If you received a gift, what would you be happier with?

Which would you be happier to get as a gift if you didn't have any nice flashlights?

  • TM11

    Votes: 4 80.0%
  • DDR30

    Votes: 1 20.0%

  • Total voters
    5

rye_a

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Jul 21, 2014
Messages
7
I'm going to get a light as a gift for a buddy who doesn't presently have a high quality flashlight. Would you rather get a Nitecore TM11 or a Jetbeam DDR30? Why?
 

kj2

Flashaholic
Joined
May 22, 2010
Messages
8,082
Location
The Netherlands
Both lights you mention are running on 18650 batteries. Is your 'buddy' familiar with these batteries? Does he have a charger for these batteries?
I always recommend to give a AAA- or AA-battery light, to someone who is new to the high-end flashlight business.
 
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rye_a

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Jul 21, 2014
Messages
7
Both light you mention are running on 18650 batteries. Is your 'buddy' familiar with these batteries? Does he have a charger for these batteries?
I always recommend to give a AAA- or AA-battery light, to someone who is new to the high-end flashlight business.

No, I don't believe that he has a charger yet. I like the fact that the TM11 can use CR123s, but the built-in charger of the DDR30 is nice...
 

thedoc007

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 16, 2013
Messages
3,632
Location
Michigan, USA
The Nitecore TM11 is a light I used to own. I really, really liked it, only got rid of it because I got the updated version (TM26). It has extremely wide flood, so it is a great hiking or general purpose light. It is also lighter, more than an inch shorter, and takes four instead of three 18650s, so runtime should be better. I really like the voltage indicator also, rather than the dumbed-down battery level indicator on the DDR30. The TM11 has four modes, the DDR30 has only three. It has been my experience that the larger the light is, the more unlikely it is for me to carry it. So I would prefer the TM11 for that reason.

I can definitely see some advantages to the DDR30. The extra size might mean you can run it longer before it gets too hot, although I would have to test that to be sure. It is definitely a better thrower, so if your friend has lots of wide open spaces (hundred meters or more) the DDR30 will easily outperform the TM11. The DDR30 also has a better low mode, so if you need that, that is a deal-breaker for the TM11, which has a low of 200 lumens.

The TM15 and DDR30 are actually closer rivals. The TM11 is more of a flooder. For my purposes, the TM11 would make me happier, but your mileage (or your friend's) may vary.
 

TweakMDS

Enlightened
Joined
Jun 18, 2012
Messages
504
Location
The Netherlands
DDR30, just for the charger really... For gifts I tend to stay with AA or AAA, but 18650 with a built in charger is self contained enough that a none flashaholic would not need to worry about unusual batteries.
 

rye_a

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Jul 21, 2014
Messages
7
Thanks everyone. I wound up going with a Nitecore EAX because of the fact that it accepts AAs.
 

WalkIntoTheLight

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 18, 2014
Messages
3,967
Location
Canada
Both light you mention are running on 18650 batteries. Is your 'buddy' familiar with these batteries? Does he have a charger for these batteries?
I always recommend to give a AAA- or AA-battery light, to someone who is new to the high-end flashlight business.

+1. There are lots of quality AA and AAA lights to choose from. If he hates rechargeables, he can stick with lithium primaries or even alkalines.
 
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