Love this thread. A debate I have had often.
Here is how I boil it down (and keep thinking of making a YouTube video explaining my personal take)
In my living room, where things are cozy with sofas, TV, fireplace, pillows, sleeping dog; I (like most people) love the "warmth" of the typical incandescent. Which is now available in LED household bulbs. So let's call these Neutral White.
In my laundry room and garage, I am performing tasks. I need bright light. So, I use Cool White LED's in the Laundry room. In the garage I still use the typical fluorescent tubes. Let's refer to these as Cool White.
So for me. It is all about the task at hand when selecting a tint.
I have mostly Cool White lights but I have 'built' some custom Convoys using my favorite NW tint: XP-L v6 3D. It is rated at about 4500K.
I made another light with a NICHIA 219c. rated about 4000K.
These two are BEAUTIFUL NW LEDs. Colors are arguably better looking. No doubt.
But for my majority of uses, I still prefer CW. NW looks 'dimmer'. I am sure we can all agree on that.
Look at any spec for a light that offers both. The Lux/Lumens are always less on a NW due to reasons listed on this thread... like the extra coating to kill out the blue-ish tints.
So if a new LED is out, the CW will always be a bit brighter and will sway my decision so I can have a brighter light. (I like to show off!)
Now, of course reflectors and drivers play into the brightness levels (we can all agree) but apples to apples comparison...there is a difference.
Around the house, I will (almost) always pick up a NW light. Heck, even in the garage at times. But a NW is used when I am working within arms length. Again, depends what I am doing or need.
On reviews I've read through the years... a lot of times people don't clearly explain their uses of the light they love. Which would greatly help others decide 'hmm, that sounds like me and my intended use... I think I'll listen to this person's input'.... So....
Here is what I tell friends.
For close up work (less than 10-20 feet roughly) indoors or even outdoors: NW is amazing. Especially if someone is using indoors or is an electrician or just loves that NW feel. It is easier on the eyes - very noticeable when using in close up work. Like reading a book. That is when lights similar to the Zebralight Floody lights and the ones without reflectors are going to be perfect choices. (again, IMHO). I would never use those for outdoors. EVER. Not for my type of outdoors use that is. CW is what I desire. I know what color trees are and I want everything lit up BRIGHT.
For me; I backpack a ton in the Pacific Northwest. And more times than you would think my friends and I have hiked miles on end in the dead of night. (for many many reasons. Actually, night hikes ROCK!) And a great CW light has always (hands down) been my choice. (again, for me) but here is why.
First, I use CW in the 5700K range (like the ZL H600) It isn't angry blue like early LEDs. (Note: I tried a NW while on snow at night and it makes it look brown and dirty... CW is much more pleasing in snow.
Second, I want (need?) extreme brightness. So although the colors may not be as pleasant as NW, I LOVE the PURE, white light. I am outdoors, on a mission... doing a task if you will.... Kinda like when I am doing other tasks ... like in the laundry room or garage ... but now the task is outdoors and I need to see a cliff or where the trail goes up ahead 30-60 feet away. (Or if I just want to show off to my friends!)
Now I know, there are some NW lights that throw. But I am not going to backpack with something like the Thrunite TN32 due to size. (That light has been mentioned on this thread as an awesome NW thrower light is why I mention it.) However, I have been VERY tempted to buy the ZL SC600w HI NW (the HI dedomed LED has some throw). I'd use it as a hand held light for 'what's up over there' kinda light. Very tempted. Because it is NW and a bit of throw but still some good spill. hmmm.... I am torn. If there was a CW dedomed version - I'd lean more toward buying that to satsify my desire for a flood/throw in one light.
Actually, if I had DEEP pockets I would buy several ZL to do a video comparison. An Apples - to - Apples comparison. But that means I need to buy several identical models. a CW, a NW, and a NW HI (just because it would be neat to see NW HI compared because it will have some throw to it. But I suspect the CW would win my heart over as always being a tad brighter.) When I go into lava tubs (essentially caves) NW does win my heart over because of the tint and I feel NW works best in a contained envirnoment. The wilderness just seems to swallow up the NW too much for me.
What is my ideal outdoorsy set up at the moment? I selected these for how compact they are.... again... for backpacking or walking the dog during dark winter nights. These are generally my go to lights.
1) For Headlamp: I use a ZL H600 MKIII CW. (AKA: " My Precious") LOVE IT! I mean LOVE it. I used to make my own headlamps from scratch for many years. Now, finally something is as bright as my homemade lights.
2) For Throw: I use the Nitecore MH20GT (came in handy on a recent cave trip to see really deep ahead of us into one of the spur tunnels of the cave)
3) AAA Maratac Titanum keychain light. Always with me and actually used it on a night hike in the Grand Canyon in my hand - which gives much better shadow depth as opposed to having the light on your head and close to eye level. I am glad I bought it when I did... they are stuck on Cooper/Brass versions now. ugh)
4) Fenix CL09 as a lantern. (just bought it a month ago and haven't used it much in the field) Wish it had a button rather than twisty head. A button is easier to activate in a tent rather than using two hands to twist for activation. Fenix fails in that 'user centered design' department on this light. But still, I love it for the tiny size and brightness. Wow!
Those are my perfect lights. Of course I own a bunch of others and love those also for other uses. But if I listed those other lights here....i'd have to move to the other thread! Hahah.
Well, I hope my opinions help others.
And honestly... I still to this day struggle at times with which Tints to get and then I have to rein myself in (due to funds) and clearly think about my intended uses for a light.
I'll admit... one day I may find a NW light that will flip all this around for me. Been debating myself recently with the new MKIV ZL's: SC600 MK IV (CW) or SC600w MK IV HI (NW)
(i know... "get em both!" is what everyone says/does)
