Thomas Carey
Newly Enlightened
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- Jul 18, 2010
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- 7
I don't know about you all but I like buying products from small family run brands. Given that fact what brands would you suggest I look at for a small single or double cell LED light?
Small brands?
- Thread starter Thomas Carey
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notrefined
Enlightened
Malkoff immediately comes to mind; HDS/Ra Lights would also probably qualify.
Look seriously at the Peaks.
HotWire
Flashlight Enthusiast
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- Mar 9, 2011
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- 1,651
+1 on Malkoff, HDS, & Peak. I have several of each, and each light is of the highest quality. I've never had an issue with any of these lights, but I hear the customer service on all three is second to none.
Captain Spaulding
Enlightened
I too like to give my money to the small guys when the product is exceptional and especially when the customer service is "second to none". I agree completely with Malkoff, and HDS, however, I have been trying to buy a peak for quite a while. Im not going to mention the website (
) but I have sent several emails and PMs to peak and even posted in his dedicated thread and I have yet to get a response. This is over the course of weeks. Either way busy, or doesnt want my money. Not sure which. :shrug:I do love my Malkoff and HDS products as well as their support. :thumbsup:
Gregozedobe
Enlightened
Bryan at Shingbeam.com has good lights and excellent customer service. The S mini and MG lights are his own brand.
flashflood
Enlightened
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- Mar 9, 2011
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- 608
Or rather, look carefully. Maybe their stuff used to be good, but I bought their new Ural HA for $94 and it is junk. Detailed review with pics in the Peak LED forum.
Theatre Booth Guy
Enlightened
+ for HDS and Peak! I'll have to take a serious look at Malkoff - didn't know they fit this category!
carrot
Flashaholic
LRI which makes the Photons is a family-run business. I met the son of the owner and he loves flashlights just as much as dad.
carrot
Flashaholic
4sevens is run by David and Monica Chow with a small team of people. David is the president and also the designer of most (maybe all) of their offerings.
http://www.4sevens.com/information.php?info_id=9
Captain Spaulding
Enlightened
Thanks Flashflood, I missed that review. Maybe Im lucky that I didnt get a reply!
There stuff, with an exception of the Ural, is still good. IMHO, the innovation in the LED industry has come to a saturation for now. You already have enough light for almost all dark purposes, so adding more is not going to buy you much. Smaller, brighter, efficient in the LED has to be matched with a similar innovation in the battery industry - there is none. Almost all offerings in the last 6 months or so are pure junk (the only new thing they offer is maybe a good looking design, or different metals, or a combination of both). Now multiply this with another 10 new brands, and you have a saturated industry, with nothing better on offer. Probably one reason why you feel Peak lights are no good, or they have become slow at releasing products. I would actually like not releasing a product, when there is nothing new to offer, than jumping on the "me too" bandwagon. I had a chat with some of the Chinese manufacturers, and almost all of them are putting R&D $$ in bringing the XM-L based lights in the market.
Peak still makes very good, durable, and "works when you need it" lights. I am a very happy Matterhorn, and Eiger customer.
-Amarendra
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