terjee
Enlightened
Hi!
My name is terjee, and I'm a flashaholic. ;-)
I'm looking for my last (maybe "next" would be more believable?) EDC-light, specifically a single-18650 one, that's just perfect for me. Not an easy thing to find, I know, so I'm really hoping you'll give me a hand.
Okay, I lied. I'm looking for two, so I can check out both thoroughly, finally decide on one of them, and leave the other as a backup.
First, a coupe of hard requirements:
- Be able to run off of unprotected flat top 18650s (VTC5A for example)
- Moonlight
- Direct to low, and possible to get both to moonlight and back off again without going through high
- Rugged, reliable, "waterproof" (IPX7 or 8)
- High CRI (otherwise, I know I'd keep hunting for a high CRI to replace it with)
- Neutral or warm (same reason as with CRI).
Basically I'm looking for the "always with me"-light, in the form of a single 18650-light. No need for an adventurous monster light, just good and reliable utility for the relevant tasks.
This is the light that I'll...
- ... be using to check on the kid when we're away from home, or navigating without disturbing (moonlight).
- ... luckily have with me if there's a major power outage on my way home from work, or while still at the office (EDC).
- ... be using to navigate my way down a small mountain or out of a park, if stuck until after dark, without having planned for it (reliable, some range).
- ... be shining into weird dark holes in walls while geocaching, possibly at high noon (enough power to still be useful with bright light adapted eyes).
That's quite a span of tasks, but none of them are that demanding, and none require the latest lumen-chaser light, or a massive thrower.
I'm sure many of know which sort of light I'm thinking about here, some of you might even be nodding as you read this.
There's obviously no need for a super-thrower here, both floody and spot with major spill should be fine. Good balanced beam, without needing it to fit into a specific category.
To set some outer points on lumen, certainly <= 1 lumen for moonlight. For the high side of things, 300 lumens should do. A bit more would be good, as long as there are intermediates, and good mode-spacing.
Non-critical wishlist:
- Proper support for 1x or 2x CR123A as well (voltage-compatible, adapter like with Eagletac-lights is fine)
- Low drain while off or moonlight
- Warm high-CRI is tempting (but is hard to find)
- Quality secure holster available for it, can be 3rd party
$100 is no problem, would prefer to stay below $150, but can in theory go up to $400 if the light is both perfect and virtually indestructible. The less likely it is that I'd need or want to replace it, the more I'd be willing to spend.
It'll replace a DL25LC2 with Nichia, that's been a trusted EDC for some time now. Replacing because the D25LC2 requires button-top, and I always carry spare flat-tops. Just makes too much sense to EDC a light I could use those in as well.
I'm currently waiting for a Zerbalight SC600w Mk III. If I'm happy with that, one of the two lights will probably be another Zebra. Currently leaning towards SC600Fd, but I'd love input on that as well. Any Zebra I should consider instead?
To round out the rest of the topics from the checklist:
- Prefer to buy online
- No need for in-light charging
- No strong feelings on interface, other than mentioned above
Appreciate any thoughts you might have, including "I know you said X, but you should consider Y, because such-and-such".
Many thanks for any input!
My name is terjee, and I'm a flashaholic. ;-)
I'm looking for my last (maybe "next" would be more believable?) EDC-light, specifically a single-18650 one, that's just perfect for me. Not an easy thing to find, I know, so I'm really hoping you'll give me a hand.
Okay, I lied. I'm looking for two, so I can check out both thoroughly, finally decide on one of them, and leave the other as a backup.
First, a coupe of hard requirements:
- Be able to run off of unprotected flat top 18650s (VTC5A for example)
- Moonlight
- Direct to low, and possible to get both to moonlight and back off again without going through high
- Rugged, reliable, "waterproof" (IPX7 or 8)
- High CRI (otherwise, I know I'd keep hunting for a high CRI to replace it with)
- Neutral or warm (same reason as with CRI).
Basically I'm looking for the "always with me"-light, in the form of a single 18650-light. No need for an adventurous monster light, just good and reliable utility for the relevant tasks.
This is the light that I'll...
- ... be using to check on the kid when we're away from home, or navigating without disturbing (moonlight).
- ... luckily have with me if there's a major power outage on my way home from work, or while still at the office (EDC).
- ... be using to navigate my way down a small mountain or out of a park, if stuck until after dark, without having planned for it (reliable, some range).
- ... be shining into weird dark holes in walls while geocaching, possibly at high noon (enough power to still be useful with bright light adapted eyes).
That's quite a span of tasks, but none of them are that demanding, and none require the latest lumen-chaser light, or a massive thrower.
I'm sure many of know which sort of light I'm thinking about here, some of you might even be nodding as you read this.
There's obviously no need for a super-thrower here, both floody and spot with major spill should be fine. Good balanced beam, without needing it to fit into a specific category.
To set some outer points on lumen, certainly <= 1 lumen for moonlight. For the high side of things, 300 lumens should do. A bit more would be good, as long as there are intermediates, and good mode-spacing.
Non-critical wishlist:
- Proper support for 1x or 2x CR123A as well (voltage-compatible, adapter like with Eagletac-lights is fine)
- Low drain while off or moonlight
- Warm high-CRI is tempting (but is hard to find)
- Quality secure holster available for it, can be 3rd party
$100 is no problem, would prefer to stay below $150, but can in theory go up to $400 if the light is both perfect and virtually indestructible. The less likely it is that I'd need or want to replace it, the more I'd be willing to spend.
It'll replace a DL25LC2 with Nichia, that's been a trusted EDC for some time now. Replacing because the D25LC2 requires button-top, and I always carry spare flat-tops. Just makes too much sense to EDC a light I could use those in as well.
I'm currently waiting for a Zerbalight SC600w Mk III. If I'm happy with that, one of the two lights will probably be another Zebra. Currently leaning towards SC600Fd, but I'd love input on that as well. Any Zebra I should consider instead?
To round out the rest of the topics from the checklist:
- Prefer to buy online
- No need for in-light charging
- No strong feelings on interface, other than mentioned above
Appreciate any thoughts you might have, including "I know you said X, but you should consider Y, because such-and-such".
Many thanks for any input!