Decisions - budget Cree Q bin?

Ty_Bower

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 18, 2004
Messages
1,193
Location
Newark, DE
I know, it's yet another "which of these Deal Extreme lights should I get" threads. At the prices they charge, I probably may as well buy one of each and give away the ones that aren't any good.

I'm searching their inventory for something with a Cree Q2 (or better) and a price in the low $20 range. It needs to take an 18650 li-ion cell. I think I'd rather have a simple direct drive (resistor only) light, instead of one with a LDO circuit. I have no need to ever run 2xCR123A cells, and I think the direct drive is going to get the highest output and still give useful runtime on an 18650.

I've found these three for $23. They all claim to have glass windows and OP aluminum reflectors. Can anyone offer any comments on these models? If I can end up with one that tail stands fairly well, that would be a plus. I'd rather have less throw and a smoother beam than more throw.

3W Cree Q2 LED Flashlight (18650)
K2U 3W Cree Q2 LED Flashlight (18650)
WF-400 3W Cree Q2 LED Flashlight (18650)
 
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bspofford

Enlightened
Joined
Apr 15, 2007
Messages
824
Location
Colorado
They are all very similar and are nice for the money. I have them all and prefer the WF400 because the build quality is the most consistent. It is my favorite budget 18650 light.
 

divine

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Sep 30, 2007
Messages
1,838
Location
Virginia
I really like my TR-C2, very nice light for the price.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7463

I also did a runtime test on this light, it ran 2 and a half hours on high on a Ultrafire 18650 (It's either a 2200mAh or 2400mAh) it dimmed some, and I figured 2 and a half hours was long enough and I didn't want to trip the protection circuit.
 
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