Smaller 18650 flashlights

[geoffg]

I have a Tk11 (amongst others) and like the battery format and have several 18650s lying around.

My question is, what is the smallest 18650 torch availiable with the usual led advantages, possibly 200 + lumens, several brightnesses / modes etc?
Tia
Geoff

 

[sparkysko]

I'm looking for the same thing. I've seen some on DX that rival 1xAA light sizes (Although perhaps a few mm fatter, but not longer).

Problem is, all the ones I saw got horrible quality reviews.

It took me a while to realize that the issue isn't completely the power supply at these small sizes, it's all about thermal management. You wouldn't want to really exceed 1 amp or perhaps 1.2 amps at this size, and you can already draw 1 amp safely from 14500.

So, I think that a small 18650 wouldn't necessarily be brighter than a 14500 light, that the main advantage would be runtime.

 

[Nos]

L-mini?......i guess :whistle:

 

[Black Rose]

The MG L-Mini II from Shiningbeam is a nice small 18650 light.

It's a 3-mode (no blinky crap) light that is a bit wider than an 18650 cell and 1.5 - 2 inches longer.

EDIT: Here is a thread discussing compact 18650 lights.

 

[ShineOnYouCrazyDiamond]

The MG L-Mini II from Shiningbeam is a nice small 18650 light.

It's a 3-mode (no blinky crap) light that is a bit wider than an 18650 cell and 1.5 - 2 inches longer.

+1

The beam isn't great in my book but it's got decent spot with good spill - a bit floody. There is a turbo head available for it as well that give it much more throw.

 

[wjf2000]

Too bad fenix does not make the p3d 18650 compatable.

 

[geoffg]

Hi all and thanks for the quick replies

Sparkysko, you are right ,it is run times I want, not to mention i have a few 18650s that aren't doin much.

Nos and blackrose, I've been on shiningbeams web site and all i can find is a turbo head for the L-mini, nothing else .
Is it still being sold ?

 

[geoffg]

Too bad fenix does not make the p3d 18650 compatable.

I have both a p3d and a pd20 but seem to use between 4 or 5 cr123s a week just walking a couple of hours a night .

 

[metlarules]

Have a look at the Lumapower Encore.
http://www.batteryjunction.com/lumapower-encore.html

 

[geek1]

Hi all and thanks for the quick replies

Sparkysko, you are right ,it is run times I want, not to mention i have a few 18650s that aren't doin much.

Nos and blackrose, I've been on shiningbeams web site and all i can find is a turbo head for the L-mini, nothing else .
Is it still being sold ?

Not so long ago he had a new batch of L-Mini's, Q5 and Q3 5C versions. In less than a week they were sold out again. I was lucky having pre-ordered a Q3 5C version. Have a look at Marketplace to find out when a new batch will arrive.

 

[cheetokhan]

I've been on shiningbeams web site and all i can find is a turbo head for the L-mini, nothing else .
Is it still being sold ?

I've been half way following the L-Mini thread at the Market Place and Shiningbeam does still sell the L-mini, he just gets very small shipments and they sell out right away. I don't fully understand why he doesn't stock more. Not sure if it's a manufacturer issue, or if he is just trying too hard to make a version of the L-Mini to suit everyone. I got confused with his different versions; different finishes, different drivers, different threads....
Check out Lumapower and Jetbeam for their smallish 18650 lights. Also, there is a custom 18650 called the Sgt Burket, or something like that. I'll see if I can find a link.

Here are a couple links to the Sgt. Burkett lights. This is probably the smallest 18650 light I've seen.
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=184071
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=188706

 

[Incidentalist]

I would highly recommend the JetBeam Jet-III Pro ST. It's not quite as small as some of the other lights mentioned (L-Mini and Encore) but compared to most 18650 lights it is definitely on the small side. It offers 3 modes that you can set at any brightness you choose. Having the capability to set the 3 levels to my specs far outweighs it's slightly larger size IMO.

 

[kramer5150]

I've been eye-ing DX:23284 and DX:29096... No first hand experience with either though.

 

[Climb14er]

The Fenix TK11 is the perfect 'smaller' 18650 backup for my Olight M30. Both at my bed-stand.

 

[Sgt. LED]

5Mega E series 18650 tube with fixed clicky end and Aleph A19 style head housing a 3 speed GDuP. Small as any Surefire E series 2 cell, actually a tad shorter. :grin2:

 

[Yucca Patrol]

Deerelight CL1H is a nice smaller 18650 P60 host with a forward clicky switch which can be bought from Deerelight with several different single and multimode emitters or you can buy the host itself and use your own P60 drop-in.

Right now I am running the DX MC-E drop-in inside this host and it is a great smaller than average P60 host with mega output for its size.

 

[Mjolnir]

The L-mini II is a good option, but keep in mind that some longer protected 18650s won't fit (the tailcap won't screw down enough to make contact with the body tube). I use mine with unprotected 18650s from laptop batteries, so they fit just fine. The new "black label" trustfire cells won't fit, but some older blue label ones that I have will.

 

[sledhead]

I'll 2nd the LumaPower EnCore- It is available with a new turbo head and a higher power version than before. Also- now there is a difffusor available! Check out the Manufacture's section.

 

[Black Rose]

The new "black label" trustfire cells won't fit, but some older blue label ones that I have will.

Might be a batch variance.

The black label Trustfire 18650s I bought back in March fit and the tailcap screws down fully.

Even though they "fit", I prefer to use my AW 18650s in it as they are 1-2mm shorter, so there is less spring pressure on either end.

 

[Black Rose]

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