Thanks for the info

[andyl200]

Well just ordered today one X200 flood to throw cree P4-WC led flashlight running on 18650 from Dealextreme. And one Ultrafire 501B R2 Cree Flashlight also running 18650. After much reading and looking on the net have i made a good choice?
I was running an LED Lenser P7 till i lost it the other day i thought that was the Dogs B's will I be happy with the flashlights?

 

[DM51]

DX lights = :sick2:

Moving this to Budget Lights...

 

[StarHalo]

Everyone wishes that in the beginning they had skipped all the cheap lights and had just gotten one or two good lights..

 

[Zatoichi]

I voted yes, because they're much cheaper than an LED Lenser and look way more cool! :naughty:

 

[Ian2381]

Budget lights is as important as to expensive ones in a flashaholics life, especially when you learn how to mod lights.

 

[PapaGary]

Good or Dad choice

I don't know your dad so I didn't vote.

 

[old4570]

Love my cheap lights .....

:welcome:

 

[Monocrom]

Budget lights have their place.

But there's a difference between a low price and actual value for the dollar. You can get a new car for a very low price. But that's not the same thing as value for your dollar. If the car has no radio, no air-conditioning, hand-crank windows, manual tranny, thin-fabric seats, no power options . . . then what did you get? You got a cheap car for very little money. Perhaps you even bought one that was last year's model, sat on the dealer's lot for months, and you got stuck with whatever color it happened to be.

Some folks are fine with something like that. But real value would be spending just a bit more and getting something that you can realistically live with. If you spend only a bit more, and you get a top-of-the-line car radio, A/C, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, alarm, automatic transmission w/ overdrive, better seat fabrics, a center console, lock on your glove-box, a longer warranty . . . Now that's value!

Same with lights, only overall quality tends to be the main sticking point.

I recently bought three Streamlight Stylus Pros. One for me, and two for close friends. They're not flashaholics. I wanted an extra penlight that I could take on board planes, and a light that I knew I shared with close friends. They'll enjoy the lights. And for only $20 each, buying three didn't make my wallet cry out in pain. Plus, it's a model that won't fall apart if dropped or used as an EDC light.

I also own a Maratac AAA light. Once again, quality light without being expensive. Cheap is fine. Cheap & crappy, isn't.

 

[DM51]

Budget lights have their place.

But there's a difference between a low price and actual value for the dollar.

Cheap is fine. Cheap & crappy, isn't.

Well said! That last line should be the watchword for the Budget Lights section.

 

[Monocrom]

Well said! That last line should be the watchword for the Budget Lights section.

Thank you, good Sir.

 

[vasp1]

DX lights = :sick2:

What, all of them? Come on friend, show some objectivity.

 

[DM51]

DX Graveyard

That ^^ thread is just a very small sample of the type of problem members have experienced with them. At one stage the forum was nearly overwhelmed with hundreds of stories of how people had thrown their $$ away on DX junk - and then returned to start new threads to complain about it.

DX lights are OK if you are content with a VERY high likelihood of failure, or if you intend to mod them anyway. DX is also a very useful source of components for modders.

Otherwise... well, I just hate to see people getting disappointed.

 

[vasp1]

...thrown their $$ away on DX junk - and then returned to start new threads to complain about it.

On the whole I would agree with you because I too am guilty of such actions.

However, I have also had some real bargains from DX. Generally, more good'uns than duffers. I've found that recommendations from other CPFers usually sway it for me.

 

[Zatoichi]

My previous post on this thread was tounge in cheek, but honestly, I have bought about a dozen lights from DX going back to January 2009, and they all arrived working, and are all still working today. I haven't modded or needed to repair any of them beyond a bit of cleaning and tightening bits up (something I do with all flashlights anyway).

I have flashlights from Surefire, Fenix, Olight and Jetbeam, all which I have more faith in than my DX ones. I do sometimes wonder about people recommending ****fire's to people like police officers who need something reliable, but for around the house and for general flashaholic fun on a budget I have no complaints about my DX lights.

I did quite a lot of reading up first to see which seemed to be the best thought of among the DX offerings. Maybe that paid off, or maybe I've just been lucky, but either way I don't have any regrets or feel the least bit ripped off. At the same time, I don't feel ripped off having paid over $150 for a tiny Surefire light, because there are situations when that kind of quality and peace of mind are worth it to me.

The bottom line IMO: There does appear to be a lot of crap on DX, but if you do your research first, and you're not shopping for a flashlight your very survival might depend on, you could come away happy (like I have).

 

[Ian2381]

If You'll be using it at risky situations, you'll have to have backup light that has great Quality and is reliable. I always do this whenever I go on a camping or mt hiking trip. Usually I bring 3 or more lights including some for lending to friends. Just being prepared when their lights failed them.

You can also make your budget lights reliable by
- reading here on the best quality budget light (read a review from different post on same lights)
- read on instructions on cleaning and lubing
- Lights that can be modded and easy to change parts.

Just a suggestion, Get a Solarforce light (P60), it has great quality for the price.:wave:

 

[Nautic]

DX Graveyard


Otherwise... well, I just hate to see people getting disappointed.

Now you must hate. I have a Solarforce Surefire-clone from DX. I wanted the "real" thing so a lot of $´s disappeared from my vallet to get one. I was very disappointed when I found out that neither the finish nor the lightoutput wasn´t better. So off it went and I got most of my money back.

I like my G2 though. Nitrolon body and my fingers wont stick to it in the harsh winters we have in this country.

 

[Zatoichi]

I have a Solarforce Surefire-clone from DX. I wanted the "real" thing so a lot of $´s disappeared from my vallet to get one. I was very disappointed when I found out that neither the finish nor the lightoutput wasn´t better.

Solarforce L2* are definately an exception. It's hard for me to think of them as budget lights, despite their budget prices. Bare in mind though, that the Surefire 6P comes with a better made lamp assembly, and is actually better made all round except for the finish. I have both and can tell the difference, but I'm not trying to take anything away from the Solarforce, they are very good quality P60 hosts, I have 4 of them.

 

[Nautic]

Exactly what I mean. Why give a lot of money for something that isn´t better than something else you can buy for a fraction of the price.

 

[Monocrom]

Exactly what I mean. Why give a lot of money for something that isn´t better than something else you can buy for a fraction of the price.

Why should a company spend tons of money on R&D, when they can just copy their strongest competitor's most popular product; and sell it for a fraction of the cost.

Still, would be nice if some of the less expensive Made-in-China brands could actually produce a decent forward-clickie tailcap.

 

[Chauncey Gardner]

Welcome to CPF.

If you do enough research around here you can buy a decent light from DX. If you just pick one that the specs sound good on however, you stand a much higher chance of being disapointed.

My experience with thier lights has been good, but limited to just Romisen brand lights & Ultrafire C3's in s.steel.

Bessie Benny has done a good compilation of budget light reviews that helped out a lot when looking at budget lights to try out for fun.

The problem with DX is inconsistent customer service & items often nowhere near close to spec, sloppily put together & most of the time in need of cleaning & a little adjustment (& sometimes an oring).
If you know that going in, you can at least have realistic expectations & be satisfied when you get a bargain in a decent light.
Problem is that so much of the stuff on DX looks tempting & that 18 dollar bargain light turns into 50 or 60 bucks worth of stuff you don't really need, does not fit when you get it & is a PITA to deal with returning.

But you also have other alternatives like shiningbeam.com & going gear that carry some of the same items & have real customer service, decent prices & MUCH faster shipping at reasonable rates (or free).
If you can find what you want from sources like that, I'd take them over saving a couple bucks on the DX order.