gogdog
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2017
- Messages
- 41
Why does searching for a flashlight have to balance soo many pros/cons?
I'm an ultralight backpacker...where ever gram gets analyzed. I don't do a lot of night hiking, so my priority is finding a AAA headlamp that also doubles as a flashlight ...hence, a right angled light. A great way to save weight is to also not bring a headband. Which is why I sewed a loop onto my fleece beanie ->
Anyway, there are several options for AAA right angle lights, but none are perfect ->
1. Fenix HL10 2016: .5oz The plastic "adjuster" (which is a gimmick btw), reflects light back to you. So on high, it actually makes it like you are holding a lamp and it kind of blinds you ->
Its also annoying that you have to hold to turn on and off, but it does have mode memory...and, it does have tail lockout. Big con: no clip.
2. Maratac AAA TPF: .5oz
Biggest con: Its a twistie. And, its med/low/high and I prefer low/med/high. The glow in the dark reflector is also slightly a gimmick (it just doesn't "glow" for very long).
3. Manker e02: Too heavy at 32g without battery. I could get a zebralight AA for that weight. Don't like the UI.
4. MecArmy FM11: Also too heavy at 1.16oz excluding battery. Expensive.
That leaves a Lumintop HL AAA.
This has a ton of things going for it. Its .5oz, clickie, low/med/high, single click to turn on, I like the silver color, has a reversible clip, and even has a magnetic tail on it. Has a better runtime than the fenix hl10 plus a brighter high setting (that runs for 45 minutes vs the claimed 30 minutes).
But dang it! Its soo frustrating that its so close to perfect for me, but...has 2 big disadvantages:
1. It doesn't have a tail lockout, nor an electronic lockout. So to be sure that it doesn't accidentally turn on in my pack, I would have to completely unscrew it.
2. Its a hold to turn off...which, in and of itself isn't "that bad". BUT...its a bad 'hold to turn off'.
For example...the Fenix HL10 is also a hold to turn off, but its a shorter one ( <1sec ), and....while you are holding it, it turns off itself, THEN you release your finger.
The Lumintop....you have to hold it for 1.5sec, and it stays on until you release it. So you really have to hold it for like....2+ seconds to make sure you have held it for longer than 1.5seconds otherwise it just cycles through to the next light setting. If they had just made it so it turns off by itself WHILE you are holding it, it wouldn't be so bad.
I have settled on the lumintop hl aaa as my current light. But....I'll be watching for new AAA right angle lights for sure. HOPEFULLY someone will make my perfect light.
Here is another frustrating example. I have thought about getting a AA angle light for winter usage or ...just because I deserve it. Probably be getting a Zebralight h53.
The h53 is an upgrade over the h52 due to the higher CRI, and brighter lumens, plus the addition of multiple UI groups. But why did they have to go and downgrade it by removing 14500 support and removing the reversible clip option? Sigh.
I'm an ultralight backpacker...where ever gram gets analyzed. I don't do a lot of night hiking, so my priority is finding a AAA headlamp that also doubles as a flashlight ...hence, a right angled light. A great way to save weight is to also not bring a headband. Which is why I sewed a loop onto my fleece beanie ->
Anyway, there are several options for AAA right angle lights, but none are perfect ->
1. Fenix HL10 2016: .5oz The plastic "adjuster" (which is a gimmick btw), reflects light back to you. So on high, it actually makes it like you are holding a lamp and it kind of blinds you ->
Its also annoying that you have to hold to turn on and off, but it does have mode memory...and, it does have tail lockout. Big con: no clip.
2. Maratac AAA TPF: .5oz
Biggest con: Its a twistie. And, its med/low/high and I prefer low/med/high. The glow in the dark reflector is also slightly a gimmick (it just doesn't "glow" for very long).
3. Manker e02: Too heavy at 32g without battery. I could get a zebralight AA for that weight. Don't like the UI.
4. MecArmy FM11: Also too heavy at 1.16oz excluding battery. Expensive.
That leaves a Lumintop HL AAA.
This has a ton of things going for it. Its .5oz, clickie, low/med/high, single click to turn on, I like the silver color, has a reversible clip, and even has a magnetic tail on it. Has a better runtime than the fenix hl10 plus a brighter high setting (that runs for 45 minutes vs the claimed 30 minutes).
But dang it! Its soo frustrating that its so close to perfect for me, but...has 2 big disadvantages:
1. It doesn't have a tail lockout, nor an electronic lockout. So to be sure that it doesn't accidentally turn on in my pack, I would have to completely unscrew it.
2. Its a hold to turn off...which, in and of itself isn't "that bad". BUT...its a bad 'hold to turn off'.
For example...the Fenix HL10 is also a hold to turn off, but its a shorter one ( <1sec ), and....while you are holding it, it turns off itself, THEN you release your finger.
The Lumintop....you have to hold it for 1.5sec, and it stays on until you release it. So you really have to hold it for like....2+ seconds to make sure you have held it for longer than 1.5seconds otherwise it just cycles through to the next light setting. If they had just made it so it turns off by itself WHILE you are holding it, it wouldn't be so bad.
I have settled on the lumintop hl aaa as my current light. But....I'll be watching for new AAA right angle lights for sure. HOPEFULLY someone will make my perfect light.
Here is another frustrating example. I have thought about getting a AA angle light for winter usage or ...just because I deserve it. Probably be getting a Zebralight h53.
The h53 is an upgrade over the h52 due to the higher CRI, and brighter lumens, plus the addition of multiple UI groups. But why did they have to go and downgrade it by removing 14500 support and removing the reversible clip option? Sigh.