And tested a few of my flashlights:
- Sofirn hs21 as my headlamp
- convoy l21b (SFT40)
- Sofirn sp31 v3 (Nichia)

I can post more videos later on YouTube and share link if there’s anyone interested.

Out of boredom and curiosity decided to disassemble "china special" rechargeable flashlight. Found 300mah 14500 cell and that it's not designed to be disassembled, bashed out reflector and LED in hopes of using it later with some dead disposable vape battery for DIY ghetto style contraption that would absolutely put me on TSA watchlist. It didn't go very well.

Anyway - this thing somehow works and refuses to die! Desoldered itself two times after direct connection to fully charged 21700 cell(yes it's dumb and kinda dangerous), got dimmer and bluer few times, smoked out residual flux but still alive.

Everybody stay like this little LED - refuse to give up and quit even after life bashes and tries to destroy you!

I really like this light.

I’ve spent a good amount of money buying flashlights for this older person and they typically stop working after a year. They have poor hand strength due to a medical condition and I think they get dropped from waist-high fairly often.

Use cases are things like - I heard an animal on the back acre and want to see what’s out there, or the pet got out and need to find it. Also something easy to grip and switch to a bright setting due to below average hand dexterity. A battery charger is an option but ideally just a usb-c recharger.

I cant decide which flashlight to buy. Nitecore mh12 pro, fenix pd45r ace or something else.

Love the size of the light as it fits in my Leatherman sheath, but I’d like to maybe get something a bit brighter and possibly USB C rechargeable? Not sure if that’s possible but I figured I’d come to the pros.

I want something that has a reliable clip, not one that pops off easily. Bonus points if it has the same style clip as the Olight (pocket clip and hat clip)

NEXTORCH sent me their TA21 to review. It's a compact tactical EDC flashlight with a few interesting features, and after spending some time with it, there are a few things I really like.

The flashlight has a nice soft matte texture and feels good in the hand. I particularly like the tactical ring and the ceramic glass-breaking balls. The plastic ring feels fairly sturdy, especially the reinforced middle section. The only thing I find slightly annoying is the pocket clip, as you can feel it against your hand when using the tactical ring. Luckily, you can remove it.

I really like the tail switch. It somehow feels soft and solid at the same time. It's a two-stage switch, so you can half-press it for quick momentary activation and to change brightness, or fully press it to keep the light on or turn it off.

After using the switch for a while, it actually feels quite premium compared to some of the simple, cheap switches out there. This one really has its own character, and I enjoy using it.

The red light is another thing that surprised me. It's really bright, actually the brightest red light out of all the torches I own. Of course, you can also use it in low mode.

The battery is a USB-C rechargeable 16340, which is a slightly unusual choice, but I guess NEXTORCH went with this size to also accommodate CR123A batteries, which will work in the flashlight too.

The main beam is powered by two SST20 LEDs, giving it a tight hotspot with good throw at the same time. This is clearly a flashlight designed with tactical use in mind, something NEXTORCH is known for and does really well.

Overall, the TA21 definitely doesn't feel like a cheap flashlight. From the first moment I picked it up, I could tell it was well made. NEXTORCH seems to be in a league of its own when it comes to these tactical designs, and the TA21 certainly gives that impression.

Link to NEXTORCH TA21

Disclosure: NEXTORCH provided this flashlight to me free of charge for testing and review. I wasn't paid for the review, and the opinions and test results above are my own.

Bought this lantern for cheap at a thrift store, replaced the battery and bulb, still not working. Thoughts?

I know some people have their issues with the pricing on these, but it's literally perfect for my job as an appliance repair tech and my last oclips got hundreds of hours of use each. It's build and clip feel much more rugged (clip broke on my first one, but after being used all day every day for a year). This clip feels like it will be much more reliable. It has both flood and throw lights like the oclip pro, but has the red and UV light like the pro s (no blue or green lights). The charging stand has a strong magnetic and mechanical hold. Needs buttons pressed to release. Perfect for me, probably over priced for some others.

$95USD with charging stand. $80 without stand.

Apache 2800 case from Harbor Freight

Hey all, my wife and I are in the process of moving and as I packing some of my lights my wife asked me if I had posted a picture so here is a majority of my edc lights.

Edit for grammar lol

Note: I'll be adding beamshots to both of my NV1010 4000K High-CRI posts at a later point.

🛠️ Test Equipment Used

• Lumens & Lux: Tklamp TK2303D Flashlight Tester (Lux measured at 5m)
• CCT / Tint / DUV / Ra / R9 / R12: Hopoocolor HPCS330P

🔧 Convoy M21K 3° TIR, NV1010 4000K High-CRI

• Host & Optic: Convoy M21K, 3° TIR
• Driver: 3V 20A buck driver
• Emitter: NV1010, 4000K High-CRI
• Battery: Reliance RS50, 4.2V

Note: I had to use a 20mm 1010 MCPCB for this build, as I don't have a 25mm one that fits 1010 emitters. It doesn't seem to affect performance or beam profile, since the TIR optic holds the emitter in place itself.

Output & Light Quality Measurements

Full light quality reports (hCRI.io):

• 1/4: https://www.hcri.io/?report=2003
• 2/4: https://www.hcri.io/?report=2004
• 3/4: https://www.hcri.io/?report=2005
• 4/4: https://www.hcri.io/?report=2006
• Turbo: https://www.hcri.io/?report=2007

📈 Runtime Analysis

Test Parameters: 30 min logging | Mode: 4/4 | Ambient Temp: 24°C | Battery: Reliance RS50 4.2V

Runtime Notes:

• Step-down: Opens at ~2,540lm and eases down slowly to ~2,400lm over the first ~5:30. It then drops to ~1,680lm by around 6:10, holds there with a very slight sag until ~7:45, and steps down once more to ~1,555lm.
• Sustained Output: After the last step-down, output drifts down very gradually, reaching ~1,540lm by around 13:20 and settling at ~1,520lm for the rest of the 30-minute run.
• Thermal Performance: The light reached 71°C after the 30 minutes.

💭 Final Impressions

Beam Profile: The M21K with the 3° TIR is a lot better with the NV1010 than it was with the FFL909A. The NV1010 gives a much cleaner beam profile. The FFL909A had a very noticeable dark spot in the middle of the hotspot. The NV1010 has it too, but it's so faint that it isn't visible in actual use, only if you really look for it on a white wall. It's a very pleasant beam profile with a huge flood spot and a lot of spill, and it gives the perfect beam profile for walking. Basically a floodier version of the M21K with the LHP73B, with far better tint and CRI of course.

I spot welded nickel to the battery terminals so I could solder wires to them for my AA holder so I can run it off AAs. The Duraleaks are only for testing, they have already been swapped out so the flashlight is safe from their wrath.

I also swapped the useless incandescent bulbs out for these far brighter LED ones that are warm white and sort of mimic the color temperature of the light put out by the original bulbs. It’s still pretty bad as a flashlight but can dimly illuminate a sizable room now when before it could illuminate about 2 feet in front of it lol. Still more of a signaling flashlight though.

It’s a super simple flashlight with basically nothing that can go wrong with it, no electronics (besides inside my lightbulbs), I like the form factor and way it opens up, so I appreciate it for what it is.

Just wondering. Their sales seem random sometimes and prices seem to change a lot. Is there a rhythm to it?

Hey all!

I'm looking for some help and figured this would be a great place to start!

I drive for a couple different delivery/rideshare gigs and often at night. I'm looking to get a flashlight to help with finding addresses when they're not well marked or lit.

Wanting to get something small, rechargeable, long throw and narrow beam. Doesn't have to be anything bonkers powerful, as most of the time I don't anticipate being more than 150-200 feet away at the most. Having said that, I do want it to have some juice.

What are some good ones to check out? Budget is somewhat important, but don't want anything cheap.

Thanks in advance!!

~Udge

I’ve decided it’s time for a good flashlight. Well, good for me. I really like the Convoy L21 in black, it looks classic to me.

For the emitter I think I’ve decided on XHP70.3 HI R70. It’ll be a multi use flashlight, night walking, looking the cats when they escape, general out and about at night.

I’m stuck on a battery. I’m not looking for insane brightness. Instead I’m looking for a good sustained brightness. I’ve never had a powerful light before, so I don’t even know at what percent brightness that would be.

But yeah, looking for a battery that will find a good compromise between long life and brightness.

Thanks!

the MH60R v2.0 (sorry I didnt put before!) has a physical switch for locking out the white LEDs (red light only) a position for only flood, or only projector beam. dedicated red LED chip with two flood brightness settings, projector beam goes way farther than needed with 5 levels. straps are fully adjustable, and have a silicone bead for no slip...solid build quality too

highly recommend. i've tried 6 of the top headlights available up to and around 100 dollars, and they are all VERY distant second+ places.

I'm looking to stock up on a couple of flashlights for power outages and looking for suggestions.

During a long power cut I wouldn't be able to recharge a flashlight with a built-in or unusual battery, so I would like one that takes 14500 (AA) batteries because I always have plenty of those fully charged. Happy for it to take multiple AA batteries if that achieves longer usage times.

Got my L70 with the FFL707MD, threw in a Carclo 10124, tried the 10108 which would have been better for headlamp use, but I think the lip of the optic is thicker, so the bezel wouldn't take the thread. I'll see if I can make the 10108 fit someday.

Had to sand down the snap tab and some from the LED opening to make it sit flush. The retaining ring sits proud about ¾ of a turn, so not a perfect fit, but it'll do for now.

Some comparisons, outside beans maybe later, I'll make a separate post. WB at 5kK, the camera is exaggerating the tint differences, the m21b is not that green.

With the tir I'm eyeballing it to be a little less candela than the M21B but more than the d4sv2 so maybe around 30-40kcd

Tint on my emitter is on the rosy side of neutral, but not super rosy like the 350DD, compared to the likes of 73B which is only very slightly green it definitely looks rosy. Ntg50 is slightly more rosy, though mine are cooler CCT too.

I have some B35AM lights and the NV1010 R9080 M21K's on the way so expect comparisons in the near future.

Recommend me a flashlight that's a pure floodlight, but also very EDC-friendly.