Wolf Eyes LED lightmania

[Paul_in_Maryland]

It's no secret that CPF's Wolf Eyes fans tend to congregate in THIS forum (Incandescent Flashlights). I've always figured that the reason is that the Wolf Eyes battery system (wide lithium-ions to provide more juice per linear inch), and lamp choices (D26 and D36 xenons) cater to lovers of full-spectrum incandescent beams. This year, Lumens Factory's unveiling of Wolf-Eyes-centric xenon lamps cemented that image.

Was I wrong?

Many in this very forum are now going ga-ga over Wolf Eyes' LED lights and modules. Clearly, the Wolf Eyes allure goes beyond the incan beam.

So what is it that has made so many of you in the Incandescent forum eager to snap up Wolf Eyes LED lights when there are so MANY superb LED lights from other makers? Is it...

• the engineering?
• the build quality?
• the LED performance (output)?
• the LED flexibility (levels, regulation, voltage range)
• the modularity of the Wolf Eyes sytem?
• the price (value)?
• the USA or Australian dealer?
• something else?

Engineering and performance are abundant in more mainstream LED choices, so I'm starting to think that the Wolf Eyes brand has become an addiction, like FiveMega, or now bears a certain mystique, like SureFire.

Those of you who are buying Wolf Eyes LED lights or modules: Does this mean you will no longer EDC an incandescent?

I'm trying to figure out whether these LEDs are simply augmenting your incan lights or replacing them.

If Wolf Eyes, which built its name for making great incandescent and HID lights, manages to steal market share from LED makers, the company must have some marketing geniuses. Other makes--Surefire and Mag come to mind--appear to be abandoning development in the incan market. Wolf Eyes is happy to forge ahead in both.

 

[j3bnl]

Hi Paul,

I think you will get lots of different replies to this but here is mine.
I think you have answered most of it yourself engineering,the modularity of the Wolf Eyes sytem, price etc I could go on. But the fact is that you can start off with something basic and add to it is for me personally, a big plus. The prices are not "over the top" so there is one for every budget no matter how small or large that budget is. Add to that the fact that their drop-ins (incans and led) are superb you have a winning combination (for me anyway).
Must mention my supplier Glen C, he is always on hand to give honest advice,answer queries etc and his service is A1 (he's a top bloke, that coming from a "pommy" must hurt Glen ).
From what I have heard from others on CPF Mike at PTS provides a similar service.

Brian

It's no secret that CPF's Wolf Eyes fans tend to congregate in THIS forum (Incandescent Flashlights). I've always figured that the reason is that the Wolf Eyes battery system (wide lithium-ions to provide more juice per linear inch), and lamp choices (D26 and D36 xenons) cater to lovers of full-spectrum incandescent beams. This year, Lumens Factory's unveiling of Wolf-Eyes-centric xenon lamps cemented that image.

Was I wrong?

Many in this very forum are now going ga-ga over Wolf Eyes' LED lights and modules. Clearly, the Wolf Eyes allure goes beyond the incan beam.

So what is it that has made so many of you in the Incandescent forum eager to snap up Wolf Eyes LED lights when there are so MANY superb LED lights from other makers? Is it...

• the engineering?
• the build quality?
• the LED performance (output)?
• the LED flexibility (levels, regulation, voltage range)
• the modularity of the Wolf Eyes sytem?
• the price (value)?
• the USA or Australian dealer?
• something else?

Engineering and performance are abundant in more mainstream LED choices, so I'm starting to think that the Wolf Eyes brand has become an addiction, like FiveMega, or now bears a certain mystique, like SureFire.

Those of you who are buying Wolf Eyes LED lights or modules: Does this mean you will no longer EDC an incandescent?

I'm trying to figure out whether these LEDs are simply augmenting your incan lights or replacing them.

If Wolf Eyes, which built its name for making great incandescent and HID lights, manages to steal market share from LED makers, the company must have some marketing geniuses. Other makes--Surefire and Mag come to mind--appear to be abandoning development in the incan market. Wolf Eyes is happy to forge ahead in both.

 

[GreySave]

I also think Paul answered the question for all of us in his comments. I have not purchased any of the LED lights or lamp assemblies as I have a full complement of LED lights already.

But I DO sing the praises of the Wolf-Eyes products to anyone who will listen for all of the reasons that Paul mentions. Flexibility and modularity with great output at a reasonable price point would probably be my high points, with excellent build quality and excellent service from Mike at PTS as a bonus.

If I had not already acquired a stable of lights before I stumbled upon Wolf-Eyes I most certainly would have built myself a lighting system out of the Raider and its many accessories. As it is now I am still adding to my Raider based light (Mike, expect another order in a few days....)

The only possible negatives...and I understand why they are built that way....is the weight.... and the lack of a true A2 style light. Folks who have weight or space requirements might be farther ahead with a SureFire. Beyond that, Wolf-Eyes rules!

 

[Owen]

I don't know that there are that many quality manufacturers out there, but I finally jumped on the Cree bandwagon with a Wolf-Eyes 3.7-6V 4 mode drop-in, and for many of the reasons you list.

I wanted to try one of these new high output LEDs like the Cree or Seoul.
I wanted compatibility with SF heads/beamfilters, etc. That's a BIG selling point for me.
I wanted to try a light with multiple(at least a high and low) levels.
I wanted a strobe(for use at night on left-lane pokers with a blue filter)<<<real reason I bought it!:devil:
As far as the intangibles, Pacific Tactical is always a pleasure to deal with, I trust Wolf-Eyes quality, plus the price was reasonable.

This does pretty much guarantee that I won't be carrying an incan for EDC, but has nowhere near enough output to replace one as my work light(which has gone back to a WE 9V D26 lamp assembly), or as my "long-range" light. I consider this a close range only light, with the multiple levels being useful for dealing with different amounts of ambient light.

I got a Leef 1x18500 C-C body, so I can use Wolf-Eyes 18500 batteries, same as in the bored out SF Z3 I use at work, and set it up however I want with different parts I already had on hand.

 

[OceanView]

Hmm, I think this might be my first post in the Incan forum. Anyways, I have been an LED-only flashaholic for quite some time, going to back to 5mm LED days. I haven't owned an incan light in ages until just recently. So I'm not a incan or hotwire guy that fell for Wolf Eyes LED's. It's the other way around for me, so a bit of a different perspective for you, Paul.

To be honest, it was member FASTCAR's thread "I tested all the Cree lights" in the LED forum and his no-holds-barred endorsement of his WE Sniper with Cree drop-in that first turned me on to the Wolf Eyes brand--as an LED light. I suspect that a lot of other LEDheads may have been turned on to WE by that thread, too, and maybe some incan guys to WE LED drop-ins. Later purchases of FASTCAR's diffusion film and the new 4-mode Cree drop-in make this the perfect close/medium range light for me which I use on a daily basis (my EDC is still an HDS, though).

While I love my Sniper with multi-mode Cree, I have also recently come around to acknowledge that incans really are better for long distance recognition and color rendition, so I'm just starting to get into incans. I recently purchased a Raider so I could try out the EO-9 (safely) for long range use. If I had wanted, I could have just bought an incan LA for my Sniper, and the fact that I could also run an incan LA on the same 18650 that I use for the LED LA is a great feature. WE are modestly priced and that flexibility to mix 'n match between LED and incan LA, as well as the ability to use a single Li-ion cell, just increases the value of these lights for me. And I really appreciate the fact that the 3.7-13V Cree drop-in that I originally bought with my Sniper will work just fine in my Raider, if I ever want to turn it into an LED light. I had been considering purchasing something like Fivemega's 2x18650 TL-3 or an ROP as my first high power incan, but the modularity of the WE line kept me with WE. You just get a lot of bang for your buck by being able to switch between LED and incan with little fuss, depending on my needs and whims.

 

[Any Cal.]

I really liked the WE light I had, but I am one of those who shy away from them due to the size/weight. Really, if they simply had a more petite head, I would buy them up. Since I carry many of my lights, the extra few ounces really don't help much. I am trying to put together an 18650 light, but am not really sure I want a WE again due to the weight.
I may just snap up one of the new Tri Cree lights though.

 

[KeeperSD]

So many questions i think you have scared all the replies off. :thinking:

The WE LEDs that i have so far (that being 2 😉) are simply complimenting my incans. I cannot see them replacing my Incans at this stage. Personally i think the LEDs are best in 6V lights as they are close to equal in output and with better runtimes, but when it comes to 9V lights there is no comparison.

As for why i picked WE rather than other LEDs, probably started with being very impressed with the WE's I already own so there was no reason to go elsewhere, there is nothing on the light that i can fault. On top of that having a dealer in Australia that sells at low prices is a huge bonus. I recently got the opportunity to use a SF 6P and thought the WE lights were easily a match for it. Once actually receiving the LED models i was not disappointed.

I also like the fact that the WE lights can take a larger cell than some of their counterparts.

 

[VF1Jskull1]

i have a 9D raider and a M90 (with basic and 13V option parts)... these are my hi power incandescents (besides my Streamlight TL-3 w/ carley h1499 bulb)...

i also have a 6A but that will get a cree led drop-in will go to my brother as he requested that i order a light for him.... he doesn't intend to use it much so he is fine with using lithium primaries... i like what wolfeyes has to offer cause i can get 2 lights and rechargables for the price of one surefire of similar performance....

 

[cchurchi]

I started with the Boxer HID and then moved on to buying some of their LED lights. The last light I purchased was the M300, which really re-opened my eyes to the benefits of incandescent technology I think Wolf Eyes makes great lights and I love the 168A batteries. The more Wolf Eyes lights I buy, the more battery cross compatability I have.