want a beacon mode.
____I don’t care.
____I don’t know.


14)Material/Finish/Coating

____Plastic/composite body (this may limit your choices significantly).
_X__Anodized Aluminum – either type II or III (Hard Anodized) (Aluminum, specifically HA, is the most common material/finish for today’s flashlights).
____Stainless steel (durable, but much heavier than aluminum)
_X__Titanium (durable and nearly as lightweight as aluminum, but can be moderately to significantly more expensive).
____I don’t care.
____I don’t know.
____Other, please specify____________.


15) Special Needs/extras: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Select any below.

____Red filter (for preserving night vision).
____Other filter colors (Amber, Green, Blue, _________).
____Dedicated R/G/B secondary LEDs.
____“Hybrid” light (bright incandescent combined with long running LEDs)
____Pocket/belt clip
____Holster
____Wrist/Neck Lanyard
____Crenulated bezel
____Non-sparking Intrinsically Safe (IS) for use in explosive environments

 

[BLUE LED]

Eagletac TX25C2 XM-L2. 284 meters.

I really like mine :) It throws better than my D25LC2 XP-G2 and has a higher lumen output.

 

[Poppy]

While I think that the Eagletac D25LC2 is a great light, I don't think that it, nor any in that form factor can be considered throwers. Great for EDC, yes. Great for indooor uses, Yes. Outdoor... more than 200 feet? Not for me.

To get the range that you want I believe that you'll have to go for a larger head and reflector.
For example selfbuilt's calculations give the D25LC2 a throw of 140 meters while the TN10 with a slightly larger head and reflector 219 meters. And a larger head of the TN11 254 meters.

Here are a couple of reviews that you may find helpful and they will give you some other lights to look at.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...nd-up-Review-(D25C-D25A2-D25LC2-XM-L-amp-XP-G)


http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...-L-1x18650-2xCR123A)-RUNTIMES-VIDEO-BEAMSHOTS

 

[TEEJ]

An Armytek Predator with XPG2 is rated at 400 meters (ANSI), for example. That's a lot of throw for a single 18650 light.

Is there a range you want to throw TO?

I'll give a handy way to pick a light for a range: take the square root of the light's cd, and that's the range, in meters, it throws to ONE LUX. (The ANSI Std is to 0.25 lux, so all 1 lux ranges are a lot shorter than ANSI ranges...but, for longer distances, 1-2 lux is a lot more useful.

That way, you can look at various lights' cd ratings, and take the square roots, and see about at what ranges they're USEFUL at.

Frankly, for most EDC lights, a floody beam is more useful as a beam pattern, as you see more at a time, and, well, how often do you NEED to see a few hundred METERS away? (VS how often you need to see closer than that...)

I do, but my uses are not average, and, I carry enough variety of lights to HAVE a thrower for throw and a flooder for flood, etc.

:D

 

[Poppy]

I agree totally with TEEJ's comments. Infact he helps to make my point. If you look at the head of the Predator, it is a bit larger than the D25LC2.
IMO larger head flashlights are more difficult to carry on my person everyday, unless I had a job that required me to carry a light, then carrying one in a holster would not only be acceptable, but expected.

So all in all it comes down to your needs, and or wants.

 

[TEEJ]

And how large your pockets are...some people wear really tight pants and can't stand it if they can feel a aaa light in their pocket....others wear much looser pants, and can fit an Olight SR90 w/o a hassle....other than people wondering why they are so....happy.

:D

 

[Poppy]

Yes.. some of us prefer to carry a Streamlite Nano, while others would like to have May West ask... "Is that a pistol in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" :rolleyes:

Personally I carry a Nano in my pocket, but typically have larger lights in my car and at home. I'm just pointing out that the requirements that you laid out can not be met in the style of flashlight body and head that you selected in the D25LC2. You are going to have to change your requirements, or the body and head style.

 

[sal415]

Osts small sun great throw and adjustable to some flood takes one 18650 and 98 dollars throws over 600 meters

 

[loquutis79]

I think the Eagletac D25LC2 XM-L is simply great. Light weight, slim, well built and tons of light. I liked it so much I ordered another one direct from Eagletac which had a custom set up of a XP-G2 emitter with the 1.5 amp driver swapped out to the 2.0 amp driver from the XM-L model. The result is an XP-G2 emitter putting out almost the same lumens as the XM-L, but with the nice tight, throwy spot that I love.
Eagletac has a line up of quality product. I think you will be happy with one.

I also just picked up their D25C Ti. Nice!

 

[neksium]

I have d25lc2 with xpg, lot of light from this little flashlight!

I recommend it for edc but if you want something with more throw you must search for another with bigger head.